

Discoverer of Gems
A wife, a mother, a teacher, a traveler, a writer, a juggler (of time). In all of these roles, I find myself discovering little, hidden gems along the way; whether this "chicken or the egg" scenario is because I'm naturally inquisitive and reflective, or these roles have developed these traits, I'm not sure, but I love to search for and discover the unknown qualities in the people around me, the unique experiences to be had or the cherished tiny moments in time. I have the appreciated privileges of being immersed most days with the natural curiosity of the two boys we are raising, and the hundreds of middle schoolers I have spent my work days with. I also have the privilege of being married to a pilot which really helps when you love to travel. Now, on the cusp of a 14 month deferred leave from my job, my bucket list year begins. Here you will find my inklings of past, present and future trips: if you like to travel on a budget, do or see some locally inspired things in the places I post about, or just want to see these places through the eyes of an optimistic and reflective traveler, check out ChittyInklingsOnTour.
Travel Bug Bites
The first time I was on an airplane or anywhere beyond a 1000 km radius from my house in small town Nova Scotia, Canada, I was the ripe age of 17. I flew to LaGuardia Airport, took a bus to JFK Airport, boarded a plane to Zurich, Switzerland, and finally made a connection to Geneva, Switzerland. After getting some much needed sleep after 21 hours of traveling, we boarded a bus for Nice, France. Our 11 day adventure took us to Monaco, through the French- Italian Alps, through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Milan, Pisa, Florence, Venice and Rome. I was hooked by the infamous “Travel Bug” (and not the one of the Geocaching Variety- more about that later).
Frugally Found
I’m cheap. My husband knows it. My friends know it. My kids know it. They don’t fault me for it. I suspect they admire it to some extent. That being said, I revel in quality: quality time, quality products (conservatively and consciously bought) and quality experiences. All this plays a part in what kind of a traveler I am. I could use an euphemism like frugal: it pairs better with the word quality. So you have it; I am a discoverer of frugal and quality experiences; which includes fleshing out a few hidden gems, living locally whenever possible, and being selective when taking in the flagship trademarks of the places I immerse myself in.