Anywhere&Here

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A few years ago I hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu with @intrepidtravel, a dream of mine since high school Spanish class and to this day, one of the most rewarding, incredible and difficult experiences of all my travels. But as hard as it was to hike 40km at altitude reaching nearly 14,000 feet, it would have been so much harder if not for the incredible porters who helped me and my travel mates on our way. . Porters carry your gear, they set up camp each night and take it down each morning, they cook your meals and deliver hot cocoa tea to your tent. While you’re battling altitude headaches and panting like you’re breathing through a plastic bag, they’re running ahead of you like it’s a stroll in the park. You wonder the whole time if they’re actually superhuman. And then, at the end of the trek, you sit down and cry at the Sun Gate because you’ve finally reached it (or is that just me?) and then post photos like this first one to your social media, so proud of what you’ve achieved. . But what doesn’t get as much social media love is the second photo: the team of porters, without whom you never could have made it to here. . Despite all they do, from Machu Picchu to Mt Everest, porters are often the least valued on the mountains: overworked, underfed and underpaid. . They deserve better, so I’m proud of (and have registered for) @theintrepidfoundation’s challenge to Step Up for Porters. For the month of June, lace up your shoes, choose a virtual trek, and get walking to support porters around the world. Every registration goes directly to organisations protecting porters' rights and welfare. Check out the link in my bio to learn more or sign up. #beintrepid #stepupforporters #localsknow

You can do it, Spring. 🌸

When you get to work alongside amazing people on inspiring projects, work doesn’t feel like work. Still flying high from #wits19 over a week ago, when I got to represent @urbanadventures alongside powerwomen @jennyjhart and @nikkiblp, and our smart, savvy guest speakers @muslimtravelrocks, @ladydre3000, @curiousontanzania and @shreddel, on our panel about lifting up voices and breaking concrete ceilings. Thanks for capturing these moments, @sheswanderful!

Headed to New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore, Annapolis, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Denver, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco, San Diego or Las Vegas in 2019? Wanna have the BEST. DAY. EVER. when you’re there?! All our @urbanadventures USA tours are now 15% off when you book by May 31; travel before 2020. Use promo code USA15. Go! Book! #localsknow #urbanadventures #usatravel

All content on this blog, unless otherwise noted, is the original work of Tammy Burns. While you are welcome to quote from posts and link back to the blog, please respect writers’ rights and attribute any quotations to Tammy Burns and/or http://anywhereandhere.com. Please do not reproduce articles in full or photos without permission from Tammy Burns.