On my last post, I showed you the
first leg of my RTW tour – The Friends and Family Discount! I will sache around Middle Earth, hang out with a statue of an Akita, and roll around in mud
at a music festival! Good stuff! On the next leg, I will get down and dirty all
over Europe. This is still a very rough itinerary, but if Help Exchange
permits, these are the places I want to visit. Welcome to the second leg of My
2013 Destinations:
Part 2: The Helpex Backpacking Europe Experience
Italy
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| Photo from www.chrystal-clear.com |
I’ve been to Venice and Florence, and only spent a couple days there. This time around, I want to visit areas that are not as touristy. I really want to learn more about the Italian culture… their food, their lifestyle… and I want to know how the Italian women maintain their voluptuous figures, having 24 hour access to pizza, pasta, olive oil and wine!
Croatia
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| Photo from www.akademifantasia.org |
They say Croatia is the new Ibiza.
I’ll have to find out for myself!
Greece
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| Santorini - Photo from hdwallpapers.com |
Of course I’m going to Greece. How can I not?? I’m obsessed with Greek Mythology, and am convinced I am one of Poseidon’s great great granddaughters. I want to go to the Oracle at Delphi and say hey.
Israel
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| Photo from www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com |
I want to go to Israel and do the Holy
Land tour. This is the one country that my dad recommends I visit, and as the
most traveled man I know, I trust his judgement. I think it will be pretty
epic. I’m already getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
Egypt
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| Photo from Flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com |
The Pyramids! Santiago! The Alchemist!
Buried Treasure! My Personal Legend!
Iceland
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| Photo from www.inspiredbyiceland.com |
I have heard so many wonderful things
about how amazing Iceland is… and just this past weekend at the LA Travel andAdventure Show, I met a really cool Icelandic local who talked passionately
about his country! I’ve been having reservations about visiting Iceland just
because it’s so far away from everywhere else in Europe. It’s a completely
separate island, and I’d have to fly there. But after speaking with my new
friend, I’ve decided to go for it… Yes. I will go to Iceland! Hopefully I can
see the Aurora Borealis while I’m there!!!
Spain
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| Photo from www.travel.nationalgeographic.com |
I’ve only been to Barcelona… I’d like to explore different areas like Madrid, Ibiza or Sevilla too. Everywhere I go, I get mistaken for a Latina anyway… might as well spend time in Spain and hang with people who sort of look like me? Haha!
Like I said, this is a very rough
itinerary… I don’t want to set things in stone because I don’t know how things
would work out with Help Exchange, and I’m still trying to figure things out,
money-wise. But if all goes well, I’m hoping to be able to visit these places
between the months of July and December. I plan to spend the Christmas holidays
in the UK with friends and family, that way I won’t get too lonesome on the
road by myself. Let’s hope I get a real white Christmas this time! :)
After the holidays, I’ll still have a
few months to spare before my RTW year ends… and there are a few more places I
want to visit outside of Europe that I’d like to visit before going back to
California. That brings me to the bonus, third leg of my tour:
PART 3: The Magical Mystery Tour – Journey Home
I don’t know if I can accomplish this because I don’t even know if my funds will last me this long… but if I’m lucky, then these are the remaining countries on my list.
Costa Rica
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| Costa Rican Waterfalls - www.deviantart.com |
Studies show that Costa Rica is the
Happiest Place on Earth. Yes – it beat Disneyland, and I want to personally
find that out for myself!
Brazil
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| Photo from Funzine.hu |
I am going to Carnival!!! I am going to make this happen, you just watch me. I will rock a feathery costume and dance till I drop! :)
Alaska
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| Photo from brandonsetter.com |
OK I know this is a State – but I wanna visit anyway! I haven’t been here and I hear it’s amazing! Maybe if I don't see the Aurora Borealis in Iceland, I might see it here! :)
Canada
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| Photo by Allie Greenman |
I have tons of friends in Canada and I would love to go and see all of them before I go back home!
