~ the places i’ve been ~

Up until I turned 34, I had only traveled within my country, the U.S.A., taking quintessential American road trips. Though I traveled to the Bahamas at 34, to England when I was 44, and France when I was 48 & 50, I didn’t start traveling in earnest until 2007, when I was over 50.  Sometimes I’ve traveled for work or study-abroad programs, while other times I’ve traveled, and still do, for pleasure.

I’ve often traveled solo.  I love my solo travels because they allow me a deeper experience of a culture than when I am with someone else. They allow me to linger, and they’ve helped me to become a more tolerant, confident and adventurous person.

I’ve lived in or traveled to 41 countries (& 1 U.S. territory) as of November, 2025:

1) United States of America – I’ve spent most of my life in Virginia (Newport News, Yorktown, Gloucester, Matthews County, Richmond, Northern Virginia) plus have traveled extensively throughout the country.  I also lived in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho from January 1980 – April 1984.

• nomad, interrupted

For more see: ~ places i’ve been in the u.s.a. ~.

2) Canada – Ottowa (1980), Banff (1980, 1982), Quebec (2004). (Before the digital age!). Ontario: Niagara Falls (2018). The Maritimes: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island (2022).

3) Great Britain – London, Bath, Cotswolds, Lake District (1999) – sadly, no digital pictures.

• on returning home from england

4) Bahamas – numerous times to Paradise Island – we had a time share there (1989, 2002).

5) France – Nice, Vence, L’Isle sur la Sorgue, Rousillon, Provence (St Remy de Provence, Vaison la Romaine, Le Pond du Gard, Avignon, Abbeye de Fontfroide), Cathar Country (Commune de Montsegur, Pyrenees, Mirepoix, Cathedrale Sainte-Cecile d’Albi, Bruniquel, Cordes sur Ciel), Paris (2003) & Paris (again), Alsace-Lorraine, Normandy (2006).

• on returning home from france in 2003
• on returning home from france & germany in 2006

6) Germany – Black Forest, Heidelberg, Trier (2006).

• on returning home from france & germany in 2006

7) Mexico – for a study abroad – Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Teotihuacán, Taxco (May, 2007) – I didn’t bother much with photography at that time, as you can tell from my pathetic photos. Mexico City, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, & Querétaro (February-March 2025).

8) Egypt – to study Arabic – Cairo, Alexandria (July 2007) – poor or nonexistent photography.

• call to place: egypt in 2007
• anticipation & preparation: egypt in 2007
• on returning home from egypt in 2007

9) Singapore – for a study abroad (January 2008).

• call to place: singapore & thailand in 2008
• on returning home from singapore in 2008

10) Thailand – for a study abroad: Bangkok and Phuket (January 2008).

• on returning home from thailand in 2008

11) South Korea – lived and worked there one year (March 2010 – February 2011).

• on returning home from south korea

12) Turkey – Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus (August 2010).

• the call to place: turkey
• on returning home from turkey

13) China – visited Beijing (September 2010) & lived and worked in Nanning, Guangxi Province for nearly a year (September 2014- July 2015).

• the call to place: china
• anticipation & preparation: china
• on returning home from china

14) Vietnam – Hanoi and Halong Bay (January 2011).

• call to place: vietnam in 2011
• anticipation & preparation: vietnam in 2011
• on returning home from vietnam in 2011

15) Cambodia – Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (January 2011).

• call to place: cambodia in 2011
• anticipation & preparation: cambodia in 2011
• on returning home from cambodia in 2011

16) Japan – visited Kyoto (February 2011) & lived and worked in Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo for 4 months (April – August 2017). Visited Tokyo, Takayama & the Japan Alps, Nagoya, Narita, Kyoto (again), Shikoku (Tokushima), Okayama (including Bitchu-Takahashi, Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, and Naoshima Island), and finally Kyūshū (Beppu, Yufuin and Mount Aso), and Yokohama (again) (September-October 2024).

• the call to place: japan
• anticipation & preparation: japan
• on returning home from japan

17) India: New Delhi, Varanasi, Rishikesh, Corbett Tiger Reserve, Agra, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jasailmer, Auragabad, Mumbai (March 2011).

• call to place: india in 2011
• anticipation & preparation: india in 2011
• on returning home from india in 2011

18) Oman – lived and worked in Nizwa for 2 years (September 2011- June 2013).

• call to place: the sultanate of oman
• anticipation & preparation: the sultanate of oman
• on returning home from oman

19) Jordan – Amman, Petra, Jerash, the Dead Sea (November 2011).

• call to place: jordan in 2011
• anticipation & preparation: jordan in 2011
• on returning home from jordan in 2011

20) United Arab Emirates – Dubai (August 2010) & Abu Dhabi (November 2012).

21) Greece – Athens, Crete, Santorini, Meteora (September 2012).

• the call to place: greece
• anticipation & preparation: greece

22) Ethiopia – Addis Ababa, Lalibela, Lake Langano (October 2012).

• call to place: ethiopia in 2012
• anticipation & preparation: ethiopia in 2012
• on returning home from ethiopia in 2012
• african meanderings {& musings}

23) Nepal – Kathmandu, Pokhara (January 2013).

• call to place: nepal in 2013
• anticipation & preparation: nepal in 2013
• on returning home from nepal in 2013

24) Spain – Barcelona, Toledo & Andalucía: Seville, Ronda, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga (June-July 2013).  Walked the Frances route of the Camino de Santiago (September-October 2018).

• anticipation & preparation: spain & portugal in 2013
• the call to place: the camino de santiago
• anticipation & preparation: the camino de santiago
• on returning home from the camino de santiago: final thoughts

25) Portugal – The Algarve (Tavira), Evora, Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais (July 2013).  Braga, Amarante, Porto, Aveiro, Costa Nova, Óbidos, Sintra and Lisbon (October-November 2018).

• the call to place: portugal
• anticipation & preparation: portugal
• on returning home from portugal in 2018

26) Myanmar – Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake, Yangon (February 2015).

27) Iceland – Reykjavik and the Ring Road (August 2016).

28) Hungary – Budapest, Esztergom, Visegrad, Sopron (September 2017).

29) Austria – Vienna and Wachau Valley (September 2017).

30) Czech Republic – Český Krumlov & Prague (October 2017).

31) Morocco – G-Adventures tour through Casablanca, Tangier, Chefchaouen, Voubilis, Fès, Merzouga, Todra Gorge, Ait Benhaddou, High Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, and Marrakech. (April 2019)

• call to place: morocco
• anticipation & preparation: morocco
• on returning home from morocco

32) Italy – Rome, Cinque Terre, Pisa, Lucca, Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, all around Tuscany, Perugia, Assisi, Spello, Spoleto, and Orvieto (April-May 2019). Venice, the Dolomites, Verano, Bergamo, and the Via Francigena from Lucca to Rome (June-July, 2023).

• call to place: central italy
• anticipation & preparation: central italy
• on returning home from italy in 2019

33)  Vatican City (Holy See) – April-May, 2019. July 2023 as part of the Via Francigena.

34) Croatia: Zagreb, Istria (Opatija, Motovun, Rovinj & Pula), Plitvice Lakes National Park, Zadar, Šibenik, Primošten, Split, Hvar, Trogir, Pelješac Peninsula, Dubrovnik. (October 2021):

• croatia: zagreb, istria & plitvice lakes national park
• croatia: dalmatia

35) Ecuador (July-August 2022): Quito, Cuenca, Parque Nacional Cajas, Ingapirca, Riobamba and Chimborozo, Latagunca and the Quilotoa Loop, Hacienda los Mortinos near Parque Nacional Cotopaxi, Otavalo.

• anticipation & preparation: ecuador

36) Nicaragua (Dec. 2022- Jan. 2023): with Alex: Matagalpa, León, Granada, Ometepe Island, San Juan del Sur. Ometepe to visit Adam (March 2024). Ometepe to visit Adam & family (February 2025 & July 2025).

• anticipation & preparation: nicaragua & costa rica

37)  Costa Rica (January 2023): Playa Hermosa, Parque Nacional Volcán Rincón de la Vieja, Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio, Tilaran, Monteverde, San José. Lived in Costa Rica for one year (June 1, 2025-May 31, 2026): Guanacaste: Tilaran, Tronadora, Playa Hermosa, Tamarindo, La Fortuna, Samara on the Nicoya Peninsula.

• anticipation & preparation: nicaragua & costa rica

38) El Salvador: Visited Mario (my dear friend from Oman), San Salvador Centro Historicó, San Salvador Volcano, Tejutepeque, La Puerta del Diablo, Panchimalco, Cihuatán, Joya de Cerén, Playa Costa del Sol (March 2024).

39) Colombia: Bogotá, Medellín, Guatape & El Peñol, Cartagena (March-April 2024).

40) Indonesia, Bali (September 2024): Visited Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Klungkung Royal Palace, Sidemen, Tirta Ganga, Tenganan Pegringsingan, Ubud, and the Ceking Rice Terrace (aka Tegalalang Rice Terrace).

41) Panama (2025): We visited Panama City (Casco Viejo, El Cangrejo, the Panama Canal) and Bocas del Toro for 9 days from November 10-14, 2025.

42) Guatamala (2026):

43) Belize (2026):

44) Finland (2026):

45) Sweden (2026):

46) Norway (2026):

47) Argentina (2027):

48) Chile (2027):

49) Uruguay (2027):

50) Netherlands (2028):

51) Denmark (2028):

52) Belgium (2028):

53) Poland (2028):

54) Slovakia (2028):

55) Lithuania (2028):

56) Latvia (2028):

57) Estonia (2028):

58) Brazil (2029):

59) Bolivia (2029):

60) Peru (2029):

61) Paraguay (2029):

Repeat) Spain (Canary Islands), Portugal (Azores & Madeira) (2029):

62-63): Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo (2030):

64-68): Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Mozambique (2030):

69-73): South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Seychelles, Mauritius (2031)

74-75) Tunisia, Algeria (2031)

76) Cuba (2031)

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I hope to keep exploring the world until I keel over, so I will add to this page as I visit new lands. 🙂

Last updated: April, 2025.