About Rick
Greetings, fellow travelers! Ever since childhood, I've always dreamed what is around the next corner. When eight years old I led some neighborhood kids to a nearby town just to see what was there. The thrill of discovery, even something so small as a mile away intrigued me. Whether it was leading childhood adventures to a nearby town or traveling overseas, the seed of a lifelong passion for travel was sown early.
My yearning for exploration remained unquenched through high school and, after graduating, I embarked on my first grand adventure – a six-week odyssey across Europe. Starting in the heart of Paris, I dove headfirst into a world of wonder.
Lucky enough to stay in a friend's flat in Paris, I loved the excitement of seeing Notre Dame, the Opera House for the first time and and then off to see Versailles with the manicured gardens and the extravegance of Louis XIV's palace interiors. This laid the foundation for the rest of my European voyage as I then took off to Germany.
Purchasing a vintage VW bus in Germany, we journeyed across the Scandinavian landscape, exploring Denmark, Sweden, and taking a ferry to Finland. My bus, fondly known as Ole Blue, led us to Helsinki and a delightful local strawberry festival.
From there, Ole Blue ferried us south, through Germany, over the stunning Austrian Alps, and took us through the cities of Skopje, Belgrade, and on to Macedonia. Greece awaited us next, with the climb up to the Delphi Oracle's location as a memorable stopover.
Down to Athens, we sailed to the island of Mykonos. Aboard a lively ferry filled with Ouzo-sipping patrons dancing to Greek music, unforgettable sights and a taste of local culture.
The hundreds of photographs I captured on this trip led me to the Art Institure of Boston's photography program, and eventually, my own studio. I embraced a nomadic lifestyle, turning this space into my home, living in a downtown office building in Boston. With a little extra work I ran fifty feet of pipe from the hall sink to make myself a shower out of a plastic tub that doubled as a sink. The owner turned a blind eye to several artists living in.
I was able to I support myself with freelance work from a modeling agency. This was my home until a fire forced all of the artists, to vacate the building.
In my twenties, I decided to revisit academics, attending U.Mass/Boston, where I discovered my interest in Ecology and Population Biology – a field that resonated with my love for the living world.
A chance encounter with an ad for a research assistant position with world-renowned Tropical Biologist, Professor Kamaljit Bawa, felt like fate. Excitement coursed through me as I waited for the opportunity to work in the lush rainforests of Costa Rica.
I found myself plunged into a biological paradise when Professor Bawa led me to Puerto Viejo and the La Selva Biological Station. This is one of the premiere research stations anywhere in the world for students to pursue a career in Tropical Biology. It is also open to the public to tour the pristine ecosystem it protects.
La Selva is in Costa Rica's humid Caribbean lowlands. Surrounded by lush forests and abundant wildlife, it is also open to natural history visitors as welll as researchers.
Our work involved tracking and documenting the flowering patterns of various trees, which offered us profound insights into their reproductive biology. Under Dr. Bawa's direction I was awarded a SigmaXI grant to study the pollination of Dieffenbachia, a plant common to many households. We also journeyed to Guanacaste Province, an arid location on the Pacific side. Costa Rica has many micro-climates and even Pine forests in the higher elevations.
The after-dark adventures were particularly thrilling. We photographed diverse wildlife, including Sloths, Anteaters, Kinkajous, Howler aned Spider monkeys, the ominous and feared Fer de Lance, Bushmasters, Coral snakes and even the elusive Jaguar on one occasion.
My return home was filled with yet more adventure, as I journeyed by bus from Costa Rica to Guatemala, traversing Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras. I explored Lake Atitlan and visited Barro Colorado Island's research station, maintained by STRI.org, another research station that prepares students for careers in Biological research.
After graduating from UMass/Boston I began searching for a job with little success. When job prospects in Boston seemed slim, I drove to California, on an exciting cross-country camping trip. Most nights were in a KOA campground or under the stars in some remote area. When a little tired there were some motels sprinkled in between.
My journey was filled with nights under the stars and days exploring diverse landscapes. Highlights included the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Grand Tetons, and white water rafting down Wyoming's Snake River. After two weeks, I arrived in California and rested in beautiful Lake Tahoe.
Once in California, I quickly found employment as a consultant for a national insurance carrier. This job let me survey businesses across the Western region, making for a seamless transition from my travels.
The role was a dream come true for a few years, as I journeyed everywhere from the Mexican border to Washington, Idaho, Arizona, and Utah. These states formed my extensive territory.
The position offered abundant opportunities for side adventures. From exploring Death Valley, Mono Lake, Lone Pine, and Yosemite, to camping in picturesque locations, I found that travel was my destiny, even in a corporate context.
A call from my local church led me on a unique journey to Nicaragua, where our team distributed anti-drug information to local school children. Through comic books, puppet shows, dramas, and balloon animals, we spread messages of hope and caution.
Another memorable venture with the same group led me to the Amazon River, a place where children sail to school in dugout canoes. Filled with breathtaking flora and fauna, the region offered an unforgettable experience of exploring the dense rainforests and mingling with the locals.
We set sail on an old diesel boat from the bustling port city of Belem to a remote island in the Amazon Delta. This adventurous journey culminated in a relaxing sojourn in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro.
Inspired by these experiences, I returned to Brazil multiple times to continue working with high-risk street kids in Belo Horizonte. These experiences marked the onset of a new phase in my life.
Wanting to make a difference, I stepped away from corporate life to pursue a teaching credential in Special Education. I spent several rewarding years teaching high school kids in Sacramento, CA.
Regardless of my career path, traveling remained an enduring passion. Today, I opt for the comfort of hotels over camping but my enthusiasm for exploration remains undimmed. I've been fortunate enough to enjoy cruises to Alaska, Nova Scotia, St. Johnsbury, the Cayman Islands, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and the Mexican Riviera with my wife.
Our most recent adventure was a cruise to Cozumel. We tried our hand at world-class marlin fishing on Roatan Island, explored ancient Mayan ruins in Belize, and are now eagerly looking forward to our next cruise to Rome, Cannes, and Barcelona in June 2023.
Reflecting on my many adventures – fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, and more – I felt compelled to share these experiences with the world. Launching this blog seemed like the perfect avenue to reach fellow travel enthusiasts worldwide.
I invite you to join me on these digital adventures and would love to hear about your travels. This platform is meant to inspire, not just provide secondhand experiences. So don't just read and dream, pack your bags and start exploring!
Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions, need travel tips, or just want to share your own travel stories. Remember, life is too short for regrets. So embrace the unknown and just GO. I promise you, it will be worth it!
Post-graduation, I found myself itching for fresh experiences. When job prospects in Boston seemed slim, I ventured to California, embracing an exciting cross-country camping trip along the way, thanks to a friend's timely need to have their car delivered to San Francisco.
My journey was filled with nights under the stars and days exploring diverse landscapes. Highlights included the Black Hills of South Dakota, the Grand Tetons, and white water rafting down Wyoming's Snake River. After two exhilarating weeks, I arrived in California and rested in beautiful Lake Tahoe.
Once in California, I quickly found employment as a consultant for a national insurance carrier. This job let me survey businesses across the Western region, making for a seamless transition from my travels.
The role was a dream come true for a few years, as I journeyed everywhere from the Mexican border to Washington, Idaho, Arizona, and Utah. These states formed my extensive territory.
The position offered abundant opportunities for side adventures. From exploring Death Valley, Mono Lake, Lone Pine, and Yosemite, to camping in picturesque locations, I found that travel was my destiny, even in a corporate context.
A call from my local church led me on a unique journey to Nicaragua, where our team distributed anti-drug information to local school children. Through comic books, puppet shows, dramas, and balloon animals, we spread messages of hope and caution.
Another memorable venture with the same group led me to the Amazon River, a place where children sail to school in dugout canoes. Filled with breathtaking flora and fauna, the region offered an unforgettable experience of exploring the dense rainforests and mingling with the locals.
We set sail on an old diesel boat from the bustling port city of Belem to a remote island in the Amazon Delta. This adventurous journey culminated in a relaxing sojourn in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro.
Inspired by these experiences, I returned to Brazil multiple times to continue working with high-risk street kids in Belo Horizonte. These endeavors marked the onset of a new phase in my life.
Wanting to make a difference, I stepped away from corporate life to pursue a teaching credential in Special Education. I spent several rewarding years teaching high school kids in Sacramento, CA. The experience sparked an interest in marketing, particularly the digital realm.
Regardless of my career path, traveling remained an enduring passion. Today, I opt for the comfort of hotels over camping but my enthusiasm for exploration remains undimmed. I've been fortunate enough to enjoy cruises to Alaska, Nova Scotia, St. Johnsbury, the Cayman Islands, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and the Mexican Riviera with my wife.
Our most recent adventure was a cruise to Cozumel. We tried our hand at world-class marlin fishing on Roatan Island, explored ancient Mayan ruins in Belize, and are now eagerly looking forward to our next cruise to Rome, Cannes, and Barcelona in June 2023.
Reflecting on my many adventures – fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, and more – I felt compelled to share these experiences with the world. Launching this blog seemed like the perfect avenue to reach fellow travel enthusiasts worldwide.
I invite you to join me on these digital adventures and would love to hear about your travels. This platform is meant to inspire, not just provide secondhand experiences. So don't just read and dream, pack your bags and start exploring!
Don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions, need travel tips, or just want to share your own travel stories. Remember, life is too short for regrets. So embrace the unknown and just GO. I promise you, it will be worth it!