Foo - where have you travelled?

my workmate has been bugging me to take a trip abroad with her, and is amazed that I have never been off the east coast of the US. aside from the fact that she is, obviously, a woman, and that means different arrangements would be necessary in my book, it's gotten me thinking about how much I have probably missed living a paycheck to paycheck existence for so long.

now I think have the means to take a trip, having gotten a degree and a new job, as long as it's not extravagant. not sure it's going to be with her (it's just a bit weird, though she's a cool gal). in fact, I'm pretty sure it's not. but suddenly I am dreaming about taking a trip to Europe, and maybe doing a mini bike tour. I have a friend in Lisbon who I know online through her artwork and my music that I've known for a couple of years who has invited me to stay there for a few days if I'd like. (and if her boyfriend doesn't mind!) meeting her would be great, and her boyfriend who is also a guitarist and shares similar music interests. I could see her artwork, and collect a pastel she made of me from a photo! (how cool is that?) maybe from there I could bike and tent through Portugal and Spain or something. I don't know, I'm a total babe in the woods over here!

I'd love to know about anyone's travel experiences, especially in Europe and especially if they involve biking. anyone? :)

Travel is great, you should make a place for it in your life.

What does that "different arrangements" b/c she is a woman mean? You mean, like, separate rooms?

So far I've traveled by bike:
USA: CA,OR,WA,CO,MT,WY,ID,SD,MN,WI,MI,OH,IN,PA,NJ,AZ,UT
Canada: BC, AB
Australia: Tasmania, Victoria
New Zealand: both islands

Most of my travels have been self-supported touring, carrying all the gear needed to camp, cook & ride for weeks/months at a time. Some of it has been in supported groups, where they carry your luggage and you either camp or stay in hotels. Some of it has been alone, some with friends, family, strangers met along the way.

I really want to ride in the mountains in France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain - maybe next year, funds don't permit right now, so I will settle for some more local travel this year.

Here are some journals in spain to get you started
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/locales/?locale_id=198&doctype=journal

Heh, "different arrangements." The tales my wife has told me about backpacking across Europe and staying in cheap hotels would make you realize that you won't have it that bad sharing accommodations with your co-worker. :)

I haven't been anywhere, really. I have been to California once for a day, lived in Ohio for a year, but otherwise haven't been out of Minnesota. Wait, I went to Cananda once just to say I had been there.

Going somewhere outside of the US seems like an impossible dream to me. My wife, though, has been all over the world, even lived in other parts of the world for substantial lengths of time, and a friend of mine has been to 26 countries (her job literally sends her to a different country twice a month--stinks to be her husband, I would think, who has to stay behind).

So, I just live my travels through my wife's stories. :) And some fun she had (before she met me)!

I've done quite a lot of traveling - I just love the sense of discovery of being somewhere I don't know at all, and trying to figure it out. My main piece of advice is to relax and not stress out if things don't work as you would expect. Also, try new foods, be curious, talk to people and smile a lot. If you can try to learn some of the local language (ideally more than just "four more beers"), it can often go a long way. A bike tour of Spain and Portugal sounds fantastic - I've wanted to do one in Germany for a long time!

I think you should go visit your friend in Lisbon. If they are able to help with your arrangements, take advantage of it and offer them the same should they want to come here. How many chances will you have to do something so cool? You've worked hard, you're in a great place in your life right now, enjoy the time! Imagine the things you will see there, places that a lot of us don't get to see. Oh and if you DO go, you have to promise to take a lot of pictures and share them with us. That way, we won't have to travel to Lisbon, you will be bringing Lisbon to us! :D

I've only been to Puerto Vallarta, Jamiaca, lots of trips to Colorado, Arizona, once to Florida. Hopefully going to New Jersey this year. Was invited to work at Washington DC to help with the health care reform but I chickened out. Didn't want to be away for 6 months. :twitchy:

Been invited by several forum members to stop by for a visit if I'm ever out their way. Maybe one year I'll start taking up those offers. Been wanting to meet few of the ladies here.

A crazy friend of mine wants to take a road trip in her Jeep. I don't know. She's kind of nuts but the temptation wavers in my face. If we go, I'm taking Shorty, that's for sure.

I think you should go visit your friend in Lisbon. If they are able to help with your arrangements, take advantage of it and offer them the same should they want to come here. How many chances will you have to do something so cool?

Yes! Visiting with someone who actually lives there is one of the best ways to experience any place.

Go. It's the stuff lives are made from.
Some of the most memorable riding of my life has been in Europe.
My faves so far: Limburg, Tuscany, French Pyrenees, and the North Sea coast.
Careful though. You may just end up wanting to move there. That's what happened to me.

And one more thing before bed: Travel isn't as hard as people seem to think it is. The most difficult thing is deciding you want to go - and assuming you've got the time and are willing to sacrifice some money from bike purchases, that's simply a matter of saying, "I'm going." The rest you can figure out on the way (or plan in advance... but that can be part of the fun).

The distances aren't that big - you can fly half-way across the world in less than a day. The biggest leap is psychological.

thanks everybody!

haha... as for "different arrangements", it's situational. I would not mind sharing a room with some women, but not her. we'd probably drink, and I get "vibes" from her at work (that I don't respond to, as we work too closely). that would ruin things. my Lisbon friend I would have no problems doing this with, even though I only know her from online. is that weird? anyway, the boyfriend should be around in her case, even if I'm dead wrong.

thanks for the guide valygrl!

thanks for the advice Siu and gbcb. yes, I believe you are right, knowing someone is the best way. hopefully I wouldn't impose if I were biking most of the time. and if I didn't keep asking for "four more beers" at her house. ;) (she speaks english well, so I wouldn't have to learn that)

really getting the gears going, thinking about this...

oops, Metzinger posted while I typed...

good advice, especially as I personally know people who have moved afterwards. working in the medical field, I would have licensing and language issues to deal with, though. better stay out of England... that would cut my issues in half.

If you are getting those kind of vibes from your co worker, I'd high tail it outta there. :twitchy:

So many people carry cameras now. You might get a little tipsy and find yourself on You Tube!! :lol:

But seriously. If you can somehow make it to Lisbon, I don't see why not. You will get first hand tours, a warm place to stay and they will probably show you the best restaurants around!


Much better than going to a dive and getting sick....Blechh!

Make sure you bring them a nice gift from the States. Something they can't get over there.

I'll also echo Metzinger's caution about the danger of going places. I came to China for 6 months, 6 years ago.

You might get a little tipsy and find yourself on You Tube!! :lol:


OMG!!!!! she has shown me pictures of men. :o pictures that hurt my little brain.

wow, I just totally nixed that idea, that would suck....

"Dad, my friend said she saw you on a myspace video...." NEXT, on Dads Go Wild: Barcelona Edition! :D

I've done a little bit of traveling.....

I've spent time in Europe (Germany, France, Belgium), and I worked in Africa hauling Diamond Mining Equipment, I worked in Siberia out of Brotsk on a joint venture pipeline project as a contractor/equipment hauler, The North Slope of Alaska and NW Territories of Canada also as an equipment hauler for the oil/gas industry. Also, all 48 contiguous states and Hawaii.

I was an exchange student in semi-rural western Japan as a teenager and my wife spent some college time in Ecuador. Since, we've honeymooned in Australia and visited family in England, Norway, and Brazil. Domestically, we've hit all over CA (well, we live here), CO, OR, HI, WA, AK, PA, MD, DC MA, NH, NY, and a tiny bit of FL. We've had a great time wherever we've gone. Okay, Hawaii with my parents was a little stressful, but that had nothing to do with Hawaii... we love it. :)

Now that we have a wee one, we'll see where we go from here, but I do have a sister in France that we'd like to see and some friends in HK and Singapore, and we've always wanted to visit Canada. I also harbor a serious desire to return to Australia.

Oh yeah, and here's a list of all the airports I've been to and through: Link (http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=oko%0D%0Alax%0D%0Aitm%0D%0Asbp%0D%0Asfo%0D%0Asjc%0D%0Asan%0D%0Aeug%0D%0Aord%0D%0Ardm%0D%0Apd x%0D%0Asea%0D%0Ayak%0D%0Acdv%0D%0Aanc%0D%0Ajnu%0D%0Afai%0D%0Alhr%0D%0Ahau%0D%0Aosl%0D%0Aewr%0D%0Aavp %0D%0Amsp%0D%0Adtw%0D%0Amia%0D%0Aphl%0D%0Agru%0D%0Agig%0D%0Avix%0D%0Aigu%0D%0Assa%0D%0Afor%0D%0Aphx% 0D%0Aont%0D%0Aden%0D%0Aayq%0D%0Asyd%0D%0Acns%0D%0Astn%0D%0Ahnl%0D%0Akoa%0D%0Aogg%0D%0Abwi%0D%0Adfw%0 D%0Asuu&RANGE=&PATH-COLOR=red&PATH-UNITS=mi&PATH-MINIMUM=&MARKER=1&SPEED-GROUND=&SPEED-UNITS=kts&RANGE-STYLE=best&RANGE-COLOR=navy&MAP-STYLE=)

I have been lucky that my job has allowed me to travel almost all over the US and the rest of the world. Been to pretty much everywhere in Europe, Asia and South America, not so much to Africa and the Middle East. End of the month I head off to: Barcelona, Marseille, Sevona, Naples, Palermo, Tunis, Palma De Mallorca on a cruise followed by a week of sailing in the Med for 2.5 weeks of vacation.

Traveling is great fun, get out there and enjoy the world

very very serious jealousy is setting in. ;) thanks for all of the replies, and the more the merrier!

Travel is one of our primary interests.. We've been to 46 US states and D.C., Canadian provinces. New Brunswick, Quebec, and Ontario.. North America. Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, . South America. Peru, Bolivia.
Europe , Asia, and Oceania. .. Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey , Tahiti : Iceland, Ireland, England, Wales, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Greece, Italy, Serbia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Monaco, Andorra, France, Czech Repubic, : Africa, Egypt, Morocco.
Bike tours.. California, Nevada, Arizona,France, Italy, Spain. Belgium.

Travel is important, IMO

I have set foot (or wheels, at least) in every US state except, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticuit, Rhode Island, Delaware and North Dakota.
Been to Ontario and BC, Canada, and Ensenada Mexico.

I have been to England, Scotland, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Norway.

We had been scheduled for a Med cruise (Navy) that would have taken us to Israel and Africa, but Israel chose that opportunity to invade Lebanon, so I watched Beirut burn for 6 months offshore.

extra jealousy points awarded to all bike tours mentioned. :)

I've often regretted the money I've spend on 'things.'

I've never regretted the money I've spent on travel.

I live in a world of backpackers and travellers

honestly the biggest (actually and only) regret I have in my life, NOW that I know. Is not taking off and travelling. I would love to go back to my early 20's and do a walkabout...

Message to anyone in their 20's...leave...go on a walk about...do it now...before life starts really happening...

When and if I have a kid, I would gladly see him travel for a few years before school.

Arg just thinking about this has me thinking of the stories...my best friend and best man travelled europe for 4 years. Going from bar to bar to work...after he got his masters. The stories he has, the things he has seen and done.

My ex-gf has similar stories, travelling school on the ocean, backpacking in the uk, train hopping in europe...travelling through africa...not to mention europe...

envy...definitely how I feel. I wish my parents hadn't been such home bodies and pushed me out of the country.

England, Wales, Mexico, Canada, France (barely), New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. New York, Maryland and pretty much the entire Western U.S. (E.g. Colorado and points west, including Hawaii).

My advice to the OP, travel some. Do not ignore the U.S. there is plenty to see here. Also if possible combine with other interests/contacts. All my travels outside the U.S. where I had to cross water involved Rugby, that was a good thing, met and spent time with locals on all those trips.

I've often regretted the money I've spend on 'things.'

I've never regretted the money I've spent on travel.

+1

what an inspiring collection of stories and sentiments! :)


I've often regretted the money I've spend on 'things.'

I've never regretted the money I've spent on travel.

regret is often a great barometer of true value, and likewise it is purchases I regret more than experiences. thanks!



Arg just thinking about this has me thinking of the stories...my best friend and best man travelled europe for 4 years. Going from bar to bar to work...after he got his masters. The stories he has, the things he has seen and done.

My ex-gf has similar stories, travelling school on the ocean, backpacking in the uk, train hopping in europe...travelling through africa...not to mention europe...


envy is my response as well. with one part of hopeful mixed in. better throw in 2 parts thrifty while I'm at it...


England, Wales, Mexico, Canada, France (barely), New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. New York, Maryland and pretty much the entire Western U.S. (E.g. Colorado and points west, including Hawaii).

My advice to the OP, travel some. Do not ignore the U.S. there is plenty to see here. Also if possible combine with other interests/contacts. All my travels outside the U.S. where I had to cross water involved Rugby, that was a good thing, met and spent time with locals on all those trips.

I might be able to travel in the US as part of my work, and keep my skills up to date as well. Hawaii sounds nice. :D

I've often regretted the money I've spend on 'things.'

I've never regretted the money I've spent on travel.

This one I'll remember next time I travel. Thanks.

Does travel for work count?

Having been to about 60 countries and prinicipalities, my list of suggestions can go on and on and on. If you have connections in Portugal I suggest going there. Lisbon is a nice city with much to offer. If you do decide to make a trip there take a train up to Coimbra for a few days. It is a beautiful city with a very old university. You can't beat the good foods in Portugal. The Algarve is a must see as well.

travel for work counts, as long as you got to "speak freely, but not of profit and loss" while you were there. ;) people that travel a lot get to hang out quite a bit I would wager.

you gotta figure on someone with the handle "travelmama" having been there done that. making Lisbon the anchor does seem logical... at some point I'll have to run this by Inês! ;) Coimbra sounds interesting too. maybe Inês and Chalo will want to go too? oooohhhh, and I might have a connection in Grenoble (France) too. :) at least for a day visit. :)

save money save money save money :D

Honestly, learn how to bartend...and travel for cheap. Bartenders can get housed for trade...you meet people...etc. Backpacking etc..not that expensive

unless yu drink your way across wherever you are :)

PErsonally I wouldn't do NA. You can see that with a spouse and kids and in a car...go somewhere unique while you are young...(not to mention experience other people...europeans are awesome)

Honestly, learn how to bartend...and travel for cheap. Bartenders can get housed for trade...you meet people...etc. Backpacking etc..not that expensive

unless yu drink your way across wherever you are :)

PErsonally I wouldn't do NA. You can see that with a spouse and kids and in a car...go somewhere unique while you are young...(not to mention experience other people...europeans are awesome)

Does travel for work count?

absolutely, travelling on the company dime is the most cost effective....

It's hard to drag me away from home but I do like to travel. A good trip is something that you will remember and look back on the rest of your life.

I've been on camping and backpacking trips, I've also been on trips where we stayed in hotels the whole time. I've been on trips with friends, with my wife, with my daughter, and by myself. I haven't been on any trips out of the U.S. but there are plenty of places in this country that I want to visit. I've been to MO, WA, OR, CA, UT, AZ, CO, NM, WY, KN, OK, TX, LA, AR, MI, FL, KA, TN, VA, WV, NY, NJ, MN, CN, VT. I've bicycled in at least 7 of these states. I've backpacked in at least 5 of them.

It's easy to take a trip, just pick somewhere and go. Grab some friends to go with you, get in the car and drive. Or make plane reservations and fly. You can go on a shoestring budget or you can go all out. You can plan your itinerary on your own, or you can book a package deal. I once did a bike trip with a tour company and it was a lot of fun. We biked during the day and camped at night. The employees of the tour company prepared meals and carried our gear from one place to another. My wife and some of her relatives are talking about taking a cruise. We haven't done this yet but I'm willing to try it.

I haven't done a lot of traveling - Hawaii, Florida, Jersey, New York, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan...Puerto Rico, France (day trip to Paris), the UK. In England, you've got to go to Stratford on Avon. It's a gorgeous little town, and surprisingly, isn't as touristy as I thought it would be. I had some of the best times of my life in that little hamlet (pun intended).

I've lived in Japan and the Philippines, and have pretty much traveled those countries tip to tip.

I've visited China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (yeah, I consider then separate, ok? Don't tell the PRC :eek:).

In the US, I've been to California from SD to Marin County, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. I would love to go further east than that!

I've visited China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (yeah, I consider then separate, ok? Don't tell the PRC :eek:).

Too late. They're monitoring my connection. Copy and paste this into your signature and they'll probably let you off with a short reform-through-labour term:
世界上只有一个中国，大陆和台湾同属一个中国，中国的主权和领土完整不容分割。维护国家主权和领土完整是包括台湾同胞在内的全中国人民的共同义务！

22 states, ridden across three by bike.
ridden across country by motorcycle.
ireland, belguim france germany. few other places that slip my mind

found the bike in ireland with the note on it. I rode it around left it at the ferry dock for france i think, with the same note on it

http://stupidhurts.org/wp-content/flagallery/eurotrip/IMGP2780.jpg

found the bike in ireland with the note on it. I rode it around left it at the ferry dock for france i think, with the same note on it

http://stupidhurts.org/wp-content/flagallery/eurotrip/IMGP2780.jpg

great story! :)

Message to anyone in their 20's...leave...go on a walk about...do it now...before life starts really happening...

Absolutely. Although I had been to Europe twice with my dad while in college (Switzerland/Austria & Yugoslavia), it wasn't until 2001 when I was 35 when a work trip brought me to Belgium that the lightbulb went off in my head. "What do you meant when can just go to Antwerp for dinner?"; "I can go to Paris for the day by train?". Mon dieu!

Since then, work travel as well as the airline and hotel miles that accumulated have been very travel friendly: Belgium, France (2x), Italy (6x), Israel (6x), Puerto Rico (2x), Germany, Finland, New Zealand, San Francisco, Phoenix (& the Grand Canyon).

To the OP, definitely go see your friend in Lisbon and then go from there. One of the great things about my work travel has been spending time during the week with the locals and then getting to explore on my on the weekend or longer. Getting the information about local customs, things not to miss, things in your travel guide that you really can skip, hanging out at local restaurants, etc. Makes the travel experience so much better.

Learn a couple of basic phrases in Portugese and have an English/Portugese language book with you. Be able to say Good Morning, Hello, Good Bye, Thank you, Excuse me, Could I please have...(followed by pointing), numbers and other simple phrases. Even if that's all you know, most people in the world will be happy that you tried and then help you out with what you need.

And, as a friend told me when I started travelling more, learn how to order two beers or glasses of wine in the local language. Order one drink, and you drink alone; order two and you start to make friends.

Have fun!

I'll also echo Metzinger's caution about the danger of going places. I came to China for 6 months, 6 years ago.

Has the Chinese Government given you a release/parol date yet?

Since then, work travel as well as the airline and hotel miles that accumulated have been very travel friendly: Belgium, France (2x), Italy (6x), Israel (6x), Puerto Rico (2x), Germany, Finland, New Zealand, San Francisco, Phoenix (& the Grand Canyon).


As a caveat...in life if you feel like you want to travel. Get a career in hospitality...and hopefully marry into an airliner. I have a friend that flies the world for free and stays in 5 star hotels for 50$ a night.

then when you are older you can travel where you want when you want

Now where did I leave my stewardess *looks around*

Has the Chinese Government given you a release/parol date yet?

I think I can check out any time I like, but I can never leave.

I've traveled extensively in France, the UK, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as China. Within my immediate family, we have fluency in 8 languages, so getting around was never too much of a problem in most places. We grew up learning how to travel and getting used to not knowing the language and picking up what we needed to from whoever in the family did speak that particular language.

I've done a lot of cycling in France and loved it. A number of years ago I spent about a month in L'Alley-Avers which is in the Rhône-Alpes region in france (southwest). Parts of former TdF routes go through the town and include some nice climbs. That region of the country is perfect for cycling tours as you can ride through rolling hills from town to town, picking up things from local markets as you go. To this day, my favorite riding food is a nice baguette and some cheese. :) Although I speak french, I found that most people speak english so even if you went there for a trip and didn't know the language, getting around would be easy. There are a lot of nice bed and breakfasts in those regions too, so you could do a trip where you stay in a different B&B each day or so as you travel.

When I went to China back in 2008, I stayed for a month and found it much easier to get around than I anticipated. I did have an advantage, seeing that I was staying with my sister and her family, but on days that I ventured off on my own, I discovered it wasn't too hard to get around. The lonely planet guidebooks are great and with word cards I got from my sister, it made things a lot easier. Even when I visited places where there weren't many people who spoke english (if at all), pantomiming things seemed to work.

Just back from 10 days in Norway, very nice. Not as amenable to our usual no-planning travel approach (at least not in June, which is like spring and summer all jammed together for them) but it still worked out.

There is a lot in North America for sure. I have not been much south of I-40.

I'm going to France for 2 weeks in the fall. Buy some travel books (I like the ones from Rick Steves), do some internet research, and go for it.

I've been to AK, HI, FL, GA, CT, NY, IL, AZ, NV, England, and cruised the Panama Canal (stopped in Cozumel Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama City, and Grand Cayman Island). Also up and down CA.

I wish I would have started traveling earlier.

I'm pretty sure I have all 50 states. 4 or 5 Canadian provinces, St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Spain (SW coastal area), France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany... so far.

thanks for all the replies! I'm burning Rick Stevens into my memory banks, and I'll be checking the Touring forum as I seem to remember them having a lot of bike touring/camping/stealth camping threads back in the day. (been a good while since I browsed it)


:)

I think I can check out any time I like, but I can never leave.

What is their definition of "check out":eek:?

Just back from 10 days in Norway, very nice. Not as amenable to our usual no-planning travel approach (at least not in June, which is like spring and summer all jammed together for them) but it still worked out.

There is a lot in North America for sure. I have not been much south of I-40.

Crossing I-40(Mason Dixon line)can be a bit tricky with the culture,language,and only fried foods available.:)

http://www.whatthechrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/heart_attack_cafe.jpg