Take a look at the picture that sweeps the top of this page.  Look like somewhere you would want to explore?  Well you came to the right place because I took that picture.

You are overlooking Budapest, Hungary.  I often think fondly back to the fall and winter of 2007.  It was during this interlude in my life that I explored the world beyond my borders.  I flew across the globe to the tiny island of Cyprus and used this as my base while I allowed myself to be scurried through parts of Europe and the Middle East, and I now spend my days calculating how quickly I can return to those places.

Instead of saving for a week in Mexico and Florida or the well-traveled trail through London, I looked out to places beyond and found a world of excitement and interest in those places out of the way.  True, Florida is fantastic, Mexico exciting, and London quite wonderful; but allow yourself to find something different, something off the beaten trail and explore what great stories are made of.  I traveled around to 15 different countries and discovered that I was welcomed wherever I went.

I found excitement in Paris, history in Rome, and some great dessert in Florence! Germany reminded me of the nearness of the past, Slovakia the realness of Communism, and Palestine the tragedy of division.  Everywhere had a history, beauty, and a story.  Yet throughout my travels, I learned not only of the places I went, but about myself and the where I came from.  Traveling is a gift, the world is beautiful and ever changing, and your story can take part of both.

Take a trip, get carried away, and you to may find yourself among the castles of Budapest, in a wine cellar in Troodos Mountains of Cyprus, praying at the Wailing Wall in Israel, or thousands of other places.  I think Dr. Seuss put it best, “Oh! The places you’ll go! You’ll be on your way up! You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights. Today is your day! So get on your way!”

                                                                                                ~Shannon Fischer