MuchoHop

08/12/2025

After 17 years working as a translator, I’ve watched my profession slowly fade as AI and tech take the stage. It’s bittersweet—but also fascinating. Tools like Google Translate now do in seconds what used to take us hours.

During my travels through Asia (and in Germany, shhh, don’t tell anybody 😉), Google Translate became my best companion—helping me order food, read train schedules, and understand signs in languages I never studied. It’s not perfect, but it’s brilliant!

Some people are afraid to travel because they don’t speak the language, so this tool is great for them.

I made two videos showing how to use Google Translate effectively while traveling:
🎥 Video in English: https://youtu.be/4rWtgmpVBmI
🎥 Video en Español: https://youtu.be/8RwurAudA3k

Check them out and see how this little app can make your next trip a lot easier!

Have you ever used Google Translate while traveling? Tell me your funniest or most helpful translation moment below 👇

Hugs, Ana MuchoHop

26/11/2025

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my Hoppers who celebrate. ❤️🥰❤️

And for those of you who do not celebrate, here is what a typical US Thanksgiving dinner includes:

It is built around a few core dishes, and can vary depending on the region and family tradition, but these are the staples you’ll see on most tables:

1. Turkey (roast, baked, or sometimes fried)
The centerpiece. Usually served with gravy made from the drippings.

2. Stuffing (or dressing)
Bread-based, often with celery, onions, herbs. Sometimes sausage, nuts, or fruit, depending on the family.

3. Mashed potatoes
Creamy and buttery, served with gravy.

4. Cranberry sauce
Either homemade or canned. Provides acidity and sweetness to balance the meal.

5. Sweet potatoes or yams
Often baked, mashed, or topped with marshmallows or pecans.

6. Green bean casserole
Green beans with creamy mushroom sauce and crispy fried onions.

7. Dinner rolls
Soft rolls or cornbread.

8. Pumpkin pie
The classic dessert. Others are common too: pecan pie, apple pie, sweet potato pie.

9. Optional but very common sides
– Mac and cheese
– Roasted Brussels sprouts or other vegetables
– Corn casserole
– Ham (as an additional protein)

No diet here, just pure goodness.

Enjoy your meal (Bon appétit) - Que Aproveche - Guten Appetit.

23/10/2025

Hello Hoppers!!! I have a NEW PAGE on Facebook!!
Please check out Ana MuchoHop where I guide young professionals navigating life on their own move from self-doubt and overwhelm to self-trust and resilience through the transformative power of solo travel.
More to come...

12/10/2025

Two years ago I was celebrating MuchoHop’s 10th Anniversary in Miami with my family 🥳 That was fun!! Thank you Cuz ❤️
THANK YOU, HOPPERS ❤️ for your support in good times and bad, for waiting for me to post, for missing me, for being so patient and loving. You truly are my travel companions and I hope to travel more with you soon.
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30/09/2025

Q: WROTE:
But we want someone to guide us to the place we want. There is no guide at the airport. There is no one who can go and guide you to the place. Where is the place of the plane? There are people who cannot read and cannot speak the language. It is necessary in every country that there is someone who speaks Arabic, to understand.

A: WROTE:
There is no guide in the airport but there are always people who can help you. If you do not know the language, show your boarding pass to someone, and they can point the direction you have to go. If you go to your airline counters, they can also help you. Sometimes, if you ask your airline ahead of time, you can say you need assistance and they will take you in a wheelchair. But if you have no mobility problems, you can find your plane!!

Airports are designed so that people who do not know the airport can find their airplane. It is impossible for all of us to know all the airports in the world. So just follow the signs and watch my videos. I have filmed many, many flights, boardings, security, etc. Here is a playlist of the basics.

AIRPORTS AND FLIGHTS: THE BASICS OF AIRPLANE TRAVEL: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu4_eqS-9a9xdtFtBk1vqS3Z1qrAk64dF

When you do not know the language, you can also use Google Translate. It is very easy. In this video, I explain how it works. https://youtu.be/4rWtgmpVBmI?si=EJveyNQAoosrJ1p8

I hope this helps. Let me know how it goes. Thanks for watching!!

05/09/2025

How time flies; it's already Sept 5th. But I still want to wish you all a Happy September!!

Here is a TAPA and a CLARA to your health! Salud!

ChatGPT defines Tapa and Clara quite well:
In Spain, both tapa and clara are everyday cultural staples, but they refer to very different things:

Tapa: A tapa is a small portion of food, usually served as an appetizer or snack. It can range from something as simple as olives or slices of jamón to more elaborate dishes like tortilla española (Me: this is what I am having), gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp), or albóndigas (meatballs). Traditionally, tapas were served free with drinks in some regions (Me: they still do this in Santiago de Compostela), but today they’re often ordered individually. Eating “de tapas” (going for tapas) is a central part of Spanish social life (Me: heck yeah, fun to go with friends).

Clara: A clara is a refreshing alcoholic drink, typically made by mixing beer with a soft drink—most commonly lemon soda (like Fanta Limón) or sometimes just plain carbonated water. It’s light, low in alcohol, and especially popular in summer as an alternative to drinking straight beer.

👉 So, in short: a tapa is something to eat, and a clara is something to drink.

Ooohhh, and if you want to see how Tortilla Española is made, here is a fun video. ✅ VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8ulz-d_0-mM

Have a great weekend, Hoppers!! And if you decide to make a Tortilla Española this weekend, share the pictures below. I'd love to see them. In the video, we make a huge tortilla, but you can make a smaller one, too. Enjoy!!

27/08/2025

When you’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy a lifetime of travel—over 50 years, mostly solo—what advice can I give you?

Go for it! I believe in your ability!

If you feel anxious, start small. Take a short plane, train, or bus ride. Choose a destination where you speak the language, or visit a culture that feels somewhat familiar. That way, you’ll ease into the journey with more comfort.

Every step you take in travel will shape a stronger you—more confident, more resilient, and ready for whatever life brings.

Know someone this might help? Feel free to pass it along.
👉 muchohop.com/call

14/08/2025

Hey Hoppers, I’m working on something to help solo individuals navigating major life changes go from fear, self-doubt, and inaction to confidence, independence, and resilience—by using travel as a powerful tool to build life skills, self-trust, and the freedom to thrive in any situation, both on the road and in life.

Do you know anyone who might benefit from a quick conversation about this? They can book a free call here: muchohop.com/call

13/08/2025

NEW VIDEO!! In my solo travels across northern Italy by train, BRESCIA, impressed me the most. Perhaps I wasn't expecting it? I had never even heard of this city (pardon my ignorance). We all know Milan and Venice, but what about the cities in between? Well, that was my objective, to visit places that are not as popular as the usual tourist traps. Another great thing about Brescia is that there were no crowds. I just loved everything about it. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Wondering about the best things to do in Brescia, Italy? 🇮🇹 It’s sim...

07/08/2025

| Lucerne, Switzerland – 2014

Recently, I was watching the hilarious and adventurous couple Craig and Aimee of Kinging-It on YouTube as they travel through Switzerland, and it brought back tons of memories of my visits to this incredible country, including cities like Geneva, Zurich, Basel, Bern, and especially Lucerne.

This photo was taken from the restaurant at Hotel Montana in Lucerne in 2014, capturing the spectacular view of the snow-capped Alps and the calm waters of Lake Lucerne just before sunset.

Since my first visit, Switzerland has always left a lasting impression on me. The combination of extensive lakes and huge mountains is simply breathtaking, and each city has its own unique character that sets it apart.

And of course, it’s impossible to think of Switzerland without mentioning its chocolate. Fortunately, Swiss chocolate is widely available in both Spain and Germany, and that makes me happy.

If you want to watch my Switzerland videos, here are the links.
✅ Zurich, Switzerland: Roaming, Restaurants, Boat Cruises, Google Maps https://youtu.be/ppvLr27e2sA
✅ Mount Titlis Glacier Park: Lucerne - Engelberg, Switzerland https://youtu.be/IShoP4hdUw8
✅ Mount Pilatus Adventure, Switzerland: Boat to Alpnachstad from Lucerne - Part 1 of 3 https://youtu.be/WZkVszZOzHo
✅ Mount Pilatus Adventure, Switzerland: Cogwheel Train to the Top! - Part 2 of 3 https://youtu.be/1kvkmjaRniA
✅ Mount Pilatus Adventure, Switzerland: Amusing Return to Lucerne - Part 3 of 3 https://youtu.be/c9bJCROFnME
✅ Train to Zurich, Switzerland - Discovering the Old Town - They Found Bones!!! https://youtu.be/5YMxRZCG0l4
✅ Where the F #!% is the Lion Monument in Lucerne (Switzerland)? - Travel Tip 12 https://youtu.be/slr7yT1VS3g
✅ Lake Lucerne Cruise - Mount Rigi Adventure in Switzerland https://youtu.be/_1q_lT1R54g
✅ Germany to Switzerland by Train during a STRIKE! https://youtu.be/UpsD-Ju3e-Y
✅ A Walking Tour of Picturesque Lucerne, Switzerland https://youtu.be/3-kvMjA_IzE
✅ Quick Visit to Basel, Switzerland https://youtu.be/RjjdUN6syX0

23/07/2025

You are eager to travel but can't because you have no one to go with. I know the feeling.

You have the time, the budget, even an itinerary. 😁
In my early 20s, my dream was to visit Toledo, Spain.

With careful planning and determination, I bought my ticket and crossed the Atlantic all by myself at a time when the Internet didn't exist and with no hotel reservations. Sounds crazy.

Since then, I travel alone most of the time.

Many years later, I realize how important these decisions have been in my life and how they have shaped who I am today.

If you know someone who could benefit from this story, maybe I can help. I'm not selling anything, I just want to listen. Please share this link with them
https://calendly.com/muchohop/research_call

Thank you. I truly appreciate your time and help. 🥰 Ana MuchoHop