We Can Laugh About it Now

San Jose, Costa Rica with Natalie McSwain: There are schedules to be maintained, even in Costa Rica.

True Crime?  This is as close as it gets on our podcast.  Natalie McSwain, a high school Spanish teacher, shares her frightening experience while on a study abroad program in Costa Rica.  Her night out with friends takes a wrong turn when they realize they are not on the bus they thought they were.  Listen in to hear how this tale unfolds…spoiler: it’s not a Dateline episode, but it’s worth a few laughs – now.    Explore travel to Costa Rica:  https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/knowing-costa-rica/san-jose [https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/knowing-costa-rica/san-jose]  https://costarica.org/cities/san-jose/ [https://costarica.org/cities/san-jose/]  Volcan Poas https://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/ac/accvc/pnvp/Pages/default.aspx [https://www.sinac.go.cr/EN-US/ac/accvc/pnvp/Pages/default.aspx]  La Paz Waterfall https://costarica.org/waterfalls/la-paz/ [https://costarica.org/waterfalls/la-paz/]  Coffee Plantation Tour https://dokaestate.com/costarica-coffee-tour/ [https://dokaestate.com/costarica-coffee-tour/]  To stay up to date on all our adventures, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get yours. If you have a story you'd like to share, email us at WeCanLaughAboutItNowPodcast@gmail.com

Puerto Rico with Tracy Butcher: Livin' La Vida Loca

Today’s episode takes us to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.  My friend and colleague, Tracy Butcher, who recently returned to Ohio where is is continuing to teach high school, had the good fortune of participating in the Exchange Student Program while attending the University of Akron.  Her choice of locale resulted in huge personal growth and enrichment, and provided some hilarious stories from those seemingly easy, carefree college days.  Listen as she shares some highlights of her antics during her semester in the Caribbean the nearly cut her time short.   Explore travel to Puerto Rico Playa El Combate Beach  https://www.puertoricotravel.guide/blog/el-combate-a-tranquil-holiday-destination/ La Parguera (Bioluminescent) https://www.puertorico.com/la-parguera-bioluminescent-bay El Morro San Juan https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/exploring-castillo-san-felipe-del-morro-old-san-juan El Yunque https://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque Cinnamon Bay https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/prvi/pr44.htm To stay up to date on all our adventures, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get yours. If you have a story you'd like to share, email us at WeCanLaughAboutItNowPodcast@gmail.com

Paris, France with Laurie Johnson

“See Paris for its bones.”  Laurie Johnson, a retired 39-year veteran teacher, joins the podcast to share her love of Paris and all things travel.   France is near and dear to her heart as it truly runs in her blood.  Years of teaching high school French has given her the benefit of being fluent, which is an asset when traveling abroad. But even she was not immune to the tactics of those looking to take advantage of a tourist. Listen as she shares her experience on the crowded Paris subway that elicited a visceral response.  Although shaken, she used it as a learning moment, as any good teacher would do.    Laurie also gives a recommendation for visiting Iceland, either en route to Europe, or as a stand-alone destination.   Explore travel to Paris https://en.parisinfo.com/ Angelina https://www.angelina-paris.fr/?y_source=1_MTE5MzAwODYtNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D Laduree Paris https://www.laduree.fr/en/laduree-paris-champs-elysees.html Museum Pass https://www.parismuseumpass.fr/t-en Moulin Rouge https://www.moulinrouge.fr/en/homepage/ Eiffel Tower https://www.toureiffel.paris/en https://www.restaurants-toureiffel.com/en/jules-verne-restaurant.html#_ga=2.47083431.1804911953.1687446094-599862304.1687446094 Palace of Versailles https://en.chateauversailles.fr/ Iceland Air Stopover https://www.icelandair.com/flights/stopover/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw4s-kBhDqARIsAN-ipH2DiNQYYzfNurkxLq4k6UnOeFdg3A55PwExnOhjSR6Iz4bEOeDHs0caAmtKEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds Iceland Restaurants https://sandholt.is/en/getting-started/ https://www.sjavargrillid.is/ Ireland https://www.lakehotelkillarney.ie/ To stay up to date on all our adventures, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get yours. If you have a story you'd like to share, email us at WeCanLaughAboutItNowPodcast@gmail.com

Mexico City and Beyond with Kelly Rogers: She works hard for the money...or does she?

Kelly Rogers returns to the podcast with more tales from her 7 and 1/2 week road trip adventure with her mom, granny, sisters and cousins.  She shares some of the highlights from the two weeks spent in Mexico, including cliff divers, bull fights, and pyramid climbing.   But, most importantly, she reveals a deep, dark secret about the trip and how she  capitalized on her own cousin to turn a profit from a truly "dirty job."   If you haven't heard my first interview with Kelly, be sure to check out Episode 1, Monterrey, Mexico with Kelly Rogers:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-can-laugh-about-it-now/id1679675578?i=1000606384665   Explore travel to Mexico City, Guadalupe, Acapulco, and Puerta Vallarta:  The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe  https://www.inside-mexico.com/the-basilica-of-our-lady-of-guadalupe/ Cliff Divers in Acapulco https://imagine-mexico.com/cliff-diving-in-acapulco/ Pyramid of the Moon https://historicalmx.org/items/show/139 Pyramid of the Sun https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/414/ Puerto Vallarta https://visitpuertovallarta.com/ Explore great road trip hotels in Mobile, Alabama and Tucumcari, New Mexico https://www.malagainn.com/ https://blueswallowmotel.com/ To stay up to date on all our adventures, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get yours. If you have a story you'd like to share, email us at WeCanLaughAboutItNowPodcast@gmail.com

Captiva Island, Florida with Audra Diaz: Going, Quite Literally, Off the Grid

Parents usually have the best intentions at heart, yet sometimes that can be a huge burden, especially when travelling.   Audra Diaz, a high school history teacher, shares her first vacation experience with her infant daughter and how her overzealous packing efforts caused undue stress for her husband shortly after hitting the road.  Fortunately, the frustration melted away soon after arriving in Captiva Island.   Listen in as she shares how her husband was suddenly taking an “off the grid” vacation and gives her recommendations for anyone wanting to escape to the beautiful gulf coast of Florida.    Learn about travel to Captiva Island, Florida: https://www.captivaisland.com/ [https://www.captivaisland.com/] https://sanibel-captiva.org/ [https://sanibel-captiva.org/]  Royal Shell Vacation Rentals https://www.royalshell.com/?NCK=PPC_GA1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-IWkBhBTEiwA2exyO4HB9damj6VYn15vfg9lb9kfCdmcN86J0f2acqMaKaDog3NfhseEIBoC1m0QAvD_BwE [https://www.royalshell.com/?NCK=PPC_GA1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-IWkBhBTEiwA2exyO4HB9damj6VYn15vfg9lb9kfCdmcN86J0f2acqMaKaDog3NfhseEIBoC1m0QAvD_BwE]   The Captiva Cantina https://captivaislandinn.com/captiva-island-restaurant/cantina-captiva/ [https://captivaislandinn.com/captiva-island-restaurant/cantina-captiva/] The Key Lime Bistro https://captivaislandinn.com/captiva-island-restaurant/keylime-bistro/ [https://captivaislandinn.com/captiva-island-restaurant/keylime-bistro/] The Bubble Room https://www.bubbleroomrestaurant.com/ [https://www.bubbleroomrestaurant.com/] The Mucky Duck https://www.muckyduck.com/ [https://www.muckyduck.com/] RC Otters at Captiva Island Inn https://captivaislandinn.com/captiva-island-restaurants/rc-otters-menu/ [https://captivaislandinn.com/captiva-island-restaurants/rc-otters-menu/] Beach Equipment Rentals https://yolowatersports.com/ [https://yolowatersports.com/]  To stay up to date on all our adventures, be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get yours. If you have a story you'd like to share, email us at WeCanLaughAboutItNowPodcast@gmail.com