My friend Traci took me on a trip back to her home state of Georgia.

 

We got to see the tree that owns itself- the sign in the photo will explain that one.

 

I also chowed down at "The Varsity,"  and got a chance to do a little ATV riding!

 

We also explored an art museum there in Atlanta.

My friends Heidi and Jon got married in 2006 in California.  We spent some time in San Francisco before going to the wedding, and I got a few nice shots from Chinatown, the Golden Gate, the Transamerica Building, and in front of Alcatraz.

 

I also got to have some of the best Dim Sum I've ever had in Chinatown, which is to be expected.

 

I really wasn't prepared for how hilly it was there.  You see pictures and watch movies set there and see the hills, but you really don't get an accurate picture without experiencing them, especially from the backseat of a cab driven by an overzealous driver.

 

 

When Mat and Amali went to visit Clark and Ana in DC, I managed to tag along.

 

One of our first stops was the FDR Memorial, which was really wonderful.  It seems to be a fitting tribute to the man.

 

We also went to the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol.  As you can see from the photos, we also visited the memorial to George Mason and the Smithsonian.

 

 

 

In 2004, I also got to take a trip with Brendan and Susan to Belize in Central America.

 

Not only did I get to do some more water activities on this trip, but we got to visit some ruins as well.  Good Times!!

 

On a visit through Seattle, WA on the way to Victoria, British Columbia, we stayed one night. 

There is a quick shot of me and Mat at the top of the Space Needle in Seattle, WA.

We also visited Fulton Fish Market, and got to stay at the Four Seasons. 

I didn't realize it, but there is a FAO Schwartz toy store there, so I had to give it a gander.

There really are way too many Starbucks in that town, some even across the street from each other or one or two blocks down the street.  Crazy!

Around the time of the 2004 US elections, I got to travel with my friend Bill to see Washington, DC and Colonial Williamsburg. 

 

In DC, we visited the Native American Museum as well as the Smithsonian Museum's castle.    There is also the obligatory photo in front of the Capitol, and a couple of shots at the new WWII Memorial, which was a long time coming!

 

Williamsburg was a lot of fun.  It is a wonderful place to go if you are interested in our colonial past.  It really is a beautiful place as well.  Some of the shots are of the church there, the governor's residence, and the House of Burgesses.

 

We also made a quick stop at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in North Carolina.

In May of 2004, I went on a wonderful cruise to the eastern Caribbean Sea.  We were gone for roughly 10 days.

 

We started out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and visited St. Thomas, VI as well as St. Martin/St. Maarten, and a private island in the Bahamas owned by Princess Cruiseline.  We were on the Caribbean Princess, and this was its first year of operation.  Brand spanking new!  I went with my good friends Mat and Amali.

 

The ship had it all!  A huge theatre for movies and shows, several lounges for smaller shows, a night club, and many, MANY bars.  There was also a spa, but I didn't partake in that. 

 

On the back of the smoke stack (I'm sure it isn't used for that anymore, but that's what it looks like) there was an enormous movie screen where you can watch movies "under the stars."  It was great!

 

I have to say, between the incredible food, the gorgeous blue Caribbean water, and the shows and other entertainment, we had a blast and had more fun on the boat than on our excursions on the islands!

 

There was also a casino on board, but I much more of a Vegas ape, so I avoided it.

 

It was really a fantastic time, and the following photos show a few of the aspects of the ship and our trip. 

I was fortunate enough to hitch a ride with Marita and Chuck when they went to visit Marita's relatives in The Netherlands. 

 

I visited Bosbaan with Marita's cousins Bastiaan and Erik, saw the Museum Plein in Amsterdam, posed in front of the obligatory windmill, saw some canals, drank, went to the red-light district, drank, and only looked at ads for the hash museum.  We weren't able to actually tour it.

 

The photo showing an entrance gate type of structure is part of an old folks' home.  Even their more mundane places look fancy!