Adventures
I really love to explore. I love unfamiliar cultures, faraway lands and the great outdoors. I want to travel and see the world, and beyond; I’d go to Mars if I could. I’m more or less always fighting the urge to drop everything and go someplace new. I’ve been to these countries:
Argentina
For our honeymoon, in 2008, Heather and I spent a month living in a penthouse apartment in Buenos Aires. There we took in the sights, studied tango and drank many café dobles. We also hiked through the fantastic, unparalleled beauty of Iguazú Falls, took a day trip into Uruguay (see below), Paraguay (see below) and Brazil, accidentally, without documentation (also below). We maintained a blog of our adventures (which later evolved into this very blog).
Australia
I backpacked through Australia for a month in September and early Octobler 1999. I began my journey in Sydney and proceeded up the eastern coast of Australia, visiting Brisbane, Townsville, Airlie Beach, Cairns and many other places.
My travel journal documents the adventure.
Belgium
I visited Belgium while in Europe with my family in 1992. Brussels was the key destination; Dad had backpacked through there in the 60s, and this was his first visit back.
I don’t actually remember that much about this trip, but one day I’ll see if I can dig up and post some photos.
Brazil
Heather and I “visited” Brazil very briefly in 2008 as part of our honeymoon in Argentina. Really funny story how we accidentally entered Brazil without a visa. If it isn’t already on the blog, I’ll have to write about it one day.
(Note: it’s very easy to get into Brazil without a visa. The way we did it, they just wave you in.)
Canada
A regular vacation destination when I was growing up. What ten-year-old boy wouldn’t appreciate the bland friendliness of Toronto? But the rainforests of British Columbia are more attractive now.
Not long ago found myself crossing the Montana border into Alberta as part of a day trip out of Glacier National Park.
France
This country comprised the bulk of the 1992 family trip to Europe. We spent weeks in Paris and parts of northern France. No one should die without seeing the Louvre.
I used to love France. I studied French for four years in school, and even planned to live there for a while.
Germany
I went through a slice of Germany only in passing while on a train. This was also during the Europe trip of 1992. It has not been a major part of my journeys.
I do want to try schnitzel. Someday. Really. I’ve never had it, but it looks so good.
Guatemala
In 2000 I went to Guatemala with my friend Jenn (well, she was a friend in those day) and explored it with her for two weeks. We spent most of our time in Antigua, hitting the salsa clubs and exploring Spanish ruins. Then we went to Copan Ruinas to see much older Mayan ruins.
There are a lot of earthquakes and other geologic events there, making for a lot of ruins.
Honduras
Just across the border from Guatemala. During that Guatamala trip in 2000, Jenn and I took a couple days and went to visit the Mayan ruins of Copan Ruinas.
The jungle was thick and overran the ruins, but archaeologists had cleared the main arena. The remains of a dead culture are stirring.
Mexico
Since I moved to San Diego and began to study Spanish, Mexico has become relatively convenient, the horrible border crossing notwithstanding.
I’ve been to Tijuana many times and I’ve explored the coast of Baja twice. In 2003 I took a week-long immersion Spanish class in Ensenada. Puerto Nuevo, north of Ensenada, is known for its lobster.
Netherlands
Holland was part of that 1992 Europe trip I keep coming back to. We spent most of our time in Amsterdam, my favorite European city. This was well before it began to tolerate cannabis or prostitution officially.
Amsterdam has some really amazing art in museums that must be seen. In particular I loved the Van Gogh museum.
Paraguay
A day trip to Ciudad del Este while in Argentina. A globalized, Wild West kind of town, all mud, crazy traffic, cheap Chinese junk, knockoff products, pirated DVDs and not that much in the way of law and order. They prefer dollars to Argentine pesos, and pesos to their own currency. It’s all cash.
In short, a very cool place.
Switzerland
I remember Switzerland as a storybook place of stunning Alpine beauty. There was part of a train ride I took that almost seems like a dream to me now, passing through a place too beautiful and magical to be real. But it was.
I hope to revisit it one day with Heather. We didn’t spend long there, and I’d like to see more.
UK
Britain was one of the several nations I visited with my family in that 1992 Europe trip I’ve repeatedly mentioned. A primary destination. As I recall, on that trip we saw a nice slice of London.
My ex-girlfriend Sarah Bellingrath and I revisited the UK in 2003 to attend my friend Marta Cobb’s wedding. That was my first incursion into Scotland.
United States
The land of my birth and my home. I visited Yosemite with my family in 2000. I went to Yellowstone with my ex-girlfriend Sarah in fall 2002. In 2003 In the summer of 2004 I biked the California coast in San Diego regularly. I’ve also spent a lot of time in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. In 2009 Heather and I went camping in Monument Valley. In September 2011 I took Heather on a two-week road trip to Glacier National Park. I have been to every state except for Alaska, West Virginia, North and South Dakota, and the whole of New England (except Massachusetts).
Uruguay
Colonia, primarily. I shall write of this later.