On my Iceland, my friend James and I stopped in Vik to see basalt columns, which were formed by rapidly cooling lava.
The best part of traveling will always be the people.
I spent the entire month of August on the road – Iceland, Cape Cod, New York City and Denver just to name a few. (Sorry for the delay in posts – I’ve been swamped with freelance work!) Every single trip revolved around a single goal – visiting friends!
Who do I know in Iceland? That’s what you really want to find out.
His name is James, and we used to work together in Birmingham, Alabama four years ago. How does a guy from Birmingham end up living in Iceland? Next week, you’ll find out! I’ll be interviewing him on the blog! (I have a recap of my Iceland trip coming soon, too!)
After Iceland, I headed to Boston then to New York City to see more friends. The more I travel, the more people I meet from various corners of the world. I can go just about anywhere and have a couch to crash on or a friend to meet for a beer. I wrapped up my summer travels in Denver with friends I met in Thailand, Peru, Missouri (I went to grad school at Mizzou.) and India.
The one thing that makes my vagabond lifestyle easier is that I can pick up with people as if no time has passed. When you travel the way I do, it takes a lot more effort to maintain relationships of any level. Facebook, WhatsApp and iMessage have made it easier. (Instagram is the best thing ever. Now, my mom can see the last time I’ve posted a photo to confirm I’m alive!) I always spend hours writing postcards and pay a fortune for stamps. Who doesn’t love real mail?
Every Christmas, I make my infamous gnome Christmas card, which always features Alfred, my globetrotting gnome, in some sort of hilarious holiday attire. I write so much my hands ache. The time, cost and effort are always worth it because I know it will make someone smile. My friends look forward to them every year and many incorporate them into their annual Christmas decorations. Everyone needs a gnome in their mailbox!
My best friends all live in different time zones and probably always will. There’s James in Boston, Lorrie in Atlanta, Becky in Tokyo, Fran in England, and Zuyi in Charlotte.
I met Lorrie at a college journalism conference in L.A. and Becky when I was traveling in Laos. Zuyi and James are from my hometown. And, I met Fran in a pub in England when I was studying abroad in 2002. We often don’t see each other for years, but that doesn’t change our friendship. In 2013, I flew across the world with 10 days’ notice to photograph her flash mob wedding on a pier in northern England.
I caught a red-eye flight out of L.A. to photograph my best friend Fran’s wedding on the pier in Saltburn, England.
The point is that nowadays a majority of my travels revolve around visiting what my friends call the “Anna Network,” an amazing group of people I’ve met during my travels.
The best way to end a long-term trip is to surround myself with other travelers who understand me. That’s why I always tack on short trips to visit friends after any big trip. After my seven-month Latin America trip, I flew into San Francisco for a few days to see my friend Miles from Birmingham before heading to Seattle to visit Trevor who I met in Burma. Then, I took the train to Vancouver to hang out with Brittany, a friend I traveled with in Spain. I also connect my friends with each other to continue to extend and unite my network.
Despite the miles and months that often separate us, these amazing people will always be my friends. I can’t always be there in person, but they understand me completely. They have been one of the single biggest influences of my life and travels.
Let’s be honest – there’s nothing better than a long conversation with an old friend!
A big thanks to all the amazing people I’ve met in travels, and everyone who has let me crash on their couch. You’ve all inspired me in so many ways. I appreciate your hospitality, inspiration and support for my unconventional life. I couldn’t live this crazy life without all of you!
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COMING UP:
TRAVEL TUESDAY INTERVIEW: Iceland Expert James McDaniel
In the next Travel Tuesday Interview, I talk with Iceland expert James McDaniel about his experience being an expat in the country for the last three years. He also talks about budget tips and his favorite places to visit!
