A conversation with a co-worker reminded me just now of the fact that I haven’t ever traveled overseas and I really should.  The continental U.S. is the only place I’ve ever roamed. 

I need to visit Europe one of these days, before I’m too old to travel.  And South America.  And Australia or New Zealand (New Zealand probably, as long as the government in Australia is so goddammed homophobic…).  The only thing is I’m afraid of the language barrier most places.  I’d absolutely love to visit Rio at least once in my life.  From the pictures I see of it, it’s beautiful.  And the Netherlands.  And Germany.  And Italy.  And Switzerland.  I really want to go see them.  I want to see the Alps.  I want to see the places that Van Ruisdael painted.  I want to see Rio.  I want to look up at night and see the other half of infinity that I don’t see here in the northern hemisphere.  But I’d need a guide.  I guess I’d have to do a travel package or something.  Problem with those is you probably don’t get to talk to the locals, or see the day-to-day environment too much. 

But then I can’t speak Portuguese anyway.  Or German.  Or Dutch.  Or Italian.  Or Swiss.  Or French.  Or any of the other languages in the places I’d like to visit.  Too bad I’m not living far enough in the future where they have translation devices you can buy and wear.  Something like one of those little Blackberry things maybe.  And with a geo-positioning thing built in too, so you can find your way around a foreign city all by yourself.  Then all the tourists can walk around looking like Borg.