A - Age you went on your first international trip: 8 or 9 to Canada but otherwise 17 to Spain
B - Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where: There’s something about having beer AT Oktoberfest, so even though it was not the best, it was amazing because of the experience. For actual beer would be the Straffe Hendrick from De Halve Maan Brewery
C - Cuisine (favorite): Italian food or specifically Bavarian cuisine in Germany
D - Destinations-favorite, least favorite and why: New Zealand was my favorite because of it’s shear beauty and the adventurous spirit and kindness of the locals! Least: No place is really my least favorite but possibly Alice Springs and Ayers Rock-it’s cool to see once, but that’s it-you don’t really need to see it again and there is literally nothing else to do there but see the rock.
E - Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”:-First view of the stunningly blue lakes in New Zealand; seeing a sea turtle in the Bahamas; most things in Africa-especially seeing the wildlife; first concert in tour in Sarospatak, Hungary on International Tour for Choir and their overwhelming applause and stomping of the feet!
F - Favorite mode of Transportation: This seems ridiculous to say because I travel a lot, but I'm not a huge fan of flying, so probably trains. In Europe it was so simple (once you figured it out).
G - Greatest feeling while traveling: After getting lost numerous times and keeping your eyes glued to a map, finally being able to navigate your way around without the map and with ease because you “know” the city more
H - Hottest place you’ve traveled to: Darwin and Kakadu in the Northern Territory in Australia
I - Incredible service you’ve experienced: I’m sure there is something more pronounced than this but for now I can think of the waitress in Vienna, who was absolutely wonderful and so helpful and nice to us!
J - Journey that took the longest: Minnesota-Sydney via Chicago and LA or just about as long was from Minnesota-Dar es Salaam via Amsterdam.
K - Keepsake from your travels: pictures no doubt, but an actual keepsake I would say either my stein from Oktoberfest or any of my souvenirs from Tanzania because no one is really going to have those at all.
L - Let-Down sight, why and where: Sacre Couer, prob because it was raining, but it looks kinda cool from the outside but the inside isn’t much and I just thought there were prettier churches than that one.
M - Moment where you fell in love with travel: Traveled so often in the states with my family before, so I always loved to travel but for international travel was my first trip abroad to Spain-Europe is so magical and it just opened my eyes!
N - Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in: Cancun-it was a resort-so duh! And I don't stay in many hotels anymore (because I'm cheap), so even though that was awhile ago, it's still the nicest and probably will be the nicest until I head to Jamaica in January (and the Cancun one was probably still nicer).
O - Obsession-what are you obsessed with taking pictures of? Those super touristy photos-one of just the thing and one of me in front of it. Also photos that are just a bit sideways, straight up and down or horizontal can be boring over and over again, IMO.
P - Passport stamps, how many and where from: Not as many as countries I have visited and too many from the US Department of Homeland Security, so for different countries probably only 12, 13 if you count the US.
Q - Quirkiest Attraction you’ve visited and where: It’s not abroad, but the Largest Frying Pan or the Largest Umpire Statue both in Iowa. Also the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore: definition of quirky. Abroad-this medieval torture random museum (?) in Sarospatak.
R - Recommended sight, event AND experience: Sight-The Eiffel Tower, it’s still wonderful every time and not overrated in my opinion! Event-Oktoberfest, Experience-a real village visit in the bush or going to the Blue Lagoon (or other thermal pools) in Iceland.
S - Splurge-something you have no problem forking money for while traveling: That once-in-a-lifetime experience, or food-a local cuisine.
T - Touristy thing you’ve done: the obligatory pictures “pushing” the Leaning Tower and tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain-but I love that stuff!
U - Unforgettable traveling experience: so many, singing in beautiful cathedrals with the choir, bungee jumping, and Tanzania in general.
V - Visa-how many and to where: 2, Australia and Tanzania
W - Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where: “sexy” wine in Rome, but couldn’t have too much of it. Wine in the Cinque Terre was pretty amazing as well! I fell in love with the Gewurztraminers in the Finger Lakes (yes, not the Rieslings).
X - eXcellent view and from where: view of the glaciers from the helicopter in New Zealand; most things in New Zealand; views of each town in Cinque Terre; and any views overlooking picturesque towns or wildlife.
Y - Years spent traveling: Internationally (excluding Canada): 9 years, traveling domestically as well, all of my life
Z - Zealous sports fans and where: Domestically, Pittsburgh and Boston (mostly because I've lived in both and could witness the sports fandom first hand: does chanting "free Tom Brady" over and over at a concert this summer give you an indication?), but abroad-most places in Europe-they love their football. Barcelona it’s a pretty big deal.