New Friends

Here are some of the fabulous folks I have met at the ELC. I cannot wait until I am visiting them where they live! My Belgium boys above.... and cooky friends below.

Add Taiwan and northern Spain to the list of places to go... I have to see these two fabulous gals again!

Crisis aversion and other updates

After contracting a laundry list of viruses, my computer kicked the bucket. Now, having consulted the geek squad and doing a bit of resurrecting on my own, the trusty computer is just about back to normal. Phew. Currently it is my lifeline (my only radio, communication with friends, trip planning, papers for work etc), so it's tough when it's not working.

Here's the latest.
-All details are set through the Azores, Madeira and southern Portugal.
-I want to going to Morocco after visiting friends in Sevilla
-I will probably buy a cell phone in Europe, making it easier to stay in touch
-I am looking into a universal health care/traveler's insurance
-I have a few students from Belgium, so it has made it's way onto the list of places to go

Questions to you experienced travelers out there:
Any good traveler's health insurance companies?
Any experience in Morocco? Where (not) to go?
Where were your favorite places of memory in Europe?

Achem, Correction, SIX New Destinations!

I have four new destinations to visit friends along the way:

Thank you Cristina and Francisco for the invitation to see Seville, Spain.

Two wonderful artists have invited me to their eco-friendly home in Silves, Protugal!

I will make a side-trip to visit my newly married Finish friend, Minna in London!

Thanks Rebecca C. for the invitation to Cairo, Egypt! I can't wait!

Rebecca Kam, I am excited to come and visit you in Hong Kong!

AND, I have found Cathie! So I will be visiting Paris, afterall!

First 3 flights purchased!

It's getting more official by the minute!
I just bought my tickets!

I will fly into Ponta Delgada, Azores--Tuesday Sept 3 at 7:15 am. I will have a week to explore the amazing volcanic landscape and crater/lake region.

Then, I will arrive in Funchal, Madeira--Wednesday, Sept 10 at 8:35 pm. I will spend two weeks in the fairyland posted previously,... caring for bees, I suppose!

Then I arrive Lisbon, Portugal--Friday, Sept 26 at 7:40 am. I am still working on exactly what I will be doing in Portugal, but I am hoping to arrange accommodation with a family of artists, who break their time between gardening and making mosaics! I will let you know as more develops!

New Plans!!!!

I just found the most amazing farm to stay at in Madeira! I will be staying in Madeira for two weeks helping with gardening: chestnuts, walnuts, pears and cherries, as well as helping with the upkeep of bees, cows, sheep and chickens.

Look at this amazing place!

Thank you: keep 'em comin'!

I have gotten SO many fantastic ideas for my journey!
In fact, I think I may already have the next few places on my trek.

A great tool is Google Earth--free software you can download, and it provides amazing satellite pictures any place in the world. For example, get the software and type in: Pedrodvoretz, russia. Scan around the map, and get close enough to see all the photo icons. Click on the Peterhof Cathedral.... hard to imagine not seeing that atleast once in one's lifetime.

Collecting Ideas

As I tell people about my journey, I get lots of fantastic suggestions of places to go. I wanted to have a space for people to offer their suggestions all in one place. So here, I would love for anyone to pass on to me the places they have been, or places where they have friends or family that I should visit.

So, here you go! Fill me up with knowledge!

Getting Started

This is it. This is my time. I am preparing for what will surely be the greatest trip of my life.

As you may or may not know, I tore my ACL snowboarding in Colorado this February. After 2 months of physical therapy--Thanks Jake!, I had surgery--Thanks Dr. Zarins! The ensuing time off work afforded me the chance to really think about what I wanted to do with my life. The end result of that thinking?.... A total change. I quit my job, sold all my belongings, and bought a plane ticket.

I plan to travel as much of the world as I can, for as long as I can. My journey will begin in the Azores, where I arrive Wednesday, September 3. I plan to travel by a combination of couchsurfing, HelpX farm work, and teaching English. I have only a general outline for the fall, and I embrace the inevitable changes as challenges that will come along with it.

I cannot wait to get started!