I’ve moved all over the world for love. I struck out a few times until I finally met the man I’d marry.

Key Takeaways:

• Moving abroad for love can lead to life-changing experiences
• Persistence after heartbreak may lead to lasting happiness
• Meeting her husband while traveling was a pivotal moment
• Keeping an open heart is essential in seeking love
• Traveling can be healing after a breakup

A Love for Love

“I love love.” For some, this might sound cliché, but for Alix Campbell, it was a driving force that took her across continents. From the passionate streets of Madrid to the sun-soaked beaches of Nicaragua, her journey was anything but ordinary.

The First Leap: Madrid

At 21, Alix left her home in Austria for a year of study in Madrid, eager to immerse herself in a new language and culture. It wasn’t long before she met a handsome Spaniard and fell madly in love.

“Our relationship was filled with passion, from declaring our love every chance we got to smashing plates in the kitchen,” she recalls. But as the semester ended, so did their whirlwind romance. The pain was palpable; she remembers, “Two air hostesses tried to comfort me as I uncontrollably cried into my orange juice during the flight home.”

Seven Years in Amsterdam

Undeterred, at 24, she spent a summer in Barcelona, where she met a Dutch man. Their connection was immediate, and they became inseparable. They managed a long-distance relationship for over a year before she moved to Amsterdam to be with him.

Over seven years, they matured together. But as they approached their 30s, reality set in. “We realized we’d morphed into roommates—not lovers,” Alix admits. Parting ways was “incredibly sad,” but necessary.

A New Chapter Begins

The breakup was challenging, but by 33, Alix felt the pull of change again. As a freelance writer, she had the freedom to work anywhere. Craving warmth and new experiences, she set her sights on Nicaragua, unaware that destiny had plans.

Serendipity in Nicaragua

In a small hostel, Alix met the man who would become her husband. “Leaving the next day was suddenly out of the question,” she says. Their connection was profound, and they spent six blissful weeks together, watching sunsets and basking in their “love bubble.”

When he left Nicaragua, Alix didn’t hesitate to follow him to Australia to meet his family. From there, they journeyed to Europe, introducing him to her loved ones in Austria.

Building a Life Together in Portugal

Choosing a place to call home, they settled in Portugal. In 2018, they married at the very hostel where they first met. “We still live there with our two rescue cats,” she shares happily about their life on the Portuguese Algarve coast.

Embracing Love and Travel

Alix’s story is a testament to keeping an open heart. “I’m glad I kept my heart open and kept traveling,” she reflects. Her advice to others is simple yet profound: “If you have the chance to go on a getaway after a breakup, do it. Healing feels way more pleasant lying in a hammock on a sunny beach while sipping a cocktail—and you never know who you might meet.”