Well, the time came at long last: I’ve completed the circular journey around the world. I returned to Canada on June 14th.

After four months aboard Crystal Serenity as Assistant Editor of Guest Publications for the 2008 World Cruise, plus an extra month backpacking Europe… I have now been to a total of 36 countries in my life – if you count the Vatican City (and before this trip I had only been to 5!)

The last month has simply been a whirlwind of readjusting to “land-based” life. After unpacking, visiting friends and recharging, I am now checking out the job scene and finding out where the next chapter of life will take me. Certainly, I’ve satisfied a lifetime’s worth of adventure in the last half-year… so currently something like that is not in the cards again (at least not right now - never say never!). Going away and living the dream makes coming back rather pleasant, calm and enjoyable. And, actually, exciting!

I am also working hard on finishing off my blog and online photo album of the adventure. It documents the nature of the journey - with tonnes of photos to show it all.

In sum, it’s really great to be back… and please continue to read the blog to get the feel for what the adventure was like. Otherwise, if I get bombarded with “How was the trip,” questions, I will be forced to sit you through a three day week-long photo show!

Here’s a few FAQs to further reduce the number of “how was the trip?” questions:

1) What was your favorite place?
A: I learned that it wasn’t so much where or what… but, rather, the overall experience of it and the atmosphere. That’s what leads to memories. My favorite place was Rome, and that’s because of the complete atmosphere. I saw many great sites around the world, but Rome… it was the complete package. The whole city is atmosphere. People playing accordion on the subway; going to a restaurant near the Vatican and it’s filled with priest and nuns. Yeah, authentic! I loved it… as you’ll see from the photos when I post them on my blog site.

2) What are you going to do now?
A: No idea, really. I half-dreamed that I would get hired by a billionaire or marry someone on the ship… but lucky breaks don’t happen every day (getting on the ship was a lucky break already!). So now, I’m going to go for a job that’s a great fit, and make the best of it. Wherever it ends up being.

Now, go visit my travel blog!