Hey – I’m Lesley, an Aussie Expat living in Amsterdam! Before Amsterdam I lived in London for 3 years. Before that, Melbourne (where I’m from) and before that, Iowa in the USA! Not to mention a semester abroad in China during my high-school days. Living in Europe is great, and having a great base city like Amsterdam (or London) for travels around Europe has been the reason I started this blog. I love discovering new places, seeing what makes it individually beautiful, tasting the delicious local food, and writing about my experiences.
After I graduated from the University of Iowa (USA) majoring in Communications and Sports Studies, I thought my future would be as a live sports reporter, down on the sidelines, right in the thick of the action type stuff. Well, life happens, and I did get to work in sports, just not as a live reporter! I found my way into numerous sports media companies, dabbled as a match reporter in my spare time, and even had a website dedicated to it for a couple of years.
In 2013 the travel bug was itching me like crazy, and another trip abroad wasn’t going to cut it. I needed to leave my life behind and start fresh in a new city! I wanted to explore what else was out there for me in the world, have new experiences, challenge myself in a different way. So, I decided to move to London, roughly 24 hours flying from my hometown of Melbourne, Australia.
During my 3 years living in London is where this travel blog all started. I discovered how much travel meant to me and how all I wanted to do with any money I earned was put it towards flights to somewhere new! That being said, I have to give credit to the budget airlines – they’ve certainly played their part! I’ve flown for as little as £8 return for a weekend getaway from London to Ireland. Now that’s less than a cocktail in a fine London establishment!
One of my favourite trips taken during my Life in London was to Morocco. This is also where I met my travel partner, known on this blog as ‘The Hunk’ (self-named). The Hunk is Dutch, and was living in Amsterdam when we met & is also the reason why I’m now a proud Amsterdammer!
How did we meet?
Well, The Hunk and I were both staying at the same hostel in Marrakech, Morocco. Over breakfast on our first morning in Morocco, our respective groups of friends decided to explore Marrakech together. By dinner time the hunk and I were essentially on our first date, sharing meals with each other in Djemaa el Fna’s bustling night market.
Fast forward 18 months and the Hunk and I were driving in his little VW from my share-house in London, through the Euro tunnel and on-wards to Amsterdam to start our life living together in The Netherlands! Choosing to move to a country that I cannot speak the language of has been a huge decision, but one I am thankful to have made.
Going to Morocco was the best trip I ever took, not only was it an out-of-this-world experience like none other, I also met my person.
Want to know more about my life as an expat in Amsterdam? Check out the expat blog posts I’ve written.
Big Life Change
In 2019, my Dutch guy and I got hitched in Amsterdam! And within a few months we were pregnant and beginning our greatest adventure yet! Our baby was born in July 2020 and so this blog is forever changed. And change is good! The blog began as a single expat travelling the world. It changed to a couples travel blog, and now we are evolving to a family travel blog – well, when we can travel again! Thanks for sticking with me throughout the journey!
Read about the pregnancy, travel during pregnancy and travel as a family!
Why Read This Blog?
Ever since touching down in London town on that one-way Etihad Airways plane, I’ve been exploring far and wide. With this blog I am endeavouring to share with you my experiences from the world around us. The stories I share are, what I hope, inspiring you to travel more. Travel often, travel when you can, but above all just travel! And after all, the best stories are told between the pages of YOUR passport. Thanks for reading!
Want to send me and my family somewhere? Contact me via the form below to pitch an idea!
You can also find out more information about working with me here.