2009

Looking back on 2009 I can't believe I was able to accomplish all that I did. Not only did I maintain a nearly full-time work schedule, but somehow during all my travels I logged almost 50,000 air miles, and on top of that Dan and I got hitched. So to start off 2010, I feel it fitting to take a trip back in time and review the highlights of 2009.

The year started off with a trip to Alberta to visit the seven darlings whom I used to nanny for. The highlight was visiting Banff National Park where we snowshoed around Lake Louise, took in an ice sculpture contest, and perused downtown Banff's many colorful shops.

In February I accompanied a family as a "travel nanny" to the sunny shores of Wailea, Maui. Although I was there to "work," by definition lounging on the beach, boogie boarding, and sand castle building are not categorized as "work." I even had several days off where I joined a whale watching cruise, partook in the Feast of Lele Luau in Lahaina, and spent many evenings getting to know other travelers at the Humuhumukununukuapua'a Bar at the Grand Wailea.

In March my closest friend Natalie and I took South Beach Miami, Florida by storm in a trip that included lots of beach lounging, drinking, and getting hit on (or proposed to) by random Italian men. Oh sure we took in many cultural activities as well, such as a tour of the rich and famous in Miami's equivalent of Beverly Hills: Coral Gables.

Then in May, it was off to London with the family I work for. Let's see, two words can describe this trip: Sleep Deprivation. Although I was given the select evening or afternoon off, I was also bunking with a one year old who had an extreme aversion to sleeping through the night. It was quite the adventure.

Following London, we then jetted off to Greece for two weeks of vacationing in Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini. Three words can describe this trip: Continued Sleep Deprivation (See above). On the plus side, I discovered the benefits of staying at 5 star accommodations: Private pools, room service, free bottles of wine, and stunning views.

After the whirlwind three weeks in London and Greece which included several hours of sleep a night, I was very excited about to take an Alaskan Cruise with Dan in June. The cruise was pleasant, but the port stops were the show stoppers. We visited Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway, toured Glacier Bay, and then finished off with a road trip into Denali National Park.

The rest of the summer was spent around our home base in Seattle, but in September Dan and I made a short trip to Boston where we enjoyed tromping through the rain drenched colonial streets.

Boston was followed up by a trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts where the skies cleared and we enjoy discovering the Cape's many famous beaches and lighthouses.

In October I took a solo trip to Washington DC where I logged many a mile wandering amongst hundreds of famous landmarks.

Later in October Dan and I joined 25 of our closest friends and family for a week in Kaanapali, Maui where we renewed our vows in a sunset ceremony on the beach.

Although we love our families dearly, we departed early to spend the remainder of our vacation on the island of Kauai where we hiked, explored, and enjoy many sun soaked afternoons at the Grand Hyatt (courtesy of my very generous employers).

In December I then finished the year just as I started it, with another trip to Alberta where the temperature lingered in the negative and the sky was heavy with snow.

2009 was filled to the brim with travel and now that the year has come to a close, I can only hope that 2010 has just as many adventures in store. Here's to another year of travelling!