My secret shame

I turn 40 this year, and I have never stepped foot outside of the U.S.A.  Sure, I have traveled the world my whole life through the pages of books, and now the internet, but I have never actually been in another country.  It is not something I readily share with people.  After all, I think it is important to travel, experience new and different cultures, and see the actual places I have read about.  As Mark Twain said, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." Not that I think I have any worries in that regard, but there is just something about experiencing new places that gives one an understanding that one just doesn't get from books. St. Augustine said, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." Although I am a avid reader, I feel with my lack of travel I am poorly read on the actual world.

About three years ago, as I finished my master's degree and was looking to set my next goals in life, I made a decision.  I determined that, before my 40th birthday, I would either travel out of the country, or I would visit all 50 states of my own country.  I decided that if I had never traveled out of the United States before I was 40, I better well have seen the whole country.  I worked towards that goal the last couple of years, visiting Washington, D.C. and several states surrounding the capital.  But I am only halfway to visiting all 50 states.

Fortunately for me, Greg insisted we take a trip to Europe and made the reservations. I was in the midst of applying for a new position in the Forest Service, and I thought that we should wait.  Greg pointed out that there are always excuses for not traveling, or things we think are higher priority, but that sometimes, you just have to make travel a priority.  He was right.  We leave in six days for a trip to London, Paris, and Madrid.

Part of my impetus for starting this blog was this upcoming trip. I wanted a place to share my pictures and experiences on this adventure with my friends and family.  I also wanted a place where I could organize my thoughts and record my trip.  And so the countdown begins...6 days until I exorcise my secret shame.