I like going places. Here are a few trips that stand out, along with the places I’ve been and the ones I’d still like to see.
Trips that stand out
Trip 01 / 07Jun 2007
La Altagracia
Dominican Republic
Punta Cana
My first flight and real trip. I was too young to remember much, but I do remember trying to order chocolate milk at a restaurant. What arrived was milk with chocolate sticks in it, and after a few unsuccessful attempts by my parents to explain in English what I meant, I finally offered, “leche chocolate!” an imperfect bit of Spanish I had probably picked up from watching Dora the Explorer. I don’t actually remember whether that worked either, but apparently my attempt got a laugh out of the restaurant staff.
first flight
boarding pass
PHLPhiladelphiaPUJPunta Cana
PassengerBrandon SaldanFlightFirstSeat23A
FromPHLPhiladelphiaToPUJPunta Cana
PassengerBrandon SaldanFlightFirstSeat23A
FromPHLPhiladelphiaToPUJPunta Cana
PassengerBrandon SaldanFlightFirstSeat23A
Newfoundland
Canada
Twillingate, Cape Spear, St. John’s, Gander
A trip to visit family and see the island from its beaches and cliffs. We stood at Cape Spear, the easternmost point in mainland North America, walked through the World War I trench recreation in Elliston, and fired a Lee-Enfield and an (inert) grenade launcher. By the end, I had also learned how to gut, clean, and cook a cod.
puffinsharbor viewlong pointpreparing the catchat the rangea good wind
Central Europe
Germany · Czechia · Poland · Slovakia · Hungary
Berlin, Dresden, Prague, Kraków, Oświęcim, Košice, Budapest
A school trip during my sophomore year took us through five countries, mostly by bus with a few long train rides. We visited war museums in Berlin, had a day to explore Prague on our own, toured the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz, and spent time exploring Budapest. I had plenty of beer, bratwurst, and pretzels in Germany, and incredible pierogi in Poland. It was an amazing trip, and I met many great people along the way.
the reichstagprague astronomical clockon charles bridge, praguechurch of saint nicholas, praguewawel cathedral, krakówst. stephen’s basilica, budapest
Tampa Bay
Florida
St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Pinellas Park
I met up with some of my closest friends, most of whom I had only known online through software development. We watched incredible sunsets, raced go-karts more times than I can count, and met glaive backstage before his concert. After the show, his touring drummer gave me one of the sticks he had played with and signed it for me, which meant even more because I play drums too. (Thank you Devin!)
last lightfirst group picafter darkbefore the show
Nassau
The Bahamas
Charleston, Half Moon Cay
My first cruise. I spent a day walking around Nassau, got yelled at by street vendors when I passed on their sunglasses, and spent a couple of hours on the beach at Half Moon Cay.
committing code in the middle of the oceanthe ship’s atriumbetween ship and shorea morning in nassau
Catskill Mountains
New York
Hudson, Athens
The first Bagel Fund meetup took us by train from Penn Station up to the mountains. We made steak with garlic truffle butter, beat the odds by building a fire after recent rain soaked the wood and kindling, roasted marshmallows, hiked part of the mountains, and skipped plenty of rocks across the lake.
on the lakebagel fund teamgreat sights in the fallbuilding the fire
Caribbean
The Bahamas · Turks and Caicos · Dominican Republic
Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk, Amber Cove
Weather left us stranded in port for a while, but there was plenty to do on board. We watched the Super Bowl in the ship’s theater, had French toast with peach compote for breakfast, drank plenty of piña coladas, and I won a little over $800 in the casino.
super bowl watch partydemolishedpool deckon shorea lucky night
and then, wherever next
The index
Places so far
10 countries, 21 states, and Washington, DC.
Countries
United StatesHome
Dominican RepublicPunta Cana, Amber Cove
CanadaToronto, Montreal, Newfoundland
GermanyBerlin, Dresden
CzechiaPrague
PolandKraków, Oświęcim
SlovakiaKošice
HungaryBudapest
The BahamasNassau, Half Moon Cay
Turks and CaicosGrand Turk
U.S. states & DC+
Pennsylvania
Delaware
New Jersey
Maryland
Virginia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Georgia
Florida
New York
Washington, DC
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Vermont
New Hampshire
Michigan
Indiana
Texas
Alabama
Mississippi
Tennessee
Arkansas
Full route log
36 air and sea legs+
2026
Norfolk → Half Moon Caysea
Half Moon Cay → Grand Turksea
Grand Turk → Amber Covesea
Amber Cove → Norfolksea
2024
Raleigh → New Yorkair
New York → Raleighair
Raleigh → Atlantaair
Atlanta → Tampaair
Tampa → Philadelphiaair
Philadelphia → Raleighair
Raleigh → New Yorkair
New York → Raleighair
Raleigh → Detroitair
Detroit → Indianapolisair
Indianapolis → Dallasair
Dallas → Raleighair
2023
Philadelphia → Raleighair
Charleston → Nassausea
Nassau → Half Moon Caysea
Half Moon Cay → Charlestonsea
Raleigh → New Yorkair
Raleigh → Philadelphiaair
Wilmington → Raleighair
2022
Philadelphia → Raleighair
Raleigh → Trentonair
Raleigh → Philadelphiaair
Philadelphia → Tampaair
Tampa → Philadelphiaair
Philadelphia → Raleighair
2019
Raleigh → Newarkair
Newark → Berlinair
Budapest → Washington, DCair
Washington, DC → Raleighair
2018
Philadelphia → Ganderair
St. Johns → Philadelphiaair
2008
Philadelphia → Punta Canaair
Road trips aren’t included in this log.
The long game
Still on my mind
↗
I’d like to make it to all seven continents eventually. For now, these are simply places I hope to see.
