The Traveler
1981
That was a long time ago, for sure. It was the year I graduated high school, it was the year I entered university, and it was the year I first became a genuine world traveler. Born and raised on the west coast of the U.S., I had made several trips north to Canada, and had been to Mexico a time or two, but before 1981 that’s as far as I had gone.
1981 was the year I packed up a backpack, bought a couple of train passes, and joined a friend on a trip that has remained indelibly in our memories ever since. Looking back now we see how naive we were - just two 18 year old kids taking on the world - yet at the time we felt the exhilaration and confidence of youth. We were, as Leonardo DiCaprio said in “Titanic,” the kings of the world!
I think maybe the ladies in this first puzzle, “Road Trip in France,” are feeling a bit of that same joie de vivre. Their bags are packed, their car is fueled and ready to go, and the dog? Well, he’s just along for the ride. This 1000 piece bit of fun is from Hart Puzzles. I’ve done a few of theirs before, and have found them of consistently good quality. The colors here are subdued, and lack the vivid distinctions of brighter images, but that adds a challenge that I’m happy to take on.
After a week in England, looking like the ladies above, though driving on the wrong side of the road, we crossed the channel to Belgium. One great aspect of our trip was that we got to stay with several people we had met in the states. In Belgium, our host was a friend who had been an exchange student at our school. It was at his house where we sat and watched the royal wedding (Charles and Diana) on Belgian TV. And it was he who took us on a day trip to the City of Light: Paris!
One of the most recognizable scenes in Paris is the Arc de Triomphe. We knew it, of course, but until we got there we didn’t realize it was in the middle of a crazy traffic circle, where twelve roads come together and navigation is certainly at your own risk! This second puzzle shows a traditional view of the Arc, minus the neverending flow of traffic around it. This is the 1000 piece “Arc de Triomphe, Paris” from Tomax.
That first trip to Europe lasted six weeks, and took us across ten different countries. It was another 18 years before I made it back, on a trip to Italy with my wife. We spent twelve magical days touring that beautiful country, and saw many places worthy of a jigsaw puzzle or two. For today, I’ve chosen to feature a view that most puzzlers will probably recognize. This is “Cinque Terre,” an unforgettable area on Italy’s northwest coast (1000 pieces from Buffalo Games).
Finally, I’d like to finish with a puzzle from somewhere I haven’t been. Maybe someday I’ll make it to the Asian continent, but for now I can only experience it through pictures. This image is from Schmidt Spiele. It’s 1000 pieces and is titled, “Hot Air Balloons: Mandalay, Myanmar.” The sky and mountains here went together quickly. There were plenty of horizontal lines of color separation. The tougher part was the bottom, where the trees and buildings presented more of a challenge.
Hot Air Balloons: Mandalay, Myanmar
If you can’t tell from reading this, I’ve loved being able to travel abroad. I’ve visited historical sites, medieval castles, alpine villages, and gorgeous gardens. I was even lucky enough to be in Paris on Bastille Day, where I witnessed an absolutely amazing fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower! Traveling the world has been the best. And I’m not done yet.
Happy Puzzling.
Phil (aka Puzzle Buster)
excellent read, I’m a big fan of Heronim and Wysocki, absolutely love there work, let the good times roll!
Phil, I had no idea this was written by you until I saw your name at the end!