About the Crew
Thank you for being here, I am excited to share my travel adventures and tips with you.
Holaaa! If you’ve landed here, you already know I’m road-tripping the Pan American Highway from New York City to Argentina with my pets. And yes—it’s exactly as chaotic, magical, and unpredictable as it sounds.
Why am I doing this? I’ve always felt a deep pull toward my Latinx heritage. But aside from a semester abroad in Sevilla, Spain, I haven’t truly immersed myself. So this journey is about reclaiming identity, language, and belonging. I’m speaking Spanish daily, learning from local communities, giving back where I can, and searching for a place that finally feels like home. I don’t just want to pass through—I want to connect deeply, to leave every stop better than I found it.
This blog is my little digital casa on the road—a place to share the ups, downs, and detours of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. And I’ll be honest: I’m scared. But this isn’t just a travel blog—it’s a raw, real-time story about facing fears, doing the “crazy” thing at 37, reinventing myself, living with less (while still saying yes to joy), and figuring out how to stretch my money even when I’m impulsive, disorganized, and maybe a little too generous.
This blog is for the wanderers, the late bloomers, the over-packers, the romantics, the dreamers—the ones who wonder what it looks like to say sí to the life they’ve always wanted.
What you’ll find here:
- Pet-friendly travel tips and road trip hacks
- Lifestyle gems (from local shopping finds to the best place for a Brazilian wax)
- Dating stories—some magical, some disastrous
- Travel gadget reviews I can’t live without
- Honest talk about budgeting, wellness, mental health, and solitude
- Adventures in love, connection, and community on the road
It’s going to be messy, soulful, funny, unfiltered (depending on whether my dad is reading), and unforgettable. Because for me, this isn’t about checking destinations off a list—it’s about finding meaning, love, adventure, and home.
Welcome to Ivette la Loca. Buckle up, amigos—let’s hit the road.
La vida es un carnval
CELIA CRUZ
Meet My Travel CrewPookey, Frida & Nona
No solo journey is truly solo when you’ve got a wild little crew riding shotgun or sprawled out in the backseat, claiming all the blankets, snacks, and window space. Meet my three ride or die travel roadies: Pookey, Frida, and Nona, the furry heartbeat of this adventure.
🖤 Pookey (Forever with Us)
Pookey was the love of my life who passed on May 3, 2025 at 18 years young. He was my perfect baby angel, my little foodie king, expert traveler, champion cuddler, and a connoisseur of the world’s best (and sometimes stolen) cuisine.
He always managed to somehow find the hardest surfaces to fall asleep on while always keeping me in his sights. Pookey gave the best lovies and was the gentlest most patient soul with our many foster pups through the years (we fostered over 20 dogs with Heavenly Angels Animal Rescue in NYC). He brought joy, laughter, and so much peace wherever he went.
Though I thought he would be here along this journey read his story here, his spirit is everywhere, in every sunrise we chase, every snack break we take, and every path we travel on. I hope he’s up there in doggy heaven eating his little heart out, curled up with his siblings that went before him Tristan, Chrissy, Theo, Princess, and Boy, waiting for me to join him someday. Until then, thank you, Pookey, for bringing everyone so much joy and love while you were here.
💅 Frida (Sassy Queen)
Frida came into my life during COVID, rescued through Heavenly Angel Animal Rescue in NYC and yes, she is exactly as dramatic and iconic as her name implies. Originally meant to be used for breeding, Frida refused to play that game and ended up being surrendered to an elderly lady who couldn’t handle her larger-than-life personality.
The moment I saw her, I knew she was Pookey’s long-lost twin. And just like that, we became a family. She’s been with me through lockdowns, breakups, moves across borders, wild road trips, and countless moments of “WTF are we doing?” She’s hilarious, opinionated, endlessly entertaining, and the ultimate little shadow always nearby and always judging with love. Frida is my chaos and my calm, all wrapped in one stylish, dramatic, unbothered little body.
😻 Nona (La Reina Chill)
And then there’s Nona, our newest family member, adopted in November 2023 from Meowsquad, NYC. She strutted into our lives like she’d been here forever, and instantly brought her peaceful, sassy, food-loving energy into the mix.
She adored Pookey from day one, and now she keeps his memory alive by napping in his favorite spots and giving that same quiet, comforting vibe that he had. Nona is the queen of sleep, shade, and sneak attacks. She’s my morning alarm, my travel supervisor, and the chillest yet sassiest cat to ever cross country lines.
This journey would be nothing without them. They are my grounding force, my comic relief, my soulmates and the real stars of this blog. So get ready for pet cameos, sassy snapshots, and a whole lot of love from the best road crew ever assembled.
My Recent Stories
Read about my favorite travel destinations & our adventures