<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Travel with Cole]]></title><description><![CDATA[Travel stories, cruise reviews, and personalized trip planning from an independent travel advisor and seven-continent traveler.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2026 04:39:06 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://blog.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Featured in The Compass: Seven Continents in One Unforgettable Year]]></title><description><![CDATA[My journey to all seven continents in a single year is now featured in VAX VacationAccess’ The Compass. This post shares the story behind the dream, the risks I took, and the unforgettable moments from the most ambitious year of my life.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/featured-in-the-compass-seven-continents-in-one-year</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6986d77bf1094fef14edb7f3</guid><category><![CDATA[Media & Press]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><category><![CDATA[LGBTQ Travel]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 06:15:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_186b9d74d8504b5eac494dfeb98108e6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eating Kangaroo in Australia: My First Time Trying Roo Meat]]></title><description><![CDATA[Trying kangaroo for the first time in Australia—from the grocery store to the first bite. Surprisingly affordable, easy, and tasty.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/eating-kangaroo-in-australia-first-time</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696f617f4199f8a3e89e86fb</guid><category><![CDATA[Australia]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travel experiences]]></category><category><![CDATA[Food & Culture]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:11:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_a58b2100e9e14f3e85b850f67fd442cc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[34 Cruises in One Year: Life at Sea, Reflection, and Finding Balance]]></title><description><![CDATA[I spent 225+ nights and 34 cruises at sea in one year. This reflection explores balance, purpose, community, and what comes next.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/34-cruises-in-one-year-life-at-sea-reflection-and-finding-balance</link><guid isPermaLink="false">694e8da2c3b646e682860f54</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 14:29:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_2703070b8f634b859f82dfa1e049814b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk: Sydney’s Most Scenic Beach Trail]]></title><description><![CDATA[No trip to Sydney is complete without the Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, one of Australia’s most iconic seaside trails.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/iconic-walks-bondi-to-coogee</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6919e5fe2aa321a9db75f587</guid><category><![CDATA[Australia]]></category><category><![CDATA[Excursions & Activities]]></category><category><![CDATA[Destinations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travel experiences]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 15:11:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_ff93158490a94b9e9ee2e880b0a441db~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Rain Lets me Know I'm Alive: Reflections on Digital Nomad Life in Northern Germany]]></title><description><![CDATA[Walking through northern Germany in a light summer rain reminded me why contrast matters—and why even a dream life needs grounding]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/digital-nomad-life-germany-reflections</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a19645054d02f5f6362940</guid><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><category><![CDATA[Digital Nomad Life]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 17 Aug 2025 08:49:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_4bed8d97b963465ea3bceb99adf20521~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Chapter at Sea, With Gratitude: 42 Nights on the Carnival Miracle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Reflections on living aboard the Carnival Miracle for 42 nights—cruise ship life, Europe itineraries, community at sea, and what comes next.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/42-nights-carnival-miracle-life-at-sea</link><guid isPermaLink="false">688b34ae0e2fcb9906521988</guid><category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travel experiences]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:41:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_e86249cd149f4065b46bc708a96964c0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Having Fun is Free—A Reflection from Life on Cruise Ships]]></title><description><![CDATA[— Gen Maldonado What if your entire life could be summed up by one simple sentence: “having fun is free”? Circumstances shape us all. Pain, joy, love, loss — they leave their marks. But happiness? That’s a choice. Just like having fun. I’ve seen this truth play out in some of the most unexpected places. Like that catamaran tour in the Seychelles, where the crew crafted beautiful, heartfelt music with nothing more than milk jugs, spoons on a countertop, and a lone tambourine. Happiness didn’t...]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/having-fun-is-free</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6870427b415500cf59ab3c19</guid><category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travel experiences]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:46:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_633461ac824b40d1ad8e304e344590e2~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Celebrating Personal Independence]]></title><description><![CDATA[Nature gave me plenty to celebrate today. I’ve spent two of the last three 4th of Julys in Europe, and each time has been its own special kind of wonderful. In 2023, I found myself at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, enjoying an American-style 4th of July celebration complete with Motown music and fireworks. This year, Iceland offered up its own dazzling show—crystal clear waters framed by steep cliffs, with waterfalls spilling gracefully down the mountainsides into the fjords below. I took it...]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/celebrating-personal-independence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6868033bf52c0d7b0c5d84d4</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Destinations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 16:40:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_961ea33ce33f4ae79a7391079c8db3f9~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Being Too Much Is Not Enough]]></title><description><![CDATA[Read that again. I show up every single day. Sometimes I’m not proud of who I am or what I’ve done, but no one can ever say I didn’t try. If you think otherwise, you don’t really know me. There’s a bit of anger in my tone—trust me, I notice it too. If I’m too much, go find less. I know my life isn’t traditional. I don’t care for a traditional life as you know it, but that doesn’t mean I don’t crave certain traditions. Can you have both? Maybe that’s still to be determined. Maybe it’s not...]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/when-being-too-much-is-not-enough</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6862e48a5bf466f7082cdf49</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:31:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_03a8f58aaf144ce484d3715b022bec33~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Finding My Home/Life at Sea]]></title><description><![CDATA[Some dreams land. Some stay just out of reach. A reflection on waiting, becoming, and finding home at sea.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/finding-my-home</link><guid isPermaLink="false">685017153b222c5f6555c764</guid><category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><category><![CDATA[Digital Nomad Life]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 13:14:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_26db462ea768479ca660f8d35748b33c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reflections from Alaska/Waterfalls, Tacos, and True Colors]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Month in Alaska ️‍⛴️ I feel like the stars are aligning. ✨ Over the last 30 days in Alaska, I’ve had space—real space—not just miles on a map, but space in my mind to think, reflect, and breathe deeply. I’ve let the crisp Alaskan air fill my lungs as waterfalls cascade down evergreen-draped cliffs. I’ve sat quietly on park benches overlooking fog-shrouded bays, watching life slow down around me. I’ve rediscovered an outdoor version of myself—one that thrives on hikes, bike rides, and...]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/reflections-from-alaska</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6843bcad012d4b18f38941b9</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><category><![CDATA[North America]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 07 Jun 2025 04:32:05 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_d609a64563454ffd8b3db0441403a622~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Ten-Night Alaskan Adventure Aboard the Carnival Legend]]></title><description><![CDATA[A ten-night Alaska cruise aboard the Carnival Legend filled with whales, glaciers, family time, and unforgettable moments at sea.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/ten-night-alaska-cruise-carnival-legend</link><guid isPermaLink="false">683794234036dbf723cdf0b0</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Destinations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category><category><![CDATA[North America]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 28 May 2025 23:02:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_b92eb27e078249f18c1758ea66664cbe~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[8,376 Days Later: Leaving Colorado, Embracing a Digital Nomad Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[A reflection on 8,376 days in Colorado, letting go of a physical home, and fully embracing a life of solo travel, minimalist living, and digital nomad freedom.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/8376-days-colorado-digital-nomad</link><guid isPermaLink="false">681b58eeedfadc47fac4cf3f</guid><category><![CDATA[Digital Nomad Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 13:03:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_17c23827d33c43d2a7f2d16731f43d61~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Colorado (un)Bound: Letting Go of Home as a Digital Nomad]]></title><description><![CDATA[A personal reflection on leaving Colorado, embracing minimalist travel, cruise family, and redefining what home means as a digital nomad.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/colorado-un-bound-digital-nomad</link><guid isPermaLink="false">681415efc80873379a8fcee9</guid><category><![CDATA[Digital Nomad Life]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 02 May 2025 00:57:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_681fee5afec74a9d88e386dae5a1e0cf~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[“No One Can Make Me Stop”: A Digital Nomad Reflection on Love &#38; Travel]]></title><description><![CDATA[A reflective travel essay on love, uncertainty, creativity, and life in motion while navigating digital nomad life across Europe, the Caribbean, and Alaska.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/no-one-can-make-me-stop-digital-nomad</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67f6d996ed0ccae7f293c5b1</guid><category><![CDATA[Digital Nomad Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:38:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_d8d6e1983bc04db8bb74ad231ab13285~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Homeless: A Digital Nomad Moment in Athens]]></title><description><![CDATA[A raw, real moment in Athens marking the exact day one life ended and a digital nomad journey began.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/homeless-digital-nomad-athens</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67f552ac25f24db19119d750</guid><category><![CDATA[Digital Nomad Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 08 Apr 2025 16:46:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_0496201c1418485fbf768fe95c7391f1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Refreshing yourself in Cyprus: A Day in Limassol]]></title><description><![CDATA[A day in Limassol, Cyprus—exploring ancient ruins, Mediterranean landscapes, human connection, and reflection while visiting country number 49.]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/limassol-cyprus-travel-diary</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67ee254f8ed0c5fb611307cd</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 03 Apr 2025 06:28:50 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_5fd327f7f92b493da57227e11e0126d6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Tapas + Tears: Finding Perspective in Barcelona]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sitting here in Barcelona on yet another rainy afternoon, I stumbled across an article titled “The 25 Most Beautiful Cities in the World”  ( link here ). A single tear rolls down my cheek—not from the sudden downpour (my trusty €6 umbrella is holding up just fine)—but from the realization that I’ve been to most of the cities on the list, with a few more already planned for this year. And just like that, it hits me again: I am truly, incredibly fortunate. A few short years ago, this kind of...]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/tapas-tears-barcelona-travel-reflection</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67e10b5ac05fec25d9922081</guid><category><![CDATA[Destinations]]></category><category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><category><![CDATA[Digital Nomad Life]]></category><category><![CDATA[Solo Travel]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:18:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_2a02e2bd60c14f439b6f8142580f7625~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_100,h_100,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Birthday in the Middle of the Atlantic: Life at Sea at 43]]></title><description><![CDATA[This is Forty-Three Twenty-two days of travel since I left home on February 19th, and today, I’m celebrating my birthday in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The Celebrity Apex departed the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11th, and we’ve been sailing through fairly rough seas ever since, making our way to Ponta Delgada, Azores. We’ll arrive there on Sunday, March 16th, before eventually disembarking in Barcelona on Friday, March 21st. There have been a fair...]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/birthday-middle-of-atlantic-life-at-sea</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67d42b354f6a306aa2982018</guid><category><![CDATA[Travel experiences]]></category><category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category><category><![CDATA[Travel Reflections]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:21:30 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_596d41da7d39487e986eddfe048ae966~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Perfect Ending to a Winter in the Caribbean &#38; Mexico]]></title><description><![CDATA[When I land home in Grand Junction late on the night of Sunday, February 16, I will have completed the longest single trip of my life—88 nights. Seven cruise ships, five hotels, Disneyland… and a bite from a jaguar. I’ve traveled all over the Caribbean and Mexico, revisiting familiar destinations and exploring several new ones, including Dominica and Honduras—bringing my total country count to 44. Ironically, my final stop before returning to the U.S. was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I’ve been...]]></description><link>https://www.mortgageguytravelstheworld.com/post/winter-in-the-caribbean-and-mexico-travel-reflections</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67b267267d068127a2b30272</guid><category><![CDATA[Life at Sea]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 16 Feb 2025 22:53:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3bf636_34f036095d404ddd9b49aece8e723ae3~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>colesjoholm</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>