Share Your Travel Memories

There is something special about an out-of-home experience.

Whether it's a weekend trip to the mountains, an island getaway or an epic backpacking journey through Asia, most of us, at some time, feel a call to leave home and escape our own realities to experience something different.

Last month, I spoke with Kennesaw Police Officer Scott Luther as he made final preparations before heading to Greece to represent the state of Georgia in the . Now, Luther's journey is well underway, and he's sharing his travel memoirs with supporters back home via a Facebook page.

Kennesaw residents can follow along online as Luther and other law enforcement officials and athletes help spread awareness about the Special Olympics in more than 64 cities over the course of 13 days.

The fact that Luther is able to remain connected to Kennesaw residents back home as he traverses the Ionian Islands, Peloponnese and Ancient Olympia has me thinking about the nature of travel in this age of information sharing.

Not only are we able to share our travel experiences through blogs and online photo galleries, but, assuming we have internet connection, we are able to do so in real time. This extend's the traveler's experience beyond himself. New and exciting places are discovered, strange foods tasted, and memories forged in the imaginations of internet travelers who dutifully follow along online.

Not only does the internet allow us to share our own personal journeys, but it gives us the power to spark an idea within a stranger's mind to get up, get out and start an adventure of their own.

I first traveled abroad alone when I was 18 to participate in a writing conference in Florence, Italy. I arrived early and stayed in a cramped hostel across from the train station for about a week before moving into nicer quarters at La Villa La Pietra for the conference.

My room at the hostel wasn't much bigger than a jail cell, a feeling intensified by the tiny window that actually seemed to suck out the light rather than let it in, making the room shrink in effect.

Of course, I was thrilled to be in a new country, and I didn't spend much time in my room anyways as I explored the cobbled streets, picturesque bridges and ancient architecture of Firenze. Somehow, arriving back at the small (and questionably safe) hostel room at the end of the night only seemed to add to the experience.

For me, travel is the perfect expression of my passions for language, story-telling, culture and people. Whether it's a road trip with my husband to San Antonio or a solitary train ride to Viareggio (resulting in an exchange of life stories with an orphan boy from Albania), I enjoy collecting bits and pieces of memory to add to my patchwork of life experiences.

Tonight, fellow night owls, I'd like to hear about some of your favorite travel experiences and how they've affected you. Furthermore, how have you used the internet as a way to share your journeys with others? Use our comments section below to share your thoughts. You can also upload your travel photos and videos to this article by clicking on the "Add your own photos and videos" link below the main picture.

If you have a particularly interesting tale you'd like to share with our Kennesaw Patch community, or are interested in blogging from abroad, please e-mail me at gaetana.pipia@patch.com.