Gavin

I was 15 and the youngest in the group on March break visit to London and Paris. It cost me about $500 (Canadian) earned from my newspaper route at 3 cents per paper. I returned to Europe the next two years but then waited 26 years to get back.

Melissa

32. But once I got there, I realized I should have gone when I was straight out of college. Could have applied all that I learned in History 152!<BR>

Oldtimer

When I was 17, I took &quot;the grand tour&quot; of Europe's back alleys, courtesy of our Uncle Sam. Such beauty spots as...<BR>Marseille, Naples, Split, Athens, Salonika, Taranto, Suda Bay, Ajaccio, Catania, Cagliari, Palermo, Gibraltar, Genoa. Mostly dumps.

diane

I was 20 and spent my junior year in college in France, studying at L'Universite de Caen in Normandie. Went through 3 month-long Eurail passes that year travelling all over western Europe (that was the real education -- not the classroom stuff!). <BR>Anyway, 23 years later, I've been back just 6 times for vacation (many other times on business). I'm now planning another two week holiday in France for 2003!

abc

I was conceived in Madrid during my parents' honeymoon. But, the first time I flew across the pond, I was 8. Went with my parents and siblings to London. I vividly remember being in awe of Queen Victoria's dollhouse. The one my Dad built me didn't even closely resemble it.

Thyra

I was 14 when I first spent a month in France with my parents.. but as soon as I turned 20 I was back on a backpacking adventure.. I've been travelling ever since...

Danna

I was 16 when I took a 4-H exchange summer trip to Denmark, with visits to Berlin and Amsterdam. Twas Grand. I then made a trip when I was 19. Then 25 years later my husband thought we should take a trip to Europe (his first.) It took about a nanosecond for me to agree and start making reservations. We spent 3 weeks together as a couple, not parents. Twas grander. The last trip was as a couple who kinda knew what was going on! Every trip can be the first!

Kristin

55 -- I was a very late bloomer! But have been trying to make up for my late start with a trip every year since, including living and working last year in Slovakia! I am now 60.

gb

48

Sally

22 - I worked a year after college to get the money, then my brother and I bought a car for $300 in Germany and camped our way across Europe for three months on Europe for $5 a Day! I think it cost me $1000 for the whole summer!<BR><BR>I had always wanted to go after growing up hearing about the year my mother spent in Europe when she was 15 in 1927- ocean liner, boarding school in Switzerland, designer dresses from Paris, parties with ambassadors, going to Italy when they still had a king.<BR><BR>Then I went back again when my youngest was in college, and we have been going whenever we can ever since!

joe

What a great, absolutely great thread. I am mesmerized and nostalgic. keep them coming.

ann

I first went when i was three (we my parents ) we used to go 3 times a year.

ann

That should read with my parents.

Michelle

I was 34 years old when I finally found my ideal travel partner: my husband!<BR><BR>I just took my mother last month to Italy. This was her first trip to Europe at age 81. My sister's first trip too at 45. They both loved it!!! No keeping them down now.

Kathleen

When I was eight, courtesy of the Air Force and my Dad. Saw the British Isles and most of Europe. Returned when I was 25, managed every couple years or less since then...

Jess

The summer I turned 17 I went with an art college. Liked it so much I had to come back the next summer with a friend.

Art

At 19 was sent over to Germany by uncle sam. Took my discharg and stayed for a total of 7 years. Lived in Frankfurt and Weisbaden. Rented a small house for $40/mongh. Bought my first Mercedes (6 years old) for $300. A lot of weekend trips to various countries and various parts of Germany. Spent the last 3 months just traveling on a budget of $7.50 US per day with my wife camping mostly. Fitted out an old German Ford Taunus van (the size of a VW van) to sleep in. Traveled in the US (visiting 47 states), Canada and Mexico while son was growing up and started going back to Europe once a year 5 years ago. <BR>

purple pyramid

I was 5 when my family moved from the US to Denmark for my father's studies at the Royal College of Agriculture under the Fulbright Award. I lived in Italy for a year at age 9, and finished high school at an American school in Switzerland. Now living back in the US, I travel to Paris and Switzerland every few years. But my new favorite is going to the Caribbean for scuba diving as often as possible.

Martha

First trip was the summer between sophomore and junior years in 1972 (a three-month modern history/political science studies course). Turned 20 in Amsterdam that year. Didn't go again until 1998 which was my husband's first trip to Europe (though he had seen a lot of Viet Nam, Philipines and Japan in the late 60's thanks to Uncle Sam.) Had another trip in '99 when my husband turned 55 in Paris. My 4th trip this year, I celebrated my 50th in Paris. Hope to go next year to Spain.

Lori

26, on my honeymoon (good guy eh?) That was 1984, the dollar was sooooo strong, and we had nooooo money. I just remember everything being so cheap!!! I remember Lladros being half the price they are in the states, to bad we couldn't buy tons of them. Been back many many times since with my best travel partner.