"Living Abroad (no longer)" rcsparty's Profile

After basically being a gypsy with my work, moving around the US every 3 years, we took the big step of moving across the pond. When you grow up and start working in Detroit, the moves to rural Indiana, to Alabama, to Indianapolis, and Chicago seemed like culture shock enough, but were nothing compared with the jump to Germany. The move was made a little more challenging, as our youngest was only 5 months old. We've now been living in Germany for 3 years, and at times it seems like months, while at others it seems like 10 years.

We have been cramming as much travelling as possible before we go back. Sometimes dragging 2 small children around old cities isn't the easiest travel task, but beats the alternative of missing the experiences. Unfortunately, it does mean a large number of day and weekend trips, making it hard to really experience much outside the tourist attractions. With a year before the move back, we continue to be full throttle on the travelling. This web site has been so helpful in our travels, I figured I should at least try and put down some basic tips for other travellers. Seems like finding the time to keep things updated is always a challenge, but the trips are being added, slowly but surely.

Sept '06 Update: Well, after 4 years, our time in Europe is coming to an end. My family moves back to the US in December, and I follow sometime in April. Which means I'll be squeezing as many weekend trips as possible into the 1st quarter of next year.

Thank you Europe for an awesome experience

July '07 update

Well...I'm officially a US resident again, and have joined my family in Detroit. I'll still be travelling to Europe often, and will be adding India and China to my work travels. It has been a busy 4 years of trying to see as much as possible, and hopefully that will continue.

2003 - May - South Africa; June - London, July - Bern, Switzerland; August - Brugge and Oostend, Belgium; Sept - Luzern, Switzerland; Portovenere, Italy; Venice, Italy; Munich (Oktoberfest); Salzburg, Austria; November - Prague; Luxembourg; December - Christmas in Lanzarote

2004 - Jan - London; Feb - Rome, Skiing in Kitzbuhl, Stockholm, Cape Town; Mar - Lyon, France; April - Paris, Greek Isle cruise, Amsterdam; May - Golf in Ireland, Barcelona; June - Budapest; July - golf in Scotland, Madrid; August - Brussels; October - Mallorca, Ireland; November - Vienna; Dec - Christmas in Marbella

2005 - Feb - skiing in Austria; March - Romantic Road; April - Florence, Pisa, Milano; May - Normandy, Vienna, Bratislava, Berlin; July - golf in Ireland, Baltic Sea cruise; August - Lisbon; Sept - Luzern, Venice, Oktoberfest; Dec - Athens, Christmas in Malta

2006 - Feb - skiing in Austria; April - Algarve; May - Nice, Dublin; June - Western Med cruise, Loire Valley; July - Antwerp; August - Krakow, Oktoberfest; Oct - Tuscany; Dec - DisneyParis

2007 - Jan - VT mtg in York, Cape Town; Feb - Egypt (Cairo, Abu Simbel, Luxor); March - Istanbul, VT mtg in Copenhagen; April - Dominican Republic; May - London; Aug - Shanghai; Oct - LA and Hawaii

Oh yeah...I have been working a little during my time here. My job takes me to Torino, London, Manchester, Vienna, Gyor, Lyon, and Port Elizabeth, SA constantly. It has been an awesome experience and really opened my mind to the different cultures. I look forward to continuing my travels around the world...Asia and S. America are definately on the horizon.

Special thanks to the VT members I met while in Europe, everyone was great and the meetings reinforced why this is such a great website. If you have not attended at VT meeting..it is highly recommended.

Thanks to Poons, DAO, Ricky52, Gillybob, Haldane, Suet, Northeast80, Babzz, RexBibendi, Kitan, Johngayton, Cachaseiro, TheView, Razmataac, ThereseHeather, Stippleeffect, CoAir13, CoAir19, Stefanie, Rusket, OH-DK, and Waalewiener.

Intro Updated Oct 22, 2009
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Comments (114)

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RickinDutch Nov 21, 2012 at 8:58 AM

Birthday greetings from Alaska!
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rosata Nov 21, 2012 at 4:14 AM

Wishing you a Happy Birthday, Rick! Greetings from England! :)
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meiyergani Nov 21, 2012 at 3:12 AM

Happy Birthday RICK...
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johngayton Nov 21, 2012 at 2:48 AM

Hi there Rick - how's things? Happy Birthday from sunny (today anyway) Lundy - will have a beer with you later.
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DaHongHua Nov 21, 2012 at 12:54 AM

Nice meeting you in today's birthday list. Happy birthday and all the best to you and your family. Greeting from Malaysia.
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  DaHongHua Nov 21, 2012 at 12:55 AM
  
  Nice jumping picture at the water fall, you should have know member by the name " Jumpingnorman ", he create and collect jumping photos.
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Babzz Sep 14, 2012 at 6:19 AM

Rick! It's been so long! What's new? We're back in Ontario now with two young boys. Haven't travelled much lately: Winnipeg in August, before that Australia in 2011 for our honeymoon. Catching up with lost family time. Hope you and your family are well. Barbara
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  Babzz Oct 24, 2012 at 6:57 PM
  
  Fast approaching the feared teenage years, how are you feeling?! My boys are 3 and 10 months. Congrats on your anniversary, that's quite the achievement these days :) We're not traveling much of late, just a visit to Winnipeg in Aug for a conference. Hopefully more next year. Do you still make trips out to SA often?
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  rcsparty Nov 21, 2012 at 5:13 AM
  
  yeah, my 13 year old is going on about 18 :-) fortunately, she is a pretty good athlete, so spends year round in both softball and volleyball...means not much time to get in trouble. The 9 year old plays volleyball, soccer, basketball and soccer, so keeping them both too busy for trouble. It's been a couple years since last trip to SA, I really want to get my wife there for a vacation.
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johngayton Nov 21, 2011 at 2:39 PM

Happy Birthday from not so sunny Devon Rick - but then wet outside, wet inside has always been one of my mottoes - have a good one HIC!
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TravellerMel Nov 21, 2011 at 5:37 AM

Happy Birthday Rick!
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ozalp Nov 21, 2011 at 5:24 AM

Happy birthday, Rick.
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Gillybob Jan 5, 2011 at 6:02 AM

Hey Rick! Thanks for the wishes - hoping we catch up in 2011! Gillybob greetings