Remember back in 2006 when I started my blog in order to write about places I’ve traveled to? Well I’ll be kicking that portion of it back into third gear soon because my fall travel plans are finally cemented down.

When I research travel plans I usually spend lots of time scanning airfare prices, connection cities, matching lodging dates with flight dates, checking and rechecking alternate dates, and ensuring those all don’t overlap with my work and personal schedule too. One or more people joining an itinerary means doubling the above work, and an extra challenge if friends and family are meeting you from a different city

However I enjoy doing this. I like, (or I should say liked,) finding good airfare deals, researching city maps, and most of all some of the great guest houses I’ve stayed in and their proprietors. I really do like the planning, studying, and research aspect of travel.

My goal, started in 2005, has been to take two trips each year, preferably foreign. Doing one in the spring and one in the fall means the weather is generally good everywhere, and every six months is sufficient space to provide ample planning time. I fill in the winter and summer closer to home with skiing and camping – and scatter in some occasional long weekend trips on the domestic front.

My “spring and fall” plan has been working out well so far, and that commitment and discipline has allowed me to visit South America, Europe twice, Mexico three times including the D.F., and many jaunts around the U.S., including Alaska. All that in four years. Following the “go where its cheap” mindset I find deals where locales are inexpensive at the moment rather than being hung up on ONE single city or country. With this plan you can eventually see a variety of exotic countries – and it doesn’t matter if its Poland instead of Paris because you’re still going somewhere different.  And hopefully Gard Karlsen and I will someday cross paths and share a beer.

A larger plan, and the inspiration for my blog’s name, is to scope out countries and cities that might yield a rewarding lifestyle for future relocation. Be it a permanent foreign city where I could work part time, or a three month stay during Colorado’s colder months, I’m always keeping my eyes open to this idea. However I have no plans to leave the great state of Colorado anytime soon – and Denver and city life here will continue to be a large part of my blog.

So – where to go this fall? For two now months I’ve again been tracking fares to Amsterdam, despite having just spent two weeks there in March. See when I traveled to Amsterdam in the spring I spent four days solo, then was joined by my sister and niece Lili. It was a wonderful time, especially the daytrips to the country and small towns where our Dutch family was originally from. My mom was originally scheduled to join my sister there too, but an unfortunate ankle break a week before departure forced her to remain home. I’m glad I wasn’t successful in talking her into going because the stairs in Amsterdam are quite narrow and steep.

I would have no problem returning to The Netherlands again so soon, this time accompanying my mom, but unfortunately fares to Europe this fall are extremely high, and we would be best served to try in the early spring when fares will hopefully be lower again.

But my mom, now being retired and having seen two major trips fail to come to fruition, has been wanting to travel somewhere foreign. We’ve considered Costa Rica or Panama, two places I’ve been interested in for a while. These countries allow for an easy pace, with incredible recreational opportunities and beautiful landscapes.

She’s also been interested in Mayan culture and history. I spent a week in the Yucatan in 2006 and was amazed at the architecture and history. The region is as unlike Mexico as you can find within Mexico. I know the area well, but there’s more places I’d like to see. I know where to stay and the airfare is very reasonable. I read the excellent expat site Yucatan Living regularly and although this wasn’t my first choice for the fall trip I’m now becoming more enthusiastic about a return. So – back to the Yucatan Peninsula it is.

Another place I’ve never visited, which I’m embarrassed to admit, is New York. My entire 20s were spent out west, living in either Denver or Los Angeles. My friends are all located this side of the Mississippi, and I really haven’t wandered over to the east coast much. But for someone who likes maps, subways, cafes, and city life I think its high time I pay N.Y. a visit.

So the Future Gringo schedule through 2008 is…

December: A week in the Yucatan with my Mom and Caleb. Ruins at daybreak, scuba diving, DJs on the beach, and great Yucatan food, culture, and art in Merida. Along with the more remote ruins of Coba we’ll probably wind up at Chichen Itza and the town of Valladolid again.

October: A four day solo trip to New York. Much like my time alone in Amsterdam I’ll take as much in as I possibly can. I’ll visit museums, bike Central Park, learn the subways, attempt to be a local, and maximize my time by walking by nice restaurants instead of eating in them.

September: Three days in Tampa. Because last time through I missed the Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala. No – actually I have an older relative there and a friend residing in the area too. Sure Miami and a drive down highway 1 to Key West would be more exotic – but what the hell I can find fun anywhere.

Throw in a another camping or rafting night, a weekend drive to Santa Fe which I’ve been wanting to do for a while, and three weddings which we need to attend this fall and I think that makes for a pretty complete second half of the year.

And they’re all booked and confirmed, so I can start making some to-do plans instead of endlessly plugging dates into Kayak.com

Now 2009 – I’m thinking a week long bike tour in Eastern Europe…