 What you see before you is a 2010 458 Ferrari Italia Rosso Corsa. A 7-speed manual with an adrenaline-inducing five hundred sixty two horsepower and enough torque to rip around corners sharper than a razor blade.
But you don’t care about that. Because at two hundred seventy two miles per hour no one can see you. And driving an elegant work of art is all about being seen. Glide past the trendy restaurants on Sunset Boulevard, park in front of a chic store on Melrose Avenue and you’ll soon see this automobile’s magnetism at work. The scarlet red exterior will draw curious passersby in to take a peek at the Argento Nurburgring leather. Aficionados will comment on the sleek 20-inch alloy wheels. But, more importantly, everyone will wonder who you are. They'll whisper, Foreign Dignitary? Wall Street guru? Silicon Valley venture capitalist? The beauty is, nobody needs to know. On this day, you are whoever you want to be. With a sticker price of over two hundred fifty thousand dollars, this gorgeous instrument of Italian craftsmanship would seem to be out of reach for most of us. But we’ll let you in on a little secret. It’s not for sale. It’s for rent. In fact, our fleet includes over a dozen luxury vehicles: Bentley, Rolls Royce, Porsche, Lamborghini and more, starting at only $385 per day. That’s twenty four hours of heart-pumping thrills, from launching yourself zero to sixty in three point three seconds, to pretending you flew in on a whim for sushi and cocktails. Stop by our showroom for a test drive and listen to the purr of the 4.5-liter double overhead cam V8 inviting you to slip away for a night you’ll never forget. Granted, you’ll want to take it nice and slow for most of the evening, but you can always put it to the test on your way back. ### Client Brief: We’re a close-knit group on a mission to fulfill automotive fantasies around the world. Welcome to the world of exotic car rentals. We’re looking for a writer with an interest in cars/automotive tech and a love of writing with a sense of humor. We’re seeking unique well-researched, entertaining content for various formats and channels on the web. Have a grasp of SEO fundamentals and experience with Wordpress.  This guitar is not for sale. It belongs to Roni. It’s a vintage natural classical guitar with scuff marks on its Maple top and scratches on its side and heel. The E sounds a little flat and its strings have lost their luster from the natural oils on his fingers. But that’s to be expected after three weeks on the road. It’s this love of music and the outdoors that convinced his fiancé to say yes to a cross country trip.
A few nights in, the headstock was slightly scorched by the embers of a bonfire when they fell asleep on the sand after playing under a starless sky. It was the sound of a crashing wave that woke Roni up in time to save it. It’s Roni’s first time traveling cross country. Not so for his guitar. Roni’s uncle took a similar trip many years back in his homeland, hitchhiking across the broad, baked desert, playing smoky saloons that led to adventures, some of which could even be told. It was only when he settled down and saw the shimmer in Roni’s eye that he passed it on to his nephew. It was Roni’s ninth birthday. “When we have kids, I’ll pass it on to one of them,” Roni said. His fiancé smiled and flicked a tiny seashell at the back of his ear. Roni and his guitar have many more memories to create before then, including his best friend’s wedding next month. No, this guitar is not for sale. But all our other guitars are. Along with hundreds of other instruments. So get your own, at our Annual Storewide Makin’ Music Sale. Any one of our merry band of associates would be more than happy to help. The sale starts this Friday at 10:00 am for one week only. See you there. ### Client Brief: Retail store specializing in musical instruments and related equipment and accessories in need of an engaging story to announce our upcoming annual storewide sale. Copy should be brief and can be used as voiceover for a Youtube web video.  Or Floor. Or Table. Or any other surface lit by this beautiful Arabesque-inspired decorative lamp. Illuminated by a 7-lumen super bright LED, this solar-powered light shines brightly, showering any surface with a flowery-patterned glow that is sure to break the ice at your next dinner party.
Friends Will Wonder “Where are we? Morocco? Tunisia?” No, actually, they’re in your backyard. But this conversation piece will have your spellbound guests talking long beyond the first round of cocktails. Fully charged, the magic lasts up to eight hours. Simply turn the switch at the bottom to “on” to let it charge during the day and by nightfall the lamp automatically turns on as your guests arrive and the first round of hors d’oeuvres is served. Why Should Your Guests Have all the Fun? When all the wine is gone and your last guest leaves, bring it indoors. 1 AA battery is all that’s required to transform your home into an exotic retreat. Or if you prefer, leave it outside. Made of durable stainless steel, this lamp is weather-proof, so you can enjoy the view from the warmth of your sofa as raindrops dance across your patio. At 10.6 ounces, it’s light enough to hang from your porch, tree branch or pergola, splashing any nearby surface with its romantic array. It’s also wireless, and at 7.9” in diameter and 10.6” high, you can place it anywhere, a buffet table, a ledge, or several in a row, lighting a pathway to your garden. Enjoy your light for up to 180 days with our 100% satisfaction guarantee. We’ll be happy to provide you with a replacement or full refund if you don’t find yourself asking, “who would have guessed staring at the walls would be so much fun?” $23.99 (includes 1 AA battery and lots of dinner parties your friends will remember). To receive your shipment before your next gathering, order yours here: https://amzn.to/2sBZaOV ### Client Brief: We are a solar lighting company, specializing in lighting for outdoor living. We are looking for an imaginative content writer to enrich our online channels: blog, product descriptions for our e-commerce channels, buying guides, social media, email marketing, press releases, and more.  It was a late Sunday afternoon, the sky, overcast with dark ominous clouds hanging over our heads. If it hadn’t been my birthday the day before, I may not have felt so lucky. Every Sunday, for the past four weeks we snuck into Boogie’s Clubhouse for the most epic Minecraft challenge of all time. Today was the Finals and the stakes were high: the losers had to do the winner’s math homework and buy him a free bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos every day of the week. Yep, today was my day.
There was only one way to get into the clubhouse and only three of us knew the way. First, you had to come from behind the garage, hop the fence, ring the cowbell hidden under the dog’s water bowl and wait for Boogie to shout “Password!” from inside. Besides Boogie, only two other people knew the secret password to get in, Andy and me. Or so we thought. Andy got there before I did, because I had to finish helping my mom clean up around the house after last night’s dinner. I told her turning eleven wasn’t that big of a deal, since I’d already been in double digits for a whole year, but she still made us dinner and had some cousins come over. I insisted that if she made a cake I didn’t want any singing, because singing is for babies and I was more grown-up now. “Finish putting away the dishes and then you can go,” mom said. “I need to run an errand. Lock up before you leave.” “Okay,” I said. With the dishes dried, I raced over to Boogie’s. The driveway was packed with cars, so I tossed my bike over the fence and rang the cow bell. A high-pitched “Password?” came from inside the clubhouse. The voice threw me off. For a second, I forgot what it was, but luckily it was etched on the dog’s bowl. “Sir Barks-A-Lot!” The door slowly opened and I went in. “Surprise!” Out of nowhere, I was smothered with kisses and pats on the back. Uncle Dan, my teacher Mrs. Olsen, Principal Weathers, Dr. Ahmad, my dentist?! All wearing party hats and sipping punch. Amidst the balloons and streamers were Andy and Boogie slouched in the corner, while Andy’s grandma challenged the mailman to a war on Xbox. Meanwhile, my older sister was making googly eyes at Boogie’s brother and Boogie’s mom passed out cupcakes. Suddenly, my mom dealt the final blow as she led the chorus to “Happy Birthday.” Our secret weekly meeting was officially a disaster. So how did it happen? Apparently, Andy had scribbled the password on his notebook and Carla, who sat next to him in class saw it and guessed what it was. She blabbed it to her older sister who told her boyfriend who texted it to his best friend who wrote it on the whiteboard in his class. The teacher told the Principal who told my Dad who told my mom who decided to surprise us with cupcakes, and the rest is history. So much for using your dog’s name as a password. Turns out there are lots of places besides clubhouses where passwords come in handy: gaming websites, emails, our school website, renewing books at the library, signing into Facebook, logging onto our phones and iPads, computers at school, the list goes on and on. And there are ways to make your top secret passwords super-safe, so even the most unwanted intruder can’t guess what it is, not even big-mouth Carla. Here are some handy tips to keeping your privacy private:
### Client Brief: Cybersecurity is one of the biggest problems we face today. However, the education on this topic is severely limited. Most of what has been written on Cybersecurity is hard to understand and geared toward selling products. The goal of this project is to write various topics on cybersecurity in way a 5th grader can understand it. We are looking for someone who can write technical articles in a simple fashion. Must use great storytelling, be humorous, easy to understand and read like the chapter from a book for 5th graders.  “How is everything Mr. and Mrs. Collins?”
“Douglas has outdone himself tonight Eric.” “The oysters were divine.” “The chef will be happy to hear that.” The waiter removed the plates and was just about to hand each of them a dessert menu, but slipped it back into his apron pocket. He looked at Mrs. Collins. “Creme Brulee and – ” He gestured toward Mr. Collins. “– sherbet?” Mr. Collins nodded. “Raspberry.” Andrew Collins felt warm inside. Was it the half bottle of Pinot he and his wife shared to celebrate their one year anniversary? No, this was more like a feeling of satisfaction. A year ago, he decided to retire and sell their home. Friends thought he was crazy. You’ll be bored out of your mind, they said. How will you pass the time? His good friend Jerry retired a few years ago with dreams of seeing the world and catching up on all the things he’d missed early in life, but couldn’t do any of it, because he failed to plan. Just for kicks, Andrew and Claire thought it would be fun to recognize their first year by ‘living it up’ all weekend. Claire started off yesterday with a trip to the spa with her friends, while Andrew worked out at the gym. They met up later that morning at the bistro for a couple of sandwiches to-go and went to the garden to picnic under the clear cerulean sky. “What time is the movie?” Claire said. “Not 'til four thirty.” Andrew took one of Claire’s cherry tomatoes. “Hey.” To pass the time, they spent the early afternoon in the library looking at books and giggling at the tabloid headlines, when some friends saw them and challenged them to a game of Pinochle. “Okay,” Andrew said. “But, just ‘til 4:15. Then it’s off to the movies.” At the cinema, Andrew felt a popcorn kernel bounce off his ear. His friend hated losing at cards. On the way home, the four friends heard music coming from the piano bar. All at once they looked at one another, thinking the same thing. It was nearly midnight when the singing stopped. Just Andrew, Claire, and twelve of their closest neighbors. “Can I get you anything else,” Eric the waiter said. He emptied the bottle into their glasses. “No, thank you, Eric.” Andrew looked at Claire. “I have everything I need.” Andrew held up his glass and looked deep into Claire’s eyes as she took the last bite of her Creme Brulee. “Sweetheart, to us.” Claire raised her glass. “Happy one year anniversary, love.” Andrew took a sip. “To think, we get to do this again next weekend.” “Way ahead of you,” Claire said, waving her spoon at him. “I’ve already scheduled a 1 hour massage upstairs for tomorrow.” Andrew poked the remaining raspberry at the bottom of his glass with a tiny fork, spun it around before popping it into his mouth. He knew he made the right choice when they decided to move here last year. Allegro Senior Living. You’re just getting started. ### Client Brief: We are looking to build engaging content through stories about specific senior living communities. The content is meant to be a summary about each community to give prospective residents a brief overview (location, type of care/services, luxury/affordable, etc).  Aaron sat atop a small mound of sand at the water's edge when an old soda bottle washed ashore, settling near his feet. The mid-afternoon sun highlighted what looked to be a small piece of paper curled up inside. He reached forward and held it in his hand, reminded of the many fantasies he'd read as a child of tiny bottles harboring maps of treasure, turning paupers into privateers.
He pulled the cork and unfurled the paper. Written by hand were three rows of numbers. The top line was a series of numbers separated by a hyphen. Beneath it another set of what looked like a combination of some sort, followed by the number twelve circled in red. The bottom line was simply a numeral one, followed by six zeroes. Aaron strolled along the boardwalk, clutching his newfound treasure map, wondering what that first row of numbers could possibly be. To his left were kids tumbling in the sand, up ahead was a long pier where a string of people shuffled back and forth, and to his right a couple walked side by side, staring into their phones. That's when the idea struck him. He opened the browser on his phone and typed the first row of numbers. The spotty signal tested Aaron's patience when a shirtless, leathery old man pedaled past with Stevie Wonder singing from an old boom box strapped to the back of his beach cruiser. According to the internet, they weren't lottery numbers as Aaron had hoped. Rather, it was a routing number indicating the location of a bank, like the kind printed on the bottom of checks. Apparently, this one was an hour's drive up the coast. Forty five minutes later, Aaron stepped into the bank and asked to access lockbox number twelve. Indeed there was a lock box number twelve and Aaron released a masked sigh of relief as the teller escorted him to the vault. He slowly turned the dial, careful to line up the numbers exactly. First left, then right, then left again. Visions of debt sprouting wings and flying away entered his mind. There went his car payment, his student loans and those nagging back taxes. Up, up in the air. Maybe he could finally move out of his dank, two room apartment. He yanked on the drawer handle. It opened. He mouthed the words Oh my gawd. Inside, were neatly wrapped bricks of hundred dollar bills, each stacked on top of another. Aaron shook his head in disbelief. He looked sharply over each shoulder and put both hands on his head. His eyes darted in all directions until he quickly removed his jacket and laid it flat on the floor. He swept the money into one large pile. The cameras overhead captured a grainy man with a sack hoisted over his shoulder, like Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, striding toward the exit. Avoiding all eye contact, Aaron leaned into the exit door with the opposite shoulder, triggering a deafening bell that blasted through the room. It was the alarm. "Shut it off." An elbow jabbed Aaron in the back. "Shut it off Aaron!" He felt a knee to the back of his thigh. Darla was having a dream of her own and she wasn't ready to let it go. Aaron shut off the alarm, pulled the covers off him and fixed his eyes on a crack in the ceiling. When Winning the Lottery is Not an Option Like Aaron, most of us don't have a road map we can follow after college. We obediently finish our studies, apply for a job and hope for the best. But the days of staying in one place and buying a dream home where you can raise your kids and still have enough money for retirement are long gone. We all know what happened in 2008 - millions of people lost their life savings to an unpredictable stock market and many others lost their homes, because they didn't understand how the American Dream works. Since then, a lot has changed with regards to home buying, but the unreliability and unpredictability of the stock market has largely remained the same. Yet, many Americans still have their futures confined to company 401(k)'s. Why? Because you don't know what you don't know. The truth is, there is a much better way to improve your current income, while building a nest egg for retirement at minimal risk, if you have a plan. It’s called Buy-and-Hold Rental Property Investing. And it’s been around since ancient times, when farmers paid Kings with crops in exchange for the opportunity to live and farm on their land. It also contradicts the American dream most of us are taught – to buy a home of your own in which you can create beautiful memories and pass on to your children. The problem with this “dream” is in order to have it, you need to get into lifelong debt. The kind of debt that puts a stranglehold on your dreams of having new experiences and seeing the world. Because not only will you need to put a substantial down payment upfront, but you’re then obligated to contribute a large portion of your paycheck toward your monthly mortgage. One sudden emergency or unexpected life event and your dream is now keeping you up all night. Especially when you see that after a good ten years of consistent loan payments, you’ve hardly made a scratch on the principal, because it’s mostly gone toward interest. A bank has to make its money somehow. Make Your Own Treasure Map The solution? Buy a home and rent it out. Here’s how it works. You pay the initial down payment, your tenants pay the rest. In short, when the balance is paid in full, the house is all yours and all you invested was the money you put upfront. In the meantime, you still benefited from all the tax advantages that a regular homeowner has, but you also built up a nice little nest egg with the money left over after applying your tenant’s rent toward the mortgage. Of course, this is a very simplified explanation, but millions of people around the world have planted their seeds of a few thousand dollars and seen their investment grow into much more over time. The key is education. Investing money you’ve worked so hard for can be intimidating when first getting started. Like anything in life, that fear stems from the unknown. That’s why it’s important to have access to a resource that presents this information in a clear, digestible way, so you can apply them to fit your needs. We’re a team of rental property investors who have dedicated ourselves to building our wealth through passive income over the years, and have one purpose in mind: to share our experiences, good and bad, with you, so you can avoid the stumbling blocks and devise your own plan for achieving your short-term and long-term goals. Sign up for a 30-day free trial with access to our extensive library of educational articles, updated analytics of cities across the country, interactive forums, our customizable rental property calculators, and links to additional resources. After all, getting where you want to be is a lot easier when you have someone showing you the way. ### Client Brief: We are a business and finance venture looking for an experienced copywriter to help us with writing for our real estate investing website. Would prefer similar past experience.  Thousands of years ago Incan warriors consumed a diet rich in the very food you hold in your hand. Quinoa, known as the ancient grain was a staple in their diet. Gold in color and high in protein, fiber and muscle-building amino acids, it was heralded the ‘Gold of the Incas.’
Like anything of great value, one had to put forth great effort to attain this mighty grain. For the Incas that meant hiking high above the clouds, into the Andes Mountains of South America. Lucky for you, we saved you the trouble and brought it straight to your local grocery store. So now, you too can enjoy this delicious substitute for rice or corn as a side dish or in your salad, and feel good knowing you’re ready to conquer your day. ### Client Brief: We are a CPG healthy food company bringing a South American superfood to the US market. We're currently redesigning our packaging and looking for help in telling the story in a succinct manner that will be placed on the back of our 16 oz stand-up pouch bag.  It was Friday night and the crowd was so loud you could hardly hear the whistle pierce through the air. The team huddled together, the floorboards trembled beneath their feet. As the players’ eyes tracked the black pen darting across the clipboard, Ron looked up at the clock. Three seconds left and ninety four feet from their first playoff appearance in eight years. Down by two.
It was a moment they’d imagined numerous times, on the playground, in their driveways, in the gym. But this time it was real. The horn blew and the players braced into position. The ref relinquished the ball. What would Ron do? Nothing. Three weeks before, Ron side stepped to the basket for a layup, a move he’d made since he was a kid. Only this time, the ball went right, his knee went left. The MRI revealed a torn ACL. Now all the two-time all star could do was watch from the bench as the backup point guard sprinted across the floor. Time Out Injuries are common in sports, but they can also be devastating. An injury like Ron’s requires surgery to repair the tear, followed by six to twelve months of rehab before he can return to competition. Studies show that players who returned after a meniscus tear played at the same level they did prior to the injury, but when you can’t even bend your knee during those initial six weeks after surgery, nothing seems more impossible. While his teammates battle on the court, Ron faces his own struggles physically and mentally. It begins with regaining motor control, standing on one leg for fifteen seconds at a time, walking normally, and eventually regaining the ability to complete specific on-court drills, like stopping suddenly and pivoting from side to side. All the while, there will be bouts of depression and anxiety that could lead to eating disorders or substance abuse if not addressed properly. When you spend most of your life dedicated to a sport, your identity is inevitably tied to it. When that identity is taken away, there is an understandable sense of loss. Add to this a diagnosis awash with medical jargon, and the feeling of confusion is only compounded with irritation and isolation. Left untreated, a player can suffer from insomnia and disengagement, only lengthening the recuperative process. Your Mind Matters Returning to peak level without the fear of re-injury requires mental toughness. This means exercising the mind as much as the body. It’s best to seek professional counsel for maximum results, but here are five things you can do right now to get on track:
Remember, you’re not the first athlete to suffer this injury and you won’t be the last. Medical technology has done wonders to get athletes back to pre-injury condition. It's a Team Effort But to ensure a full complication-free recovery, everyone needs to get involved: athlete, staff and family. As professional sports psychologists, we counsel players, train coaches, and educate trainers and players’ families. With our visualization techniques, an athlete can see himself in competition long before his return, so when his number is called, he’ll be ready. We offer additional activities that an athlete can turn to when pent up energy needs to be released. We provide techniques to handle stressors when moments of self doubt arise, tools they can use during recovery as well as pressure situations that pop up later during a game. And finally, we demystify your diagnosis, so you know exactly what the problem is. This will give you a sense of control and purpose. Following a plan is like having a map for your road to recovery – you know you’ll get there, because you can see every step of the way. Recovery is a team effort and everyone plays a role. Give us a call and we can either set up a meeting at your facility or schedule a visit to our offices. Our goal is to get you back out there doing what you love, armed with practical strategies you can use during rehab, in game situations and beyond. You’re already a winner. You just need to be reminded of it sometimes. ### Client Brief: Looking for SEO-friendly Copywriting for a Sport Psychologist’s website. You will be provided with outlines for each page covering the different services our client offers athletes, groups and organizations under the umbrella of sport psychology. Must have a basic understanding of recent SEO best practices, such as writing for the intent of the target user and including variations of key phrases (not keyword stuffing). Must write in an engaging, authoritative and natural tone that prospective clients will relate to. Experience writing copy related to sports, health, fitness, or other similar service preferred.  Ahh, the holidays. A time to indulge with family and friends as we close another chapter of our lives with the promise of a new start. The promise that this coming year will be different. This is the year you’re finally going to lose that weight, get fit, and hold onto that slippery New Year’s resolution once and for all. In the meantime, have another slice of pie. What’s it going to hurt?
Step forward with me as we look ahead to the first week of January. Armed with a new towel, matching water bottle and a squeaky pair of athletic shoes, you’re ready to finally see your New Year’s resolutions all the way to the finish line. Good luck! You’re going to need it. Studies show a large number of Americans dump their well-intentioned plans well before Valentine’s Day. You however, are determined not be in that statistic. You hop in your car, wind through traffic and after several minutes of circling the parking lot, you see the bright lights of your new temple in the distance. Complete with balloons. You navigate your way through the mob and – your weekly bootcamp class is more crowded than a prime rib station at a Vegas buffet. Next week, you think to yourself. I’ll just come a half hour earlier. Next week comes and you’re all set. Your clothes are in the trunk and you have a full tank of gas. The adrenaline is already pumping through your veins as you walk toward the elevator. Until your boss asks you to stay an extra hour to finish a task he needs done right away. And so it begins. Life’s little hurdles getting in the way. From picking the kids up at school to last minute groceries, the only real loss you’re seeing is in your bank balance as that long term contract hangs around your neck like dead weight. Anger turns to frustration leading to doubt, until eventually, you just give up altogether. Oh well. At least you tried. False Start That one small consolation may be exactly why it's so easy to quit. The steps we take to prepare for our goals are too complicated. Our feeling of accomplishment is reached long before we set foot in a gym. By the time we enter the new year, we’ve researched our options, chosen our plans, signed pricey contracts and bought new gear. We haven’t dropped a bead of sweat, but we got stuff done. It’s the fitness equivalent of checking our emails and rearranging our desk to avoid the work that lies ahead. The result? Another year of guilt and unfulfilled aspirations. There is Hope The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. You can accomplish your fitness goals free of charge, at your own convenience with the flexibility of exercising wherever you want. The Nike Training App is a full gym membership that fits in your pocket. Download it to your phone, sign in and go. You can choose from a set of pre-set workout plans to match your goals, or simply click on any workout and start right away with your virtual coach guiding you and encouraging you from start to finish. The regimens range from five to forty five minutes in length, allowing you to fit in a workout any time of day or night. Many routines require no equipment, so there’s no added expense and no extra room needed. Like most addictive apps, this one offers virtual rewards, including banners celebrating your milestones and a way to see all your completed workouts month-by-month. In other words, your motivation goes with you wherever you go. No lines, no inflexible contracts and most importantly, no guilt. Ready to leave your old self in the rear view mirror and join the minority who reach their goals? Download the app. Other than a few unwanted pounds, what have you got to lose? ### Client Brief: A health and fitness publication in need of a 500-1,000 word article or blog post offering men and women an alternative to the typical weight loss and fitness options people seek to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions.  It was my final full day in Marrakech. I left the hotel lobby just after sunrise looking to buy a treat for my flight home. Specifically, a sugary-powdered biscuit that I’d sampled from a merchant hidden somewhere in the Medina.
When my friend and I visited the Medina the day before, it was mere minutes upon entering the side gate that we'd lost ourselves inside the fortified walls of the narrow cobblestone streets, dodging donkey carts and vendors mounted on Vespas hawking silk scarves and candies filled with nougat. Three hours later, feet throbbing and stomachs rumbling, we found the legendary Djemaa el-Fna, just in time for our scheduled food tour with our guide, Ahmed. That evening our small group of six hungry travelers sampled many of Morocco’s delicacies, including goat stew, honey-dipped almond doughnuts and a hot spiced cardamom tea that warmed our insides and tingled our ears. Today I would reenter this thousand-year-old labyrinth, alone. But first, a place to sit and eat among the locals. Equipped with a few Arabic words our tour guide had taught us, I approached a man coating paper-thin honey-laced pancakes with butter, on a round cooking top. We exchanged a simple greeting and then all I could do was point and nod. While waiting for my breakfast, I looked around and listened. The sights were foreign, the sounds were foreign, but it was I who was the foreigner. Dozens of people roamed the streets, and I knew no one. Yet, somehow, I blended in. The waiter brought my order, I handed him the coins, said “sukran,” and found an open plastic table and chair on the sidewalk. Looking out at the motorcycles and donkey parked a few feet away, I sipped my tea and swirled my pancake in the remaining honey, while a local man sat across from me doing the same. We said nothing to one another, because we didn’t speak each other’s language, but we both understood two things – the pancake was delicious and it was a great day to be alive. I finished my meal, and like before, I was immediately lost in the riddle of sounds and smells. Occasionally, I'd come upon a doorway or turret that seemed familiar, but I couldn’t be sure. Regardless, my goal was to find this confectionery and I was determined to take every twist and turn until I did. By early afternoon I was nowhere closer to my goal, so I finally asked for directions, fully aware that I was a marble in a maze. As the sun set behind the castle walls, I rode the wave of a buzzing crowd directly into the plaza and stood off to one corner. Steam rose from white-peaked food stalls while jugglers and snake charmers set up their stations to the sound of Berber flutes and tambourines dancing through the air. I gave up on the candy shop. I had no idea where it was. But it no longer mattered, because nothing on earth could be as sweet as this. Once Upon a Time... People travel for two reasons: to experience wonderful new things and to share their stories with others back home. But, visiting a foreign country where you don’t speak the language or know little of its culture can be intimidating. Unless you team up with like-minded adventurers like yourself. Our tour company specializes in small group tours around the world, offering explorers the most authentic experience possible, without the hassles of logistics. We arrange all the accommodations and transportation in advance, provide you with a local guide for the entire trip and place you in a group of no more than twelve travel companions. Each day, you’ll visit places only a local would know, and then be let loose to explore on your own with your fellow travelers. By trip's end you will have made several friends and gathered even more stories to share back home. So whether you already have a destination in mind, or need some inspiration, visit our website for a look at our current package destinations and upcoming trips throughout the year. The world is a big place with lots to see and do. But it's more accessible when you have a guide. ### Client Brief: We are a sightseeing tour company based in San Francisco, and we're looking for someone who can help us with B2B email outreach, Facebook/Twitter/Instagram copywriting, and write up regular SEO-optimized blog posts geared toward solo travelers who prefer authentic experiences while enjoying the safety of traveling in small groups. A quick turnaround is needed. For the blog posts, we'll provide you a detailed list of already researched keywords, and you'll just need to figure out a way to write an engaging and natural post that highlights those points. We're looking for someone who has a good understanding of both tourism & world travel. Native English speaker skills required. |
