Why I Started Relic Travel (inspired by my solo trip to Colombia)
Before I went to Colombia, everything I'd heard about Medellín and Cartagena came from headlines and movies—cartels, danger, a city defined by its past. So I expected to be cautious. After all, it was (my first!) solo trip to Colombia--and my first international solo trip ever (hello, bucket list!)
I was there on an enrichment trip through my work as a teacher (I'll share more about my trip in a future post), and part of the experience was meeting a young girl I'd been sponsoring through Children International. Walking through her neighborhood, I met people who were warm, proud, and generous—people whose daily lives had nothing to do with the version of their country the world had been sold. Don't get me wrong, I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge there is deep poverty, and a privilege in my being able to travel there. That trip didn't just change how I saw Colombia. It changed how I think about travel altogether.
Travel as more than a checklist
Most trips follow a familiar formula: hit the landmarks, take the photos, eat at the recommended restaurants, come home. There's nothing wrong with that — but it often means missing the actual story of a place. The history that shaped it. The culture that defines it. The people who live there every day, long after the tourists go home.
As a history teacher, I've spent years helping students understand that every place has layers—political, cultural, historical—that explain why it is the way it is today. Colombia reminded me that this same lens applies to travel. The best trips aren't just about where you go. They're about understanding where you are.
From teacher to travel advisor
I didn't set out to become a travel advisor. But after planning trip after trip for myself and friends — including a girls trip to Rome, Florence, and Santorini that went off without a single hitch, despite having zero professional experience — I realized something: I loved this. The research, the planning, the puzzle of making every detail come together. It felt like designing a lesson plan, except the "students" were people I cared about, and the "classroom" was the world.
So I became a Fora travel advisor, and Relic Travel was born.
What Relic Travel is about
Relic Travel exists for travelers who want more than a vacation. People who are curious. People who want to come home not just rested, but a little changed. Whether it's a solo trip, a girls getaway, or a couples escape — I design itineraries the way I'd design a great lesson: with intention, context, and a story worth telling. I specialize in Latin America and the Mediterranean — places with deep histories, rich cultures, and (often) reputations that don't tell the whole story. My job is to help you find what's actually there.
This is just the beginning
This blog — and Relic Travel as a whole — is where I'll be sharing destination deep dives, travel tips, and the stories behind the places worth visiting. If you've ever wanted a trip that teaches you something, I'm glad you're here.
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