Mom and daughter release travel book

Natalie and Evelyn Kelly

Did you know that in order to kiss The Blarney Stone in Ireland you have to lie on your back and dangle upside down over a deep precipice? Or that some camels will spit at you and have an attitude if they don’t like you? Or that penguins in Antarctica behave like humans in their everyday lives?

These facts have made their way into the pages of a book recently released by mother-daughter duo Evelyn and Natalie Kelly, who have traveled to 88 countries, seven continents and all 50 of the United States. Their travels have taken them from 1999 to the current time, and they are sharing their adventures for others to enjoy.

“Have a Love Affair with Travel, Your Ticket to an Exhilarating Life,” is the title of the book. It is not your ordinary travelogue in that they share some unexpected stories they have happened upon as they traveled the world and remembered the unique things most who write about their travels don’t share.

“Travel transforms you and gives you a chance to reflect. It is an instrument to our mental health and wellness. We had to learn to be flexible and ‘let things go.’ I am 90 years old, and by the time I am 100, I’m going to 100 countries,” Evelyn exclaimed.

Natalie is the CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities in Behavioral Health, based in Tallahassee.
“I work all the time,” she said, and added, travel has “helped me get a personal life.”

Evelyn was born and grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee. She skipped her senior year of high school and went to the University of Tennessee for three years as a pre-med student. Then, instead of continuing in that field, she attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. To earn her master’s degree, she was required to obtain the undergraduate degree first, so she returned to UT to get her bachelor’s degree in history and English. Ten years later, she was awarded her Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Gainesville in the field of education. Natalie has a master’s degree in communications from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

While in seminary, Evelyn met and married her husband, Charles, who also was a student. They later moved to Gainesville, where he pastored a church, then to Ocala to pastor a church here. Loving the outdoors, they bought a farm in northwest Ocala. Evelyn taught science and “worked with adults for four different universities, sometimes at the same time,” she explained. “I loved the universities.”

The couple have four children. Charlene lives in Middleburg, Kurt lives in Ocala and Natalie and Marsha both live in Tallahassee. Charles passed away in 2022.

Evelyn has written 24 books, mostly in the medical field, with topics such as stem cells, gene therapy and unusual diseases. She also has authored many articles for magazines. This book was the first book-writing experience for Natalie.

It was Charles who initiated the idea that the mother/daughter team should travel. Evelyn had run for a political office during which she ran a rigorous campaign. She lost the election and was discouraged and tired. She said Charles told her, “Why don’t you and Natalie take a trip to Europe? You deserve it.” He told them he would remain in Ocala and take care of the dogs. “Just go” he said.

Their first excursion as “green” travelers was a tour of 13 countries in three weeks. It was exhausting and exhilarating. Almost every night they were in a different hotel and had to be ready to leave for somewhere else by 5 a.m. the next day. By the time they returned to Ocala, they had been “bitten by the travel bug,” they both agreed.

The duo took a year to complete the book, which contains 79 “relatable” stories. They brainstormed weekly about what and how to write it, Natalie said.

“Traveling makes us realize how special and different and fortunate we are to be citizens of America,” she said. “When you are in another country, all of your ‘rights’ disappear. There are different traditions in different countries you must observe when you travel there. And one lesson we learned is to make sure you get a receipt.”

They have been forced to don a burka and Bedouin clothing to enter some country’s places of interest, she noted.

Natalie recalled one very memorable moment in their global adventures: In 2010 they were in Tunisia during the government revolt there and didn’t know it. Everyone was whispering and would not look up. They were only told they must not miss their flight out of Tunisia the next morning. It was during the riot and the worldwide publicized political suicide of Arab Spring. Their flight was the last one scheduled to leave the country at that time.

In the new book, there are travel tips at the end of each excerpt about different countries. So, if you want to fish for piranha in Brazil, learn about Chinese medicine, the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania, the unusual animals of the Galapagos Islands like the blue-footed booby, or learn of the toilets of the world, this book is for you.

“Have a Love Affair with Travel, Your Ticket to an Exhilarating Life” is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other retailers.