I learned the term "armchair explorer" from Suzanne Arruda, who is a local author in my area. She's a neat lady and writes the Jade Del Cameron mystery series about an American woman adventurer in 1920's Africa.
But anyway, I thought the term could apply to me fairly easily too. I've never strayed too far from home. I could probably name all the states I've been to on my fingers. Let's see: Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota (got to see Mount Rushmore!), Illinois, and...oh, yeah. We crossed into the Texas border so I could say I'd been to Texas. That makes nine states I've been to.
Yeah, I don't get out much. So I rely on books, movies, and the Internet to get my traveling curiosities fulfilled, all from the safe, comfortable cushion in my armchair.
But in books and movies, I've gotten to experience different times and places, some made up, some real. And through the Internet I've make some amazing friends from places like Canada, Barbados, Scotland, Germany, the Philippines.
Still. I'd like to be able to get out a little more and experience some of these things in real time. I'd like to run my bare toes through the green, green grass in Ireland, and get all dizzy when I look down into the Grand Canyon. I'd like to walk into the replica at Hogwarts at Disney World (or wherever it is!). I'd like to climb the Eiffel Tower, or maybe brush off some crumbling dust from a Pyramid in Egypt. Just to say I did.
What about you? What are some places you'd like to go? Or are you a real-life explorer and have been to all the seven wonders?
All I have to say is thank God for books and movies and the Internet. I'd be very bored right now without them!
I'd love to go to Greece and Vegas. I'm sure there are a ton more, but my brain is fried right now. :)
ReplyDeleteOoh, two more places I'd like to see too.
DeleteLike you, Linda, I want to GO! I've been to most states traveling with the Marine I married. But in those early days with a new family we traveled cramped in a car, not vacationing. It was merely a way to get from point A to B. So many times we were just a handful of miles from famous landmarks- burial site of Billy the Kid, and yes, the huge gaping hole in Arizona and never even stopped!
ReplyDeleteI'd be happiest to travel back in time...before cement and street lights. Young America is what I crave, and why I love reading! Oh the places you can go!
I did loved Hannable MO. and the lovely Blue Springs.
: )
Hey, my brother's ex-wife's family is from Hannable, MO! Was it irritating to be so close to some of those landmarks and not get to see them?
DeleteI've traveled across Canada one, but as a teenager and we were moving across the country so the focus was moving and not a lot of sightseeing...Then we traveled across the states...did a little sightseeing. I've been to Mt. Rushmore and the Bad Lands. Gorgeous! I'd like to do it again as an adult and explore. I'd also really like to see the Grand Canyon and the British Isles...And Paris...But right,I'm happy where I am...and I hear traveling costs money so...until I have more of that...it's wee trips around my province. :)
ReplyDeleteAck! Don't mention that green stuff you need to travel. It reminds me why I'm stuck as an armchair explorer! But, wow, we've both been to Mt. Rushmore. How exciting!
DeleteI know...needing the green sort of gets in the way of things...if we hadn't moved to the east coast I probably still wouldn't know what it looks like!
DeleteYes, I was at Mt. Rushmore on July 4th in 1991. Being Canadians, we didn't even clue in to the day until we noticed the long line of car winding our way up as we were heading out. Good thing we got there first thing in the morning! I'd seen it in pictures a thousand times and thought it was pretty amazing, but in person? It's mind boggling that it's even real.
Now you have me curious... I've been to Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Florida. Not many in the grand scheme of traveling which I so love to do. I would love to go to Italy, England, Ireland, Scotland. I would love to travel across the US and see every state. I think it would be so fun. I'm definitely a person who relies on the internet for some of the settings in my books.
ReplyDeleteWe'll you've got me beat by one state. And we haven't been to the same states. Interesting.
DeleteI've been to all but 14 states, but not to many other countries. I'd like to visit all 50 states. I'd also love to meander the streets of old towns and villages throughout Europe, and travel down under to Oz and NZ. Oh, and South America and...well you get the picture :)
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