Long Time, No Blog

So it's been absolutely forever since I wrote something on here, but on a drive back from Modesto this afternoon I was feeling rather nostalgic and I began to think about the past year. While 2011 didn't hold nearly as many monumental life changes as 2010, it certainly held a lot of exciting travel adventures. Here is a recap, month-by-month, of my 2011 spent around the world.


January

Las Vegas - This is how I rang in 2011, in Vegas with two of my best friends. I woke January 1st in Las Vegas. I returned home for two days, before going right back to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show courtesy of my work.




February

Eiffel Tower

Arc de Triomphe

Paris - February marked my first journey outside of the United States and Paris certainly wasn't a bad first international trip.  The purpose of this trip was work related, but of course I took a few days to explore the city.   Paris is absolutely amazing and I would go back in a heartbeat despite the horrible weather that plagued my trip.  I walked the Champs d'Elysee in the pouring rain and climbed the bell towers at Notre Dame.  I only wish I had longer to explore the fantastic city of Paris.

View from Nice, France hotel room

Monte Carlo Casino

Cote d'Azur - The same trip that took me to Paris also sent me for a couple days down to the south of France for a customer visit.  While there I stayed in Nice and took side trips to Cannes and Monte Carlo, Monaco.  Despite the cold February weather, these cities are beautiful and I ended up with the nicest weather of the trip in Monaco. 

View of Salzburg Fortress from Old Town

The original Von Trapp house.

Salzburg - This European business trip spanned over two weeks, which meant I had a weekend to kill on my own in Europe.  I chose to take a weekend trip to Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart and home of the Von Trapp family from the Sound of Music. 


March

View of Nuremberg Castle from Old Town

Actual court room where the Nuremberg Trials took place after World War II.

Nuremberg  - The month changed from February to March while I was in Europe, Nuremberg, Germany to be exact.  Most of my five days in Nuremberg were spent manning our booth at the Embedded World trade show, but lucky for me I did get a day to explore the city filled with history both old and recent.  

Marienplatz, the heart of Munich

"Work Brings Freedom" - The gate to Dachau

Munich - This was the last stop on my European adventure.  One final weekend in the destination of my choice now that work was finished.  I spent my first day wandering through the heart of old Munich filled with history as the center of the Nazi party.  The second day I ventured to Dachau, a World War II Nazi concentration camp. 


Portland - A short work trip to visit customers in the Portland area.  It was rainy and cold and I have no pictures to show as the trip only last two days and one night.  This was the first of three trips to Portland in 2011.


April

Rodeo Drive

Marilyn Monroe's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Los Angeles - April marked the calm before the storm, the break from business trips.  This month consisted of a sole trip to Los Angeles and Hollywood to visit the fabulous Kristin! This weekend jaunt included a day on Santa Monica beach, night out in Old Town Pasadena, and a day of tourist fun featuring Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Grauman's Chinese Theater.


May

Colorado - May started with a short day trip out to Colorado.  I left early Thursday morning on a flight to Denver where I drove to Fort Collins to visit a customer.  Then it was back to Denver and back on a plane and home by dinner.  Perhaps this should have foreshadowed what was to come.

Pike's Place Farmers Market on the Puget Sound

 Seattle - I spent a weekend in Seattle to see some of my cousins and my grandpa (aka Abba).  I spent most of the weekend with my cousin Zoe who I hadn't see since my early high school days.  Saturday was blessed with surprisingly good weather rare to Seattle.  Saturday was exploring Pike's Place market and Sunday at the ballet watching my cousin, uncle, and aunt perform in a piece written and directed by my uncle.

 

Clothes over Bros Tree Hill Store

Monument to honor the soldiers of the Civil War

North Carolina - The day after returning from Seattle, I embarked on a week-long journey to North Carolina for business centered in Raleigh Durham.  But of course I had to extend my stay for the opportunity to explore this area previously unknown to me.  My free weekend in North Carolina included my first experience at the Atlantic ocean (so much warmer than the Pacific!), venturing through a neighborhood that existed during the Civil War, and some One Tree Hill sites! 


Austin - One day spent at home after North Carolina and it was back on the road.  This time my first stop was Texas.  My second trip to Austin since starting with Total Phase only lasted two days, but I experienced enough heat to last me until the summer.

St. Paul Catherdral

Mississippi River

Minneapolis/St. Paul - From Texas to was off to the Twin Cities in Minnesota.  Some customer meetings and short trade show sent me here.  The trip was short and the weather fantastic.  Unfortunately, there wasn't much time for sight seeing but I did manage a sneak peek at the St Paul Cathedral, Capitol Building, and a short stop to check out the Mississippi River for the first time.

June

Sears Tower

View of Hancock Tower and Chicago Skyline from the Sears Tower

Chicago - I made it back from the Midwest in time for Memorial Day weekend before heading right back out there for a trade show in Chicago.  I went a little early to explore the Windy City and took in some of the architecture Chicago is known for.  The weather was bizarre to say the least but I climbed the Sears Tower and stood in the glass ledge (SCARY!) and went out in Wrigleyville under the watch Wrigley Field stadium. 

Huntsville, Alabama - A very last minute trip sent me straight from Chicago, Illinois to Huntsville, Alabama for a customer meeting.  Boy is Alabama hot and muggy in June, but it definitely surpassed my expectations.  Huntsville is actually a very pretty place that is well groomed and green with lots of open land and lakes.

The Alamo

San Antonio/Austin - The final trip to Texas of the year for a trade show was to San Antonio and wrapped up with a drive to Austin.  This trip was hot hot hot! Not a lot of time for exploring but I did manage to sneak a night in at the San Antonio Riverwalk for dinner and drive past the Alamo.

July

San Diego - I decided to spend 4th of July with the fabulous Jessica at her place in San Diego.  It was a long due reunion and that included a lot of time on the beach and a trip up to Orange County to hang out with Tony, also a much necessary reunion. 

Portland - Right in the middle of summer I headed back up to Portland for another work trip.  It was only a few days but I got to have dinner with my Aunt Michal and cousin Rachel.

Orange County - July included the first of many trips to Southern California to visit Tony.



August

Royal Palace of Madrid

Madrid - August marks the second trip to Europe, this time it was all vacation with Brianne for some summer fun in Spain.  Madrid was our first stop which featured lots of sight seeing and Spanish style bar crawl.  We saw the Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace of Madrid.

Sagrada Familia

Arc de Triomf

 Barcelona - From Madrid, we took the train to Barcelona for some more sight seeing, bar crawling, and R&R on the beach and a catamaran ride on the Mediterranean.  Of course, we took some time away from the beach to check out the Sagrada Familia, a magnificent yet still incomplete work of Gaudi. 

Plaza de Espana

Seville - After Barcelona it was off to Seville before venturing back to Madrid for our return flight.  Seville is at the southern point of Spain almost at Gibraltar.  This was definitely the hottest city on our Spanish expedition, but fortunately we picked a hotel with rooftop pool to keep us cool in the afternoon hours.  Seville featured probably the coolest place we visited, the Plaza de Espana, a huge palace that now houses government office.

Phoenix - After my fabulous Spanish vacation, it was back to work with a trip to sizzling Phoenix.  For the second time I have taken this same trip and wondered why people choose to live in Phoenix in the month August when it is still a stifling 90+ degrees at 10 PM. 

Orange County - Phoenix was all work, no play before cooling off in the OC with Tony.


September

Orange County (x3)  - September was the month of weddings (don't worry, not mine!) all in Southern California with Tony.

October

Orange County (x3) - More trips to SoCal, but this time I spent a full week there for work meetings and a trade show.  No Disneyland though, but I did have a client dinner in Downtown Disney.

November


Orange County (x2) - I think you're getting the picture by now.

Fall in Portland

Portland - The final trip to Portland for the year and the final business trip of the year.  The weather was typical Portland but I did get to enjoy the beautiful fall colors and time with Aunt Michal and Rachel.

December

Georgia Aquarium

College Game Day

CNN Headquarters

Atlanta - Tony and I ventured down to the South for the SEC Championship featuring LSU and Georgia.  This trip included College Game Day, the Georgia Aquarium (one of the largest in the world), Atlanta and Southern history, and a whole lot of eating with trips to Richard Blais's restaurant and a few Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives locations.

New Years Eve in Maui

Maui - And rounding out the year was a trip to Maui to visit Jessica.  I ended 2011 and rang in 2012 in Kihei, Maui.  Beautiful weather meant this trip was spent lounging on the beach and working on my mid-winter tan. 

So that was my 2011 spent around the world!  It was a fantastic year and I can't wait to see what 2012 holds!