February 1998 — February 1999

# WorldWander

365 days. 40 countries. One story.

Begin the journey
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## The Origin Story

In 2000, Karen and I took a year off to travel the world and built the original WorldWander website. One day I checked the access logs and was surprised to see the amount of traffic we still get. These pages hold the stories we wrote along the way — dispatches from bus stations at 4 AM, journal entries scribbled in candlelit restaurants, and reflections penned beneath unfamiliar constellations.

What started as a sabbatical became the defining adventure of our lives. We packed two backpacks, sold the car, quit our jobs, and stepped onto a plane bound for Venezuela. The plan was loose: head south through South America, cross to Asia, wind through the Middle East, and finish in Europe. The reality was infinitely more unpredictable, more beautiful, and more transformative than anything we could have planned.

"The travel books all state what the price should be from the airport to a particular destination. But sometimes it is a lot more efficient to see for yourself."

What follows is the full, unabridged story of that year — every missed bus, every jaw-dropping vista, every $2 meal that tasted better than anything back home. Scroll on, and come along for the ride.

365Days
40+Countries
6Continents
1Proposal

## The Road Behind

Scroll to trace our path around the world

## The Complete Collection

117 photographs from around the world

## The Journey Continues...

A year of travel changed everything. We learned that the world is simultaneously smaller and grander than we ever imagined. That a bus station at 5 AM in Paraguay can teach you more about patience than any meditation retreat. That the best meals come from strangers who insist you sit down. That love, tested by 365 days of constant togetherness, only grows stronger.

Karen said yes to my proposal at the base of a waterfall in Venezuela. She said yes to every crazy bus ride, every questionable hotel room, every "let's just see what happens" detour. And the world said yes back to us — with Iguazu Falls at sunrise, Angel Falls through clearing clouds, the mosaics of Hagia Sophia catching afternoon light, and a mokoro gliding silently through the Okavango Delta.

"We came away wanting to hold each other's hand a little more often and a little bit longer."

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