I recently started reading a popular blog chronologically from the origin. It’s been fun and amusing, to say the least. I’ve watched their style and skill evolve over the months of posts and it’s been a humbling reminder that we all have to start from somewhere.
It’s been so entertaining to also watch the various trends popping up. Although some of us in the blogosphere might balk at most of them now, I had to remember that back in 2010, this was innovative. Back in the day, travel blogging was in its infancy and listicles and funny trends were new and exciting to “discover.”
One such trend that I just recently “discovered” was the ABCs of travel. Each letter of the alphabet prompts the travel blogger to recall forgotten memories or relive favorites. Regardless, I think these types of listicles are super fun and, 10 years later, will jump on the bandwagon!
A: Age you went on your first international trip: 30 when I studied abroad in Germany. Although I visited Canada for a few hours a few years prior, I don’t count it as an international trip. My friend Michelle and I were in Seattle for a wedding and decided to drive to Vancouver for dinner. We didn’t really experience any culture or nature to consider it as my first international trip.
B: Best (foreign) beer drink you’ve had and where: Kofola, Czech Republic. Think commie Coke, but with more herbs.
C: Cuisine (favorite): Southern and Creole in New Orleans, Louisiana
D: Destinations, favorite, least favorite and why: This is akin to asking an honest parent which child is their favorite. Or as difficult as picking a favorite star in the heavens. It’s difficult for travelers to designate their favorites because everyone’s experiences are so personal and varied. But here’s my attempt: Romania is a favorite because it was raw, adventurous, and so different from what I knew. Germany was my first love. Louisiana is where I started my official travel journey. St. Thomas will always bring me back. I have yet to experience a least favorite destination.
E: Event that made you say “wow”: Experiencing the northern lights in Alaska!
F: Favorite mode of transportation: ICE train in Germany, catamaran in St. Thomas
G: Greatest feeling while traveling: Freedom
H: Hottest place you’ve ever traveled to: St. Thomas, summer 2016
I: Incredible service that you’ve experienced and where: Calgary, Alberta, Canada – for my friend Ashley’s 30th birthday, we road tripped from Salt Lake City to Calgary. For her birthday dinner, we visited Modern Steak, one of the top-rated local steak houses in Alberta. The service we received was second-to-none. And the food was insane, to top it all off!
J: Journey that took the longest: My first time trying to get to St. Thomas still gives me nightmares. Check out the whole story here. Trust me…it’s worth the read.
K: Keepsakes from your travels: I’m not big into souvenirs, but I do purchase tacky magnets from the various destinations I visit. The only keepsake I’ve held onto over the years is a beer stein from Munich.
L: Let-down sight, why and where: I try to manage my expectations, but I didn’t love Waikiki Beach.
M: Moment where you fell in love with travel: It’s so hard to pinpoint the origin. I was in love before I knew what was happening. But I’ll attribute it to my New Orleans trip. I haven’t written too much about the trip itself on this site, mainly because I hold it pretty close to my heart. But everything about the trip – the good and the bad – made me fall hard in love with travel. Being in a new place, fully self-reliant, figuring things out when they didn’t go well, trying new foods for the first time, etc.
N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in: Disneyland hotel
O: Obsession – what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling? The sky and unique signs
P: Passport stamps – how many and from where? I haven’t gotten too many, given that I am on my 3rd passport (full story here). I’ve had stamps from The Netherlands and Czech Republic. Right now with my current passport, I only have one – Romania. When you overland, you don’t typically get stamped.
Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where: Alien Research Center/Area 51 along the Extraterrestrial Highway in Central Nevada
R: Recommended sight, event or experience: Everyone needs to experience solo travel at least once in their lives. It’s not for everyone, but you learn more about yourself when you’re fully self-reliant in a new location.
S: Splurge – something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling: Experiences
T: Touristy thing you’ve done: Walked the Freedom Trail in Boston with an on-point historical guide
U: Unforgettable travel memory: watching the Northern Lights and kayaking in Alaska
V: Visas, how many and for where? Haven’t had to get a visa yet!
W: Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where? Don’t drink, but visited the V. Sattui Winery in Napa during a girls’ trip to San Francisco
X: eXcellent view and from where? Tied: atop the Transfagarasan Highway, Romania & sunrise over the Haleakala crater on Maui, Hawaii
Y: Years spent traveling: 11
Z: Zealous sports fans and where? Tied: Germany and Oakland. I got to watch Germany win the World Cup while I was in Germany. They were some of the most enthusiastic fans anywhere. And then watching the Raiders play in Oakland amongst my Raider Nation was pretty special.
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