All my life travel has been a passion on mine but only in the past few years have I been so lucky to do a lot of it. I had seen the east coast as a young teenager, but that’s about the extent of it. With raising my children and taking care of my Mother it wasn’t in the cards, but I can hear my Moms words echoing in my ears, she would say if you want something badly enough you will get it.

  Well a few years ago after the death of my Mom I moved south to be close to my brother. My children are all grown and I really felt the need to move there. He gave me a job and a place to stay and for the first time in my life the money I made became mine, not every ones. I decided to open a savings account and for me it was called my trip money.

  Now in my years past I have been to Canada our neighboring country and saw a lot of that. To me it is a lot like the east, same trees, same landscape. Then I went to St. Lucia in the West Indies. That place amazed me from its beauty of the island in the middle of the sea. The people were so poor, but so happy from their 12 hour work days to cater to tourists and people like me. They still wash clothes in the river on Sundays. Crazy! I had also been to Porto Rico, a beautiful huge Island. I would love to go back one day and stay longer.

  I made a friend from work and she was also single and we decided to go see Las Vegas. I had always wanted to go there not for the gambling as much as it was for seeing the city and the casinos. So off we went.

  Las Vegas is a beautiful place if you have never seen the west, which I had not until then. We arrived in the late night so the city was full of lights and beautiful. We found our hotel and off to bed we went. When I awoke the next morning I opened the window shades and was in a state of shock! It wasn’t the city that amazed me, but the Sierra Mountains that surrounded the city. Our East coast Mountains are high but smooth, these were high and very pointed, no trees just beauty! We toured the city for a few days and the casinos are incredible. Each and every one of them have something to offer. One can go to Vegas and actually spend very little money on shows cause the casinos all have free shows. The end of the week came quickly but I wanted to see Hover Dam, so we booked a bus trip to the dam. It was a day long trip and off through those mountains we went. Once we arrived at the dam I was once more overwhelmed bu its beauty. It is huge! We went to the middle of the dam and just stood there. Tears started to stream down my face, I was just so stunned by what I was seeing. How amazed I was at it all.

  My next trip came a few months later when the same friend invited me to Florida for a week. Her Mom lives there so we would not have to pay for a room. Now Florida I have been to many times before and to be honest it is not my favorite place to visit. It is too materialistic, but I decided to go. We had a good time, but nothing special. I did get to see the manatees which are such enormous gentle creatures. I just wanted to jump in and swim with them….lol

  My next trip brought me out of the country. My sweetie had a work meeting in France and brought me along for the ride. I was so excited, I was going to France, Nice to be exact. In all my life I really never thought I would make it to Europe. When we arrived our hotel sat right on the promenade across from the Mediterranean sea…Wow, the beauty of the Sea and the city was describable. We took a tour of Cannes and Gordan and Grasse, where they make perfume. It was so nice to see the culture of folks on that side of the world. I was not impressed with how expensive everything was, the yuro is worth so much more than the dollar, so if you go make sure to bring extra cash for that 5 yuro diet coke.

  Last year was a great one, we planned to go for 10 days to Arizona. I had always wanted to go there too. The west and all of its blessings. We rented a car in Tucson and toured 2000 miles of the state. We went from bottom to top and enjoyed each moment. The Grand Canyon took my breath away. I called my brother after my first glance and cried on the phone from its beauty, then my daughter the same thing. I could not believe something could be so pretty and so vast. We took a plane ride across it and let me tell you we was both scared to death. Very turbulent!

  Our next stop was Page. Now a friend of mine who does photography has a picture of Horse shoe bend which I bought off him and had it enlarged to 2 1/2 feet by 4 feet long. Its is beautiful! We found Horse Shoe bend and took the mile walk to the top of the canyon. The next day we took a river raft ride at the bottom of the canyon down the Colorado River, what a beautiful day it was, just floating along and seeing everything from inside the canyon. I just could not believe I was able to do all of these things and was so happy!

  Off we went to Monument Valley the next day. Now I have seen quite a lot of the country and Monument Valley has to be my favorite place in all the world (so far) anyways. We saw the Valley on horseback. The quiet and the beauty was just incredible! This had to be the highlight of the trip! Now Arizona is so diverse. You go from desert, to mountains, to forests…crazy state, but worth the visit. I would go back to Monument Vally in a heartbeat!

  Since then I have been back to Vegas a couple of times. I saw a couple shows which are defiantly worth the money and something you wont capture any place else.

  July fourth this year was spent in NYC. I have driven though New York but never got to stop to see the city. I loved it there. First place we went was Ground Zero. I was an emotional wreck to see this place of such horror not so long ago. It tore me apart to feel the sorrow that had taken place there. I just don’t know how the other buildings around the towers survived such an act with out falling themselves. Emotional is how I would explain this place, and a place not one of us will ever forget. Our next stop was Time Square. I always thought this place was bigger. On TV it looks bigger anyways…lol..we had fun there in the rain with all the lights and activities, very busy spot. Off we went to see the Statue of Liberty. Now the first glance brought me to tears. It was emotional for me in alot of ways, first of all for what she represents and second because my son joined the Navy and was in boot camp at this time. This fourth of July was very special for me. This grand city I would go back to and hope to one day soon!

  This August I went to Chicago to witness my sons graduation from the Navy. I loved it there, so beautiful the city was. The buildings are amazing, the architecture was so different from any other place. Some buildings were round, others triangular. Others just very tall. The city was very clean and the people were friendly. Lots to do in Chicago and lots to see. Graduation is something that was engraved into my heart and soul. I am so proud of my son!

  Next year I want to go to Alaska on a cruise. I am not sure if I will make it or not, but for now that’s the plan. I want to see the glaciers before they all melt!

   I have been blessed to be able to see all these places and the culture of these people and the way they all live. That is why I love to travel, to see how others live compared to me. My goal is to see the world and I am doing it one piece at a time!