The intro

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I'm a blog virgin, but I thought this would be a great way to document my trip (and the sometime exciting pre-planning that comes along with it). I leave on February 7th!!!!! Six more weeks!!!
Enough exclamation points.

I thought I would start with a (ooppps long) entry of my travel past.

This is my second solo trip. My first one was going out west to British Columbia last summer. I went to work at a resort in Kelowna. I worked there for about 6 weeks. I left because drinking EVERY and I mean every night at a picnic table was getting old. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a nice cold beer and hanging out with friends but constant drunkenness is something I did in first year university and I don't mean to sound like grandma but I'm over it. Also being 40 minutes from any form of civilization was getting tricky and expensive. It can get complicated trying to work my schedule along with 2 other people with someone who has a car. When it came down to it it was not what I wanted so I gave my 2 weeks notice and backpacked around BC.

British Columbia is as beautiful as they say. I didn't fall in love with Vancouver like everyone said I would, instead I fell in love with Victoria. It also helped have lovely hostesses (Laura and Meagan).

I also got to learn how to surf. Surfing was on my bucket list. I am athletically challenged - I guess that would be the best way to put it. I was never the most graceful when it came to ballet class (or tap, jazz or musical theatre). That didn't stop me I signed up for lessons back in Kelowna about 4 weeks before I even got to my surfing destination of Tofino. I stood on my board for...one second. But it was an amazing, exhilerating moment. I don't plan on stopping to learn how to surf. The next chance I get I want to hop on a board and ride the waves.

Enough about BC. My other big trip was last summer/fall. I had graduated from university and wanted to see the beauties of Europe. Whether it be the old Moorish architecture of Spain or the rolling hills of Scotland. I went with 3 other friends from university - Elysia, Nancy and Sam. We went on an amazing (and sooo cheap) cruise of the Greek Islands. Then hopped on over Malaga Spain where we studied Spanish for four weeks. During that time we visited Granada with the majestic Alahambra, exotic Morocco, and the dark beautiful eerie caves of Nerja.

Then Sam and I explored more of Spain. We couldn't resist the pizza of Italy (and maybe got a bit influenced by Eat, Pray, Love lol).

After Italy Sam went to France and I hopped to England to see my family. My dad was born and raised in England so ALL of his family is there. It was really nice to see some of them and in my cousin's case meet some family members.

Being so close to Ireland and Scotland I couldn't resist. My sister flew over to meet me in Dublin. We had some great adventures biking in the rain in the Aran Islands, touring through the Scottish highlands with Haggis Tours (woowoo group Wet and Mild). We also had some even greater fights. *Warning: Traveling with siblings can be dangerous to your stress levels. I love you Sarah

The highlight of my trip were the political murals in Belfast of Northern Ireland. The political science geek in me is creeping out. I had taken a class on the murals back in first year and found them absolutely amazing. I find how political conflict erupts so interesting. Not in a morbid lemme see blood way. But rather in an analytic sense. I like picking apart conflicts and trying to understanding how they happened and why they are continuing. I could go on about this but I think I have broken blog rules by rambling on so much.

I have also been to Costa Rica on a school exchange, toured Israel for 10 days, done the all inclusive thing to Cuba and visited various parts of the US because my mom's a Yankee and like my dad all her family is there. Luckily they mainly reside in Miami and surrounding area so family vacations means beach vacations.

Thats my travel history

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Comments

[Briar]

Love me some Bria!
Hello namesake! So excited that you ecided to put up a blog so that we all an follow your wonderful adventures! I look forward to it! Oh and I'm pretty sure the second bri in the blog is for me ;) Much love! xoxo

[Sarah]

Awww!
I finally got to reading your blog!! I love it! Thanks for the honest shout out! :) As you know I am very jeleous of your travels and can't wait to read all about it!