Hey there – it’s nice to meet you!

My family and friends call me Joycee, but with a surname of Smith and the need to be different I called my travel blog “Gypsy at 60”!

My hope is to encourage other boomer age people to take the plunge and explore this amazing world of ours. (Plus our own Aussie backyard).

 

 “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page”

The first pages of my world travel book were turned when I was 19.  With friends I headed over to the UK from Australia for our “right of passage” working holiday.

In a space of 12 months we:

• Lived, worked and played in London.
• Bought an old Bedford that collapsed as we drove off the ferry in Calais.
• Hitch-hiked around Europe for six months.

I love photos, mainly every day life pics that tell a story.  I’m definitely not an expert (as you’ll see from the various galleries) but the visuals help keep travels committed to memory forever.

What does Gypsy mean exactly?

Just to be clear – I’m not a real gypsy!  Fortune telling isn’t my forte , I don’t sell wooden clothes pegs and northern India isn’t my home.  Wandering around the globe just appealed to me.

Meaning – person (yes), musician (no), artist or writer (hopefully) who lives a free-spirited life (sometimes) and believes in truth, freedom and love (definitely yes to all three).

60^th trip around the sun

So, as I finished my 60^th trip round the sun I decided it was time get serious about turning more pages of my Travel Book.  Although I’m definitely not a bucket list person, a few of my experiences in 68 countries and seven continents have included:

• Volunteering and trekking in Nepal, then crossing into Tibet.
• Chatting to penguins in Antarctica.
• Summiting Mt Kilimanjaro at 62 followed by getting close to the Big 5.
• Sharing the path with Alpacas on the way to Machu Picchu.
• Meeting the dancing Northern Lights in Norway and mushing with huskies.
• Saying hi to a grizzly bear in Denali and seeing that kalaedoscope of autumn leaves.
• People watching in Times Square.
• Cuddling up to lambs in New Zealand.
• Happy hours at Santorini and Mykonos (Greek Islands).
• Cruising here, there and everywhere.
• Having a “cheers” in English, Scottish, Irish and Welsh pubs.
• Cycling in Rome, Paris, Singapore, Alaska and a few more.
• Exploring our own land of plenty (Australia) – top pick is Uluru.

These are all holidays that people of my age (and yours) can manage without spending a fortune.

So… I hope a snapshot of my travels gives you the urge to visit your travel agent, or Mrs Google, and set about discovering bite size chunks of our exciting world.

Now I’m definitely no expert on travel but have picked up a few tips and tricks along the way which may be helpful.

Questions?

Anything at all – please contact me I’d love to help.  Travel safe and share your stories!

My favourite tips – I always take:

• A packet of Jelly Beans – these are often hard to find and a sugar fix is a must sometimes.
• A small jar of Vicks – pop a bit up your nose when surrounding smells become overwhelming.
• My sense of humour and flexibility – plans change frequently when travelling.

And remember – SIXTY is the new FIFTY