Italy – Taormina

Yesterday, I was a colleagues desk and noticed an amazing picture of a place named Taormina.  I looked it up and it is Siciliy.  I’m there.

Travel Web Pages

Apparently we’re not the only ones with this idea and a web site. Here are some of the ones we’ve found useful and/or interesting:

One Year Off – One couple’s journey

Transitions Abroad

Family Travel Books

Here are some of the books that I have read in preparation (dreaming about) the trip:

* One Year Off: Leaving It All Behind for a Round-the-World Journey with Our Children
* The Family Sabbatical Handbook: The Budget Guide To Living Abroad With Your Family
* Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips
* Honeymoon with My Brother: A Memoir

Essential Stuff

Like it or not, we’ll need stuff to make this trip successful. We’ve got some simple rules for packing:

* It must be essential
* 1 suitcase per person with a max weight of 50 pounds
* 1 backpack per person
* Clothing should be suited for weather that never goes below 50 degrees F

What should we bring that we might possibly be able to afford?

Our list:

* Each person with a laptop (similar versions with interchangeable batteries)
* Universal electricity adapter
* Sunscreen
* Mosquito repellent – but which kind?
* Baby shampoo
* Lightweight towels
* iPod
* Internationally enabled cell phone – Maybe an iPhone?

Planned Itinerary

There is no trip without an itinerary! Obviously, it’s not very detailed but that’s how we want it. The itinerary has 4 rules/guidelines:

1. The destination must be safe for families.
2. We should be able to have fun while we’re there!
3. The average monthly nighttime temperature cannot be lower that 50 degrees F
4. Generally travel should be west to east

So here it is:

July – Scotland, France
August – Poland
September – Russia
October – Italy, Greece
November – Turkey, Sardinia
December – India
January – Thailand
February – Australia, New Zealand
March – Philippines, Fiji
April – Argentina, Chile
May – Costa Rica

Why

I don’t remember when it was that we began to dream about traveling around the world, but sure enough, that dream calls out for fulfillment more every day. I am fortunate that I married a woman who shares that dream, even if it is not always exactly the same. The nearest incarnation of that dream, while still fuzzy, has started to take shape. Our trip is planned for sometime in either 2011 or 2012. Until that date, I’ll be chronicling the emerging form of that dream. As with a dream, I expect is to change and morph as well as surge and fade. This blog is intended to give it some physical form and help it to stay close as possible through a sense of impending reality. My wife always says that if she couldn’t share an experience with someone that it takes away the true joy. I agree and so your comments and contributions to this effort are an essential part of the fulfillment of this dream. I hope that in some way you may share in our dream and maybe even inspire one of your own. There is no time like the present so let’s get going!