Because the World is Still Waiting for You
Meet Mónica: A True Traveler at Heart
A few days ago, I spent the afternoon getting to know Mónica from Mi Mochila Me Pesa. She’s a retired flight attendant who, after nearly 40 years in the skies, decided she wasn’t done exploring the world—just done doing it the standard way.
Mónica is a traveler in every sense of the word. She takes at least one trip a month and never sticks to the beaten path.
I’ll admit it: when I grow older (and I already am), I want to live just like her.
Her father was a doctor, and until the age of 17, she lived in Kinshasa, in the Congo. A piece of Mónica’s heart belongs to Africa—her words, not mine. She even co-founded an NGO in Uganda with a friend and says she needs to return to some part of the continent at least once a year.
Mónica on one of her trips through the Congo and Sudan
A Life of Curiosity and Determination
After her years in the Congo, Mónica moved to Madrid. Ten years into her flying career, she decided to start studying Geography and History, eventually specializing in Art History. She went on to pursue a PhD and was completing her doctoral thesis—all while working as a flight attendant for a Spanish airline and raising a baby on her own as a single mother. Just imagine that. If there’s someone who embodies the idea of staying active and embracing life fully, it’s Mónica.
Her story is the living proof that if you want something, you can make it happen. That phrase fits her perfectly.
Throughout her professional life, Mónica was also based in different countries. And during long layovers, unlike many of her colleagues who preferred to rest at the hotel, Mónica needed to go out and explore. She couldn’t help but get to know the places she found herself in—even if it was just for a few days.
A Backpack Full of Stories
Today, at 65, our protagonist balances her energetic lifestyle with moments of calm. When she’s not traveling, she enjoys spending time in her cozy home in Madrid—visiting exhibitions, going to the theatre, meeting up with friends, or relaxing at her little countryside house in Segovia for the weekend.
Her travel journal includes places many wouldn’t even dare to dream of: Libya, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mauritania, El Salvador, Pakistan, Algeria, Tibet, Mongolia, Sudan, and Uganda—just to name a few. Mónica carries a backpack full of stories, experiences, and a vitality that’s truly inspiring.
Monica’s trip to South Korea and trip to Algerian desert
Sharing to Inspire, Not to Monetize
It was a group of blogger friends who encouraged Mónica to start her own blog—a space not meant for monetization, but simply to share her experiences and inspire others her age to get moving and explore the world. Her goal is clear: to help people realize it’s never too late to travel. Occasionally, she recommends travel insurance or services she personally finds useful through affiliate links, but that’s not her main focus.
When it comes to choosing her destinations, Mónica is deeply drawn to local culture and people. She’s especially passionate about deserts—anywhere in the world. We talked about Middle Eastern countries, the clichés that often surround them, and how quickly those preconceptions dissolve once you set foot there.
Like me, Mónica believes you don’t travel to meet governments—you travel to connect with people. In her experience, locals are often not responsible for their government’s actions, and in many places affected by past or current conflict, tourism becomes a window to the world. People are incredibly welcoming and often express deep gratitude toward those who come from afar to visit.
From Monica’s trip to Iraq, Ur and Samarra
The Importance of Local Connections and Tailored Travel
We also discussed the importance of having a good local contact at your destination, and Mónica shared her experiences with certain agencies that don’t just act as intermediaries, but truly sell what they’ve personally experienced. Both of us agree that anything less feels somewhat dishonest. In other words, it’s hard to digest when someone sells a destination without having been there or truly knowing it. You have to know firsthand what you’re offering.
Mónica is a fan of a new way of traveling, where the experience is always more unique and the connection with locals is key.
She enjoys both solo travel and group travel, but when it comes to the type of trips we were focusing on, we discussed the need for an expert agency and the importance of small group tours. Mónica often embarks on these journeys with Against The Compass, one of my go-to blogs for exploring “off-the-beaten-path” countries.
Qasr-al-Farid Saudi Arabia. From Monica’s trip to Saudi Arabia
The Perks of Travel: Mónica’s Incredible Journeys
One of the advantages Mónica enjoys when it comes to travel is access to free or mileage-based flight tickets, a benefit available to those who have worked in the airline industry. I was also lucky enough to enjoy this privilege for a while, thanks to a former boyfriend who was a pilot. While flying on this system is subject to available space (sometimes you may not be able to board if the flight is full), you only pay for taxes, which in many destinations can be a significant cost saver.
To give you an idea of what a typical year looks like for Mónica, here are some of the places she has visited in 2022 alone: La Palma, Iraq, Senegal, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, the Rocky Mountains in Canada, Eastern Turkey (Mesopotamia, the border with Syria, Armenia, Iran, and Georgia, Black Sea, etc.), El Salvador, Saudi Arabia, and now she’s off to Antarctica via Argentina and Ushuaia. Not bad, right? Mónica averages one trip per month.
From Monica´s trip to El Salvador
Overcoming Travel Barriers: Embrace the Adventures
We also discussed the common obstacles that can hold people back from traveling, such as language barriers, unfamiliar local customs, or logistical challenges in countries with different cultures.
Ironically, information isn’t always 100% clear or accessible, especially for those who may not be as tech-savvy or accustomed to the internet. However, these minor “inconveniences” or fears shouldn’t stop you if you’re truly eager to explore the world. There’s always someone ready to lend a helping hand with these issues. For example, Mónica is preparing a post on her blog where she’ll guide you step-by-step on how to insert a SIM or e-SIM card into your phone before you even leave your home country, ensuring you stay connected the moment you land anywhere in the world.
From Monica´s trip to Oman
The Personality Behind the Journey: Embracing Your Own Way of Traveling
Is there a specific personality required to do what Mónica does? I think there is. She exudes vitality and enthusiasm, but it’s also about her circumstances. As I mentioned before, Mónica is a single mother, but her daughter is now an adult living abroad, giving Mónica more time for herself when she’s not traveling. Mónica loves solitude, despite having many friends and acquaintances. She is very comfortable with herself and always finds something to do.
Even when traveling in a group, Mónica decides to maintain her independence, especially in the evenings. I admire how she respects others’ choices for how they travel. While she may not be attracted to certain options, she fully understands that not everyone is the same, and she respects those who choose differently. This came up when I shared a project I’m working on, focusing on unique, character-filled accommodations, but with an emphasis on local connections. Mónica is clear on this point: she’ll always prefer a campfire around which to converse with locals over dining at trendy restaurants or staying in luxury or design hotels.
The bottom line is: just travel. Do it in the way that fills you up and brings you something meaningful. No option is better than the other. For example, when traveling with groups, Mónica always needs her personal time, perhaps retreating to her room to write in her journal or work on her social media while others are dining or out for drinks. She believes life is cyclical, and our preferences evolve. She’s currently in this phase of her life, and she doesn’t believe in being boxed in.
Monica stumbled upon a wedding on her trip to Sri Lanka and Stilt Fishermen
The Next Big Adventure: Beyond the Horizon
If you’re wondering what Mónica’s next goal is, some of you might not even know where it is on the map. She plans to embark on the Pamir Highway, a road in Central Asia that crosses the Pamir Mountains, passing through Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. She also has plans to visit Kazakhstan and Yemen.
When it comes to the risks or concerns of traveling to certain countries, Mónica sums it up perfectly: “It’s always more what you hear from the outside than what you experience when you’re actually there.” Exactly. My advice is to always cross-check what the media “sells” you. You know the famous phrase by Malcolm X: “If you’re not careful, the media will make you hate the oppressed and love the oppressor.” At this point, I’ll take a moment to mention that in some countries considered “high-risk,” the Against the Compass blog offers reliable, well-researched information that will probably make you see things from a very different perspective than what’s told by official media.
Mónica also embarked on a 3-month journey across Southeast Asia with her daughter, a trip she cherishes. She travels with her at least once a year, and her daughter is almost more of a fan of traveling with her mother than with her friends. No wonder, with a mother so full of vitality.
A Life Without Borders: Mónica’s Timeless Spirit of Exploration
As I mentioned, Mónica is 65 years old today and she doesn’t favor any particular country. She’s never kept track of how many countries she’s visited. In fact, she says it would probably be quicker to list the countries she hasn’t been to, like Bolivia in South America or Benin and Guinea-Bissau in Africa. She never stopped traveling, not even during the pandemic.
For Mónica, traveling is a way to expand both the mind and the spirit. Living among cultures that aren’t your own teaches you to be more tolerant, and that makes you feel comfortable wherever you go. You learn not to view things with hostility. And I’d add that it’s never too late for that.
From Monica’s trip to Pakistan and Chinguetti, Mauritania
Embrace Life, Embrace Travel: Mónica’s Timeless Philosophy
As Mónica puts it, “The only thing that can stop you is your health.” And as long as you have that, you can conquer the world. It’s a philosophy that radiates positivity. So, remember: seize the moment. Traveling isn’t about age, it’s about willpower.
I’ll wrap up this post with a tip from Mónica when traveling solo: she often stays in hostels to connect with other travelers. She finds this is a great way to meet people, even younger ones, and get access to new perspectives and ideas about the destination—plans she might never have considered on her own.
What Mónica cherishes most since starting her blog are the friendships and personal connections she’s built during her global journey.
From Monica’s trip to Zambia and Sudan
You can find Mónica on her blog, Mi Mochila Me Pesa, and through her social networks: Facebook, Instagram
That’s all for today—I hope this story has inspired you, and that you’ll share it with your close friends and family to encourage them to explore new perspectives and horizons. Traveling truly gives you life!
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Stay curious. Stay kind. Keep exploring.