I didn't even last a year. A mere 9 months in Canada after our year long trip to South America, and I find myself making new travel plans. What can I say, I love traveling! And this time I'm on a bit of a mission; I only have a couple of months to play with. Using Kelly's flight benefits to get myself halfway around the globe, and my best buddy Dan's wedding as a convenient excuse to leave the country, I'm heading to Egypt. After about a month over there, I'll make my way to Spain, and possibly also see Paris for a few days before ending my trip in a tuxedo (commando kilt?) in Scotland.
I've received some mixed feedback with respect to my choice of destinations: Egypt, you say? Isn't there a revolution going on over there? Are you not AWARE that there's a Canadian travel advisory against traveling to Egypt? Have you not SEEN the terrible sights or HEARD the terrible stories on Fox News? Aren't you afraid you'll get shot, burned, incarcerated, incinerated, inebriated, nuclear bombed, forced to watch teletubbies? Well, I shall respond to these colourful inquiries the same way I responded to them in 2005 when I went to Thailand just after the boxing day tsunami; now is the perfect time to travel! Not only can I take my money to a place where it will be especially helpful for the locals, I can enjoy the touristy destinations without quite so many tourists there. Having done a lot of research, and heard from tourists who are there and enjoying it safely right now, I've concluded that there couldn't be a better time to hop on that plane and see me some pyramids. And hey, if I can singlehandedly bring prosperity, long life, and a fair and just democracy to the people of Egypt, well, all the better!
I suppose I should shed some light on the possibly enigmatic title of this blog: "One more continent". Fun fact: Egypt is in Africa. Africa is the only continent to which I have not yet traveled in my short existence. Since traveling Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, it's been a strange goal of mine to hit all 7 continents before I turn 30. Last year I ticked off South America and Antarctica (Which IS in fact a continent, despite the confident declarations of an American tourist I met recently, who was "almost sure" that central America was the 7th continent), and having gone over to see Dan nearly a decade ago in Scotland, Africa is the only one left. But not for long!
So, before I head out, first I want to say thanks to all the well wishers who've already prayed to a number of god types on my behalf, and to all the advice givers and helpers and even the cynics. Thanks most of all to Kelly, for her help getting my trip organized on short notice, and also for her blessing to go travel the world solo before I start my masters program at SFU this fall. My dear Kelly: Without your smile, I am sad; without your love, I am lonely; without your flight benefits, I am poor. Thank you!
My next post should be from Cairo, unless I feel overly motivated in the next few days. Doubtful. Ciao!
C
