Finding Gina Marie - Travel the World

Ep.213 Cape Town’s beauty sits alongside a deeply moving and complex history. Join us as we take the ferry from the V&A Waterfront to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. While there, two former political prisoners share powerful first-hand stories of injustice, resistance, and choosing healing over hatred. Back on the mainland, we share a traditional South African meal at Jollof Café before exploring Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden—where an unexpected historical connection reveals how boundaries used to divide people began long before apartheid. This journey transformed how we see Cape Town, and left us reflecting on what it truly takes to face a painful history while choosing a different path forward. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.212 Cape Town is famous for Table Mountain, ocean views, and a spectacular coastline, but in this episode we show what else you can expect. We followed the Cape Peninsula through soaring cliffs, wild landscapes, unexpected animal encounters, and revealed one surprise after another. This is the day Cape Town beat our expectations. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.211 Old Town is the Tallinn everyone photographs. Its pastel rooftops, cobblestone lanes, and spires poking into the sky are only part of the story. We share its neighborhoods, what it’s like to celebrate with its locals on the longest day of the year, spent time understanding its maritime history, its waterfront, monuments, and more. We also tell you what it cost us to live, work, and play here for 15 days. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.209 After four years of hard work, Judy was finally recognized as an Italian citizen, but Italian citizenship doesn’t mean quite what we thought it meant. We captured the real moment the email arrived, and in this episode, we share what this milestone actually changes for our full-time travel life, why Schengen time is still more complicated than people assume, and why this next chapter comes with a catch. It’s wonderful news, emotional news, and life-changing news, but even a dream come true can bring a whole new set of questions. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.208 Waiting to retire can feel responsible, but it can cost more than you think, and not all of it shows up in your finances. In this episode we talk about why “one more year” can become a trap, what it can cost beyond your bank account, and how to ask a better question about risk. We're not saying everyone should retire tomorrow, but we do think there's a question most retirement plans never ask. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.207 Riga is one of the European cities people are just starting to discover. It has Prague-level beauty, fewer crowds, and more depth than we expected. After 17 days in Riga, Latvia, we found a Baltic capital that was easy to love, easy to walk, and hard to reduce to just pretty buildings. We also share exactly what our 17 days in Latvia’s capital cost us, so you can decide whether Riga belongs on your own Europe list. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.206 Ljubljana, Slovenia is not the city we thought it was — and that’s exactly why this trip surprised us. In this episode, we explore its pedestrian and bike friendly historic center, the dragons, the coffee culture, the layers of Roman and Plečnik history, and why Ljubljana may change how you plan a Central Europe trip. We also take an easy day trip to Lake Bled without a car, and at the end we share exactly what we spent during our stay. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.205 The health insurance question stops more people from leaving the US than almost anything else. This video shows exactly what international health insurance costs, what it covers, what happened when we actually needed emergency surgery abroad, and why healthcare has become one of the things we worry about least after more than three years of living outside the US. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.204 What if you give up your home to travel full time and regret it? What if you do, and you're priced out of the market when you want to come back? We've been living without a home base for 3.5 years and more than 50 countries. In this video we share our honest thought process, including who should absolutely keep their home and helping you figure out what's right for your situation. We cover the stuff you think you'll miss, the community fear, the housing market question, what your friends and family will say, and what this life actually looks like from the inside long after the honeymoon stage. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.203 Most people assume the conventional version of life is the financially responsible one. We assumed that too. For over 30 years. Then we put two expense stacks side by side. And what we found made us question what financial security actually means. In this video we compare a conventional lifestyle against the one we're living now, line by line. Some costs transform. Some shrink. And some simply stop existing. We also get into the cost nobody tracks, the question everybody has about healthcare, and the one thing that disappeared without us even trying. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.202 We ordered goulash in Italy. That's when we knew Trieste was different. 25 days in one of Europe's most overlooked cities — a place that has been claimed by empires, contested by nations, and shaped by cultures from across the Eastern Mediterranean. The result is an Italian city that doesn't quite feel like Italy. And we couldn't get enough of it. From a tradition older than Italy itself to a ghost port being brought back to life on the waterfront, Trieste kept showing us something we didn't expect. Our full cost breakdown is included. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.201 We thought 16 days in George Town, Penang would be plenty. It wasn't. Most people come for the street art and food, and those are genuinely worth it. But the longer we stayed, the more Penang started to reveal something deeper. One unexpected experience that started with a cup of gelato probably captures it best. This is what 16 days revealed that a quick visit can't. At the end, we share our full cost breakdown. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.200 Singapore has a reputation. Too expensive. Too controlled. Only worth a layover. We decided to test that for ourselves, so we stayed nine days in Singapore to see what it’s really like beyond the skyline and Marina Bay. We explored neighborhoods like Tiong Bahru, hawker markets, historic parks, and Gardens by the Bay to answer one question: Who is Singapore really for? Is it just a quick stopover city? A hub for young expats? Or is it worth a longer stay? In this episode, we share what surprised us, what didn’t, and our full nine-day Singapore cost breakdown. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.199 We'd heard Budapest was special. We wanted to see for ourselves. What we found was one of the most layered, surprising, and thought-provoking cities we've ever visited. After 17 days living a short walk from the Hungarian Parliament, we found things most visitors never see: tiny bronze sculptures hiding in plain sight, a protest memorial that keeps coming back no matter how many times it's removed, a cafe that communism tried to erase, iron shoes at the river's edge, and on one particular night, we saw history happening right outside our front door. Budapest rewards anyone willing to look twice. This is what we found. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!  Support the show

Ep.198 We spent 16 days in Bangkok, Thailand, and we're sharing everything we'd do differently, including why where you stay matters more than you think, how to navigate Bangkok's historic temples without the crowds and heat working against you, and how to avoid the most common tourist scam near Wat Pho, which we personally encountered. We also found one of the coolest neighborhoods in Bangkok that most travelers completely skip. It was one of our all-time favorite neighborhoods, and we can't wait to show it to you. We’ll also share the complete cost breakdown for everything we spent. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.197 We took the Shompoo Cruise upstream from Luang Prabang, Laos to Houay Xay at the Thai border, and we're giving you our honest verdict. Was it worth two days offline? We cover everything: the Pak Ou Caves, our overnight stay at Sanctuary Pakbeng Lodge, logistics on our Laos to Thailand border crossing, and our full cost breakdown. If you're deciding whether the Mekong slow boat is right for you, this is the video we wish we'd had before we booked. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.196 In three and a half years of full-time travel, we don’t go back to the same cities. We move forward. Until we visited Laos and Luang Prabang made us question that. This is the story of a place that stayed with us from the very first morning, a river journey that may not exist much longer, and the quiet realization that 16 days was never going to be enough. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.195 Queenstown, New Zealand is famous for adrenaline, epic scenery, and bucket list experiences. We arrived during peak summer season and made some choices that surprised even us. We found a slower, more meaningful version of the city than we ever expected, including a discovery in nearby Arrowtown that made the region's gold rush story feel completely different. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.193 Every 'yes' in travel is actually a 'no' to something else. Some tradeoffs look simple, but after years of full-time travel, we’ve learned that the most famous experiences aren't always the right ones. In this video, we’re sharing the internal process we use to decide what’s actually worth it. It’s impossible to see everything. So how do you choose what matters? ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.192 They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. After 63 years, Kevin was convinced that was true. Then we went to Nelson, New Zealand. We didn't go for the epic views or the famous peaks. We went to see what it felt like to actually slow down for 15 days. What followed was a series of unexpected moments, from a discovery in a local factory to finding a community that held us through a difficult loss. This is the story of how a small town in New Zealand caught us off guard and reminded us that no matter how long you’ve been on the road, there’s still plenty of room to be surprised. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.191 Most travelers treat Rotorua as a quick stop on the way to Hobbiton, but is that a mistake? We slowed down to experience the geothermal landscapes, Māori culture, and the town’s deeper history as the birthplace of tourism in New Zealand. Instead of zip lining or spa hopping, we chose meaningful moments to see what staying actually feels like. If you’re deciding whether Rotorua deserves more than a few hours on your itinerary, this is what we learned. We share all our costs for our four days here. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.190 Most travelers rush through Auckland, but we discovered there’s far more here than meets the eye. During our nine days in the city, we found wild coastlines, meaningful cultural experiences, and small everyday moments that completely reshaped how we saw New Zealand’s biggest city. If you’re considering a trip here (and we hope you do!), we share what we spent at the end. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.189 When we started planning 2026, everything worked on paper. But the more we looked at it, the more we realized we were about to travel in a way that didn’t feel like us anymore. In this video, we share WHY we changed our 2026 travel plans, where we slowed down, where we went big, and what we deliberately chose not to do. This isn’t a list of destinations; it’s how we think about time, movement, and meaning as full-time travelers. If you’re planning a long trip or trying to travel with more intention, we hope this gives you a new way to think about shaping your own year. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.188 Travel changed more for us than we expected, and it wasn’t the planning, packing, or logistics. In this episode, we respond to a simple viewer question that made us stop and take a hard look at how travel has quietly reshaped our daily habits, our routines, and how our bodies feel over time. What we discovered surprised us, and it turns out it’s not just a travel issue. If travel—or life—has ever left you feeling out of rhythm, this episode is for you. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.187 Tasmania wasn’t originally part of our Australia plan. It’s an island off the mainland, and honestly, we just didn’t know much about it going in. But once we started learning about its history—especially Port Arthur—we knew it was a place we wanted to experience for ourselves. This was the version of Australia we hoped to find! We share what our time in Hobart was really like, what surprised us, and why we’re so glad we didn’t skip it. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.186 Some decisions don’t come with a right answer. This week’s episode is a conversation about how people make hard decisions when every option carries a cost. It’s something that comes up in long-term travel, but also in everyday life. We share how we thought through a difficult decision, not to suggest it’s the right one, but to offer a framework others might find helpful when facing their own impossible choices. There are moments when presence, timing, logistics, grief, and responsibility all pull in different directions and clarity doesn’t come easily. Our Hobart video is coming next. For now, thank you for being part of a community that values thoughtful conversations as much as beautiful places. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.185 Melbourne surprised us in ways we didn’t expect. It wasn’t through landmarks or highlights, but through how the city actually works and feels. In this video, we share what stood out most, the moments that changed how we experienced the city, and what we learned by paying attention to daily life, people, and place. If you’re curious about Melbourne beyond the checklist, this is our honest take. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.183 This year took us across 45,000 miles, and only later did we realize the memories that stayed weren’t the ones we expected. In this video, we’re unpacking the five patterns that made moments forgettable versus imprinted forever. They showed up in big cities and small towns, in the middle of joyful surprises and in the messier moments too. These aren’t “best of” highlights but they’re the things that are changing the way we move through the world. If you’ve ever traveled long enough to notice your mindset shifting or wondered why some places stay with you long after you leave, we’re curious whether you’ve noticed these patterns, too. Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep. 182 What began as a simple test in Italy turned into a shift we didn’t understand until years later. Three years into full-time travel, we can finally see what that moment set in motion. In this video, we revisit the leap we took, the places that reshaped us, and the unexpected clarity Italy gave us about the life we’ve been building all along. Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.181 Asia can feel like a big leap when you’re used to traveling in Europe or North America. We spent seven months moving through Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea. In this video, we share what we learned, how we found our rhythm, and the simple things that made the trip feel easier and more approachable than we expected. If Asia has been on your list but you’re unsure where to start, we hope our experience gives you a clearer picture and a lot more confidence. Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.180 Berlin had a very different feel than we expected in ways that were hard to predict. In this episode, we try to capture what it was actually like to spend ten days here: the atmosphere, the everyday moments, the unexpected softness, and the things that made this massive city feel surprisingly personal. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.179 Most people never picture this part of Europe. Once hidden behind the Iron Curtain and shaped by the breakup of Yugoslavia, these five countries—Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania—are rewriting what it means to travel the continent. We share what surprised us most about life here: the warmth of strangers, the layers of history still visible in the streets, and the kind of beauty you can’t capture on postcards. From bunkers and bridges to seaside towns and mountain fortresses, this is the side of Europe few travelers talk about… and the one that changed how we see it forever. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.178 We’d dreamed of Dubrovnik for decades—and it was every bit as beautiful as we hoped. But our time here didn’t go as planned. Between the hills, the heat, and getting sick along the way, this city asked more of us than we expected. In this episode, we share what two weeks inside the walls revealed about beauty, patience, and keeping perspective when travel doesn’t go perfectly. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.177 Not every “cozy, light-filled apartment” looks quite like its listing. In this episode, we share the stays that went sideways—and what we do when reality doesn’t match the photos. This isn’t about blaming hosts or platforms, it’s about keeping your joy when the space you booked doesn’t deliver. You’ll see what we check before booking, how we decide when to speak up or move on, and why gratitude (with a hint of humor) always wins in the end. Because the truth is, comfort isn’t guaranteed… but a good story almost always is. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.176 Sometimes travel doesn’t go the way you plan…and not for the reasons you expect. We finally made it to one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, a place I’ve dreamed of seeing for years, and let’s just say, the week didn’t unfold quite the way we imagined. In this episode, we talk about the not-so-glamorous side of full-time travel, how we handle the curveballs that come with life on the road, and the small shift we’re making in next year’s plans because of it. Even the dream life has off days, and that’s part of what makes it real. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.175 What if the Europe you thought you knew was only half the story? In Sarajevo, where Ottoman streets meet Austro-Hungarian boulevards, East and West live side by side, and resilience shows up in art, food, and everyday life. It’s also one of the most affordable cities we’ve visited in Europe. We came for history and found a city that changed how we see Europe itself. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.174 One of the hardest parts of travel isn’t what you think. No matter how much time, money, or energy you have, it never feels like enough — and the choices can be overwhelming before the trip even begins. In this episode, we share why it feels that way, and what actually helps. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.173 Mostar, in Herzegovina, is often called Bosnia’s most beautiful city. It looks like a postcard, but the layers run deeper. It’s often a day trip, but we decided to stay a week. There was so much we had to discover about its beauty, its history, its people, and traditions. We didn’t just visit Mostar. We tried to understand it — and we’d love for you to come along. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.172 Most people rush through Kotor, Montenegro — but we stayed three weeks. What we found in Kotor and Dobrota went far beyond sightseeing: neighbors, daily rhythms, and a side of this place cruise passengers never see. It proved to us why slowing down changes everything you take away from a place. We share mobility ratings throughout and our costs at the end! ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.171 The biggest fear we hear about long-term or extended travel is missing family and friends. We thought that might be true for us, too, until the opposite happened. This episode is about the connections we never expected, and how travel expanded our circle instead of shrinking it. We share how friendships and conversations reshaped our journey and how you can find your people while traveling. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.170 What happens when a country’s most famous symbol isn’t even within its borders? We spent two weeks in Yerevan, Armenia chasing Mount Ararat, the country’s national symbol and the mountain tied to Noah’s Ark. Along the way, we explored the city’s pink-stone streets, its food and markets, the Cascade, and the moving Genocide Memorial. Our search took us outside the city to the Arch of Charents, Garni Temple, the volcanic cliffs of the Symphony of Stones, and the rock-hewn Geghard Monastery. We share why the mountain still matters so deeply, how walkable and accessible Yerevan felt, and how much we spent. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.169 After 1000 days in a row on the road, we stopped chasing a checklist and started listening for the story each place wants to show us. In this episode, we share the ten small rules that changed how we travel—simple shifts that make trips calmer, easier, and more memorable. They’ll work whether you have a long weekend, two months, or are a full-time traveler. See what changed and how you can use these ideas on your next trip. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.168 Vacations are supposed to recharge you, so why do so many leave us exhausted? In this episode, we dive into travel burnout—why traditional vacations often lead to vacation fatigue—and share simple slow travel tips that help you come home rested, not drained. If you’ve ever felt like you needed a vacation after your vacation, you’re not alone. Join us as we explore the hidden “vacation trap” and how to make your trips more relaxing, sustainable, and enjoyable. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.167 What if retirement wasn’t something you waited for, but something you shaped for yourself? In this episode, we talk about what really changed when we stopped asking for permission—from retiring without a perfect plan to learning how to spend without guilt, slow down without apologies, and live like this chapter belongs to us. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.166 In this video, we explore Tbilisi not just as travelers but as curious observers trying to understand a country still fighting for its identity. From bold street art near a former Soviet sewing factory to centuries-old statues and cathedrals, nightly protests, and the towering symbolism of the Mother of Georgia, we share the layered, emotional story of our time here. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube! Support the show

Ep.165 Cagliari probably isn’t on your bucket list, but maybe it should be. We came to Sardinia to sightsee… but also to slow down. During our a month in Cagliari, we fell for more than the historic towers and ancient streets—we found a rhythm of life that felt slower, simpler, and better. This video isn’t about checking off the sights. It’s about sharing what surprised us, the moments that felt meaningful, and why Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, became a place we didn’t want to leave. If you’re curious about what living the good life in Italy really feels like, this one’s for you. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.164 Think you know Prague? We share both iconic spots and places you might never have seen. Along the way, we tell some stories you might not have known. From surprising meals and quirky art to emotional moments, we take you beyond the guidebook and into the Prague that surprised us. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.163  We thought we knew how to communicate. But full-time travel? It rewrote the rulebook. And not because of big fights, but because of all the little things. After 40+ years together, we didn’t expect moods, routines, space, and constant decision making to test us like this. In this episode, we’re sharing how travel changed the way we talk to each other, from managing daily logistics to navigating tension, compromise, and very different energy levels. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.162 Viewers ask us: “What’s your plan if you can’t travel anymore?“ In this video, we talk about aging as nomads, future retirement options abroad, and how we’re planning for the years ahead without giving up the life we love now. If this is a question you wrestle with, or whether you’re thinking about finding a home base, whether to pay for Medicare, and living overseas, this conversation is for you. We talk about all of this and more! ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show

Ep.161 Gozo is often described as quieter and slower than Malta’s main island, and that made us almost skip it. But we’re so glad we didn’t. We take you along for two day trips—one with our daughter (featuring a detour to the Blue Lagoon and Comino) and one just the two of us. We’ll show you how we got around, what made the biggest impression, and why some retirees are choosing to live here. You'll also find accessibility ratings and on-screen costs. ❤️ Watch us on YouTube!Support the show