8 Weeks out

They say that you can 'catch' the travel bug. Or that you 'get itchy feet'. But sometimes I think people like me are born with a gypsy spirit. I CAN stay in one place - I just don't want to! There's too much out there to experience. Too many fabulous people to meet. So much world to see.

Six years ago I took my first trip overseas with Matt...and we were so convinced of how much we would love to travel that it was always going to be a relatively permanent move...one year, maybe two at the most. As it turned out we lived in England for five amazing years of adventure. We traveled whenever we could - bank holiday weekends, every holiday. Keeping our eyes out for the cheapest flights and ending up in the most amazing places...in 2008 we sold up shop and took off for 6 months around the world - USA, Canada, New Zealand,Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao and China - quite honestly the most incredible 6 months of my life (but there's a whole other blog that tells THOSE particular stories! http://bartandthebomb.blogspot.com/)

And now it's time for round-the-world number two. I know that some people can only imagine doing one RTW trip in a lifetime and i consider myself very fortunate.

So the gypsy in me tells me it's time to see the next corner of the world. And this time I'm traveling on my own which only adds to the adventure! My wonderfully understanding and generous boss has given me free rein. Four long months full of the freedom to do whatever I want. To live out the next dream.

First I will go to Europe. I will spend plenty of quality time with all the amazing people i met while living in England - they are without a doubt the reason we stayed for so long and I miss them so much it hurts sometimes. I will do all the 'stuff' i never got to do in London because I lived there and thought there would always be time. I will do all my favourite things that I miss doing because I no longer can. I will travel to Barcelona - a city I have been to twice before - but this time I go to visit one of my closest friends who now lives there. I will go to switzerland and spend christmas with my oldest friend in the world, playing in the snow. I will follow a dream I have held close since as long as I can remember - to spend a month in what was my favourite city in the world long before my first visit - paris - attempting to communicate in my muddled french, writing, eating croissants and experiencing life...not just a visit...in the city that I know will inspire me.

I know that will leave Europe with a heavy heart - half of the people I love the most in this world live there. But only more adventure will be ahead of me as i fly to South America. I actually remember learning about South America in Primary school and deciding then and there that I would go one day. It's surprising actually that I haven't been there yet - such is my desire to experience the steamy tango....thundering waterfalls...Inca trails...fiestas!!!

Following my inner gypsy has meant i've let my hair down in some of the world's top party spots - St Patricks Day in Dublin, a Full Moon Party in Thailand, Oktoberfest in Munich....and now...........RIO CARNIVAL! Already i have my tickets to the magnificent samba parade (i'll be going twice - one night sitting far back to get the overview and then the next night much closer to the action) and to one of the famous balls. I will hike for four days to Maccu Piccu in Peru and will browse through the markets for trinkets in Bolivia.

Take a deep breath - all this begins in 8 weeks!!!!

Till next time...