The Bug Has Bitten: Travel Post [Image Heavy]

I haven’t travelled nearly as much as I would like to. If I had unlimited funds I wouldn’t buy cars and boats and planes (well, maybe planes…), I’d travel to all of the places in the world I’ve dreamed of going. See all the things I’ve seen on tv and movies. Take pictures of the oldest buildings in the world. I’d tweet the whole damn thing, of course, because sharing these experiences with the world will hopefully inspire others to want to expense them, too.

Or maybe it won ld be to make y’all jealous. Either or.

I know lots of people would be content to go somewhere tropical and lay on a beach or on a lounge by the pool as fruity drinks are brought to you there in an unbroken loop. That’s fine. I like that sometimes, too. But when I travel I like to soak in the culture, the history, the…it-ness of a place. I notice the differences and similarities of where I am and where I’m from.

The travel bug has bit me again. I have some travel plans for this year (crossing my fingers for New York for Christmas!), visiting friends and family (Austin, look out!), and seeing new and interesting things. This urge to travel has gotten me reminiscing about where I’ve already been, mostly through the photos I’ve taken. Here is a list of my favorite places I’ve been and my favorite pictures from each of those places. If you click on a photo you can see the gallery and view larger versions

Disneyland

Okay, so it’s not technically a city, but it’s STILL the most happiest place on earth! In 1993 Vancouver had a summer much like last year’s: rainy, cold, not summery at all. My parents, in their infamous wisdom and awesomeness, decided to surprise us with a trip to Disneyland instead of our usual 3-week stint at the cabin. When we turned toward the border and we realized we weren’t heading in the usual cabin direction, we asked what was going on, and they said, “We’re going to Disneyland!” As you can imagine hilarity ensued, and we began the two and a half day drive down the west coast.

New Orleans

The Big Easy. Mardi Gras. Beads, beers and boobs. Okay, not boobs, but I did get asked by some nice gentleman on a restaurant balcony to show them mine. This was leg number two of my road trip with Jessica through the Southern United States, after spending some time with a friend in Mississippi. The drinks flowed freely in plastic to go cups, the music was live and loud and amazing, and we stole a cigar from a British gent named Adrian (who shows up in our pictures a lot). The French Quarter is a sight to see.

London, England (In and around)

I’ve been twice and I’d go again in a second. The history of the place is what gets me; it’s so different from Vancouver on every level. The churches and Big Ben and Buckingham Palace and The Tower of London…I soaked it all in and was in awe the entire time. Londoners probably don’t see it the way I do, but that’s okay. It’s a special place for me and always will be.

Austin, TX

Not going to lie, if there’s anywhere in the world I would live other than in Vancouver it’s Austin, Texas. Stuffing my face with delicious Tex Mex, swimming at Barton Springs (who doesn’t love a good swimmin’ hole?) dancing at the bars that HAVE NO COVER (seriously, Vancouver. You suck at being a place to party), the Congress Bridge Bats (larges urban bat colony IN THE WORLD)  and spending time with Jessica…Can’t beat it.