Travels of 2008

This year I traveled more than I have in other years and went the furthest distance, too!

~ NEW ORLEANS in March. Some of my favorite moments there were 1) getting carded going into Harrah's Casino for dinner; I had not idea I looked younger than 21! 2) going to the World War II Museum 3) eating lots of new things like alligator, oysters, shrimp gumbo, and crab legs.

~THE UNITED KINGDOM in June!!!! A "life-long" dream come true! I'm an avid reader, and an English teacher so being able to go to England was the absolute best vacation! There are too many amazing things to list all of them but highlights: watching "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at The Globe Theatre; seeing "Les Miserables" in London; hearing bag pipes play for a wedding at the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland; exploring the Tower of London and seeing The Crown Jewels; riding London's Underground to find King's Cross Station and Platform 9 3/4; seeing Queen Elizabeth in her birthday celebration...


~ PARIS in June! Who doesn't want to watch the lights come on in the City of Lights from atop the Arch de Triumphe?!! The Musee de Orsay was incredible (my favorite artists are there-- Renoir and Monet) as is the Louvre (the Mona Lisa is so small!). Walking along the Champes Elynsee at dusk. Listening to the bells of Notre Dame and singing the song from "Hunchback of Notre Dame". Eating Creme Brulee by the banks of the Seine (yum!!).

~ AMSTERDAM in June! My grandfather owned a fish shop in Amsterdam so being there has extra significance to me. The Anne Frank Haus was incredibly moving.

~ DENVER/BOULDER in July! Teaching conference. Nice weather. Good company. The Denver Zoo with friends while ditching classes!

~ HUNTINGTON BEACH in October and November! Being down there made me realize how much I like CA. Beach (man! I miss it!); a "Prom" at the DisneyLand Hotel; fun beach restaurants including In-n-Out and Rosie's at the end of the pier; USC/Notre Dame football game.

~ LAS VEGAS in November! Thanksgiving with family-- always a great time!