I read several travel blogs and saw this floating around in this spring.  I’ve loved traveling from and early age and thought it would be fun to rehash my trips. The saddest thing is most of my photos are hard copy and I don’t have a scanner.  I’ll have to share them at another time.

A: Age you went on your first international trip: I was born in Germany…does that count?  I’m an ARMY brat and proud of it.  It was back and forth to Europe with my family until age 11.  My first “real” trip was for missions to Brazil at age 16.  I went for 2 weeks to do work at a seminary, minister in the favelas and help build a house in a jungle town.

B: Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where: I don’t drink and when I did I didn’t like beer.  The only beer I could stand was a clara in Spain.  

C: Cuisine (favorite): I’ve never been to Greece but I love the flavor of Greek food.  If I’m ordering take out, I prefer Greek.  I’m powered by hummus.  I even eat dolmas for breakfast at times.

D: Destinations, favorite, least favorite and why:
Favorite: Toledo, Spain.  The history of the buildings, the walled city and the art hidden away in chapels…it was breath taking.  I dream of returning to Spain and Toledo is one of the biggest reasons. 

Least favorite: Lisbon, Portugal.  I don’t know what I was expecting but I didn’t find it.  The city was cramped and very touristy including Hard Rock Café near the river square.  I saw many beautiful places elsewhere in Portugal so I wouldn’t rush back to Lisbon.

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”: I visited Torino, Italy in 2001 and saw several of the preparations for the Olympics of 2006.  We got to see where they were building the events and the wonderful town that was so proud to be hosting the games.  Watching the Olympics several later was fascinating seeing the completed structures and knowing I’d been there. 

F: Favorite mode of transportation: Trains by far.  It’s nice to see the scenery as you pass through, be able to move around on long trips and be comfortable.  It was especially nice to take the AVE or TGV in Europe for a few extra Euros using my Eurorail pass.  In the US I still prefer a train when it is time effective for trips.

G: Greatest feeling while traveling: I love being in and amongst history.  To see the buildings, art, towns, etc. I read about in class or saw in movies.  To see how the old fits in with the new is breath-taking.

H: Hottest place you’ve traveled to: Brazil in July.  What possessed us to schedule a missions trip so close to the Equator in the middle of summer is beyond me.  I longed for the sun to go down, cold showers, swimming in the Amazon and lots and lots of water.  The heat was pretty rough but sleeping in a Brazilian hammock on a porch at the seminary or on a boat traveling down the river was perfect with the breeze. 

(Sourced from blog of Missionaries we worked with)

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where: I studied in Spain for a fall semester.  We were a group of American students who were missing Thanksgiving with our families.  The school I attended – Semester in Spain: Acento de Trinity – rented out a restaurant and gave the chef recipes for American Thanksgiving staples.  The food wasn’t like Grandma’s but the staff worked so hard preparing the meal and sat down to enjoy it with us and discuss the tradition.

J: Journey that took the longest: My flight home from Study Abroad was LONG!  My room mate and friend spent too much time partying our last night in Seville, Spain.  I had to keep her in order so we could make our flights.  She misplaced her ticket and passport before we left for the airport and I had to find them.  She slept the entire flight from Seville to London.  Our layover in London was 6 hours and then another 8 hour flight to Newark, NJ.  We arrived with enough money to rent a luggage cart and have $1 left. 

K: Keepsake from your travels: I collected patches from everywhere I went.  I intended to put them on a back pack for future travels or my messenger bag as a teacher.  Instead they are kept in a bag and I need to find something to do with them.  Perhaps I’ll sew them on my Blogging bag.

L: Let-down sight, why and where: Cadiz, Spain.  I’m not big on beaches but went with friends to see other sights.  Instead there was just a lot of people on the beach and a few restaurants.  It wasn’t my cup of tea. 

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel: I fell in love with travel as a kid.  Seeing castles and knights not just at a renaissance fair; walking my first 5k through the German country side; eating foods I never saw in the US; and speaking another language with friends. I knew I’d spend my life enjoying different places around the world as much as my life and finances could handle.

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in: I stayed in lots of dumps while traveling to save money for things to do in the city.  I was never in the hotel or hostel so as long as it wasn’t filthy I didn’t care.  The best place I stayed was in a hotel in Toledo.  I can’t tell you the name because it was arranged by my study abroad school but it was beautiful just outside the Old Toledo city walls making it easy to explore the city and catch a nap when needed. 

O: Obsession—what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?: I love landscapes and scenery.  I wasn’t a good photographer during most of my travels but I have beautiful pictures of the Molinos in Spain, the rocks in the Garden of the Gods and the mountains in Switzerland.  I regret not taking as many pictures of myself or friends on trips but I was too busy enjoying the views.

(not my photo! Source)

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where? I’ve had several passports over my travels, starting with birth.  I don’t know where some of the old ones are so I can’t imagine.  I haven’t seen as many countries as I like but I know there are stamps from England, Spain, Germany (several times over), Portugal, Italy, Switzerland and France.  I want to add more.

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where: South of the Border in South Carolina.  We saw signs for it miles and miles away while traveling with my dad and step-mom on the way to Disney after college graduation.  Even after you pass it there are signs saying “turn back you just missed South of the Border.” 

We didn’t go on the way down to Florida but on our way back we stopped.  I bought a HUMONGOUS sombrero and some other fun things for my future career as a Spanish teacher.  My students loved the sombrero for a reward and birthdays, so the trip was worth it. 

R: Recommended sight, event or experience: The Plaza de España is a must see.  Looking at all the murals, watching people strolling around, enjoying Parque Maria Luisa across the street.  It was one of my favorite places to relax on study abroad.

(Source)

S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling:

I have no problem spending money on good food.  Experiencing a culture through its food is worth every penny.  I learned to love good whole foods while traveling and still use the flavors and ideas in my cooking at home.

T: Touristy thing you’ve done: Touristy things are good in so many ways.  Especially in Europe the touristy things were part of the history I wanted to explore.  I took tours with my school and with groups to explore the Alhambra, Cathedral in Seville, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, etc.  They weren’t my entire experience but not seeing them just because they are “touristy” is missing out.

U: Unforgettable travel memory: My roommate and I visited Paris and the ONLY thing she wanted to see was the Eiffel Tower.  After checking into our hotel and taking a nap, we set out.  I asked the front desk which direction to head and we set out without a map.  We were talking and wandering when we turned the corner and there it was…all lit up for the evening and sparkling.  The look on her face was priceless and we had a fun evening.  I bought my Christmas ornament to remember it.

V: Visas, how many and for where? I only have one…for study abroad in Spain.  It was a pain making several trips to the Spanish Consulate in Boston but worth it for the experience.  I don’t intend on living anywhere else in the foreseeable future, but who knows?

W: Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where? When traveling in my twenties I didn’t drink much because of medications.  I don’t really like wine but the first night a group of us went out in Spain we ordered Sangria and Vino Tinto.  I’m sure they were the cheapest variety (we were poor college kids) but it was the experience of food and drink in a different culture.

X: eXcellent view and from where?: Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, Colorado.  I’ve seen many places but even driving into the park I was in awe.  Several of the photos are framed in my apartment as a memory. 

Y: Years spent traveling?: If you count my childhood, I’ve spent a total of 14 years traveling.  I don’t travel often now but I’ll never be done exploring the world.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where?: European soccer fans are intense and Spanish fans are super intense.  I lived in a barrio that supported the local Sevilla club, but my heart was for Real Betis. I went to a Betis game on a super rainy night with friends and our uber fan professor.  It was fantastic and I still have my Betis scarf.  My professor asked us to take pictures of our bufandas in places around the US so I took mine to Disney, and hung it in my classroom when teaching.

I’d love to hear about your travels so pick a question or two and answer in the comments.

How about checking out :

Switched at DrinksI can’t image what I used to drink for so many years. In fact I can imagine because I loved milkshakes (great choice with ... Yoga ReflectionYoga has been relaxing for my body as I stretch from the long work week. Yet yoga has been just as relaxing for my ... Screaming Emails NewsLast week was a bit phlegmy. In my attempts to not get sick before my birthday the cold has hit me full force ever ... A Traveler’s Christmas Tree–Guest PostDon’t forget to my Christmas gift giveaway   picked with love. Deadline is Christmas Eve at Midnight. Hi It All Changes readers! A big ...