It Is Trish

The A to Z Travel Meme was created by Julie Fox.  You can find the original post here.

If you decide to answer these A to Z of Travel questions, all you need to do is:

• copy the questions into a new post, either on your own blog or on this one
• write up your answers
• maybe add a few photos to pretty things up
• include a link back to this post so others can find all the information
• tag a fellow travellers (or two, or three) to do the A to Z of Travel
• paste a link to your A to Z of Travel in the comments of this post
• post an excerpt so we can share your A to Z

A: Age you started travelling?

I went to International Falls, MN when I was about 6 months old.  I first left the United States when I was 16.

B: Best beer you’ve had and where?

I don’t usually like beer, but I had a really excellent pale ale at the Blind Pelican in New Orleans, LA.

C: Cuisine (favourite)

Ahhh, um.  Mediterannean?  Really any version:  Greek, Turkish, Lebanese.  I love pita bread, lamb, rice, and tzatziki!  

D: Destinations, favourite, least favourite and why

Favorite place I’ve been:  Mongolia, because I went alone for three weeks and felt like I really got to experience Mongolian life.

Least favorite place I’ve been:  New Orleans.  I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I’ve been to the city twice now, and I got bored really quickly both times.  *shrug*

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”

Kayaking in a biolumenescent bay in Puerto Rico.  It was magical and absolutely stunning.

F: Favourite mode of transportation

Boats!  I love ferries, kayaks, speedboats.  I love the smell of water and the sense of adventure being on a boat provides.

G: Greatest feeling while travelling

Tie between:  Holy cow, this is amazing and beautiful and this is my real life, or else that feeling of ownership and empowerment when you’ve been in a place long enough that you have “your” coffee shop or “your” path down the street.

H: Hottest place

Senegal – specifically that night the power went out and the oscillating fan could no longer send a breeze through my 100+ degree bedroom.  No sleep that night.

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where

The Maho Resort in St. Maarten was my first (and so far only) experience with an all-inclusive deal – the staff was always happy to bring me another drink or serve me two entrees.

J: Journey that took the longest

In Mongolia, Gany and I were searching for a family who lived outside a small town in the rural countryside.  We drove all over the place for hours, picking up strangers who thought they could find it for us and dropping them off when they couldn’t.  Finally we spent the night on the floor of one stranger’s house, before setting off the next morning in renewed search.  We found the yurt at least 14 hours after we’d hoped.

K: Keepsake from your travels

My dearest keepsakes are blog posts and pictures.  But I’m also very fond of my Mongolian slippers.

L: Let-down sight, why and where

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.  It was on my bucket list to see this church, and when I finally went inside, there was a massive scaffolding taking up one-third of the building.  Scaffolding in general is a sure-fire experience-killer.

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel

The first time I left the country and experienced life in Athens, Greece.  History was old, people were different, food was delicious.  I wanted to go everywhere, all the time, and experience everything.

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in

I don’t know about nicest like fanciest but my favorite was either the upper story of a little house right on the beach in northern California or the apartment-style room in Baden Baden, Germany.

O: Obsession—what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while travelling?

Everything?  Selfies?  Oh wait, no, I know.  Cats.  Stray cats.  Selfies of me freaking out with stray cats in the background.

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where?

At least thirteen.  Twice to Canada, once to England, once to Germany, three times to Greece, twice to Turkey, twice to Senegal, once to Mongolia, once to St. Maarten, once to Puerto Rico….wait, maybe not to PR, since that is part of the US.

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where

Maybe the Genghis Khan statue in Mongolia?  It’s massive, in the middle of nowhere, and full of costumes you can try on if no one is looking.

R: Recommended sight, event or experience

Puerto Rico has enough similarity to the US to feel safe and enough difference to feel exotic.  Plus there is a ton to do on the tiny island, both city-wise and nature-wise.

S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while travelling

Well, traveling itself.  Pretty much the only things I enjoy spending money on are books and traveling.

T: Touristy thing you’ve done

In the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul, my friend and I paid $20 EACH to dress up in Turkish empress costumes and have our awkward pictures taken.

U: Unforgettable travel memory

Boarding the plane in 2010, freshly graduated from college, flying alone for the first time, and headed to Senegal to live in a strange place with strangers for five months.

V: Visas, how many and for where?

Maybe just Senegal?

W: Wine, best glass of wine while travelling and where?

Hmmm, I’m cheap about drinks, and also very undiscerning.  I like all wine everywhere.

X: eXcellent view and from where?

The Grand Canyon.  Before I went, I worried that it would be no different from post cards and Internet photography, but I was an idiot.  It’s truly a breath-taking view.

Y: Years spent travelling?

In the US – 27.  Outside the US – 11.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where?

I was in Athens during the 2004 Olympics, but that is more of a feel-good rivalry than intense sports scariness.

I tag Wild Ginger, From Eve to Me, and My Tiny Obsessions!