Travel Me Found
Anthony Bourdain has a great quote, "If you're 22, physically fit, hungry to learn, and be better, I urge you to travel - as far and as widely as possible".
From early roadtrips to crossing the atlantic to countries beyond, I have always wanted nothing more than just to travel. It has never really mattered where. I've just always wanted to go, to find, to seek, to understand.
When I was a kid my parents planned all of our trips, using AAA and a plethora of state/country maps. They highlighted the route and off we would go. Sometimes staying in a "nice" hotel (Hampton Inn anyone?), sometimes a not so nice hotel (shall remain nameless) for a one-nighter on the side of the highway. We played car games ("I spy" anyone?), packed snacks, and took so many pictures (the kind that you had no earthly idea how they would turn out since there was no "instant" camera back then).
When I was older (with divorced parents) my mom and I continued our trips, but I became the person in charge of planning. The first major trip I planned (entirely on my own) was in college when we went to LA. I bought a book proclaiming to house the "local" food spots to go too. I painstakingly researched all of them, mapping out directions, printing menus, reading reviews. It was going to be a road trip, so I even went as far as to get the gas mileage of my moms car, how many gallons the tank took, the average price of gas, the miles we would travel and calculated how much gas would cost for the total trip. I. was. serious. And serious I've been ever since. We've advanced to overseas trips now (Costa Rica, Paris, Mexico, Italy, etc) but I still put just as much time and energy into planning as I did into our LA trip...... I put just as much energy into every trip I plan.
There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not thinking of the next place I can travel too, the next place I can unearth hidden treasures, discover a bit more. Of course the goal is always to do it on budget and to try and do it like a "local" would (ok, yes I still have to see the tourist attractions).
I believe travel is the key to understanding people, human nature, love, and most of all...myself. I'm not sure I've figured out any of these things...and while not 22, I still have plenty of time left to keep on traveling and keep hoping I find out.....
From early roadtrips to crossing the atlantic to countries beyond, I have always wanted nothing more than just to travel. It has never really mattered where. I've just always wanted to go, to find, to seek, to understand.
When I was a kid my parents planned all of our trips, using AAA and a plethora of state/country maps. They highlighted the route and off we would go. Sometimes staying in a "nice" hotel (Hampton Inn anyone?), sometimes a not so nice hotel (shall remain nameless) for a one-nighter on the side of the highway. We played car games ("I spy" anyone?), packed snacks, and took so many pictures (the kind that you had no earthly idea how they would turn out since there was no "instant" camera back then).
When I was older (with divorced parents) my mom and I continued our trips, but I became the person in charge of planning. The first major trip I planned (entirely on my own) was in college when we went to LA. I bought a book proclaiming to house the "local" food spots to go too. I painstakingly researched all of them, mapping out directions, printing menus, reading reviews. It was going to be a road trip, so I even went as far as to get the gas mileage of my moms car, how many gallons the tank took, the average price of gas, the miles we would travel and calculated how much gas would cost for the total trip. I. was. serious. And serious I've been ever since. We've advanced to overseas trips now (Costa Rica, Paris, Mexico, Italy, etc) but I still put just as much time and energy into planning as I did into our LA trip...... I put just as much energy into every trip I plan.
There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not thinking of the next place I can travel too, the next place I can unearth hidden treasures, discover a bit more. Of course the goal is always to do it on budget and to try and do it like a "local" would (ok, yes I still have to see the tourist attractions).
I believe travel is the key to understanding people, human nature, love, and most of all...myself. I'm not sure I've figured out any of these things...and while not 22, I still have plenty of time left to keep on traveling and keep hoping I find out.....