Last September I took a solo trip out to Northern Arizona, stayed in Flagstaff, and went to see the Grand Canyon.
This was the first time I took a vacation alone, in my life. I visited Sedona, hiked in the mountains… it was a great trip.
The mountains and woods around Flagstaff are lovely.
View from the mountains just outside Flagstaff.
In November I went to see New Mexico.
Later in that same month I went up to NC with some friends to see The Great Smoky Mountains:
After that trip I stayed home for a few months, did stand-up at local comedy clubs, got a part in a play with Carrollwood Players…
Winter is not the best time to see the National Parks, and I was trying to stay busy.
Then Russia invaded Ukraine, so on April 3rd of this year I flew to Europe to volunteer at a church in Ukraine…
Leaving Tampa, destination Lviv!
Downtown Lviv, Ukraine.
I was in Europe for a month, part of that time I went to Germany then Poland:
A German Uboat in Kiel, Germany.
After Ukraine and Europe i went to Miami.
The ocean water over there was crystal clear…
That art district in Miami was very cool:
The Miami trip was just a weekend thing, but later in June I did a longer roadtrip to the Northeast to see family…
My 3 siblings and Mom & Dad.
Pat’s Steaks in Philly!
In early August I visited Charleston. Lotsa history there, things to do, restaurants to try.
One night I drove out to Folly Beach to catch ghost crabs!
All you really need is a flashlight, ghost crabs are pretty much anywhere on the Carolina beaches after the sun goes down.
This past weekend I drove out to Canaveral to watch the Artemis launch… but it was postponed due to weather.
I was stuck in a depressed rut 12 months ago, getting out and seeing the world cost me a few bucks, but the cost was nothing compared to the experiences.
Ben Alexander
September 1, 2022
Ben Alexander writes. 