The Seed

I suppose I can give my mother the credit for planting the first seed.  The seed that was planted in a way that grew over the years but has most recently sprouted furiously.  It has taught me what traveling means and how it is within reach.  I played the cello for many years and at the age of thirteen I was presented with the opportunity to travel throughout seven European countries while performing in churches, parks and other open spaces.  Don't get me wrong, I was no Yo-Yo Ma.  There was no skill requirement to join this trip  I remember bringing the information sheet home too excited for words even though I knew my parents would say "no."  Why would they let me go on this trip?  What had I ever done for them?  How would they be able to save up $3,000?!?!?  It seemed too far out of reach.  I mean we had been on family vacations to Mexico before, but Europe seemed worlds away and I didn't have high hopes.  But they considered it.  My mother had traveled rather extensively in her young adulthood, and she entertained the idea with my dad.  I am sure there were many deals made and stipulations set, but the next thing I remember after that was my Bon Voyage performance the night before and the exhausting plane ride to our first stop in London, England.

Being so young I don't think I was able to completely appreciate the experience, but it did something else for me.  It started a trend that would take me many years to pick back up.  Of course I enjoyed my time frolicking around the Swiss Alps and shopping the most posh stores in London that I could not afford.  But the most important part of that trip was the glimpse into new, different and exciting worlds that existed beyond Cheyenne. my 50,000 population capitol of Wyoming city that I called home.  If I remember correctly, it went something like this:
London, England
Paris, France
Zermatt, Switzerland
Innsbruck, Austria
Venice, Italy
Rothenburg, Germany
Lichtenstein, the postage-stamp-sized country was somewhere in there too

I would take a yearly Spring Break trip to Mazatlan, Mexico throughout high school and most years in college.  But it was once I graduated from the University of Wyoming in May 2009 that the real adventures would begin!  Here's a short rundown:

Europe 2009
Rome, Italy
Viterbo, Italy
Bomarzo, Italy
Florence, Italy
Zermatt, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Budapest, Hungary
Zilina, Slovakia
Krakow, Poland
Prague, Czech Republic
Munich, Germany
Koblenz, Germany
Rock am Ring!!!, Germany
Rudesheim am Rhein, Germany
Frankfurt, Germany
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Antwerp, Belgium
Calais, France
London, England
Dover, England
I think I'm missing something.....

Germany 2009
Munich - worked as an Au Pair for a few months

Belize 2010
San Pedro

Europe 2011
Munich, Germany
Salzburg, Austria
Vienna, Austria
Budapest, Hungary

Costa Rica 2011
San Jose

Mexico 2011
Mazatlan

Which leads me to my most recent destination.....INDIA!!!