Kara and Luis are travel bloggers who are determined to see as much of the world as they can. Kara grew up in a small ski resort and coal mining town in Canada. The Rocky Mountains will always be “home” to her. She spent the first twenty years of her life in Canada, went to college and then took of to live in Los Angeles for five years. She and Luis met in Los Angeles, and have been exploring ever since. Luis is a Tico (from Costa Rica) and a Canadian, and is so passionate about travel that he made it his career. He has been working on a cruise ship for seven years, and that job has been the foundation for many of their travels. Watching a fútbol game and eating poutine is one of their favorite ways to spend an afternoon!
Since their marriage in April, 2017, they spend their days traveling the world aboard a cruise ship together. Growing up in both Canada and Costa Rica has allowed them to see the world’s beauty, which ignited their desire to travel more. In between contracts working on the ship, they visit as many places as they can, including British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, since it’s where they call home. They love hiking, fitness, and sharing their excursions with others. They’re not sure where in the world they will end up, but for now, they are happy to be untethered, and free to see as many countries as time will permit!
We just love following your adventures from your account, Ever After Nomads. What inspired you to share your adventures? What are your goals by telling your stories and sharing your photographs?
We were initially inspired to share our adventures so that friends and family back home could keep up with us. That inspiration quickly evolved into a desire to inspire others to travel and to live vicariously through us. We hope that our experiences will inspire others to get out of their comfort zone, and to see the world!
How has travel made a positive impact on your relationship and lives?
Travel has positively influenced our lives because it has expanded our world view and given us a sense of fulfillment. We know what it’s like to travel solo, and we have always wanted to share our adventures with a partner who shares the same passion for travel. Now that we share traveling with each other, we find it to be a lot more fulfilling.
How many countries have you been to? What have been some of your favorites, and why?
I, Luis, have been to 68 Countries. Kara has been to 24. Collectively we have been to 68 countries. We are adding Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein in September of 2017.
First on our list of favourites is Norway. Cruising through Geiranger Fjord was breathtaking. Hiking Pulpit Rock was an unforgettable experience and the scenery reminded us of home. Everywhere we looked there was something new to photograph. We had one of our most amazing date nights on the Nyhavn Canal in Copenhagen, Denmark. Although we only spent one night there, it was clear that we would love to come back and explore the rest of the country.
Where are some of your “bucket list” destinations?
Kara: First up on my bucket list is Greece. Since Luis has already been there, he’s looking forward to showing me around.
Luis: In my quest to reach 100 countries, I can’t wait to explore Asia. In particular, Thailand, China and Japan. The Cook Islands and Galapagos haven’t been crossed off either of our lists yet, so we would love to explore them together one day.
What advice would you give to couples who are looking into traveling together?
Plan ahead. As much fun as it is to fly by the seat of your pants, it’s easy to miss out on hidden gems and destinations favored by locals, if you don’t do research in advance. Planning ahead is also a great way to save money! Also, make sure your travel styles line up before planning a trip together. If one of you is happy in a hostel, and the other demands a luxury hotel, there will be issues.
Where do you currently live? What are some of your favorite local spots for adventure?
We currently split our time between the mountain town of Fernie, British Columbia, and Calgary, Alberta, which is in the prairies. Hiking in Fernie is always on the top of our list. The Rocky Mountains offer endless entertainment, from cliff jumping to hiking to a one hundred fifty-million- year-old ammonite. A short drive from Calgary is Banff, Alberta which has amazing hiking, gondola rides, and canoeing. There is plenty to keep us busy, and both cities offer some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.
How did you get into hiking? What is it about hiking that sparks your passion for the activity?
When you grow up close to the Rocky Mountains, hiking is a big part of the lifestyle from a young age. Hiking combines our passions for fitness and exploring. We love being able to go off the beaten path and experience nature in a way you can’t when you are behind the wheel.
What are some of your favorite hiking spots from your travels?
Pulpit Rock has been our favorite hike so far. The view is amazing and it was surreal to look down over the cliffs to the water, which is 600m below. Castle Mountain in Fernie, B.C, is a great hike through the forest. Being able to look down over the whole town at the summit of the hike is a humbling moment.
What other outdoor adventures or activities do you participate in?
Kara: I love horseback riding and I grew up barrel racing (think rodeo with a horse running at top speed around upright barrels).
Luis: I have always been active in sports including soccer (fútbol!) and basketball. I still love a game of soccer, or to shoot hoops with a few friends.
Who do you look up to? How do they inspire you in the way you live your life?
We both look up to spiritual leaders. Our faith (we’re Christians) is a huge part of our life, and having strong role models is big in helping us achieve our goals in our spiritual and physical lives, as well as our marriage.
What are some of the most memorable stories from your adventures?
In November 2016, I (Luis) took Kara to Costa Rica to meet my family for the first time. That was the trip that I had decided to pop the question. I had it all planned out: a romantic walk on the beach at sunset, a treasure chest buried in the sand with a poem, and the ring. During our trip hurricane Otto decided to make an appearance and its first mark was Costa Rica. The resort where I had planned the proposal was inaccessible, so I had to change everything last minute. We ended up getting engaged at the end of a hike through the rainforest, at Monte De La Cruz. It’s a plateau that overlooks part of the province of Heredia. It turned out even better than expected since we got a hike in.
We recently hiked to a one hundred fifty-million- year-old ammonite in Fernie, British Columbia. Kara stepped on a wasp’s nest in the river bed on the way there. We also encountered one on the way out! Between the two of us, we came out with nine wasp stings. It was totally worth it, though!
We at This Adventure Life want our readers to live life fearlessly in the pursuit of living their ideal life. What would your advice be for someone who wants to live fearlessly and pursue their wildest dreams?
Our advice to those who want to live their ideal dream, is to find a career that makes your dream possible. If travel is your dream, you will probably have to make sacrifices. You may have to buy a beater of a car instead of a new one in order to save up money. You may have to choose a job with more flexibility and a pay cut in order to get the time off that you need. But when you look back in ten, twenty, or thirty years, will you regret driving a crappy car, when in exchange, you have memories of swimming in the Blue Lagoon, or seeing a Russian ballet? We know that we won’t, and it’s easy to live fearlessly when you are living without regrets.
Where is your next adventure?
Before embarking on our next contract on the cruise ship, we are spending some time in Barcelona, where we hope to see the amazing church “Sagrada Familia,” Mount Tibidabo (if you watch the TV show “Friends,” you’ll remember a reference to this!), and the famous Las Ramblas. After that, we will be heading to Switzerland, to see what Leukerbad has to offer. We are going to drive to Randa, Switzerland to see the world’s longest suspension bridge, and fit in a couple of hikes we have yet to determine. We’ve planned an overnight trip to Liechtenstein and Feldkirch in Austria, before heading back to Leukerbad. Then we’ll board the ship in Barcelona and spend eight weeks working and cruising.
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At This Adventure Life we celebrate the lives and stories of the people who live life fearlessly. #livefearlessly