Collecting Stamps

Every ten years, it's time for a new passport.  For aspiring globe-trotters, it's a bittersweet moment to relinquish all those hard-earned stamps and start fresh.  My last time, though, I was surprised that they returned the old passport to me (after a couple well-placed hole punches to make sure it can't be used any more).  I've finally gotten around to some reminisces about past travels.

First, though - that hairline!

OK, on to the fun part, piecing together some memorable trips based on (sometimes weak-handed) customs officals:

June 2004: Paris, to visit the sister, drink wine legally, and be mistaken on the street for a dumb, unhelpful Frenchman.  Somehow I never got a stamp there, but I know I had to expedite my last passport renewal to make the trip.  I've got a June '04 stamp returning to the U.S. so I didn't make the trip up!

January 2006: Amsterdam, with the blockmates, a last intercession trip but prelude to upcoming reunion expeditions (read on...).

May-June 2010: Frankfurt - Munich, with the entire (!) family for a cousin's wedding to a nice German fellow.  No stamp in Zeitz, obviously; they'll welcome any brave visitors.

July 2010: Prague - Gruskovje - Zagreb, with just enough blockmates to fit in a car.  And the winner for most random passport stamp goes to Gruskovje, Slovenia!  After flying into Prague, the multi-modal trip passed out of E.U. territory at this random checkpoint on the Slovenia-Croatia border.  Rest of the trip in that country until departure.

July-August 2012: Shannon - Keflavik, with the extended family (who all survived the windy Irish mountain roads) then blockmates.  Perhaps following in the footsteps of the Vikings, a campaign in Ireland, quick stop back in Britain, then exploring onward to Iceland (no slaves in tow, unfortunately).

March 2013: Madrid, with sisters.  Not reflected in the passport - proceeded on (within the E.U.) to Italy, and flew out of Rome via London.  Also traveled through time through pre-civilization, the Roman Empire, the Iberian Caliphate, Middle Ages, and modernity.

December 2013: Sydney.  The only non-European destination in the last 10 years?  Not even Canada (would they even trouble you for a stamp)?  Something to work on, but a solid start to crossing the continents off the list.

In total: