CURRENT MISSION

Traversing the entire world w/ my 4ever partner Shannon. Life as an ADVENTURE! I've been a student everyday of my life; lover of the journey; avid searcher around the glimpses of the universe.

ABOUT ME

LIFE AS AN ADVENTURE:

I've worked for the government & in the private sector. I've been a leader of some, & a follower of others.

My family & friends are my strength; world travel is my true passion. Everything else is secondary; although music, politics, interesting food, a beautiful bottle of wine, & a Darrell's Poboy are close behind! I'm currently traveling EVERYWHERE around the globe with my forever partner Shannon & sharing our adventures with the world.
Check out our Blog: http://www.2traveleverywhere.com/
& our FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/2TravelEverywhere
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/2traveverywhere
Follow us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/2traveleverywhere

MY LIFE RIGHT NOW:

My wife and I lived in Washington, DC for a decade doing the daily grind. Politics, suits, non-profits, fighting the good fight, blah, blah, blah.
We decided to start a travel blog, a photography business, and a business coaching company, and operate them all on the road.
We packed up our lives, hit the road full time on June 29, 2K12, and have never looked back.

We started with 6 months traveling 17,000 miles around the U.S. hitting 38 states and a ton of Canada. We lived in Turkey for 3 months and Crete, Greece for 3 months.
We have since then traveled to 36 countries, including Cuba, most of the entire Southern half of Australia (& Tasmania!), much of Latin America, Southeast Asia, all over Eastern & Western Europe, Guam, several islands of Micronesia & the Marshall Islands, every province in Canada, & throughout all 50 states in the U.S.

We are currently blogging voraciously while on this great journey.
In 2015/2016, we plan to travel to Cuba, India, Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Argentina, Ecuador, Morocco, Ethiopia, the Middle East, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore, the Philippines, & Indonesia- who knows where else?!

Find me on Facebook: Cubantabasco
Follow me on Twitter: @Cubantabasco

THINGS "ABOUT" ME, SOME MAYBE BORING, SOME MAYBE NOT:

International travel has been an integral part of my entire life since my 1st trip to Latin America at just 4 months old. I have been outside the U.S. at least once a year, almost every year of my life. Figuring out a sustainable way to integrate a substantial amount of adventure style traveling has been one of my major objectives to achieve a greater level of life fulfillment. I truly believe the journey that life leads us on is the ultimate destination, and the end point is just wonderful lagniappe.

I'm Cuban, Spanish, Venezuelan, & Canary Islander on my mother's side of the family and Cajun, French, Irish, Spanish, & Native American on my father's side. I've traversed the globe hitting 36 countries (SO FAR!) on 5 continents doing adventure style travel, & photography/videography. I'll hit my 6th continent (Africa) in 2K16, & it's an ultimate dream to one day land on Antarctica's frozen landscape. I hope to hit at least 150 countries in my lifetime.

Other travel related dreams - getting my pilot's license and also sailing around the world w/ Shannon.

I was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and also grew up in Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala y Venezuela. I am Spanish & English bilingual & hope to one learn a third language.

Music plays an important part in my life; I play several musical instruments & am passionate about all styles & genres of music from around the world.

I LOVE SO MANY THINGS:

Traveling to literally anywhere; photography; history; museums; kayaking; white water rafting; sky diving; hiking; biking; camping; running; jumping off a perfectly good rock & into a river; reading books on - politics, biographies, classic literature, poetry, contemporary novels, poverty, global health decline, water privatization, philosophy, as well as atheism & world religions; political debating; a beautiful glass of wine or an amazing vineyard; great beers from local microbreweries; cozy bed & breakfasts; all genres of movies - indie flicks, horror, docs, B&W classics, foreign films, etc etc.; live concerts of any kind; opera & theatre; witty comedians & spoken word; staring at maps of the world; classic muscle cars; FIFA Argentinian Copa Mundial Equipo de Futbol; LSU Tigers; NOLA Saints; the human struggle & cross-border fanaticism of the Olympics; walking in the rain unencumbered; all things Cuban; all things Cajun; breakfast for dinner; eating outdoors; when Shannon wears my shirts; all animals; NPR; bowling; game nights; people-watching in intensely bustling urban areas; discovering and/or cooking new foods; engaging in great conversation; constantly expanding experiences & learning new things; Shanisms; the smell of a woman's hair after a shower; finding a wonderful, secluded place to relax; a cool nap on a windy beach; squishy mud in between my toes; professional massages & shaves; eclectic tunes on the Ipod; lazy days in the cabin; the smell of new shoes; sitting in those expensive massage chairs in the mall; the fit of a well-tailored suit; a dirty, old pair of chucks on my feet; a guitar in my hands; walking barefoot in grass; pizza; honey crisp apples; the smell of a clean T-shirt after it's been in a drawer for ages; collecting coffee mugs from every city I've traveled to; all things Mac; riding horses & farm smells; cool showers; hot baths; selling things on Craigslist; liking things on FB; Abuelita's wonderful Cuban food; Dad's amazing, raucous laughter; Abuelo's everlasting sense of confidence & intrigue; long conversations with Mom; playing ping-pong & air hockey; staring at the clouds & stars; driving on lonely highways at dusk; getting through international customs & stepping onto new soil; new country stamps in my passport; meeting, breaking bread with, & fully integrating with new people from around the world; and reconnecting with old friends & acquaintances.

I'VE DONE SO MANY THINGS:

Worked as an on-set photographer, still photographer, & videographer on domestic and international projects. I've been a Communications Consultant & Public Policy Consultant w/ a plethora of groups working on civic engagement issues ranging from poverty to youth leadership to domestic violence to voting rights to minority public health issues to public sexual harassment to victims of violent crimes issues to educational opportunities for at-risk youth. I've served on boards, foundations, & organizations in many capacities, wearing many suits, such as Press Secretary, Community Outreach Organizer, Legislative Coordinator, Events Planner, Grant Writer, & Seminar Facilitator. I've been a University Admissions Officer & Bilingual Recruitment Specialist. I've been a Nanny for some amazing kids! I was appointed by the Louisiana Lieutenant Governor's office as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow and created & implemented the Promise Fellow's Dentists Giving Back and the Greater Natchitoches area Boys & Girls Club's "Play Ball-Safe Streets" and "Teen Alert-HIV is Real" initiatives.

UNIVERSITY, BEEN THERE STUDIED THAT:

I graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelors of Science in Urban Studies & Political Science from the University of the District of Columbia. I also attended McNeese State University studying Marketing & Political Science. While a student, I was heavily involved & served in numerous leadership capacities in fraternity life. I was Vice President of the Student Government Association at UDC and Chairman of the Student Senate at MSU. At UDC, I was a Thurgood Marshall Scholar & served as Captain of my University Academic Team. At MSU, I collaborated with a core group of student leaders convincing the U.S. Dept. of Education to shed public light on undocumented University sexual assault statistics. At UDC, I helped launch the National HBCU Hurricane's Katrina & Rita Relief efforts where HBCUs nationwide collaborated efforts to caravan food, clothes, money, & other supplies to Texas Southern University.

PHILOSOPHY

I'm a fervent believer that we should live and let live- and work earnestly to live within the social compact of humanity by helping each other. I am traveling the world with my forever partner Shannon for several years, and we blog, write, document, engross ourselves in varying cultures and attempt to meet as many people as possible and see as much of the world as we can.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

The secret of life- putting yourself out there and letting the universe catch you.

Interests

Traveling to literally anywhere; photography; history; museums; kayaking; white water rafting; sky diving; hiking; biking; camping; running; jumping off a perfectly good rock & into a river; reading books on - politics, biographies, classic literature, poetry, contemporary novels, poverty, global health decline, water privatization, philosophy, as well as atheism & world religions; political debating; a beautiful glass of wine or an amazing vineyard; great beers from local microbreweries; cozy bed & breakfasts; all genres of movies - indie flicks, horror, docs, B&W classics, foreign films, etc etc.; live concerts of any kind; opera & theatre; witty comedians & spoken word; staring at maps of the world; classic muscle cars; FIFA Argentinian Copa Mundial Equipo de Futbol; LSU Tigers; NOLA Saints; the human struggle & cross-border fanaticism of the Olympics; walking in the rain unencumbered; all things Cuban; all things Cajun; breakfast for dinner; eating outdoors; when Shannon wears my shirts; all animals; NPR; bowling; game nights; people-watching in intensely bustling urban areas; discovering and/or cooking new foods; engaging in great conversation; constantly expanding experiences & learning new things; Shanisms; the smell of a woman's hair after a shower; finding a wonderful, secluded place to relax; a cool nap on a windy beach; squishy mud in between my toes; professional massages & shaves; eclectic tunes on the Ipod; lazy days in the cabin; the smell of new shoes; sitting in those expensive massage chairs in the mall; the fit of a well-tailored suit; a dirty, old pair of chucks on my feet; a guitar in my hands; walking barefoot in grass; pizza; honey crisp apples; the smell of a clean T-shirt after it's been in a drawer for ages; collecting coffee mugs from every city I've traveled to; all things Mac; riding horses & farm smells; cool showers; hot baths; selling things on Craigslist; “liking things on FB; Abuelita's wonderful Cuban food; Dad's amazing, raucous laughter; Abuelo's everlasting sense of confidence & intrigue; long conversations with Mom; playing ping-pong & air hockey; staring at the clouds & stars; driving on lonely highways at dusk; getting through international customs & stepping onto new soil; new country stamps in my passport; meeting, breaking bread with, & fully integrating with new people from around the world; and reconnecting with old friends & acquaintances.

• animals
• poetry
• photography
• music festivals
• cooking
• wine
• beer
• coffee
• running
• politics
• movies
• board games
• reading
• eating out
• blogging
• live music
• guitar
• opera
• spoken word
• cycling
• hiking
• backpacking
• kayaking
• camping
• scuba diving
• sailing
• world cup
• history
• ukulele
• theatre
• stand up paddle boarding
• dinner parties
• el camino de santiago

Music, Movies, and Books

So many. Let's just talk about it in person.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've had the good fortune to see some brilliant things across the world. I've dived with great white sharks in Port Lincoln, OZ. I've seen the ancient palace of Konosos in Creta, Greece. I've driven across all 50 states in the U.S. and every province in Canada, and I've even driven through the barren, frostbitten lands of northern Labrador, Canada. I've danced with people in Cuba, and I've explored the jungles of Pohnpei and Chuuk, Micronesia.

Teach, Learn, Share

I truly believe I have been a student everyday in this Universe we live in. I want to speak to and learn from as many people as possible. We can learn from each other simply by breaking bread, drinking tea, and taking the time to actually listen.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Belize, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Federated States of, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Venezuela, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Albania, Costa Rica, Greece, Guatemala, Indonesia, Panama, Turkey, United States, Venezuela