Sagespot's VirtualTourist Home Page

This year will bring about a few trips to Richmond, Virginia (both by air and road) and a hopefully a nice personal holiday out to Colorado in July for a few weddings.

After that, well, I'm open for suggestions - this October will be five full years in my cancer survival, so I'd like to take an international adventure sometime during the winter to celebrate.

As of right now, I'm planning on heading back to Charleston for business in November and will hopefully get a chance to see a museum or two along the way.

So drop me a line and let me know where you'd suggest for the next Sage-type adventure!

Cheers,
Sage

2008 Wrap Up
French Lessons and some Continued Charleston Beauty
We ventured out in April to explore France, spending the first seven days in Paris and a second week traveling the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It was beyond beautiful and exciting. In November I headed back to Charleston for business but was able to explore a bit more of the historic downtown districts in the evenings.

2007 Wrap Up
Windy Winter Chicago and Picturesquely Dingy Charleston
This was a year of business trips with my new job. I was very lucky to be able to tack a few days on the end of each to explore both the Windy City and the Low Country's Holy City. The Chicago, Illinois trip involved tons of new places to eat and museums to explore. Then on my travels in November to Charleston, South Carolina I was able to experience some unique southern culture and traditions.

2006 Wrap Up
Sage's Irish Basics
We spent a great nine days in Ireland for our winter holiday. This was our first time to Ireland, and although it was a tad stressful with the driving and such, we had a wonderful time and saw geographic features and neolithic structures that I never thought I'd ever be able to lay my hands on... Very spiritual in that respect. And that's a huge part for me about our trip - the land was more beautiful than anything I've ever seen in all my travels. In particular The Burren countryside was OUTSTANDING. Almost brings tears to my eyes to think about it.

2005 Wrap Up
Sage and 100 Spires!!
My husband and I spent a chilly week walking around in Christmas decorated Prague to top off our 2005. As it was his first time leaving the USA, we had a grand adventure to seal his fate as my future international travel companion (I hope. *grin*)

2004 Wrap Up
In the Andes!!
I spent an outstanding two weeks in South America walking, conversing, and exploring the Andes. It was a fantastic time that will forever retain a special place in my heart.

So, a little bit about me:

I have been called the "Poet Who is Wearing No Tact," and generally give new meaning to "drunker than a poet on payday" when I'm approached in most English pubs while on vacation. I'm pretty wild and crazy with a few tattoos and piercings to show off my bizarre nature to those who stare.

I was born and raised mostly in Des Moines, Iowa, USA (by a Welshman and mother with English heritage,) where I lived and worked until I was 16.

After living out of state for many years, in 1999 I moved back to Iowa due to some changes in my life and decided to attend university. I married my husband in 2002 on the Winter Solstice in the library of our home. It was a lovely day.

I guess I really started to enjoy traveling when I was in my late teens.

I delayed starting university right away and went to live in Fort Collins, Colorado where I based myself as I traveled abroad internationally and locally around the United States.

I travel mostly alone, and as such, have come to seriously hate "single supplements." But such are the problems with travel.

I am a nonprofit worker for life, with a B.A. in Philanthropic Studies, that currently resides as a database manager for my old University. I am also a poet/writer that publishes as needed to assist in the house payment.

I can proudly say that I am a 4 year survivor of ovarian cancer. Although this experience left me physically weak - my spirit remains relatively undiminished and the experience has caused me to turn my life in new directions.

A month after my first surgery I took of to Ecuador and Peru to spend some time navel gazing in the Andes accepting how my health and life have changed.

I have felt the travel bug more and more over the last few years. For some reason, and I'll say that this is probably normal, but I've had these strong urges to really go out and take life by the horns.

In my early twenties I spent some time traveling and working in French Polynesia on the island of Moorea. I'll always have a special place in my heart for Cook's Bay, as it was the first place I ever really looked at myself in the mirror and thought that I was honestly beautiful.

I didn't travel much for many years after these experiences. And while at University I spent most of my time visiting friends throughout the states. But, since my life has changed in the last few years, I've decided to take a larger trip about once a year to somewhere new. To experience something that makes me feel alive, a part of our global community. I've found that even in our darkest personal hours of grief, sadness, and illness - we still share many common bonds.

I greatly fear that the unrest in the world will soon make it impossible for a woman to travel alone to many of our greatest cultural locals. I often wonder if I should just take the risks and travel now or wait and see if it will get better.

The biggest thing that I miss during my trips are my family.

I'm very lucky to have a great brother and sister-in-law that don't mind watching our four cats while we travel.

I'm the proud owner of a traveling gnome...of the Gnomad variety. This little guy has seen some of the most amazing parts of the world. He goes by the title of Mr. Ninpi. Pronounced Nin-Pee, the name comes from the eternal debate of Ninjas vs. Pirates - as he's the best of both worlds.

In general the little guy lives in my MINI while awaiting his next grand adventure. As such, he has seen much of the central U.S. during my road trips. My albums have brief recaps of his many travels.

Even when I'm stuck back home in the cornfields, he's with friends (both new and old,) traveling the globe. Should you feel qualified to host a four inch tall gnomad for a trip abroad, drop me a line and I'll send him your way.

He's quiet, calm, and generally laid back. All you'll have to do is hold him up, turn on the Macros on your camera, and snap away...and maybe pour him the occasional pint or two - he is, after all, half ninja and half pirate.