A Year of Geektastic Adventures in 23 Photographs

2013 has been an action-packed year! It’s unbelievable that the year is almost over. It’s been an eventful one with huge highs and lows and it’s all come at me so fast that I’ve barely had a chance to post about any of it yet.

So I put together this photo essay to give you an overview of some of the positive highlights and a taste of the whackadoo adventures you can expect to hear more about whenever I get my act together. Here they are in chronological order:

Disneyland World of Color

I really did quit my job and go to Disneyland.

Nerd At Large at the Sambadrome

Roseitta and I attempted to blend in with the locals in Rio de Janeiro.

Iguazu Falls

I saw the astounding and magnificent Iguacu Falls in person.

Sad Gaucho Argentina

I got engaged to this sad gaucho in Argentina, even though his horse wanted to kill me.

A Nerd at Large Osorno

I crossed the Andes from Argentina to Chile and got photobombed by that grumpy redhead.

Easter Island bunny

I reached my long-standing goal of visiting Easter Island.

De LaSalle Victorian Castle Toronto Bloghouse

I was accepted to BlogHouse and briefly lived in a castle.

Toronto Distillery Segway tour

I rode a Segway for the first time in Toronto’s Distillery District.

Buxton settlement spelling lesson

I got schooled in Black History in Chatham-Kent.

Toronto Zoo Panda Da Mao

I indulged my panda fixation at Toronto Zoo.

Cable wakeboarding Dublin

I learned to wakeboard in Dublin. Major pwnage ensued.

TitanCon Belfast

I attended my first sci-fi convention in Belfast. It was out of this world.

Titanic Belfast Segway tour

I saw where the Titanic was made.

A Nerd at Large archery Ireland

I gave archery a whirl in Ireland.

Cliffs of Moher Ireland A Nerd at Large

I visited the amazing Cliffs of Moher and lush limestone lowlands of Co. Limerick.

A Nerd at Large Sword St Johns Castle Limerick

I wielded a sword in Limerick at King John’s Castle.

Rock climbing Dalkey quarry Extreme Ireland

I tried rock climbing.

Doctor Elton Sparklestare

I acquired a new friend in Scotland.

Camera Obscura tunnel Edinburgh

I experienced a world of illusions in Edinburgh.

Zombie Blitz 1940 reanimation

I was chased by zombies through the tunnels of London.

Madrid apartment

I lived like a local in my Madrid apartment.

Pueblo Ingles lumberjack song Canada

I sang and danced at Pueblo Ingles in Spain.

Sagrada Familia Barcelona Spain Gaudi

I marvelled at Gaudi’s brilliance in Barcelona.

All that’s left for me this year is to start thinking about what adventures I might pursue in 2014 and get writing about this year’s exploits. How are you making the last few days of 2013 count? What are your plans for next year? I want to hear about all the geektastic goodness you have planned so tell me about it in the comments below.

And remember…

there is more to explore

Acknowledgements: Many thanks to everyone who made these adventures possible and the terrific people I met along the way. All of the photographs were taken by me except for the ones that I am in, obviously. Much gratitude to those who have ensured that you occasionally get a glimpse of me on this blog, including: Roseitta Isaacs, Theresa Andreeff, Kris Goodbody, Ryan Wright, Marie Byrne, and Angel Martin.

35 Comments

  1. Fabulous!

    Thanks for the year in review. You look like you had a lot of fun along the way.

    Sagrada Familia just puts the cap on that collection. How you gonna top this?

    1. Thanks Pete! I don’t know. I love contemplating the possibilities and being open to serendipity. Maybe next year I’ll go to Oz and Doctor Sparklestare and I can snarf our way around the continent via pogo stick…or something.

  2. You have done some truly amazing things. I would like to see the church in Barcelona. It looks truly breathtaking and I am not a religious person. It’s been so many years I the making would like to see his vision come Alive

    1. Thanks hon. Sagrada Familia is already amazing and it’s nowhere near finished. I’m not a religious person either and I feel the same way. They are currently aiming to finish it by 2026 in time for the centenary of Gaudi’s death. I plan to go back and see it once it is complete.

    1. Indeed! As you and Ryan proved, it’s possible to go very far in just 30 days. Thanks for being a part of my adventures. Long live the Pirate Unitard Alliance!

  3. These are really fun to see, Ms. N at L. I realize how many places I need to get to before I get too old!

    1. Thanks Arienne! You’re on a roll too, if I’m not mistaken. Can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store for us both. Notice I said “written about” eh. I must make a resolution for 2014 to make some videos like we talked about! Happy New Year!

  4. Steph, you have had an amazing year! Congrats on having the nerve to quit your job and go for your dreams. Can’t wait to hear about your 2014 adventures!

    1. Aw, thanks hon! It’s not been an easy road, and there’s lots I don’t talk about on the blog, but I hafta say I’m glad I had the guts to make the right decision instead of the easy choice.

  5. Wow, looks like it was a great year! I spent 10 months in South America with my partner, and we wish we’d done that boat trip from between Argentina and Chile. Also, I’m just a tiny bit jealous you got to attend a sci-fi convention. I haven’t been to any yet. (Maybe I’ll jump in the deep end one year and go to DragonCon!)

    1. Thanks Sam! Yeah, the crossing was cool (as long as you’re not in a hurry). As for the sci-fi con, go for it Sam! I was a bit intimidated going into TitanCon, but it was fun.

  6. Wow!! What a year of adventure and trying new things. I love seeing YOU in all of these pics and seeing all of the exciting things you tried. The Easter Island pic by far is my favorite! Hope our paths cross again in 2014!

    1. Thanks so much Sherry! I really lucked out having you as my BlogHouse mentor, and sometimes I even heed your great advice 😉 I hope we meet again very soon and perhaps share an adventure sometime in the near future.

  7. The colours here are just amazing…thanks for posting this.

    I’m using the final days of 2013 to leave 2013 behind, and to complete *one* thing that I said I would finish this year, and to think about goals for next year.

    I don’t have any geektastic plans but did just apply for a library assistant job. There’s also a little convention I want to attend, if I can swing the cash.

    1. Thanks Linda! I’m glad you like it. Lots of luck finishing your goal for this year and all the best in 2014. Oz in the spring isn’t looking doable for me at this point, but I’d like to try to get there soon. Maybe in the autumn. I’d love to get to Hobbiton in NZ if I can.

      1. Oh, I’m not talking about Australia. International travel except to the UK is out of the question for the forseeable future.

        I’m talking about the public historians’ conference in Monterey.

        Also, I want to attend Oxford in ’15.

        1. Well, Monterey does sound more doable, but it was exciting there for a minute thinking that you dared to dream so big 😉 There are so many great conventions to attend, it’s tough to keep them straight!

        2. Yes, so many confs, so little time. I’ve never been to a professional conference.

          Even so, I priced it up, and it’ll cost $700 minimum between the entry, the travel, the food and the accommodation–and that’s staying in a youth hostel!

          I may run an Indiegogo to make it happen.

          My parents would be upset if I went gadding off to different countries without seeing them. I really really hope you will come to Oxford though.

          Also, do you want to come see the total solar eclipse with me in Oregon in 2017? 😉

  8. I loved seeing the lush limestone lowlands with you.

    Long live the Pirate Unitard Alliance, down with drunken fabric tube dressing, and get thee to Ottawa soon!

    1. Aw, thanks Ryan. That trip was a blast. It’s rare to end up with a group that gels so well. Next time I’m in Ottawa we’ll drink to the Pirate Unitard Alliance. Thanks again for taking the badass sword photo!

    1. Aw, thanks Lance. I hope so too. It’s guaranteed to be a very eventful year, but my plans are still highly fluid at this point.

  9. This is the first time I’ve been to your blog, but with just this post I feel like I already know you! What a great year you had. Great post!

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