CelticSu's VirtualTourist Home Page

We moved around a lot when I was a child ~ I actually loved it! Of course, I was sad to leave old friends . . .

But moving offered the opportunity to meet new friends and explore new places.

I love to go for long walks and drives in the country. My favorite request: "Let's see where THAT road goes! :-)

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I don't really know where it came from, but I've wanted to go to Africa since I was very little. There's a strong pull I feel that just seems to always have been there.

I never really thought I'd have the chance to GO to Africa.

But I collected things from Africa, decorated with African themes, read every book and saw every movie I could find about Africa.

And I dreamed!

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. . . (Part of a John Lennon quote)

In the meantime, I grew up, took some college courses, got married, had children ~ all of which kept me very busy and very happy.

Life revolved around our boys ~ their activities, things that would interest them . . .

Africa was always there in the background for me, but our traveling in those days was a LOT closer to home.

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Sometimes my husband and I would talk about it ~

I'd talk about "maybe someday . . . "

And he'd talk about "You don't really want to go to Africa ~ there's snakes, and bugs, and things!"

"And it's dangerous. And people get mugged," he went on.

You know, I don't think he REALLY wanted to go! What do YOU think?? :-)

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Then I had a life-altering event ~ it's funny how they can change your perspective!

The kids were grown ~ doing well and following their own dreams. DH and I were in a better position financially than we'd ever been. Maybe it was time to follow MY dream!

I said to DH, "Honey, I love you, and I know you're not crazy about going to Africa, but I HAVE to go! I'd love for you come, but I understand if you don't want to . . ."

Well, he wasn't going to let me go on a trip like that by myself. He can be very protective :-) ~ a trait I find endearing! So he came along to look after me. We went on Safari and DH ended up loving Africa as much as I did!

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What an eye-opening experience THAT was! There's a whole other world out there ~ new people to meet, new places to explore!

That first trip was to Kenya ~ since then we've taken a couple of Caribbean cruises, visited Australia, I've been to Belize with a couple of girlfriends (birdwatching ~ Hubby wasn't interested in that one), an Alaskan cruise, South Africa, Costa Rica, and most recently a Mediterranean cruise.

We have met so many wonderful people and had so many amazing experiences!

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We still appreciate where we live and the wonderful opportunities for exploration that are closer to home.

Northern California is one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world, and we're traveling and exploring this area too!

Some of my favorite NorCal places: San Francisco, the Wine Country, anywhere along the coast, the Gold Country, Yosemite, all the wild life refuges, Shasta, Dunsmuir, Lake Almanor, Chico of course . . . I could go on!

Everywhere we go, we meet more GREAT people, and have more TERRIFIC experiences! We even, after all these years in NorCal, discover new things, like the time we stumbled on the Pygmy Forest in Mendocino . . .

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Well, we've been twice now ~ once to Kenya and once to South Africa.

But there's SO MUCH we haven't seen yet. On my Short List: Kenya again (I think Kenya will always be my favorite), Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, Rewanda . . .

Oh ~ and DH especially wants to go to Egypt and Israel . . .

I have no doubt we'll go back many times! The "pull" is still there. I'm sure it always WILL be! :-)

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