It was 10 years and they were still very much in love

So 10 years ago on August 29, 1998, Adrian and I got married. We were young and terrified (as you can tell by the expression on our faces) and all we knew was that we were miserable apart. So we took a giant leap of faith and got married. I was trying to finish up my degree and Adrian wasn't allowed to work in the country. We were also incredibly poor. 

For our honeymoon, we went as far as we could go which was New Orleans. But had no money to do much when we actually got there. We stayed at a bed and breakfast - the cost of which I had to split between a fist full of US dollars and the little balance available on my one student credit card. We went to a time share pitch just so we could get the free dinner vouchers. Yes we were really that poor. But we had a great time.

10 years later times aren't so tough for us. In the bank we've got more money than we ever saw the first few years we were married and we're getting ready to see the world. 

10 years later New Orleans is recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Katrina hit us not just because it was hit the city we first travelled to but also because it occurred on our anniversary. We followed the drama unfold on the news with horror and sadness. We'd been to the Superdome to see a football game. We'd walked those flooded streets. In fact Tropical Storm Earl hit while we were there in 1998 and we'd seen how quickly the streets filled with water. Although in our case the streets emptied just as quick. 

10 years later we've decided to go back to New Orleans for our anniversary. Not just to experience the city with a few bucks in our pocket. But also to put some of those bucks back into the city.

We'll arrive on August 29 - our 10th anniversary and the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Happiness and sadness all at the same time. But I think it's only fitting that before the Big Trip™ we go back to the city where it all started. 

1-800-how's-my-blogging

adjusting my mirror, checking my blind spot, signal and pull out...

I've never blogged before. I've never kept a diary. But I do write. A lot. Because I'm a writer. But hopefully by November 2008, I'll be unemployed. That's right I hope to be unemployed. 

Adrian and I are saving fast and furiously to take off and travel the world.

Of course certain things keep getting in the way. Like Adrian needing a job. Going to Cuba for a much needed vacation. Using up vacation time to visit friends in London and Amsterdam. But I've still got the eyes on the prize. But more on that later. 

Perhaps you're wondering why we're going. The short answer is why not. Both of us love travelling. We love the chaos of trying to figure out bus routes and meals and accommodation when you can't read the alphabet let alone speak the language. And our meagre vacation time has made it difficult to see as much of the world as we've hoped - although many would disagree. 

We've been to Ireland, Buenos Aires, Tunisia, Gambia, Moscow, India, Bangkok, Shanghai, Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh City, Paris, Cuba, many places in the US, and of course the UK and Canada. And every time we have to come back we get depressed and spend weeks talking about how great it would be to just keep travelling. Finally we actually stopped just talking about it and just started doing something about it.

So in June 2007, we did some calculations and by we I mean me (although adrian is an accountant, he hates doing our finances). And quickly discovered that leaving in January 2008 was not going to happen. The dreaded albatrosses known as student loans were just too big. in the words of Pepe le Pew, le sigh. But those same calculations also showed us that by January 2008 we could pay off our student loans - all $35,000 of them, 7 years ahead of schedule. And we still managed to sock away a bit of cash for the big trip. We're pretty chuffed too. 

Now with 9 months to go, I've started this blog to write a little a bit about our planning and preparations but also to get used to this whole blogging thing. And this is the place where we'll be writing about our adventures. That should be easy right? I'm a writer. Unfortunately, coming home to write this blog after writing all day is sometimes hard, hopefully it will be a lot easier once we're on the road. And this whole html blogging stuff is new to me. Hence the title of this post. So be patient. I'm learning. But I'm almost ready to take the "L" off the back windscreen.

And where are we now? 

location: Toronto

savings: $8500

ETD: November 15, 2008