Hi, guys!  Welcome to Curious Borders.  I'm Maria, and I write and run this blog.  So who am I?

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About Me...

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I am an outgoing, adventurous, (over)talkative, ambitious, passionate, and insatiably curious Philadelphia native, living and working as an attorney in Philly.  I love music, photography, BYOB dinners with friends, binge-watching 30 Rock and old Arrested Development on Netflix and period dramas on PBS, baking, all things Christmas-related, reading, history documentaries, long phone chats with faraway friends, and lazy beach days.  I am a lot of things, and I enjoy a lot of activities. But above all else, I am a travel enthusiast and trip-planning addict.  

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I didn't grow up traveling.  My parents never traveled.  Our family took one yearly vacation - to the beach, in Delaware.  (Yes, I'm a Philly girl who didn't grow up going "down the shore".  I will pause to let you recover from your confusion.  FYI, I have also never seen Rocky, and don't really care for cheesesteaks.  Oops!)  I didn't set foot on a plane until junior year of high school when I visited a friend at college.  My first real international trip (I'm not counting spring break in the Bahamas) was in 2005 when I enrolled in my law school's study abroad program.  I spent my summer that year living in Rome, and traveling around Italy with my friends.  And just like that, I was hooked.  I caught the travel bug and I haven't been able to stop since.   

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Even though I work (often more than) full time as an attorney, I take every opportunity I have to travel.  My destination wish list is longer than my leg, and I am constantly adding to it.  My favorite hobby and biggest stress- reliever is researching and planning trips.  So far, I've been to 34 states (and the District of Columbia), and 41 countries on 5 continents . . . and I won't be slowing down anytime soon.

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Why I Travel...

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So what keeps me traveling?  Curiosity!  I think the best part of visiting a new city or country is learning about the things that make that place unique.  I am fascinated by the historical figures, the local folklore and mythology, and the crazy customs and ancient traditions of the places I visit.  Learning about the religions, cuisines, and cultures of the world gives me endless enjoyment. Really, I am just fascinated by people, which means I love learning about how people live all over the world.

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Are you like me, excited and curious about the world?  About travel, history, culture and art?  About people and traditions?   About foods and festivals?  If so . . . read on!

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