TAGGED! Or, Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Me and Dared to Ask

This is a chain that has been passed around from blog to blog for a while. It consists of 11 key questions to help readers and subscribers learn about their favorite bloggers. Today, it is Jean-Noël ofAria Mondu who has tagged me, so just as I’m well taught, I’ll teach!

WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST FLIGHT’S DESTINATION?

In 1992, my parents and I went to Réunion. It was during the strike which blocked deliveries from oil refineries. Suffice to say that the first flight was actually 3 first flights due to the fuel shortage. The route was Paris – Marseille, Marseille – Jeddah, and finally Jeddah – St-Denis de la Réunion. 14 hours of travel. 13 hours of Gameboy! Yes, the old, black and white screen with suitable games for children on long flights.

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONLY ONE PLACE TO LIVE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?

I haven’t stayed long enough in the various countries/cities I’ve visited to be sure, but I met an expat who was very enthusiastic about his life in Norway. As I loved the scenery and the people, it’s possible I could choose somewhere up there.

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST SCARE YOU HAD DURING YOUR TRAVELS?

I’m thinking! I’m thinking! I promise, I’m thinking! But, no, really, I can’t really remember anything that tragic. The only thing that comes to mind is when I was stuck in Trondheim, Norway, and my night train had been cancelled due to flooding. I was then offered a plethora of solutions – each more laborious than the last: airplane, boat, taxi… and a miracle solution: find a last-minute CouchSurfing host and wait for the next NSB charter minibus taxi to get to Oslo. The ride cost €2300, but I fortunately didn’t have to pay for it myself. NSB.no picked up the tab.

WE OFTEN SPEAK ABOUT THE FAR CORNERS OF THE WORLD, BUT, CLOSER TO HOME, WHICH REGION OF FRANCE DO YOU MOST WANT TO VISIT?

As a small tribute to Jean-Noël, who sent me this questionnaire, I’ve never been to Corsica! Other than that, I remember loving the Basque Country as a kid, but I don’t remember exactly why. Maybe because of the ham and Basque Pelota…

WHICH COUNTRY IS THE FARTHEST YOU’VE TRAVELED TO VISIT?

That’s an easy question: Japan! The most distant and the most exotic. An absolutely amazing country, at all levels, brilliantly combining tradition and modernity, pragmatism and sheer lunacy. I loved it!

DO YOU HAVE A WISH FOR 2013? SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR AND NOT ANY OTHER?

This is also very easy to answer; In 2013, I will leave for my Geek World Tour! The dream of a lifetime finally realized, though it will probably continue into 2014.

WHAT (WHICH) LANGUAGE(S) WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN?

Ideally all of them! If I had to choose, though, I like the sound of Japanese and can understand animé in its original version, isn’t that classy? But, more practically, I’d choose Spanish because I had the good idea to choose German in High School and that was not the best idea of the century. In my life, I’ve used German once, and that was to buy a bus ticket to Poland last year. 5 years of study with that as the only result. Bravo.

HOW AND WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

I see myself happy somewhere on Earth. It’s not really a question for someone who just left his job, rented his flat, and is preparing to leave for a world tour that will take an indeterminate amount of time…

WHEN WAS YOUR LAST TRIP?

It’s been a year already! 3 weeks in December/January around Central Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Bratislava, Vienna, Budapest) by bus and train. I really cannot wait to go back!

IF YOU WERE TO WIN A LARGE SUM OF MONEY, WHAT MADNESS WOULD YOU ALLOW YOURSELF FIRST?

If this is an amount that would allow me to live only on the interest earned, get ready to see me spend my life touring around the planet. A life on the road, self-funded; it would be great!

SINCE WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED THE COMING OF THE NEW YEAR, TELL US ABOUT YOUR CRAZIEST NYE.

To keep the travel theme going, I’ll tell you about last year’s NYE. I was in Poland. Good vodka! The Poles know how to party! But beware the glasses they serve you; I realized the glasses they offered the foreigners were larger than the glasses given to the natives.

And since the chain must continue, I’ll tag Nicolas and Marianne of Bicnic.fr, Guillaume and Jennifer of Guigz, Laurent of Le Tour du Monde en 60 jours and Florian of Go-with-Flo with the following 11 questions:

• 1- Which countries did you travel to in 2012?
• 2- Grand hotel, hostel, homestay, or under the stars?
• 3- What was your best dining experience whilst traveling?
• 4- Hot or cold climate?
• 5- Where would your dream holiday be?
• 6- What are the best and worst local drinks you’ve ever encountered?
• 7- What’s your greatest fear?
• 8- What was your worst transportation experience?
• 9- Are there any rules you make before your journey that you won’t break under any circumstances?
• 10- Facebook or Twitter ?
• 11- Blogging the journey: What’s the point?