Speaker 1: 0:00

We always hear that people like behind the scenes kind of content. Right, but here's the thing when you are a musician, most of what goes on behind the scenes looks pretty, actually like boring.

Speaker 2: 0:11

Yeah, like showing you us writing a song. Might look like us sitting in a room and staring at the ceiling for long moments at a time while we just find the right words for just the right line.

Speaker 1: 0:22

Or like if we're in the studio singing the same line 70 times until we get it exactly the way we want it, which again is not glamorous to watch, and so like, and then we have nonstop travel right.

Speaker 2: 0:33

Yeah, we're on the road a lot. I mean a lot. I usually drive and well, she's catching up on emails and doing work of some kind.

Speaker 1: 0:40

Yeah, like admin stuff on my computer, so, again, not super exciting to just watch. So the magic of what we feel behind the scenes, what really happens is the towns we pass through, the people we meet, the moments we live. That's what our podcast is for you. It's our version of behind the scenes, but in a way that lets you feel it, see it, taste it, experience it along with us and explore it more in depth as well.

Speaker 2: 1:09

Yeah, we hope it's entertaining, but we also want it to more than entertain you. We want it to inspire you.

Speaker 1: 1:14

And that's our big why. We want to inspire you to live free, to love deep and to travel light.

Speaker 2: 1:21

Oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 1:21

Travel is doable. You don't have to go to the ends of the earth. You don't need to spend your life savings. You don't have to be extravagant Like unless you just want to be.

Speaker 2: 1:30

Yeah Well, I mean, we figure you're like us, you love adventure, but you also live in the all-too-real world. You're working hard, maybe on a budget.

Speaker 1: 1:45

Jog on a family, a job, a dream. Maybe you're a busy mom or someone who leaves the house at 5 am and gets home at 11 pm. Maybe you travel for work or you're just dreaming of getting unstuck.

Speaker 2: 1:50

Yeah, well, our podcast is for all of you.

Speaker 1: 1:53

Yes, and beyond that. Let's be frank you can't really travel well if you're sick or exhausted or run down, and so that's why we bring wellness brands and travel hacks that actually help us, and we hope that they help you too. That's why we bring those brands to you.

Speaker 2: 2:07

I can attest to traveling while not feeling well is not the best thing in the world no. Yep, and that's why Alexa often travels with tea, and that's also why we love brands that help us stay healthy and energized and efficient, because if we're not healthy we can't sing, then if we can't sing, we're probably not going to be traveling very much. That's our livelihood.

Speaker 1: 2:33

And so we're sharing the real tools we use to make a crazy, busy life doable. So we want to help you make the most of your time and energy too.

Speaker 2: 2:36

Yeah, we realize life is short so we try really hard to live in the moment. That sounds like an oxymoron right, trying hard to live in the moment, but it's a constant thing and we also try to stay well for the long haul.

Speaker 1: 2:50

So we share the why, the how and the where of travel, because we want to inspire you with the very things that inspire us. Yep Hi.

Speaker 2: 2:59

I'm Alexa and I'm Rory, and together we are the Romies. We are married To each other. Right? We are a touring musical duo.

Speaker 1: 3:10

And our music has taken us to all kinds of places all around the world and keeps us always on the go.

Speaker 2: 3:15

So we hope you enjoy our stories and adventures while running around working to keep all your plates spinning.

Speaker 1: 3:21

And, we hope, to facilitate your busy lifestyle and feed your inner travel bug Mm-hmm.

Speaker 2: 3:33

Here we are, woo-hoo, episode 250. Oh yeah, can you believe it?

Speaker 1: 3:41

I really can't. It started as a way of us to document our travels and stay connected with you guys. That behind-the-scenes kind of thing that we were mentioning. Travel's become such a huge part of our lives and we hope it's inspiring for your life as well.

Speaker 2: 3:55

If you've learned one thing about us, it's probably that we don't stay in one place for too awfully long. It seems like Nope the Romies after all.

Speaker 1: 4:06

But you have stayed with us and we are so grateful. So, whether you've been with us from episode one or you're just jumping in right now, welcome to the Romeys podcast.

Speaker 2: 4:14

Welcome.

Speaker 1: 4:16

So we are Rory and Alexa.

Speaker 2: 4:18

Yes, I would be the Rory of the Rory and Alexa. Yes, and I'm the.

Speaker 1: 4:20

Alexa part You're a travel-loving couple. The Alexa part You're a travel-loving couple. We share stories, the how, the why of travel, real-life encouragement to help you roam with purpose, to pack light and to enjoy your travels and your life, and to incorporate travel into your everyday life.

Speaker 2: 4:35

That's right. And what do we say? Live free, love deep and travel light.

Speaker 1: 4:41

This year, as part of Season 7, we started doing something a little new, like bringing other travel bloggers in for a couple special holidays Mother's Day and Father's Day.

Speaker 2: 4:53

And one of the things that was which paid off for me the whole Father's Day one.

Speaker 1: 4:55

Yeah, getting that golf club. Yep, yep.

Speaker 2: 4:59

You've got to listen to the episode to learn about that.

Speaker 1: 5:01

Roy's a father of cats, so that counts right, yes, but what's great about both of those? That we, those great bloggers that we got to interview they both have real jobs and real lives, and they have are finding ways to incorporate travel, even with kids, which makes it more expensive, more complicated, all of that stuff right, but it's doable, and so we are really happy that we got to bring them your way, and so even just our previous episode was the Father's Day episode with Ryan of Dad Travel Blog Super fun.

Speaker 2: 5:31

Yep, yep, yep, you know. I wonder, being in holiday mode, if there is such a thing as a Christmas travel blogger.

Speaker 1: 5:38

Christmas travel blogger, right, I mean, we did Father's Day, mother's Day.

Speaker 2: 5:41

We should do Christmas. Yeah, maybe we should become the go-to travel couple for Christmas.

Speaker 1: 5:44

Maybe we should do that, because then we do travel every Christmas actually. Right, but give us an excuse to finally get to those European Christmas markets we've been hearing about for the last several years.

Speaker 2: 5:54

Oh, my gosh If I could fly my entire family over. For those I'd be like let's do Christmas on the road Everyone, not just us, because we're always on the road for Christmas, but let's drag the rest of the family with us.

Speaker 1: 6:06

Yes, yeah, because we go to them, we're going to have them come with us.

Speaker 2: 6:09

Yeah, that's right. Speaking of the past and memories, yes, you mentioned the Christmas markets we've always wanted to visit.

Speaker 1: 6:14

Yes.

Speaker 2: 6:15

Let's take a second to look back At a few moments from the journey so far. After all, this is our 250th episode, so how about we take a second step back and look back?

Speaker 1: 6:28

Exit for Hershey Pennsylvania.

Speaker 2: 6:29

She literally rolled down the window. We're doing 70 miles an hour. Well, yeah, because when you go to Hershey Pennsylvania To see if she can smell chocolate as we're driving down the highway, not even going through Hershey, but just past.

Speaker 1: 6:40

Hershey? No, but it was the exit and I don't know how far. I wasn't looking at the map. Yeah, I didn't smell chocolate either, but apparently the farmers had been fertilizing the fields, so Well, speaking of fertilizer, we did stay in Gassaway, west Virginia, and we were gassy that night. That might explain. Yeah, wow, tmi, but yeah, that was quite a bit of.

Speaker 2: 7:00

TMI, I appreciate you sharing that. Southern Loop holds some true hidden treasures too. There's Spoon Creek Falls. It's a double-tiered cascade with a plunge pool Movie like a movie, but it's one of the least visited and most underrated. And there's Wainoochee Falls. Did you give me these names on purpose? Mm-hmm? Yeah, Wain Wynucci, W-Y-N-O-O-C-H-E-E, so I'm going to say Wynucci Falls. It's got a punch bowl kind of form. I watched a movie last night.

Speaker 1: 7:27

Did you cry?

Speaker 2: 7:28

No, I didn't cry, but it was kind of a dark movie. It was a dark movie, not kind of, it was a dark movie. It sort of had to do with time travel and alternate realities and universes, kind of a thing, you know. And boy, when that ended I was in a mood, a dark, dark mood.

Speaker 1: 7:48

Maybe you shouldn't watch dark, dark moods.

Speaker 2: 7:51

Well, I went back to when I went to bed. I was laying there and I was like oh, I don't want to go to sleep like this, my goodness it used to be a viaduct, which is a long, high bridge that carries a railroad over a valley. Okay, well, thank you, Ms Dictionary. You're welcome I appreciate that, Ms Webster.

Speaker 1: 8:07

There you go.

Speaker 2: 8:11

There used to be this giant train track. On a long road trip, the most fun thing to do is almost touch your sibling.

Speaker 1: 8:16

I'm not touching him. I'm not touching him.

Speaker 2: 8:18

I'm not touching him.

Speaker 1: 8:21

Yeah, you're one of five, so it's a totally different experience for you. Well, one of my favorite things to do on a plane is to work.

Speaker 2: 8:31

Oh well, I would have never guessed that, because you never do that at home.

Speaker 1: 8:34

No 24-7. Rory thinks I'm a workaholic Anyway.

Speaker 2: 8:40

Totally. I mean eventually, this trail takes you to this incredible cliff. You're standing there looking straight down at the ocean as waves crash against the rocks way below. Tons of caves, really really cool. I mean caves. You look at the water splashing down into caves and stuff.

Speaker 1: 8:55

Really cool and powerful and I didn't mean to get too close to the edge, but I totally did and Rory had to grab me back to the edge, but I totally did and rory had to grab me back. He scolded me. Yes, I did, don't do that again. But here's the thing right when I got there, I was hit with a little bit of a shock. At the very start of a trail there was a warning sign saying do not hike alone because there are dangerous animals in the area.

Speaker 2: 9:18

And I'm standing there like, well, I just drove over three hours to get here alone, so yeah, I'm gonna hike and it's interesting that seven was such an important number to you, but when it came time to getting married, 10 was the number that you chose yeah that's. That's interesting that you chose a 10 instead of a 7 you are Just saying, yeah, that was before she got run over by the reindeer. Rory, that's Well I mean after that they didn't take those kind of trips anymore. Not quite as epic.

Speaker 1: 9:49

She did not get run over by a reindeer.

Speaker 2: 9:51

Well, I'm just saying how dare you say that, well, all right. I do have these great memories. Grandma was sweet when I didn't know she was crushing that hard.

Speaker 1: 10:00

Well, I mean, everybody crushes on you. You're so handsome and amazing and sweet and wonderful. Yeah, so back to number five, which isn't a step five, it's just number five.

Speaker 2: 10:10

She's paying attention to her life. That's why she was saying that about me. Like I said, she doesn't always get out. She's not the most in touch with current events.

Speaker 1: 10:16

No, just saying yeah, she, yeah, she does get out a lot, but I'm not really sure what she's looking at when she gets out all the time. I'm trying to watch the road because you're driving Probably me. No, you're looking at me, I know. Okay, so where? I guess.

Speaker 2: 10:32

Has there ever been a time where anyone came home from a vacation and wasn't tired? Especially when? Their flight's delayed after delayed after delayed. They get home at 2.30 in the morning because they can't get uber or lyft from the airport in waco, texas, at midnight.

Speaker 1: 10:46

If you want to make money, move to waco and be an uber driver at like midnight and we had been looking for alp cheese.

Speaker 2: 10:53

So when I saw that you know farm cheese, so when I saw that, I slammed on the brakes and pulled over and I was like get out and go see if they're making cheese so I get out and I talked to this lady and oh yeah, she talks to her. I I had the window down and I could hear like three or four languages going on over there, them trying to like it's straight out of a dream.

Speaker 1: 11:12

We stopped at a few waterfall spots just off the south shore road I just so want to sing that song what song? Don't go chasing waterfalls, all right.

Speaker 2: 11:24

Yeah, but I do want to go chasing waterfalls and you did just sing that Right, yes, all right.

Speaker 1: 11:27

So there, where I was talking about in the Quinault Rainforest, you got Merriman Falls, and it's especially easy to read Meat sticks have sugar added. It's so cool.

Speaker 2: 11:37

I got a sugar mama. Why do I need sugar in my meat stick? Come on, so that is Rory approved.

Speaker 1: 11:43

Yes, so check it out. We will see you on the next one.

Speaker 2: 11:47

Bye-bye. Now, when you're chasing waterfalls, take your Larissa's Kitchen Meat. Sticks oh there you go. Yeah, there you go. Come on girl, it's my song, okay.

Speaker 1: 11:57

Get off my song, yeah, because you're the Cajun. From catching trains in the Alps to mosquito-proofing ourselves in Texas, what a ride.

Speaker 2: 12:10

That's a lot of proofing for mosquitoes in Texas.

Speaker 1: 12:13

Well, speaking of all those mosquitoes, Rory.

Speaker 2: 12:16

Yeah, speaking of the mosquitoes, we want to celebrate this milestone with you, so we've teamed up once again with Parakeeto to give away some of their awesome mosquito-repelling goodies perfect for your summer adventures.

Speaker 1: 12:31

So we've got two parakeeto bundles to give away, and we're also going to throw in a Romy's postcard and a virtual hug, who doesn't want a? Romy's postcard. Right, everybody wants a Romy's postcard, the Romy's postcard and virtual hug.

Speaker 1: 12:44

We will do this giveaway on our Instagram page, so we'll pin a post that goes with this episode. You'll need to follow us on Instagram, like the post about this episode, tag a friend who would love to roam more, and then you even get a bonus entry if you leave a podcast review. So we will put this onto our Instagram, which is instagramcom. Forward. Slash the roamies. That's T-H-E-R-O-A-M-I-E-Scom. We are doing this. So, depending on when you're listening, we are actually airing this episode the week of June 24th, because we like to release these episodes on a travel Tuesday. So that week is when we will make the contest available. So if you're listening after that date in 2025, well, you've missed the thing. But you can always check out Parakeeto, check out our show notes and enjoy their products on your own.

Speaker 2: 13:35

Yes, and a slight correction to her Instagram thing. She did spell it correctly. However, she finished by saying dot com. So it's at the romies. No, dot com, that was a habit. Dot com, that was a habitcom. So at T-H-E-R-O-A-M-I-E-S, at the Romies on Instagram, if you're from Finland, at T-R-O-M-I-E-S, yeah, it means nothing to anybody but the Finnish. Yeah. And congrats to our last giveaway winner from our Packing Light recap series. You know who you are Pam Allen.

Speaker 1: 14:08

Way to go girl.

Speaker 2: 14:09

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:09

All right, you know who you are. Pam Allen Way to go, girl. Yeah, all right. Now, if tea is more your jam, we're also going to give away a mini sampler set of four of my tea blends. And so, for those of you who don't know, I have an organic loose leaf tea line that is inspired by our travels and helps keep you healthy on the go, and so four of my tea blends have been inspired by places we featured on this podcast. Yep, so I have a Seguin flavor.

Speaker 2: 14:34

Seguin Texas.

Speaker 1: 14:35

That was episode number 209. And Squim Squim, that was a recent episode.

Speaker 2: 14:41

Washington.

Speaker 1: 14:42

And that was episode number 248. And then we have Kentucky.

Speaker 2: 14:47

Of course Kentucky is just a state, so Kentucky, Kentucky.

Speaker 1: 14:50

But we did cover Lake Cumberland in episode number 212.

Speaker 2: 14:53

Yeah, wonderful place.

Speaker 1: 14:55

And then Kentucky also continues down with Christmas Island and so there are other cities. Christmas Island we haven't been to, but in the Somerset area, the greater Somerset area, in the Lake Cumberland area, you can go to Burnside Island where at Christmas time it's called Christmas Island. So you will get four samplers for my four flavors Seguin, which is a Texas pecan, squim, which is a lavender blueberry, kentucky, which is bluegrass, so it's jasmine, it's a blue jasmine, and then christmas island is red, green and gold a listener, you're a comma chameleon I I guess so yeah, but I mean those are the colors of christmas

Speaker 1: 15:37

so okay, unless you make white instead of gold. But anyway, one lucky listener will receive a set of all four, just the samples. Follow the same instructions for the parakeeto giveaway and just you'll mention T-Me in the comments. So all of that will be in Instagram at the Romeys.

Speaker 2: 15:54

Again, just follow the same instructions and mention T-Me, T-E-A-M-E in the comments.

Speaker 1: 16:00

So that is our thank you for 250 episodes. All right, so a little hat tip to the whole behind the scenes thing. We want to give you a little peek behind the curtain. So we've recorded in our car, hotel rooms, on beaches and, yes, even under a blanket fort.

Speaker 2: 16:17

By the way, blanket forts are good acoustical choices.

Speaker 1: 16:20

Yes, and this year, for the first time, we're going to be bringing some of those moments to YouTube. So we will be starting with season one.

Speaker 2: 16:30

Season.

Speaker 1: 16:30

Well, that's great, you start with one yes we will be re-releasing episodes in a video platform and so you'll get a few surprises there, but later this year, for the first time, we're going to be giving you our podcast on the YouTube platform. So that's one of the things to be looking forward to.

Speaker 2: 16:51

I suppose you could say it won't look like any other podcast you've seen on YouTube.

Speaker 1: 16:56

That's true. That's true Because we just have our own thing, and so, whether you like that or not, that's what it is. So and also we are already working on season eight of the podcast, so it's going to be kind of like, I don't know, we're going to bring like a concert tour your way, but without the concert. So we're still travel inspired, but we're going to like be incorporating a lot more things.

Speaker 2: 17:18

Yeah, and our next tour? Yes, it starts next week. Next week, we're talking Belize, yes, belize Navidad. No wait, it's different. Belize, yes, belize Navidad. No wait, it's different. Yeah, the country of Belize.

Speaker 1: 17:30

We're taking you to Belize starting next week, so we're going to be looking at caves and cacao and coastlines and snorkeling and culture and, of course, with the whole parakeeto.

Speaker 2: 17:43

We're going to be talking about bug spray as well, and this trip's got it all because I got to say it was Un-Belize-able.

Speaker 1: 17:47

Oh, wow, yeah, that was good right, you just said that.

Speaker 2: 17:49

I did, I sang that.

Speaker 1: 17:51

Oh, right, right, Because you're such a musician.

Speaker 2: 17:53

There is sun, sand, music and, for some, motion sickness.

Speaker 1: 18:00

Well, because we did go, we did have some boat rides but I think everybody did okay, didn't they?

Speaker 2: 18:03

Awesome boat ride.

Speaker 1: 18:04

I don't know, but we're going to be exploring the ins and outs of Belize places to stay, what to eat, how to pack, how to get there and all of the real life stories in between.

Speaker 2: 18:13

That is coming soon, soon, like next week. That is coming soon, yes, in season seven. So that's Belize.

Speaker 1: 18:21

Next week, next episode Woo hoo, all right. So, from the bottom of our hearts, we just want to thank you for listening, subscribing and sharing this journey with us.

Speaker 2: 18:30

Well, for me it's from the top all the way down through the bottom of my heart, so it's not just the bottom Right.

Speaker 1: 18:36

It's the whole heart, rory, because you are a wholehearted kind of guy I'm wholehearted.

Speaker 2: 18:40

So here's to 250 episodes of stories and travel and adventures and inspiration.

Speaker 1: 18:49

Yes, and even some little good snacks and hats Seriously yep, so make sure you're following us on Instagram so you can win this week. Sign up for the giveaway. We will see you next week as we kick off Belize.

Speaker 2: 19:00

Happy 250.

Speaker 1: 19:02

Woo Belize, love you not 25 is like Christmas we are singing for you, so we don't see how you type it.

Speaker 2: 19:10

I almost sang it. I was really flat on that top. Fade that out. Yeah, we'll just fade that out, okay, thanks.

Speaker 1: 19:19

We hope we've inspired you this episode, so join us next time. Please subscribe to rate and share our podcast with your friends or you know whomever? And please like and follow us on Instagram, youtube and Facebook.

Speaker 2: 19:30

We're also on X and on all social platforms. We are at TheRomies that's T-H-E-R-O-A-M-I-E-S, and our main hub is our website.

Speaker 1: 19:42

At wwwtheromiescom. That's right.

Speaker 2: 19:45

That's T-H-E-R-O-A-M-I-E-Scom. We.

Speaker 1: 19:46

E-R-O-A-M-I-E-S dot com. We'll be there until next time. Yeah, thanks for listening. Bye.