French girl on train back in 1971 . . . not what you're thinking, though I was at the time . . .

Final leg of a trip from Rome to London and I was in a car with a French girl, an older French woman, and a few others. We were both students and talked about books. I think I mentioned her favorite poet. It turned out she was going on from London by train the next day, and needed someplace to stay. I said I knew an inexpensive hotel in South Kensington (thinking dinner, a bottle of wine . . . ) when another women perked up and said she was driving on to the young woman's destination. The arrangements were concluded. At the platform of the London station I slung my backpack on and looked for the girl. I spotted her looking around the platform herself. She spotted me, ran over, and planted a warm, wet kiss on my lips. Then she turned and walked away and I've never forgotten her.

What a great story, FD!

Thanks! It's a nice memory.

• Sapporo, Japan 2019.

Just in time before COVID-19 struck. It was the early onset of winter and our first time visiting Sapporo. We had no particular itinerary in mind just living the whole week like a local. Visited quaint local places, had the most amazing, delectable ice cream along Otaru Canal (I swear nothing beats that! And it was one of those small local stores selling homemade ice cream), and of course, enjoyed the first snow.

And right before we leave, we visited this outlet near the airport. It was snowing lightly and Christmas songs were playing in the background, the skies were lavender and a hint of pale blue, and there was a train passing by and it all felt like living inside those Christmas movies. I think the movie's Polar Express. That day really felt like living inside a Christmas movie.

• Palau Islands, January 2020.

My first time to do scuba diving outside of my country. And it was also my first time to actually swim with a bunch of sharks and majestic manta rays. Definitely one for the books!

It wasn't too far of a trip, but I had a group of fellow birders and I take a van across the country, right to the border in search of a single rare bird that had pitched up (first record for the country). After some nervous moments, we all got sights on the bird in a quiet eruption of dopamines.

My favorite travel memories are from my very first time living outside of the US. It was so exciting to live in a small tiny flat with two roommates and get to immerse myself in new cultures! One of those memories is from Azerbaijan – from what I had read in newspapers, Azerbaijan was a place that was unusual and interesting, consisting of many different groups with an interesting history. My days at the university and my apartment were filled with new friendships and new experiences – I met a lot of different people, went to a lot of different hangouts, learned about many different foods and cultures.