Happy New Year!

First if all, as the title of this post states, Happy New Year! :)

I've been back in North America for quite some time now. I can't help but to think that a year ago I was getting ready to start out on an adventure of a lifetime. Since returning from that adventure, I have been able to do a little bit of out of state/country traveling--to Ohio and Canada--as well as in-state traveling, of course. However, I still find myself daydreaming about traveling and seeing more of the world...yes, I have the travel bug.

With that said, one of my goals for the new year is to get more stamps in my passport.

What I miss about traveling (these are not ranked):

-cobblestone roads
-meeting new people
-encountering language barriers
-finding ways to overcome language barriers
-using what little vocabulary I know in various languages
-navigating metro systems
-figuring out train itineraries
-gelato
-seeing huge historical landmarks plopped in the middle of a city (i.e., Eiffel Tower, Colosseum)
-walking a lot
-using different types of currency
-hanging out with my friends & family in various countries
-having me-time on a train to think, listen to music, journal, Sudoku, and/or sleep
-shopping for souvenirs
-not being too worried about spending money
-trying ethnic dishes for the first time
-going with the flow
-being amazed by churches
-tipping street performers
-not having anything holding me back
-independence
-responsibility
-spontaneity
-not having a routine
-realizing/proving to myself that I'm stronger than I know
-searching for hostels
-being forced to (cautiously) trust strangers--trust in humanity
-becoming friends with strangers
-taking pictures, leaving footprints

...I'm sure I could keep going with this list, but I'll stop for now--maybe start a part 2 later on down the road.

I sincerely hope that 2013 is off to a wonderful start for all of you & hope that this year you will get to experience the joy of travel--no matter how near or far--so that you can see just even a little bit more of the world!


Peace. Love. Happiness.
--TR