Layton and Jana's Travels Around the World!

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About this blog

So, 40 years ago, "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was written by John Denver during a layover at an airport in Washington and recorded by the Mitchell Trio. While the lyrics don't match perfectly with our situation because it is only talking about one person, I do love the parts that go "All my bags are packed; I'm ready to go....I'm leavin' on a jet plane...." and I would like to take the liberty to change it to "All our bags are packed; we're ready to go...we're leavin' on a jet plane."

'til later! Layton and I leave for a once in a lifetime trip. Thanks to everyone for their wishes, help and support! We could not have pulled this off without you.

• 1

  THE PLAN - At least for now...   Dallas, TX on Nov 20, 2007 0 pictures 2 comments
• 2

  Happy Departing from Happy, TX   Happy, TX on Nov 22, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 3

  Leavin' Las Cruces   Las Cruces, NM on Dec 3, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 4

  DFW to Lima   Dallas, TX on Dec 6, 2007 0 pictures 0 comments
• 5

  We made it to Lima, Peru!   Lima, Peru on Dec 8, 2007 20 pictures 1 comment
• 6

  Amazon Basin - Jungle time!!!   Puerto Maldonado, Peru on Dec 11, 2007 49 pictures 2 comments
• 7

  Cuzco   Cuzco, Peru on Dec 13, 2007 5 pictures 0 comments
• 8

  Sacred Valley   Ollantaytambo, Peru on Dec 13, 2007 35 pictures 6 comments
• 9

  Machu Picchu (the Inca Trail)   Machu Picchu, Peru on Dec 15, 2007 90 pictures 0 comments
• 10

  Puno and Lake Titicaca   Puno, Peru on Dec 19, 2007 57 pictures 0 comments
• 11

  Local farmers on STRIKE!   Copacabana, Bolivia on Dec 21, 2007 6 pictures 2 comments
• 12

  World´s Most Dangerous Road...on a bike!   La Cumbre, Bolivia on Dec 23, 2007 30 pictures 1 comment
• 13

  FELIZ NAVIDAD from La Paz!!!   La Paz, Bolivia on Dec 25, 2007 22 pictures 3 comments
• 14

  Uyuni, Salt flats, worst bus ride....more to come   Uyuni, Bolivia on Dec 26, 2007 45 pictures 0 comments
• 15

  Back to civilization...   Calama, Chile on Dec 28, 2007 1 picture 1 comment
• 16

  Parque Nacional Pan de Azucar   Chanaral, Chile on Dec 30, 2007 11 pictures 0 comments
• 17

  Happy New Year!!!   Caldera, Chile on Dec 31, 2007 6 pictures 1 comment
• 18

  Santiago and.... PVD!!!   Santiago, Chile on Jan 3, 2008 22 pictures 1 comment
• 19

  Valparaiso for a day...   Valparaiso, Chile on Jan 4, 2008 18 pictures 1 comment
• 20

  NAVIMAG, ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales   Puerto Natales, Chile on Jan 11, 2008 78 pictures 2 comments
• 21

  Parque Nacional Torres del Paine   Puerto Natales, Chile on Jan 12, 2008 43 pictures 0 comments
• 22

  El Calafate   El Calafate, Argentina on Jan 13, 2008 54 pictures 1 comment
• 23

  Punta Arenas   Punta Arenas, Chile on Jan 16, 2008 4 pictures 0 comments
• 24

  Buenos Aires   Buenos Aires, Argentina on Jan 17, 2008 28 pictures 1 comment
• 25

  Iguazu Falls   Puerto Iguazu, Argentina on Jan 21, 2008 83 pictures 3 comments
• 26

  Tustin California to rejuvenate!   Los Angeles, CA on Jan 28, 2008 12 pictures 0 comments
• 27

  NEW ZEALAND!!! (Auckland)   Auckland, New Zealand on Jan 29, 2008 8 pictures 1 comment
• 28

  Waitomo Caves (means water hole)   Waitomo Caves, New Zealand on Jan 30, 2008 2 pictures 0 comments
• 29

  Travel day from Caves to Taupo (2 different buses)   Taupo, New Zealand on Jan 31, 2008 2 pictures 0 comments
• 30

  Taupo - Tongariro Crossing   Taupo, New Zealand on Feb 2, 2008 34 pictures 1 comment
• 31

  Queentown - WHAT a wonderful place   Queenstown, New Zealand on Feb 2, 2008 33 pictures 2 comments
• 32

  Dunedin - chocolate and beer!   Dunedin, New Zealand on Feb 3, 2008 30 pictures 1 comment
• 33

  Lake Tekapo   Lake Tekapo, New Zealand on Feb 4, 2008 15 pictures 0 comments
• 34

  Christchurch   Christchurch, New Zealand on Feb 5, 2008 11 pictures 1 comment
• 35

  Kaikoura   Kaikoura, New Zealand on Feb 6, 2008 21 pictures 0 comments
• 36

  Nelson and Abel Tasman National Park   Nelson, New Zealand on Feb 8, 2008 52 pictures 0 comments
• 37

  Greymouth - Montieth's Brewery   Greymouth, New Zealand on Feb 10, 2008 58 pictures 0 comments
• 38

  Franz Josef Glacier   Franz Josef, New Zealand on Feb 11, 2008 28 pictures 0 comments
• 39

  Milford Sound   Milford Sound, New Zealand on Feb 13, 2008 52 pictures 0 comments
• 40

  Queenstown with our favorite Canadian!   Queenstown, New Zealand on Feb 13, 2008 21 pictures 1 comment
• 41

  Sydney   Sydney, Australia on Feb 13, 2008 51 pictures 2 comments
• 42

  Brisbane Airport FUN!   Brisbane, Australia on Feb 19, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 43

  Cairns and the GREAT BARRIER REEF!   Cairns, Australia on Feb 22, 2008 60 pictures 0 comments
• 44

  Liveaboard Dive trip in the GREAT BARRIER REEF   Lizard Island, Australia on Feb 23, 2008 90 pictures 2 comments
• 45

  Great Barrier Reef Pics!!!   Osprey Reef, Australia on Mar 2, 2008 127 pictures 2 comments
• 46

  Airlie Beach - Sailing Whitsundays aboard Siska   Airlie Beach, Australia on Mar 5, 2008 32 pictures 0 comments
• 47

  Hervey Bay and Frasier Island   Hervey Bay, Australia on Mar 9, 2008 21 pictures 0 comments
• 48

  Brisbane to get our Indian Visas   Brisbane, Australia on Mar 11, 2008 5 pictures 0 comments
• 49

  Surfin in Byron Bay   Byron Bay, Australia on Mar 13, 2008 21 pictures 2 comments
• 50

  Surfer's Paradise to kill some time...   Surfers Paradise, Australia on Mar 15, 2008 8 pictures 0 comments
• 51

  A Night in Tokyo - Narita Hilton   Tokyo, Japan on Mar 17, 2008 1 picture 0 comments
• 52

  New Delhi - what a place!   Delhi, India on Mar 19, 2008 48 pictures 0 comments
• 53

  TAJ MAHAL in Agra   Agra, India on Mar 22, 2008 55 pictures 0 comments
• 54

  Fatehpur Sikri - a desserted castle   Fatehpur Sikri, India on Mar 23, 2008 18 pictures 0 comments
• 55

  Happy Easter from Jaipur   Jaipur, India on Mar 23, 2008 72 pictures 0 comments
• 56

  Pushkar and Camel Safari fun   Pushkar, India on Mar 24, 2008 41 pictures 0 comments
• 57

  Udaipur   Udaipur, India on Mar 24, 2008 57 pictures 0 comments
• 58

  Ranakapur - quick visit on our way to Jodhpur   Mount Abu, India on Mar 26, 2008 18 pictures 0 comments
• 59

  Jodhpur   Jodhpur, India on Mar 27, 2008 26 pictures 0 comments
• 60

  Back to Dehli for passports and a flight to Mumbai   Delhi, India on Mar 28, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 61

  Our VERY short stay in Mumbai   Mumbai (Bombay), India on Mar 29, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 62

  Our Home in India - Pune   Pune, India on Mar 30, 2008 35 pictures 0 comments
• 63

  Ellora and Ajanta caves in Aurangabad   Aurangabad, India on Apr 2, 2008 91 pictures 0 comments
• 64

  South Goa for a few beach days   Goa, India on Apr 5, 2008 50 pictures 0 comments
• 65

  Mumbai/Bombay   Mumbai (Bombay), India on Apr 9, 2008 6 pictures 0 comments
• 66

  Bangkok - to start our Indochina Tour   Bangkok, Thailand on Apr 11, 2008 36 pictures 0 comments
• 67

  Chaing Mai - SONGKRAN Festival   Chiang Mai, Thailand on Apr 14, 2008 22 pictures 0 comments
• 68

  Huay Xai - crossing over to Laos   Huay Xai, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Apr 15, 2008 18 pictures 0 comments
• 69

  Pakbeng   Pakbeng, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Apr 16, 2008 27 pictures 0 comments
• 70

  Luang Prabang   Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Apr 17, 2008 82 pictures 0 comments
• 71

  Capital of Laos - Vientiane   Vientiane, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Apr 20, 2008 30 pictures 0 comments
• 72

  Homestay in the middle of nowhere Laos   Ban Tabak, Lao Peoples Dem Rep on Apr 22, 2008 35 pictures 1 comment
• 73

  Overnight cruise in Halong Bay   Halong Bay, Vietnam on Apr 24, 2008 44 pictures 0 comments
• 74

  Hanoi - Bikes Everywhere!!!   Hanoi, Vietnam on Apr 25, 2008 61 pictures 0 comments
• 75

  Hue   Hue, Vietnam on Apr 28, 2008 68 pictures 1 comment
• 76

  Hoi An - Tailor Capital of Vietnam   Hoi An, Vietnam on Apr 30, 2008 13 pictures 0 comments
• 77

  Ho Chi Minh City - aka Saigon   Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on May 2, 2008 81 pictures 0 comments
• 78

  Phnom Penh - Capital of Cambodia   Phnom Penh, Cambodia on May 5, 2008 96 pictures 0 comments
• 79

  Siem Reap - The Famous Angkor Wat   Siem Reap, Cambodia on May 7, 2008 201 pictures 0 comments
• 80

  Back to Bangkok - End of Indochina Loop   Bangkok, Thailand on May 10, 2008 38 pictures 0 comments
• 81

  Chiang Mai for the weekend   Chiang Mai, Thailand on May 16, 2008 54 pictures 1 comment
• 82

  One last time in Bangkok   Bangkok, Thailand on May 20, 2008 70 pictures 1 comment
• 83

  Hello Hong Kong!!   Hong Kong, China on May 22, 2008 72 pictures 2 comments
• 84

  Yangshuo   Yangshuo, China on May 27, 2008 89 pictures 0 comments
• 85

  Liuzhou - just a stop over to catch a train   Liuzhou, China on May 29, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 86

  Yichang   Yichang, China on May 30, 2008 8 pictures 0 comments
• 87

  Three Gorges River Project via the Dragon Cruise   Yichang, China on May 31, 2008 105 pictures 0 comments
• 88

  Chongqing - to see the pandas   Chongqing, China on Jun 2, 2008 22 pictures 0 comments
• 89

  Xi'an for the Terracotta Warriors   Xi'an, China on Jun 3, 2008 97 pictures 0 comments
• 90

  Luoyang, just for a night   Luoyang, China on Jun 5, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 91

  Shaolin Temple, home of Kung Fu   Shaolin, China on Jun 7, 2008 89 pictures 0 comments
• 92

  Back to Luoyang to catch a train and see the caves   Luoyang, China on Jun 7, 2008 28 pictures 0 comments
• 93

  Shanghai, the city by the sea   Shanghai, China on Jun 8, 2008 52 pictures 0 comments
• 94

  Beijing - old and new China   Beijing, China on Jun 11, 2008 141 pictures 1 comment
• 95

  Train to Mongolia!   Ulan Bator, Mongolia on Jun 18, 2008 17 pictures 0 comments
• 96

  Ulaanbaatar for a night   Ulan Bator, Mongolia on Jun 19, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 97

  Ger camp in the middle of Gobi Desert   Dundgovi, Mongolia on Jun 20, 2008 68 pictures 2 comments
• 98

  Back to Ulaanbaatar for a few days   Ulan Bator, Mongolia on Jun 22, 2008 40 pictures 0 comments
• 99

  Train to Siberia   Irkutsk, Russian Federation on Jun 24, 2008 18 pictures 0 comments
• 100

  Listvyanka, village on Lake Baikal   Listvyanka, Russian Federation on Jun 25, 2008 67 pictures 0 comments
• 101

  Irkutsk where we met up with Hermann and Amit   Irkutsk, Russian Federation on Jun 27, 2008 32 pictures 0 comments
• 102

  4 NIGHTS, TRANSIBERIAN RAILWAY ON THE VODKA TRAIN   Middle of No Where, Russian Federation on Jun 30, 2008 38 pictures 1 comment
• 103

  Moscow - Capital of Russian Federation   Moscow, Russian Federation on Jul 2, 2008 88 pictures 2 comments
• 104

  Loving St. Petersburg   St. Petersburg, Russian Federation on Jul 4, 2008 159 pictures 2 comments
• 105

  On to Latvia   Riga, Latvia on Jul 7, 2008 112 pictures 0 comments
• 106

  Krakow and Auschwitz   Krakow, Poland on Jul 9, 2008 80 pictures 1 comment
• 107

  Budapest   Budapest, Hungary on Jul 11, 2008 68 pictures 1 comment
• 108

  Egg-Air and the Valley of the Beautiful Woman   Eger, Hungary on Jul 14, 2008 41 pictures 0 comments
• 109

  Homestay in Maramures   Vadu Izei, Romania on Jul 15, 2008 88 pictures 0 comments
• 110

  Home of Dracula, Sighisoara   Sighisoara, Romania on Jul 17, 2008 26 pictures 0 comments
• 111

  Viscri, an amzing homestay   Viscri, Romania on Jul 19, 2008 49 pictures 0 comments
• 112

  Sibiu - 2007 European Capital of Cultural   Sibiu, Romania on Jul 20, 2008 31 pictures 0 comments
• 113

  Brasov, Rasnov, and Bran   Brasov, Romania on Jul 22, 2008 58 pictures 1 comment
• 114

  Sinaia up in the Bulgarian Mountains   Sinaia, Romania on Jul 23, 2008 22 pictures 0 comments
• 115

  Bucharest, capital of Romania   Bucharest, Romania on Jul 25, 2008 26 pictures 0 comments
• 116

  Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria's Ancient Capital   Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria on Jul 26, 2008 43 pictures 0 comments
• 117

  Sofia, Bulgaria's Capital City   Sofia, Bulgaria on Jul 28, 2008 23 pictures 1 comment
• 118

  Rila Monastery and Bansko with a GREAT Hike!!   Bansko, Bulgaria on Jul 29, 2008 59 pictures 2 comments
• 119

  Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe   Plovdiv, Bulgaria on Jul 31, 2008 14 pictures 1 comment
• 120

  Istanbul - Where East Meets West   Istanbul, Turkey on Aug 2, 2008 48 pictures 1 comment
• 121

  OUR WORST EXPERIENCE YET!!!   Selcuk, Turkey on Aug 3, 2008 5 pictures 1 comment
• 122

  Ephesus - The Ancient Greek Settlement   Ephesus, Turkey on Aug 4, 2008 58 pictures 0 comments
• 123

  Rhodes - Best Preserved Medieval City in Europe   Rhodes, Greece on Aug 6, 2008 19 pictures 0 comments
• 124

  Santorini and the Cabanas kids   Santorini, Greece on Aug 8, 2008 52 pictures 1 comment
• 125

  Mykonos, the party island   Mykonos, Greece on Aug 11, 2008 16 pictures 0 comments
• 126

  Athens at least we are with the Cabanas kids!   Athens, Greece on Aug 13, 2008 41 pictures 0 comments
• 127

  Nafplio for a day   Nafplio, Greece on Aug 16, 2008 20 pictures 0 comments
• 128

  ONE DAY IN BARI, ITALY = YAWN!!!   Bari, Italy on Aug 18, 2008 3 pictures 0 comments
• 129

  Dubrovnik, more than worth the efforts to get here   Dubrovnik, Croatia on Aug 19, 2008 44 pictures 0 comments
• 130

  MONTENEGRO's MOST DRAMATIC SETTING, Kotor   Kotor, Montenegro on Aug 21, 2008 22 pictures 0 comments
• 131

  Zabljak - Shaffners remember what HURTS means   Zabljak, Montenegro on Aug 22, 2008 13 pictures 0 comments
• 132

  Sarajevo   Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on Aug 24, 2008 34 pictures 0 comments
• 133

  Happy Anniversary to us at Plitvice Lakes NP   Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia on Aug 27, 2008 31 pictures 0 comments
• 134

  Bled...this-place-rocks Slovenia   Bled, Slovenia on Aug 28, 2008 22 pictures 0 comments
• 135

  Vienna, just a great city in a BEAUTIFUL country   Vienna, Austria on Aug 29, 2008 56 pictures 0 comments
• 136

  Cesky Krumlov - Man the Beer is GOOODDDD Here!!!   Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic on Sep 2, 2008 16 pictures 1 comment
• 137

  Prague   Prague, Czech Republic on Sep 4, 2008 55 pictures 0 comments
• 138

  Berlin - Man a ton has happened in this city!!   Berlin, Germany on Sep 7, 2008 52 pictures 0 comments
• 139

  Frankfurt, Madonna and OUR PARENTS   Frankfurt, Germany on Sep 9, 2008 11 pictures 0 comments
• 140

  Würzburg for lunch and leg stretching   Wurzburg, Germany on Sep 12, 2008 7 pictures 0 comments
• 141

  Bamberg, being lost and cold does not keep us down   Bamberg, Germany on Sep 12, 2008 27 pictures 0 comments
• 142

  Rothenburg, Jim's and Judy's favs   Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany on Sep 13, 2008 34 pictures 1 comment
• 143

  Salzburg and SOUND OF MUSIC   Salzburg, Austria on Sep 14, 2008 57 pictures 4 comments
• 144

  Weiskirche, Judy's fav church   Steingaden, Germany on Sep 16, 2008 15 pictures 0 comments
• 145

  Neushwenstein Schloss   Füssen, Germany on Sep 16, 2008 26 pictures 1 comment
• 146

  Lindau to see some orchards   Lindau, Germany on Sep 16, 2008 23 pictures 0 comments
• 147

  Triberg, World's Biggest Cuckoo Clock   Triberg, Germany on Sep 17, 2008 30 pictures 0 comments
• 148

  A night close to the airport in Darmstadt   Darmstadt, Germany on Sep 18, 2008 4 pictures 0 comments
• 149

  Oktoberfest and Munich or Müchen   Munich, Germany on Sep 19, 2008 124 pictures 1 comment
• 150

  Paris...what a way to end!!   Paris, France on Sep 25, 2008 243 pictures 0 comments
• 151

  BACK home in Big D, just in time for TWO weddings!   Dallas, TX on Oct 1, 2008 41 pictures 0 comments
• 152

  Happy, TX homecoming!!!   Happy, TX on Oct 5, 2008 27 pictures 1 comment
• 153

  Visas Needed around the World for US Citizens   Anywhere, on Oct 5, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 154

  Books Read Along the Way...   Somewhere, on Oct 8, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 155

  Lovin' on Las Cruces family   Las Cruces, NM on Oct 12, 2008 10 pictures 0 comments
• 156

  Traveling Frequently Asked Questions and Answers   Dallas, TX on Dec 20, 2008 0 pictures 0 comments
• 157

  Random Items And Facts From Our Adventure   Dallas, TX on Dec 21, 2008 0 pictures 1 comment
• 158

  Happy Holidays to All!!!   Las Cruces, NM on Dec 29, 2008 1 picture 0 comments