Dear Anne, wish you were here!

My friend Anne had all the right travel gear. Moisture-wicking underwear, non-kinking ponytail holders, all-terrain hiking boots, transformable rain jacket… you name the adventure, she had the right gear for it. Needless to say, when I unpacked my gold lame boots for hiking and horseback riding in Belize, she nor the staff took me very seriously. However, it wasn’t my first rodeo! Those boots are over the ankle, with about a 1.5” heal, have a flexible sole and are lace up for tucking jeans into.  The topic of my shimmery boot choice came up—despite everyone previously having to admit they were actually ideal—during our dinner conversation with some other guests. They admitted they were so unprepared that they didn’t even bring socks! Anne offered that they could borrow her Smartwool Socks and led into the perfect pitch for them. They borrowed them the next day and I also took a pair (mostly in disbelief that any sock could be as exceptional as she described in the heat we were

Everyone has travel tips! While these may seem obvious, they are often things that I forget to do! For being safe… Share your itinerary with your family and friends. Make sure to include the contact information for the places you are staying. If someone needs to get in touch with you for any reason, this may be the easiest way to do so if your personal technology connection is spotty.  Tell people where you are going and what you are doing. Get friendly with your lodging staff, talk to them about your activities, ask them for their recommendations and let them know when they can expect you back.  Know how to get in touch with emergency services wherever you are. This handy Wikipedia list of emergency numbers is a good start, but make sure you confirm this information. If there is an emergency, its best to locate a landline as authorities can often trace your location.  Know your personal limits. Be honest with your travel companions about what you are physically capable of

Anne E. Swaney is the inspiration for this travel blog. If you were a friend of Anne’s, you knew what a vivacious traveler she was. She and I connected over our shared love of travel (and frustration with friends that didn’t prioritize it as highly). She was energetic, curious and open-minded. All the right qualities of a great explorer. Trapped by her exceptional charm, I wanted to go to all the places with Anne! We were quickly on our way to planning our first adventure abroad together. We set out for Belize, a place I had wanted to go for some time, in January of 2015. However, Anne disappeared January 15, 2016, while in San Ignacio, Belize. The next day, she was found in the Mopan River, brutally murdered. Her last known location, a spot I had stood with her the year prior, was a yoga platform near the river. She had returned to the resort where we—each day watched hummingbirds, rode horses and enjoyed fresh home cooked meals—had made wonderful friends we promised to retur