Jelen Adventures

Time to talk about one of my favorite things - travel. I've already made it to Vail for a weekend, Vegas is planned for Labor Day, and Portland is a possibility for Christmas. Work travel hasn't been too shabby either as I've gone to Orlando and London is coming up in May.

But I still haven't planned the big trip for the year. Last year was Spain & Portugal. Two years ago was Italy & Vatican City. Gotta try to at least match the awesomeness of those trips.

Well, it wasn't looking so good at first. Conversations with my friends led to a lot of no gos and maybes. I don't blame any of them. They all have perfectly good reasons for denying me: money, time-off, school, bar exams, other trips already planned, and the very direct and simple "Shut up and stop asking me. I don't like you Jelen!"

So then I started thinking about taking the trip solo. Ian & Xtina have done it and had many good things to say. But I don't know. I don't like living alone so I'm not sure how solo travel would go over.

And now the good news. Its no longer an issue. I am currently planning a trip with my brother Jonathan. Sweet! We get along great but I don't see him often as he lives in Oregon so this will be fun.

As for a destination, I'm glad he was on board for an international trip. My bro has pretty much been to all 49 states (I'll be deep in the cold, cold ground before I recognize Missourah) and never been outside the US and Canada (Cancun doesn't count). So, after a few conversations with him, we're thinking of a 2 week trip in October. We nixed Australia & Africa already as we both agreed that 2 weeks wouldn't be enough time in either. And my bro is saving Asian travel for his girlfriend who grew up there. So, we came up with the following Latin American & European destinations:

Central America
Costa Rica

South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Peru

Europe
Czech Republic (probably include Austria, Hungary, and/or Poland as well)
Denmark & Sweden
Iceland
Ireland
and pretty much anywhere else in Western Europe I haven't been

As you can see, we've really narrowed it down. Obviously once we do some research into things to do, costs, government stability and so forth, some will get knocked off the list. And I will surely be asking my friends for advice as many of them are well traveled and have been to several of these countries. In the meantime, feel free to reply with suggestions.