Maybe it’s winter cabin fever, maybe it’s just wanting to experience something new, but I’ve got an itch to travel. Think about it: I am twenty-two, childless (for now), and curious. (If only I had more money. Or, hell, any money at all!) I’ve been thinking a lot lately about all the different places I want to experience. I’d even like to live in some of these places for a short while, just to see what it’s like.

• New York City. Last time I went was for the comic convention in October 2010. It was only a few months ago, but it feels like it’s been forever. I’d like to go again, to do something else (maybe see something on Broadway); when I’m in New York, I feel really alive. (It might be the fear of crossing the street, though; all of the drivers are insane!) Even at night, there are thousands of people out on the streets, going somewhere, doing something. I think I’d even like to live there for a while — not too long, though, and definitely not during the winter, with all of the walking I’d have to do in the cold.
• Australia. I was watching a special on Animal Planet last night about some kind of giant Australian spider that they recently created an anti-venom for (fucked if I can remember the name of the spider). At the beginning of the program, I was kind of panicking, because I’d like to visit Australia sometime, but the idea of a spider bite killing me while out there is not exactly my idea of fun. So when they depicted the first person to be bitten and saved by a (then) newly developed anti-venom, I was pretty relieved. I think Australia is beautiful, and can’t wait to see it someday.
• England. I guess I’d really like to visit other English-speaking countries first — you know, sort of pop my traveling cherry. Australia and England are at the top of my list. I think it’d be cool as hell to sit in a British pub and have a beer (or four). I’d also like to check out their theatre. Plus, I am part English; some of my ancestors are from our (the States’) cousin country. I think they were Welsh, specifically. Or maybe it’s wishful thinking, since I love Duffy so much.
• Canada. Again, another English-speaking country I’d like to visit. I also have quite a few friends up north — Jess, Blaine, and my Sanya — who I’d love to meet. I am pretty sure you all live hours apart, but it’d be worth driving around and getting lost in the wilderness snow.
• Japan. I’ve wanted to visit Japan since I was a kid. For a while, I picked up a lot of Japanese, and was really interested in their culture. Naturally, that led to watching anime and reading manga. For most people, it’s the other way around, but my interest in Japan actually started because of something I borrowed from the library as a tiny Liz. (Again, fucked if I can remember what; I just remember it was from the library and it inspired in me a huge interest.) When I saw Sarah Michelle Gellar move to Tokyo in The Grudge, I thought, I can do that, too! I can totally live on ramen. Who cares that you can’t read the ingredients?! I’m older and smarter now; I’d make sure to learn Japanese before visiting — at least enough so that I could do basic things like go grocery shopping.
• Florida. Like NYC, I’ve already been to Florida several times. But I feel magnetically attracted to it, in the same way that I have to be around Mike; I just feel like I belong there. Being in a small beach town like Deerfield, just a few minutes’ walk away from the beach, is all I want in life. I’m sure Deerfield is more of a tourist trap now, but if it’s still decent, I don’t care. Even when it’s summer here, I long for Florida sand beneath my toes. It is my biggest wish that Mike will move down with me and we can raise our family there. (Unfortunately, my Michael is stubborn and has his roots firmly set here, where his family is. I totally get it, but I’m slightly afraid that this will eventually pull us apart. We shall see.)
• Italy. I am mostly Italian. I’d love to see where my Biz Noni’s parents came from. (She’s my great-grandmother; my dad’s mom’s [Noni's] mother.) Popi is half Italian, half French, so I’d love to see where his family came from, too (even though from what I hear, they were not good people). Plus, as shallow as this is going to sound, I love pasta, and the thought of being in the country where most pasta dishes¹ came from sends my tastebuds into a near-erotic frenzy. On a less shallow note, I love hearing Italian spoken, and hope that someday I can speak it, too.
• France. Watching Inglourious Basterds made me really want to see France. I think French is a beautiful language — actually, I think most languages are beautiful: English, Japanese, Italian, Hindi, French, Spanish, etc — and I want to sit in a French cafe, smoking a cigarette with a cup of coffee and pastry in front of me. (Okay, I guess after thinking about all of my reasons for wanting to visit other places, I’m a shallow romantic.)
• Egypt. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to go to Egypt and see the pyramids and other monuments. I’d die happy if I could walk through the passages of a pyramid. Of course, right now things aren’t too stable in Egypt, so it will be quite a while before it’ll be safe to visit. (Plus, I’m a huge believer in speaking at least some of the language of the country you’re visiting, and although I dabbled a little in glyphs as a kid, Egyptian is very difficult to learn.)
• Mexico. I want to see the Mayan ruins, plain and simple. (I’d also like to visit a Spanish-speaking country, because, again, it’s a beautiful language, but my inner history nerd gets the credit for this one.) When I think of Mexico, I either think of the Mayans or of the 1800′s (but probably because Mike has been playing a lot of Red Dead Redemption).

I guess for now I need to get a job, right? Then maybe I can start thinking about seeing something on Broadway in the summer. I just really want to see some new places. Someone once told me that a good writer has traveled and seen a lot. Aside from itching to go, I’d like the experience so that I can apply it to my stories.

What places do you want to visit?

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On a totally different note, am I an old lady, or is the font on this theme way too freaking small?!

¹Yes, I know that pasta technically originated in China, from where Marco Polo brought the noodle recipe to Italy.