Hal Taussig

My love for travel was born out of my time as a teen, when taking the Taussig show-cattle to exhibitions around the US. Aside from running from conductors, who wanted a ticket out of me for riding the rails with the cattle, I cherished every minute of these trips, like the time riding with a hired hand on top of three feet of beautiful white straw (we slept, cooked and ate our meals on a wooden deck which we built above where the cattle rode). If truth be told, I also cherish being chased by the conductors as well!

In time, it was perfectly logical that this Rocky Mountain boy would grow to relish the Swiss Alps, other wonders of the world, and the people I befriended on this journey. Currently, one of my favorite travels -- complete with friends along the way -- is my bike commute to work, which has become up hill both ways.

I hesitated to take an Untour this year knowing I couldn't manage some of my favorite hiking trails anymore. But with a slight push out the door, I headed to Switzerland, had a ball, and learned to appreciate Switzerland on shorter paths and through restaurant windows with a friend and a cappuccino.

Once a year, I head west to my family reunion near the old Taussig Ranch in Colorado. Nowadays, I opt to buy my ticket, and not jump freight cars to get there.