This is a delicate and difficult subject, it makes my head hurt a little just trying to articulate my plethora of thoughts and feelings to the best of my ability. To me, spirituality is deeply intimate and interwoven in the soul, complex and yet simple. Religion is rule-based, self-serving, and external. For instance, people who attend church just to keep up appearances, not for God. Religion is outward and then within, whereas, I believe spiritually to be something that comes from within and then exudes outward. I don’t agree with the religious belief that you must earn your way to heaven, that good deeds equal salvation, I don’t believe in doing good only for a reward. However, I don’t believe in spirituality and faith without good deeds either, because if you truly are transformed by spirituality, you will hunger to do good, to take care of others, to be selfless.

Growing up, I lived in a theological seminary, from the ages of six to ten, and my life has been permeated with religion from birth. I once believed religion was the same as spirituality, just a different name, but now I’ve realized, spirituality cannot be given in a lesson or inherited from family or society, in the way that religion can. I am not so self-righteous to think I don’t need faith beyond myself, but I don’t live a life of never-ending list of “things I must do to go to heaven”. I believe God gave salvation as a gift, of grace and mercy, it’s not to be bought, but if you truly believe, you will be transformed. Religion can be destructive, true spirituality is never harmful.

I’m assuming you mean a manual film camera, and not a point-and-shoot (those are pretty self-explanatory cameras)? Well, with my first manual camera, I mostly just referenced the user manual that I fortunately received (the camera is from the 1970s, so sometimes original instructional booklets or user manuals are difficult to come by), although it is a bit difficult to understand sometimes, due to the English sections not being very well written or in-depth, so Google came/comes in handy when I’m befuddled by something. Sometimes I just play around with it and see what happens, in a trial and error method. In my opinion, old manual film cameras are still easier to get good pictures from than digital, partially because there’s fewer components to them. So many functions with digital cameras these days.

If “everywhere” is an unacceptable answer, then perhaps, the arctic circle, Italy, Croatia, France, Iceland, and Poland (to visit Nishe). 

You’re in luck Lisbon (Portugal) is home to some of the best hostels in the world, you’ll have so many beautiful ones to choose from. Here are ones I’ve stayed in: Lisbon Poets Hostel, Goodnight Hostel, Lisbon Lounge Hostel, Living Lounge Hostel, Home Lisbon Hostel, all in the Baixa-Chiado districts. If you like quiet, I would not recommend the Lisbon Poets Hostel, just because of the noise on the streets there. All these hostels are very close to the metro, so you can get to other districts easily. Goodnight Hostel has the best reading nook, between the third and fourth floors. As for Barcelona, Spain, I’ve stayed in one of the Sant Jordi hostels, except I’m wondering if they either closed the one I stayed in, or renovated it, because none of the ones at their site look familiar. It was close to Plaça de Catalunya, and one of Gaudi’s buildings though. Also stayed in the Garden House, which has a lovely rooftop and views, but I wouldn’t recommend as much, because it’s so far from everything. If you’re looking for a good hostel though, definitely check hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com, and of course, you can reserve a bed or room through them, as well. 

Just Portugal and Spain, so far. 

Apologies for the tardy reply, I am forever belated with messages. I’m not perfect, so of course, I do occasionally feel some jealously towards others’ success, though it’s usually not something I crave much myself. I suppose what riles me up more, is with art, it’s so subjective, and sometimes I see people become wildly successful who I don’t feel are particularly talented, and then I’ll know of other artists who I believe to be far greater than those, who work with almost no recognition. I guess I do desire success in life, it’s just my idea of success is different, to do what I love, never for the money, but because it’s my passion, be good to others and the earth, et cetera. That being said, if I put my soul into something, like my writing, I suppose I don’t want it to be in complete oblivion, I do desire for it to be read and appreciated by someone. But I don’t need it to be on the best sellers list. Frankly, that would be upsetting, seeing as I rarely ever like the books on the best sellers list, or the classics, so I don’t know that I’d want to be in that company. To have work cherished and loved by a few is enough for me. But I digress, I think I’ve wandered off from the original topic…

I believe it’s been with spirituality, that I’ve felt free, and possess peace and contentment (not perfectly, of course). The mind and soul are powerful, and if you put your faith in things that can be lost, it can be very treacherous to live.

My best tips for travelers: go with your instincts, an open mind, in faith, and out of your comfort zone.

Where to find … Hostels: I use hostelworld.com and hostelbookers.com, but you can use other hostel booking sites or travel guide books, word of mouth, and so forth. Food: ask locals for recommendations, or observe which restaurants, markets, food stands, etc, the locals flock to. The popular ones tend to be the best ones. Jobs: I’ve never formally worked overseas. If you’re willing to work in exchange for things other than money, such as food and accommodation, perhaps, look into helpx.net Fun: well, this is difficult because people’s ideas of fun are different. For instance, diving out of a plane with nothing but a parachute is fun to me, but others would feel faint at the mere idea. I don’t really hunt for fun, I suppose I just kind of make my own fun. Do things you enjoy. Culture: it’s all around you already. If you’re interested in a specific culture though, then you’d have to research where that culture exists or prominent and visit. Humanity: I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking me… humanity is everywhere people are. Nature: If you’re looking for nature abundant places, research where good regions for this are located, if you’re in a city or area, wander until you find some, or ask some locals, or look at a map, etc. Beauty: I see beauty everywhere, even in bleakness. Depends on your idea of and perspective on beauty. 

As far as languages, I’m ashamed to say, not very much, the basics at best. Partly because I either (a) don’t know where I’m going in enough advance, am traveling impulsively (b) in the case of my upcoming summer travels, will be encountering dozens of languages, and will only be in some cities/areas for a few days.

Safety is so grounded in instinct for me that it’s difficult to dissect what exactly I do. I think a great deal of it is somewhat subconscious, observances of surroundings and reading people. I don’t go to bars, I don’t get drunk, I’m aware of myself, my environment, etc. Some of it is common sense I suppose. You know, don’t wander dark alleys at night. Know the difference between fear and paranoia, because the first is a gift, and the second can be crippling. Read The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence by Gavin de Becker, if you haven’t already. In general, there’s many books you can choose from that give traveling advice, and so forth, and discuss safety. 

Oh, thank you! That’s awfully sweet of you to say. 

Perhaps. I do prefer traveling solo, for a number of reasons. I suppose I’d consider it, if I felt someone had a compatible enough traveling style to mine and that I wasn’t going to get sick of being in close proximity to them for months on end. The persisting misconception is that people who travel alone are always alone, which isn’t true at all. I make more conversations and friends by myself, then when I’m with preexisting friends. I’m an introvert, so having to stick with certain people for such a long duration of time, and having no solitude, sounds slightly horrifying. What’s beautiful about making acquaintances and friends as you go, is you can enjoy their companionship, whilst being free from expectations or obligations, and compromises are unnecessary. If you now wish to go there, and they, another place, you can. Furthermore, you can escape them for a breather, whenever you wish.

I am, of course. I have always paid in full for my travels, and probably always will. Yes, I work. Well, on and off. I have to quit jobs sometimes to travel, seeing as I travel for months on end, and most jobs only allow a week or two vacation per year, which I think is cruelly short. I believe U.S. society would be healthier if people indulged in leisure a little more, slowed down a little. In this culture, busyness is a symbol of “success”, people are proud of their stress, and congested schedules. Stress makes me sick, I detest being atrociously busy, and refuse to force myself into it, just to fit in or look successful. But, I digress. I wouldn’t say I even have a “profession”, the longest I’ve stuck with the same job is about seven months. I often thrive on change, I grow restless doing the same thing everyday, in the same place, et cetera. I’m not career orientated, there’s no one profession I love enough to pursue it intensely and individually, furthermore, I don’t crave worldly success or need it to fulfill me.  

Oh, no, no, I don’t deserve a halo, I don’t. Besides, I believe God is the only halo master. Thank you for the sentiment though, it was sweet! 

Oh, I’m so glad, and I do hope you will travel, the rewards of seeing the world are quite rich. All the best to you! 

A mix. I’d be depressed if the weather always stayed the same, I love the transformations of seasons. However, my ideal temperature I suppose would be in the upper 60°s or low 70°s Fahrenheit, warm, but not sweltering, cool, but not freezing. That being said, I probably tolerate extreme cold better than I do extreme heat. If don’t become cold easily, and if I am cold, I just bundle up more, when it’s hot, there’s only but so much you can do to cool down, especially if you’re outside or without air conditioning, and there’s nowhere to swim, etc.

Yes, I was mostly in Chefchaouen, sometimes known as the “blue city”, located in the Rif Mountains. They say tourists “flock” here (sometimes for the marijuana), but I only once noticed people who were distinctly tourists. Of course, I was tucked up in the medina, and was also there in a season less popular for tourists, so I imagine this may have had something to do with it. I ended up there, because it looked interesting on Google images, and was not disappointed. I will find the name of the hotel I stayed in, if you’d like. Find a map if you can (I don’t even know if there are maps of the city), because in the medina it is very maze-like, with no noticeable street names or addresses. You can take a bus from Tangier (for about $6), or a taxi (for about $30). I felt comfortable there, the people are lovely, and though the young men and boys definitely liked to start conversations with me, they were much more polite and less aggressive than Americans, in this aspect, whereas, in the U.S., I’ve had guys shout vulgar things at me across the street, etc. For some reason, I most vividly remember once when I was lost, wandering, and came across three children playing in a deserted street. As I went past one of the little girls on the stairs, she looked me in the eye, reached up and combed her fingers through my hair, smiled and then turned away, running to join her friends. It’s a beautiful city, beloved by many. Thank you so much for your kind words! 

Are you look to travel within the U.S. or abroad? Less than a week isn’t much time, so perhaps in the states, maybe a road trip out west to the Grand Canyon, or Big Sur, California, which I’ve heard is magnificent and I’ve been in love with from afar, ever since I read Henry Miller’s Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch. Or perhaps, Pawleys Island, South Carolina, which is beloved to me, all my best childhood memories are there, and it almost makes me weep in nostalgia, but it is a beautiful little island, I believe, and the busier Myrtle Beach is just a bit north of there. If you truly desire to get out of country, somewhere in Central America might be enjoyable, flights are pretty affordable and you won’t waste too much of your vacation on a plane. I knew a group of folks building a tree house hostel in Nicaragua, they’re probably finished it by now, I’m blanking on the name of the place, but I will look it up if you’re interested. Would be a low key, wonderful place to stay, immersed in the Nicaraguan nature and affordable. They were originally offering people free boarding if they helped build, but I don’t know if they’re still doing that. I think they often took visitors on hikes and tours of the area, if desired, as well. If a transatlantic flight is no trouble, Portugal, France, or Spain, perhaps? I can recommend hostels I’ve stayed in, in Lisbon and Barcelona.