"Live, laugh, love" Benson35's Profile

My parents and I in Richmond, Yorkshire 2010

My name's Benson and I'm now a virtual tourist!

Well hello there!
I think to start from the beginning, I've always had a travel bug in me!
I'm now in my twenties and have travelled far more than I ever could have imagined.

As a child we mainly holidayed in Spain. Then as my sister and I grew too old to qualify for free child places, we holidayed in the UK.
I've had the most amazing holidays in the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland. A lot of people don't realise how beautiful our country is; they don't apreciate what's on the doorstep.

When I left college and went out into the big wide working world, I discovered the most amazing thing - I could afford to travel!!

At 18 years of age I packed a backpack and went to explore some of Europe with a friend after saving every penny I earned. We travelled through Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy and Spain, staying in Youth Hostels, B&Bs, Hotels and even on a suitcase trolley outside an airport!

Since then, I've had the most amazing time discovering my own little wonders of the world and am always planning my next trip!!

Why VT?

My love - San Francisco Sept 2011

I was sat one afternoon in January 2012 researching San Francisco on my laptop. I wanted advice on hotels, locations, people's experiences and tips. I'd not long since come back from a 5 day trip there and wanted to go back for about a month! I'd fallen in love!

I came across Virtual Tourist.

I was amazed. I started to read through members pages on San Francisco and their experiences and tips were just what I was looking for.
I wrote a status on my facebook page telling people about the site and the fact that REAL PEOPLE write the reviews and share their experiences! I couldn't believe that a site like this existed! I was so excited!!
A facebook friend then commented on my status and told me that she was a member of VT. I knew she was a member of a cyber travel community, but I didn't realise it was this one!
Gillybob then went on to tell me how fabulous VT was, how she has made so many friends all over the world and travelled far and wide. She told me before long I'd be hooked . . . . . and she was right!!

I think you need to know . . .

The Olympic stadium, Turin Dec 2009

I am a mad Manchester City fan and will never, ever change!

I'm an active member of the Reddish Blues supporters branch. I have recently been accepted onto the committee as Charities Officer and have the most fun with the committee members planning, organising, implementing and taking part in various events!

I go to all of the matches I can - home and away.
This has led me to travel more of europe (with our recent sucess!). It's a completely different experience and view of a place when you are with football fans. Don't always believe what you hear - the majority of us are a very friendly bunch, who enjoy supporting our team and having fun meeting people.

I've been lucky enough to watch the Super Blues play Juventus in Turin (Italy) and Porto (Portugal)!
There is always a small group of us, of varying ages, that travel together. Collectively, we love the football, we love Man City, we enjoy a drink (or five!), we enjoy appreciating the culture and exploring where we are.

So thank you Man City, another reason why I feel you in my heart - travel!
CTID

My first mini VT meet!

Malena and Barney

Well, after feeling rather nervous all day, I did it! I've been to my first VT meet!! Granted it was only a small one, but it was great fun meeting people. It was organised as Malena (MelenaN) was in Manchester for a day and night from Sweden.
We sat and shared a meal and a few drinks together. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be - I really don't know why I was so nervous! Everybody made me feel so comfortable and welcome. I had a great time! So, my first ever VT meet to go down in my VT history book, Monday 27th February 2012! Woo hoo! Can't wait for the Halifax meet now!

Thanks to Sue (suvanki), Gillian (Gillybob), Malena (MalenaN), Gareth (Balam), Evan (Evenith666) and Alyson (alyf1961), I had a brilliant night!!!

My first EuroMeet!

And I havn't been a VTer for 6 months yet!!!
BERGAMO, Italy was the destination for 2012.

It's a very overwhelming experience, but one not to be missed. I'm not the most confident of people and after I'd booked it I had regrets.
All I can say is that I had a marvellous time! I met really lovely people and some real characters! I had fun and learnt so much about the city. I enjoyed exploring Citta Bassa and Citta Alta, and my hotel was ace too!
I took Miko as my VA which was also an experience, and recieved some wonderful gifts from fellow VTers.

Have a look at my Bergamo pages and travellogues to see what I got up to!

Since I joined VT (16.1.12) I've travelled to ...

Side - Turkey

Liverpool (England), Porto (Portugal), Side (Turkey), Manavgat (Turkey), Gundogdu (Turkey), Antalya (Turkey), Stoke (England), Bergamo (Italy), Lecco (Italy), Swansea (Wales), in and around Manchester (England), in and around Stockport (England), Wolverhampton (England), Newcastle (England), Cannock (England), Nottingham (England), Matlock Bath (England), Birmingham (England), Skipton (England), Bakewell (England), Gulliver's World Warrington (England), Sheffield (England), Halifax (England), Saskatoon (Canada), Prince Albert (Canada), Waskesiu (Canada), Martinsville (Canada), Eyam (England) and have written about many wonderful places I've had the pleasure of visiting before i discovered VT!

I hope you enjoy my pages! :)

Intro Updated Apr 3, 2013
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Comments (136)

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planxty Apr 29, 2013 at 6:13 AM

Hayley, so sorry I missed your birthday. That pesky travelling is getting in the way of my VT again! I hope you had a great day and have a great year to come with lots of fun travels. fergy.
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  Benson35 May 1, 2013 at 6:36 AM
  
  Cheers Fergy, had lovely birthday celebrations that lasted more than one day!! :)
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TravellerMel Apr 28, 2013 at 8:59 PM

Wishing you a very (belated) happy birthday - hope it was wonderful!
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  Benson35 Apr 29, 2013 at 3:00 AM
  
  I had a ball, thank you! :)
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angiebabe Apr 26, 2013 at 12:21 PM

hi belated birthday wishes Hayley, all the best to lots more happy travels and happy vting!
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  Benson35 Apr 26, 2013 at 3:23 PM
  
  Thank you! :)
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balhannah Apr 26, 2013 at 12:08 PM

have a great Birthday!
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  Benson35 Apr 26, 2013 at 3:23 PM
  
  It was great, thanks! :)
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TrendsetterME Apr 25, 2013 at 10:01 PM

Hey Hayley, "Happy Birthday", with all my best wishes .... :)
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  Benson35 Apr 26, 2013 at 12:54 AM
  
  Thanks :)
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Rixie Apr 25, 2013 at 5:49 PM

Sending you birthday wishes from California!
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  Benson35 Apr 26, 2013 at 12:55 AM
  
  And they're greatly received! :)
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alyf1961 Apr 25, 2013 at 4:39 PM

Happy Birthday Hayley :)
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  Benson35 Apr 26, 2013 at 12:55 AM
  
  Cheers Aly :)
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Donna_in_India Apr 25, 2013 at 3:58 PM

Happy Birthday Hayley! Have a wonderful day.
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  Benson35 Apr 26, 2013 at 12:56 AM
  
  Thank you! :)
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MacedonianUK Apr 25, 2013 at 2:42 PM

Happy Birthday!
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  Benson35 Apr 26, 2013 at 12:56 AM
  
  Thank you!! :)
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vichatherly Apr 25, 2013 at 2:20 PM

Happy Birthday. Twenty something?
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  Benson35 Apr 26, 2013 at 12:57 AM
  
  Yes indeed twenty-something!! But coming to the end of my twenty-something's!!