Away we go!

Matt is currently checking on what sites we totally can and totally can't see while we're together this summer. It's looking good for most of them :D

From now on I'll be updating once every Wednesday. Just to keep things simple. However, if we start doing exciting things on a regular basis then I will update as needed.

x T

Moving the goal posts....

We're still hanging out at home but by the end of this week we should be able to get out by ourselves. Matt went onto the UNESCO site to look up some unrelated information and found something rather surprising. There are more World Heritage Sites added to the list. UNESCO have added 21 new cultural sites, 3 new natural sites and 1 new mixed site. Now instead of having a goal of 911 sites we have a shiny new goal of 936. All before we've even started. 


Barbados' "Historic Bridgetown and it's Garrison" really is my favorite edition. A nice trip to a world heritage site and then the sunning on the beach? Perfect much? Matt however seems to be most pleased about The Persian Garden in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Leave it to my darling to be happy about venturing into the war-torn middle east for some adventuring. 


You can find all of the World Heritage Site listings at their website. Each entry has amazing pictures of the sites and information on why they were chosen. 


Hopefully this weekend I'll be updating with some trip information and some pictures!


x T

Getting to know the NHS

**Disclaimer for this post** While the original idea for this blog was keeping track of world heritage sites (which will still be a major focus don't worry), it will also be about life with Matt, handling a long, long, long distance relationship and about what it's like to try and move to the UK and adjust to life a new country.

Compromise, Compromise, Compromise

So, I hate - and I mean HATE - set tours, tour busses, etc., etc.

What happens to be the cheapest and easiest way to get to our first destination? A tour.

I'll admit, I pouted. I'm still pouting. But you have to do things you don't want in order to get some of these places I guess. Matt is pleased though... which is why I think I'm still feeling grouchy.

Anyway, our first destinations are... Stonehenge and Avebury!

A little bit about UNESCO (written with a ridiculous amount of help from Matt because I don't know anything)

If any of you are like me, you aren't familiar with UNESCO or World Heritage Sites. You have probably never even heard of them. Here is a short little blurb with some links to serve as a little orientation...

"Do you have your exit buddy?"

Unfortunately, Matt has - in british terms - "done his ACL". So while the poor thing recovers from his surgery, there isn't much anything to do but enjoy summer football (something that would never happen at home!) and plan trips :)

I am by no means an expert at travelling. I habitually pack too much, I get anxious and arrive to early, and any form of public transportation has me reach for Purell so often that I should buy stock.  That being said, I do have two thing that I KNOW I need every time I leave on an adventure...

(Shortly after) The Beginning

I'm at great risk of sounding cliché but it's often hard to know how to start this kind of thing. It's a very typical girl meets boy story. Except this time girl mets boy while she was on her semester abroad.  My name is Taylor. I'm a writer and a reader and now, surprisingly, a travel enthusiast.

For my abroad semester in college I decided to move to Edinburgh, Scotland all by myself.

Didn't really think that one through if I'm being honest. 

I arrived in the middle of the night in the middle of January in SCOTLAND. You can imagine how that went. I literally fell flat on my butt about 20 minutes after arriving. For the most part, I'm extremely shy. I spent most of my time traveling with old school friends (for the shortest amount of time possible) or just hanging out on my own. Great way to spend my time abroad, I know. As luck would have it I met Matt the day before I was supposed to return to America. And then my flight home was cancelled. Even though it was only for a day, that was all it took.

Matt is my opposite in nearly every way possible. He's more open minded, extroverted, adventurous and a Londoner born and bred. Loving him is making me come out of my shell.

Amongst other things, Matt loves to travel. His dream is to see all of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. He's already seen 200 but we've decided that since I'm here now, we might as well start over together. As a writer, I felt we needed a place to document all of our attempts (hopefully with more successes than not) to see all 911 in our lifetime. Well, this is it.

It's taken 6 transatlantic flights, 4 cities, and one year to get to a place where we can finally start our travels :D

One half love story and one half travel blog. I hope you enjoy.

Christmas in Edinburgh <3

xT