Saturday, April 12, 2008

Around the World in 255 Days

Some of you have already heard bits and pieces and rumours, whereas to others this will be out of the blue, but I’ll be leaving Wednesday 16-April for an 8-month trip to paint and visit friends. I’ve bought an around-the-world flight with stops in Morocco, Europe, St. Petersburg, Israel, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. Below is a more detailed itinerary -- to the best of my knowledge for now. I’ll be keeping a journal and posting it every week or two, hopefully, with pictures of course!
Take care,
Laurie

Thursday 17-April – CASABLANCA, MOROCCO
Staying with my friends Judy & Dennis in Casablanca
Surfing, giving art classes, taking Arabic lessons, touring the coast and Marrakesh with Judy
4 day trek in the Atlas Mountains through indigenous Berber villages
Touring eastern Morocco to see Kasbahs, oases, canyons, dunes, and the edge of the Sahara
Riding a camel…

Saturday 10-May – SAN GIMIGNANO, ITALY
Hanging out in a villa with my good buddies Tim & Christian and 5 or 6 other random people
Eating well, being tourists, taking lots of pictures for inspiration, enjoying Tuscany!

Saturday 17-May to Saturday 21-June – CANNES, FRANCE
Staying with my good friends the Mumfords & their clan
Doing my art painting in their lovely garden – maybe it’ll take me in a new direction…
Enjoying seeing good friends again
Swimming in the Mediterranean

Saturday 21 to 28-June -- BOURG d’OISANS (near Grenoble), FRANCE
Hosting art classes during a retreat for Christian missionaries sponsored by my church

28-June to 21-July – HUEMOZ, SWITZERLAND
Personal retreat at L’Abri, a study center of religion focusing on Christianity

21-July to 7-August – LUXEMBOURG & GERMANY
Visiting my German family : cousins in Luxembourg, Heidelberg, and Berlin ;
aunts & uncles in Hamburg
Babysitting all my cousins’ newborns :-)

7 to 16-August – LONDON, ENGLAND
Visiting my best friend Suzette and her family
Going to the theater as much as possible
Shopping for clothes that I probably can’t afford (but they’re so hard to resist!)

16-August to 5-September – ST. HILAIRE LA PALUD (near La Rochelle), FRANCE
Housesitting for friends the Bauers (I get to feed & water a donkey!)
Painting
Swimming (maybe surfing) in the Atlantic
Eating good fish in La Rochelle
Long walks in the forest and countryside

5-Sept to 23-October – CANNES, FRANCE
More painting
Having art exhibitions – hopefully!

23 to 29-October – ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Being overwhelmed by the art at the Hermitage
Seeing alot of Orthodox cathedrals
Clubbing
Trying to stay warm

29-October to 9-November – TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
Meeting 70+ friends from church
Touring Jerusalem and the places Jesus lived and taught
3 days in Cairo, Egypt

9 to 27-November – SINGAPORE
Hanging out with my good friend Christian
Touring Malaysia, maybe Thailand, and ???

28-Nov to 18-Dec – WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
Playing tourist in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia
Surfing the Gold Coast
Touring at least the southern island of NZ
Celebrating my birthday with my good friend Catherine

19-December – LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Home for the Holidays !

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK, Laurie, so how many people are asking, "Can we come along?" Add Lori and I to the list! Wow. What an outstanding journey ahead. You'll be in our prayers.
Brother Daniel Hahn

My happy life said...

I am so excited for your trip I can't stand it. Have a wonderful time and I will look forward to all of your pictures and posts and I can't wait to see what art you create on this huge journey.
Les

Anonymous said...

HI Laurie! What a great plan!! I'm soooo jealously happy for you :-) My girlfriend Barbara is sailing around the world for the next 3 years and may be in New Zealand the same time as you. I'll let you know as time goes by. I look forward to your updates. Stay safe and enjoy! Lots of Love, Cat (& Warren).

Anonymous said...

Hi Laurie! What a great plan!! I am so jealously happy for you :-)

Please stay safe but have lots of fun!

I look forward to hearing of you escapades!
Lots of Love, Cat (& Warren)

Anonymous said...

Hi Laurie -

I read your first entry and it seems you are off to a good start. Have a great time. Be safe and I will see you at Christmas.

Love Kim

Anonymous said...

hey laurie, loved your journey. I felt as if i was there with you. we miss you here. See ya in France! Shelli