Before I go on with my travels, I should probably fill you in on a little background about me. I grew up an Air Force brat. We lived all over the U.S. and in Germany. That means by the time I had graduated from high school I had seen most of the states (well ¾ of them anyway) and a pretty good chunk of western Europe. I supposed that gives me something of an advantage when it comes to traveling. It certainly makes me more courageous. I am never worried about “fitting in” or getting lost. Actually, I find that getting lost has distinct positive aspects. You find all kinds of cool things when you end up somewhere you didn’t plan to be. The trick is to remember that travel is an adventure. You should always keep an open mind and relish the experiences. There is always something to be learned from every stumbling block. In a lot of cases, the most fun I’ve had, the most interesting people I’ve met, the best local food I’ve eaten has come from a wrong turn or a delay that wasn’t planned. Once you’re in a situation, you’re there … the key is to make the most of it EVERY TIME.
Anyway, traveling in Europe as a high school student also taught me a LOT about how to get around on public transportation. When I travel, I rarely rent a car. Cars isolate you and you can’t watch where you are and check out the scenery if your eyes are on the road. It also taught me a lot of little ways to get around Europe without spending a lot of money. I know more ways to cut corners on a budget than I can count. You’ll see some of those as this blog unfolds. It will also explain why, at least early on in my plan, I ended up in Europe a lot. Until somewhere around “G” the primary goals of each trip were to 1) keep traveling and 2) not spend a lot of money I didn’t have. Then I got a pretty good job, paid off some bills and had a little more cash which I used to fund nicer trips. But the point is, you can see the world without spending a lot of money if you try. I tell people all the time that it’s just a question of priorities. Ask yourself, “What’s more important – that Starbucks double cappuccino non-skim latte every day, or a trip to the Alps?” Then start saving a little at a time and soon you’ll have what you need to start your own plan to see whatever it is you want to see.
© The World A to Z, LLC 2014
The World A to Z 