30 by 30

A few years ago I set an ambitious goal: to visit 30 countries by my 30th birthday. This was doable only because Randy was an airline pilot for nearly the first five years of our marriage, giving us outstanding flight benefits and free reign of, well, the world.

Thank you, First Officer Reese, for making this dream possible.

We quickly became experts in frugal and efficient travel.  We learned how to travel on a dime (staying in hostels, eating a loaf of bread for dinner, using public transportation) and made remarkably good use of our American vacation time of only two weeks per year. My 20-something mantra was "no kids, no pets, no mortgage." If we had a long weekend, we'd hop on a plane.

There's nowhere this North Face backpack can't go.

After serious deliberation, we decided that we can only say we've only "been" to a country if we'd spent a night and eaten a meal there. No running to a border crossing just for the stamp!  We've only bent the rules a few times along the way.

This is as much for documentation purposes as anything, before I get old and forget. Here are my 30 countries by age 30. I included pictures when I could find them.

30 Countries by Age 30

1. England, May 2002 - First time leaving US soil! Dad rescues me from a lifetime of stateside existence and allows me to tag along on a business trip. As a total travel novice, I had horrible jet lag and couldn't even enjoy the first day.

Kensington Gardens if I remember correctly.

2. Mexico, October 2003 - Visited my friend Lindsay who was studying abroad in Mexico City.  We took a nine hour bus ride to the beach.

3. Guatemala, September 2004 - One week of Spanish language school with some other Georgia Tech folks capped off with an exciting hike to the top of a volcano.

It's steamy on top of a volcano!

4. Spain, September 2004 through June 2005 - Studied abroad for two semesters in Salamanca.  Met lots of great people and learned to speak Spanish, among other things.

Ice cream and Spaniards in the Plaza Mayor.

5. Portugal, October 2004 - Crammed on a bus with a bunch of other exchange students for a weekend trip to Lisbon.  Nice city despite having to be part of a tour group the whole time.

6. Czech Republic, December 2005 - Found a cheap flight from Spain and fulfilled a dream of visiting my Grandfather's homeland.  It was bitter cold in December but the cabbage and potatoes tasted just like Grandma's!

7. France, June 2005 - Randy met me in Spain.  With Eurail passes in hand we embarked on 35 days of traveling around Western Europe. First stop: Paris.

The early days of A&R. Neither of us know what Randy was doing with his hair back then.

8. Germany, June 2005 - Scooted around the southern part of the country, hitting up Heidelberg, Munich, and the Black Forest.  Stuffed our faces full of weinerschnitzel and black forest cake.

 A nice view in Heidelberg.

9. Austria, June 2005 - We ended up here earlier than expected after missing our train stop in Germany.  Fell in love with the beautiful landscapes and the tiny salt mining town of Hallstadt.

In the Tyrol Mountains.  I still have that backpack and Randy still has those clothes.

9.5. Liechtenstein, June 2005 - Passed through this tiny country on our way from AU to SW. Never got out of the train so it obviously doesn't count, but worth noting anyway.

10. Switzerland, June 2005 - Took an unforgettable train ride past mountains and over bridges.  Spent one night in St. Moritz.

Train ride from the Swiss glaciers to the Italian Alps.

11. Italy, June 2005 - We hit up the usual stops on the well-beaten tourist route (Rome, Florence, and Venice).  Ate plenty of pizza and pasta and saw lots of naked statues, among other artwork.

 A famous Cathedral in Venice.

12. Vatican City, June 2005 - Day trip to the world's smallest independent state and we were lucky enough to see the Pope! Since we weren't allowed to spend the night, normal rules don't apply.

By shear luck, the Vatican's most famous resident was giving a speech that day.

13. Greece, June 2005 - Pretty country but we spent way too much time dealing with transportation strikes, being fined by "authorities," and sleeping on ship decks. 

On the island of Crete.

13.5. England (Round 2), September 2007 - After a long hiatus due to other life events (graduating from college, moving, starting jobs, getting married, moving again, and then starting other jobs) we visited my parents who were living outside of London for 2 months.

Along the River Thames.

 

14. Turkey, April 2008 - Long awaited trip to Istanbul (where the East meets the West!) and first set foot in Asia when we crossed the Bosphorus Straight.

Our hostel was right next to the Blue Mosque!

15. Bulgaria, April 2008 - Long overnight bus ride from Turkey with zero other tourists got us to Sofia. We travel to Rila Monastery and a few other towns. Tried to convince Randy we should name our future daughter Sofia/Sophia but he doesn't go for it.

Cliff side town of Veliko Tarnovo.

16. Romania, April 2008 - A single fleeting night in Bucharest. We fly back home on Easter Sunday.

Bare streets of Bucharest on Easter Sunday.

17. Canada, August 2008 - First time visiting our neighbor to the north (Prince Edward Island).

PEI is home to Anne of Green Gables.

18. South Africa, February 2009 - First visit to the Southern Hemisphere. We spent most of our time in Cape Town, took an unnerving hiking trip in high winds across Table Mountain, and went on a day trip to Cape Point.  Our African vacation made us finally start this blog.

Beautiful view from Table Mountain once the clouds broke.

19. Namibia, February 2009 - We flew into Windhoek to meet up with our African-safari-on-a-budget and spend the afternoon volunteering at an after school program.

Hanging out with kids in Windhoek.

20. Botswana, February 2009 - Spent a lovely week camping, big game spying, and traveling in a big un-airconditioned truck with 15 of our new best friends.

Looking for hippos in the Okavango Delta.

21. Zimbabwe, February 2009 - Our safari ended here. Against the recommendations of the US State Department, we spent a few days in Victoria Falls.  Political tensions made for few tourists.

Posing in front of those famous falls.

22. Zambia, February 2009 - Within walking distance of the Zim/Zam border, we can't resist going to the other side. Unfortunately we did not spend the night and we only ate a snack. We did hang out with a British businessman, visit a museum, got sufficiently harassed in "no man's land," and almost got arrested at the border crossing, so we're counting it.

A deadly deadly drop-off into a croc-filled gorge doesn't hold back this photographer.

 

23. Hungary, July 2009 - Fourth of July weekend in Budapest!  Goulash anyone?

The city that straddles the Danube.

24. Argentina, November 2009 - A long weekend of all you can eat beef and tango.

No, that's not us on stage.

25. Israel, May 2010 - Last minute decision after we cancelled our plans to go to Thailand because of civil unrest. Amazed by the unique beauty and fascinating religious history of this country.

Rooftops of Jerusalem.

25.5. Switzerland, September 2010 - Quick weekend trip to visit the parents on their 30th Anniversary trip. Went to Zurich and Lucerne.

Parents still looking adorable after 30 years of marriage.

26. Colombia, November 2010 - A scary bus ride over the Andes was worth it to see the lush and beautiful coffee region. Who doesn't want an arepa for Thanksgiving?!

Horseback riding through the Valle de Cocora.

26.5. Spain, January 2011 (again) - Return to visit old friends and the centuries old city that never changes.

Tapas and sangria, just like old times!

27.  New Zealand, May 2011 - Crossed many oceans and continents to see this fine piece of natural beauty.

The western coast of the South Island.

28.  Australia, June 2011 - Had an exceptional visit to Sydney, fell in love with the "New York of the Southern Hemisphere" and want to move there.

Nothing like a sunny day at the Quay.

 

29. Antigua, July 2011 - First trip to the Caribbean to finally see all the fuss over white sand and clear water.

Quite beaches and lush hills.

 

30. U.S.A., March 1982 - present - I know this is lame but I had to do it to make 30!

 New York, NY