Since Cailin O’Neil tagged me in this, I am obligated to fulfill my destiny and carry out this burdensome task. You’re all getting to know me too well. I can feel my ratings plummet.

Here are the ABCs of ME.

A: Age in which you first internationally travelled.

20-21. Five years ago. A “green” traveller, as we Newfs like to say (in other words, a “Newbie”).

B: Best (foreign) beer and where.

I enjoyed a scattered pint of Cusquena in Peru, a whole slew of beers in Mexico like Tecate, Pacifo, and Bohemia…but my favourite beer ever was the first Guinness I had, in England. Yes, in a little English pub in Harlow. It’s like a goddamned meal, and it’s delightful.

Note: Guinness in Canada tastes nothing like does in England or Ireland. I avoid it like the plague here. *is a beer snob*

C: Cuisine (favorite)

Nachos. That’s considered “cuisine,” right? My most memorable meal, however, was that time I cried into my pizza at Guerrin in Buenos Aires.

D: Destinations (favorite) and why? Least favorite and why?

Favourites: Montreal (Quebec), Scotland (the Highlands and Edinburgh), Gros Morne National Park (Newfoundland & Labrador), the Cape Breton Highlands, and Peru. Clearly I love Highlands, mountains, and the kind of scenery that makes even Chuck Norris weep with appreciation.

Least favourite? That loathsome experience I had at a shady hotel in New Jersey, in January. I was hungover, dressed for Mexico weather, and starving. Pretty sure I got bedbites and/or lice.

E: Event you experienced that made you say “wow”

The Writers Festival at Woody Point filled me with more inspiration than I knew possible. The Gay Pride Parade in Amsterdam filled me with more booze than I knew possible.

F: Favorite mode of transport

TRAIN. Or boat. Or both, at the same time. A train on a boat.

G: Greatest feeling while travelling?

Gratefulness. The knowledge that even though you might have went through hell and back to get to where you’re standing, you are truly, truly blessed to be where you are.

H: Hottest place you’ve ever travelled to?

Mexico has been my only true sun destination to date. Guess what? Redheads TAN! It’s true! This year I’m hitting up Dominican Republic though, so we’ll see how that contends.

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where?

I now have a free round-trip ticket from LAN airlines to anywhere in South America after a flight debacle during my Contiki trip caused us to miss out on Brazil. Now I just need to find a US gateway.

J: Journey that took you the longest?

From Buenos Aires to St. John’s: About 90 minutes to Chile, 11 hours to Toronto, and then 3 hours to St. John’s. Agh. I combated my nerves with free booze. Note to self: Don’t do that on a plane.

K: Keepsake from your travels?

Clothes or jewellery. I love when people ask me, “Where did you get that sweet alpaca purse?!” and I can respond with, “Oh, this old thing? Peru!”

Or liquor, except it’s not so much a keepsake as a use-now-sake.

L: Let down sight? Where and why?

Most of the cathedrals I saw in England. It took awhile to realize I’m not nearly as impressed by man-made structures as I am by real nature.

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel?

Being in the Highlands in Scotland. Felt like I was coming “home.” It was an uncomfortable and thrilling and vaguely sexual feeling.

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in?

The Pan Pacific in Vancouver, BC. THEY HAD TEXTURED BUTTER BALLS.

O: Obsession. What are you obsessed with taking pictures of?

Outdoorsy things. Things like mountains and rivers and oceans and beaches. If only they could find a way to capture the smell of pine trees and salt water.

P: Passport stamps. How many and from where?

Err, I think I’m at like…9? Mexico, England, Amsterdam, Scotland, Ireland, USA, Argentina, Peru, France…yup, 9. I can’t believe I guessed that right.

Q: Quirkiest Attraction you’ve visited?

The Prime Berth Heritage Centre in Twillingate, just because of its incredibly awesome mannequins.

Or maybe these creepy as shit scarecrows somewhere in Deer Lake.

R: Recommended Sight, Event or Experience?

A hockey game in Canada. I wasn’t at the hockey game in Vancouver, per se, but the celebration in the streets after the Canucks claimed a victory in the play-offs was one of the most fun, energizing experiences of my life.

S: Splurge! Something you don’t mind forking over for while travelling?

Food and booze: Two of the most significant highlights of travel for me.

T: Touristy thing you’ve done

Oh god, I’m a tourist at heart. I’ve done Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza, the Eiffel Tower, the London Eye, the CN Tower in Toronto, a Parliament tour in Ottawa, whale watching here in Newfoundland, kissed the Blarney Stone in Ireland, wandered through the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam. Etc.

U: Unforgettable travel Memory.

Machu Picchu, Peru. It is impossible not to be overcome with the energy and historical significance of such a place. Bring smelling salts in case you collapse in a dead faint and a llama tries to eat your hair.

V: Visas. How many of them and for where?

One! Brazil. Which I didn’t get to use.

W: Wine. Best glass of wine had while travelling and where?

Ask my friends what happened to me at Winefest, and you’ll understand why I never drink wine.

X: eXcellent views and from where?

From the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff, driving through eastern British Columbia, the boat cruise through Western Brook Pond Fjord in Gros Morne National Park, hiking the Pisac ruins in Peru, Cloud 9 revolving restaurant in Vancouver, etc.

Y: Years spent travelling?

Have only been travelling since I was 21. N00b.

Z: Zealous sports fan and where?

NOPE, but I like the energy at hockey games. Makes me proud to be a Canadian, or something.

Your turn

I’m supposed to nominate people, but I’m pretty sure I’m the last blogger to actually complete this meme, so I nominate YOU. Yeah, you.