After I returned home from Australia in September 2014, I went to Cancun for my friend's beach-side wedding in October of that year. In November 2014, I went on my first cruise ever for another friend's wedding. The wedding took place on a beach in Key West, which was one of the ports where we stopped. Both weddings were absolutely beautiful, and I pray the marriages grow stronger and more loving each day.
I didn't leave the US borders in 2015, but I did visit and revisit some wonderful places where I created fond memories. In January, I went to Las Vegas for my birthday. It was an interesting experience for someone who doesn't gamble and doesn't think being sloppy drunk is fun. I enjoyed the shows, the food, and the walkability of The Strip. However, my favorite part of the whole trip was the day tour of the Grand Canyon. It was absolutely breathtaking to look out at the natural carving of the hard rock. I stood in amazement at God's handiwork. I was finally "truly American". The tour also stopped at the Hoover Dam and traveled along historic Route 66. I would definitely go to the Grand Canyon again. I also wouldn't mind going back to Vegas with the right company.
In May 2015, I took my mom to NYC for Mother's Day weekend. She tells everyone that is her favorite city, and she enjoys it most when she's with me. We explored the city together and visited with old friends. We saw Black Angels Over Tuskegee, a great show at a small theater that seemed to have lots of wonderful shows in production. After the show, we had a limited amount of time to get across town for massage appointments. We decided to take a pedicab for a different experience since neither my mom nor I had ever done that before. That 10 minute ride cost $60. It was definitely an experience we won't forget.
In July 2015, I went back to New Orleans for the 3rd time. It's close enough to home to travel cheaply, but the city is so very different from anywhere else around. I asked my co-worker who is a native New Orleanian about things to do while there, and she recommended a food tour. Why hadn't I ever thought of that? I love food and I love exploring new places. I took the Magazine St. Food Tour, and I LOVED it! I was a little concerned about the food options, so I called before I booked the tour to ask if they could accommodate my pescetarian diet. The guy asked me, "Do you eat gator?", and I paused for a minute to think before responding, "It tastes like chicken, so I don't think that's considered seafood." That's all I could think of at the time. They made a few changes to the menu, and I was sold. That tour was the best part of the trip. I learned about the food, culture, and history of the area with a very knowledgeable tour guide.
In 2016, I plan to travel more and share my experiences with whomever wants to read about them. I just want to express and inspire myself even if it's just for me to go back and read my own thoughts later.
This is going to be an awesome year!