Near and Far – Experiencing the World

For as long as I can remember, even as a small child, I wanted to travel. I got excited when I heard people speaking different languages or saw people wearing different clothing. The scents and sounds of different cultures and the amazing people embodying those cultures and beliefs that seem to be so different than my own but in reality – are more similar than we care to admit – it all drove in me a hunger to be a part of the larger world outside of my own neighborhood. It did not matter whether it was local, as in other communities in my own state, or other states within the U.S. or even other countries around the globe. The travel bug bit me hard early and often. In this section, I want to share my love of travel by taking you on some of the trips and adventures that I have had as well as share some things I have learned about traveling in general whether it is on a budget, traveling solo, traveling with a companion, traveling around the world or just viewing the world from my own backyard. I have not traveled as much as I would like to but I certainly intend to continue doing so every chance I get. Travel awakens so many of our senses and refreshes our view of the world. We realize where we fit in this world and how fortunate we truly are to experience it. I love not only my own experiences but also hearing about the experiences of others and hope that those reading this blog will share their experiences as well.