The Year of Travel

I am officially declaring 2010 to be my year of travel.

Over the years I've had multiple jobs that have really put a cramp in my deep-down-inside dream of being a nomad.  I have multiple school assignments due every week.  Writing projects pile up and never seem to be finished.  Bills roll in at an alarming pace.  We have not one, but two houses on separate sides of the country to keep up.  Two dogs constantly want to be fed, walked, watered and entertained.  Are other people just as busy, if not more so?  Absolutely.  Some people juggle all that plus children and more.

My point though, is that it seems like there's always a reason not to do something.  Money could be better spent elsewhere.  Vacation time is a precious commodity.  Boarding two medium sized dogs is crazy expensive.  But this year, I am putting my foot down.  I am rapidly running out of time in my life where I am young and I have this sort of freedom to travel, and I'm taking advantage of it--money be damned.  Can you take kids on vacation with you?  Sure!  But I imagine that it must be a different experience altogether.  Can you leave your kids behind?  Of course, but surely you miss them, and knowing my personality a heavy dose of guilt as well.

So this is my year to expand my horizons!

 

I've already had a fairly comprehensive tour of the surrounding area with visits to Atlanta, Savannah, and Jacksonville, FL and the Kennedy Space Center.  In April, I really want to take a weekend trip up to Charlotte, NC, in no small part due to the siren call of the nearest Ikea.

In May, I'm heading to Manhattan with my mom to visit my sister.  Having done most of the major touristy attractions on previous visits, I'm excited about getting a little more off the beaten path.  Some ideas include the Chelsea Market, High Line Park, the Cloisters, the Holocaust Museum and the Statue of Liberty.  Okay, that last one is totally touristy, but somehow, after three times in the city, I've never made it there.

I'm brushing up on my Kanja and sushi-eating abilities, because in June I'm headed to JAPAN!!  I'm crazy excited about this one, because I've only ever spent time in Europe on my overseas adventures.  Now, I love Europe, and I'm pretty sure it will always come first in my heart, but JAPAN!!!  Memoirs of a Geisha!  Hello Kitty!  Temples!  OMG!  Maybe I'll even learn something about the country that isn't completely stereotypical!

As of right now, a dead spell exists between July and October, when I'll head back to NYC for a wedding, but then, when Colby returns from his deployment in November, we're treating ourselves to an utterly romantical Egypt and Eastern Mediterranean Cruise.  *Faint*  I suggested this to Colby, as a desperate desire wrapped in a lighthearted "yeah, right" joke and nearly dropped dead from shock when he latched onto the idea immediately.  Now we just have to hope it doesn't sell out before he gets his leave approved, but otherwise we'll be spending late November through Early December in Spain, Greece, Sicily, Egypt, and Malta.

After this year, I'm going to be spoiled entirely rotten.  What about you?  Any fun trips planned for 2010?  Any advice for "must sees" if you have experience in any of the places I'll be visiting?

Comments

[Fraulein N]

Gah! I won't be traveling at all but I'm so jealous of all the jet-setting you'll be doing. Looking forward to pictures.

[Kristen @ Miss Prissy Paige]

What fun trips you have planned! I love NYC and went there last December to see it all decorated for the holidays. I'm traveling a lot this year too, mostly for work but hopefully I can squeeze in some fun time too.

[Lynn]

GAH! I'm so stinkin' jealous! I expect full updates and pictures.

[katelin]

holy crap woman i am jealous of your traveling. especially the egyptian travel part because that is just awesome.

[Jenn]

Man, nobody ever travels to Pittsburgh. :(

I'm soooo jealous of all your traveling, when I get a real job, I want to go places that don't involve staying with family because it's free!

[Heidi Renée]

I really want to see the West Coast while we're forced to live here. I don't love where we live, but it's a whole lot closer to Hawaii and other places we'd never otherwise go.

[Jass]

Wow woman, I am so jealous! You will have to tell me about Japan, can't wait to hear. :)

2010 is also a fun year for me. We'll be going to Mexico on a romantic getaway, in less than 40 days, gasp!

And we are eyeing San Francisco for a fall weekend. And then Rome next year. If I had all kinds of money, I would be spending it traveling.

[Old Warrior]

Good news on the next European adventure.

The continuing collapse of those economies makes the US Dollar appear strong by comparison (goes to show how bad the European economies are).

The Euro is down to $1.33 today and expected to be $1.25 by summer.

Good timing.

[Angela Noelle]

They just need to keep collapsing until December!!!  Much better than when it was nearly 1.80 when we were in Italy :/

[Jessica]

Um I think you need to include Chicago in that list of travels :) I am going to Vegas and maybe a few more places, I have a lot of time to use. We'll see where it takes me.

[Kate P]

Oh, man, all those trips sound great. My sister just got back from her first trip to Paris and I can't wait to hear all about it.

[Katie]

Yay! We should do some planning together :) Scotty and I are doing a 2-week backpacking/hostel trip around eastern Europe in August, and a Med cruise in October with my sis and her hubbie! Great minds think alike!

[Mandy]

If you can push your trip back to July or August, those are the only two months out of the year you can climb Mt. Fuji. Hehehe. You should definitely go to Nara to look at shrines and feed the wild deer. And find some sort of festival to go to. Doesn't really matter which one. PS- the exchange rate with Yen sucks right now... only 88/89 Yen per Dollar last week.

[Kendra]

Let's see....we just went to Orlando a few weeks ago, I will be traveling to Baton Rouge for a "Wicked" good weekend next week and then I will be visiting the maternity ward at Methodist Hospital for a few days in June. I'm pretty sure that will be my travel itinerary for 2010. But, as usual, I will live vicariously through you and look forward to your post-trip posts!