The New Year has Arrived!

Happy New Year!!

I hope that you all had a fantastic New Year's Eve/Day celebration, saying goodbye to--what I would consider--a rollercoaster 2011, and welcoming a promising 2012!

Now is the time to put everything from the last year behind us and look forward to the year ahead. As many of you begin your resolutions--whether they are new ones or ones that you vow to keep every January 1--I wish you the best of luck with your endeavors.

As for me, I will continue to provide insight, tips, news and opinions about travel, and, hopefully, boost my own travel writing portfolio with more freelance work and professional trips (I'm crossing my fingers on this last part).

For those of you who plan to heed my advice from the last post and take a trip somewhere new and exciting this year, here is a list of some of the top destinations for 2012. I hope this gives you some inspiration for your travels this year, I know it has certainly got me thinking about places I would like to go.

I am excited to start this next chapter, and hopefully my faithful readers will keep tuning in and reading my posts. As always, I love suggestions and comments, so feel free to post your thoughts!

Cheers to 2012!!

New "Getting Lost" Section in Travel

As many of you know, I really enjoy reading the New York Times Travel section. The destination features, the travel tips, the beautiful pictures...there's just so much to love. And now there is one more column I will definitely be reading. It's called "Getting Lost," and it chronicles the events of New York Times columnist Matt Gross as he actively attempts to get himself lost in a number of different cities around the world. The column discusses what he ends up finding and who he runs into as he wanders through streets without  gps, a map, a compass or an agenda.

This kind of spontaneous travel is something to be admired, because how often do we all meticulously plot out our trips, from flight itineraries and hotel accommodations to scheduled tours and package deals? Imagine showing up at a city with no hotel reservations, no directions, no information about the city and even less of a clue as to how to get around. You might have a minor panic attack--I know I would. But this is what Gross is planning to do, and you know what, I'm seriously considering trying this sometime. (You know, if I can subdue my neurotic tendencies for even just a few days.) I figure, some of the most memorable moments are the ones that aren't planned.

Check out Matt Gross first "Getting Lost" entry where he loses himself in Tangier.

Onion Article Touches on Travel Truth

I was flipping through The Onion the other day as I waited for the train, and I came across an article about how colleges are encouraging students to go abroad and "dick around." A quote from the article states:

According to a report published this week by the U.S. Department of Education, an increasing number of universities now offer dick-around abroad programs that give students the chance to hang out and do jack shit in another country.

 As anyone who reads the newspaper knows, the stories are completely fabricated and contain no real names or facts. But this article got me thinking about the time I spent abroad in Rome during my junior year of college. Yes, I had classes to attend, homework to do, tests to take, but in reality, I didn't work nearly as hard as I did when I was back in the U.S. I would skim through chapters, spend only an hour studying rather than my usual four and I never spent a Saturday sitting in the library writing a paper--except for that one final essay due for my Italian Literature class, but whose counting? Europe turned me into a bit of a slacker, or at least as much of one as I could possibly be. Then I really thought about it...I went out a lot, partied until the wee hours of the morning, drank way too much wine for my own good and met some interesting people along the way. And I was not alone in my escapades, my classmates were right by my side. Perhaps The Onion is on to something.

While the article takes it to the next level with statements like, "The chance to spend every night partying in pretty much the same way they would have at home is an experience they'll never forget," and "many students won't even apply to a school that doesn't provide programs that allow them to take bong hits in major world cities for academic credit," there is a hint of truth in their satirical wit. Students traveling abroad have the luxury of a more laid-back schedule. Many programs do not offer classes on Fridays, so students can have more time to travel around the country, or venture over to other countries, a privilege their colleges at home would never think of giving them. For many students, classes only count for credit, the grade does not affect their GPA; so as long as they pass, that's all that matters. This takes a lot of pressure off students to perform well, so they can spend less time studying and more time exploring--or partying.

The article exaggerates the point that students are wasting their time abroad, spending all their free time doing absolutely nothing of consequence. (Obviously, I know the writers do not actually believe that, but for the sake of argument...) I disagree. I would say all of my activities abroad were very worthwhile, even the nights out at the bars. I got to explore an ancient city, visit gorgeous monuments, learn about Rome's bloodied past and witness true works of art. A day walking around the city was not a waste, but an eye opening experience to another culture. The free time I was granted gave me the chance to do things I never thought I'd be able to do: take a tapas tour in Barcelona, shop in the streets of Vienna, ride a gondola in Venice, go skydiving in Switzerland. I would not say any of those experiences were moments of "dicking around."

The classes that I took over there educated me to a certain degree in the areas of literature and philosophy, but it's the stuff I learned outside the classroom that really stayed with me over the years. So I will proudly tell all those college students out there to go ahead and sign up for one of these dick-around-and-do-nothing study abroad programs...it will truly be one of the best things you ever do.

Back to the Travel Writing Gig

Before leaving for South Africa, I was writing freelance for my old internship at Premier Tourism Marketing. It was a nice way to keep a connection with them while at the same time making a little extra cash. It didn't hurt that I was writing about a subject I actually like--wait, love.

Now, I'm back at it, writing travel articles for them on a regular basis. I'm hoping that working for them as a freelancer will open doors to future writing opportunities. Plus, after long hours at my copywriting job where I'm writing marketing copy all day, it's nice to write something different, something that I find interesting.

Since I began my full-time job, I have relished in my free weekends away from a cubicle and a computer screen. But today I spent a few lovely hours visiting Williamsburg, Virginia, writing about the history and activities to do in this traditional town. It reminded me how much I love reading about different locations around the country and the world. I've actually been to Williamsburg back when I was in 8th grade, so this was a chance to revisit some of those fond memories. Through these simple articles, I find a little escape.

I'm excited to continue with my dream of travel writing, even though this gig is just a small step, at least it's a step in the right direction.