Jan 6th - Happy 15 years
Posted by Bill Bickford on Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Greetings foolish mortal!!! Welcome to the 15th anniversary of the BBP. It's been a very wild and crazy ride with lots of ups and downs in between the date I started this site while back in Afghanistan and all around the world.
When this site became active, as mentioned, I was in Afghanistan and about 7 months later, moved to Iraq. Was there for a year and came back to the states where I once again took up residence in St. Petersburg, FL. I was there for about a year and a half before I got the chance of a lifetime and took a position in Stuttgart, Germany for about a year. Just before my projects were completed in Germany, I interviewed and was hired for a position out in Stanton, CA where I lived for nearly 6 years. After seeing the writing on the wall, I left CA to move back to Florida, Orlando more precisely where I have been for almost 5 years.
In my travels, I have made it to many of my favorite activities, theme parks. I have gone to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Also went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Went to Sea World, Busch Gardens and Six Flags over Georgia. Also hit Disneyland Paris, Disney Studios in Paris and Europa Park along with a couple of festivals, Oktoberfest in Munich and SpringFest and Volkfest in Stuttgart. On my travels out west, I visited Universal Studios Hollywood, Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm, Disneyland and California Adventure. Throw in the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar and the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa.
Saw many countries during this time too. Afghanistan, UAE, Ireland, England, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, France, Austria, Luxomburg, Belgium, Netherlands.
Saw so many cities and towns that there are so many I can't even remember all their names. Here are some of the ones I can remember. London, Dublin, Istanbul, Baghdad, Kabul, Dubai, Stuttgart, Berlin, Nuremburg, Frankfurt, Baden-Baden, Strausburg, Colmar, Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Garmisch-PartenKirchen, Hintertux, Prague, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Munich and Zurich.
Saw so many castles and castle ruins. One of the top of the list was Neuschwanstein and also Lichtenstein and Frankenstein Castle. I have them all under the Castle Explorations tab. Saw many places I had only imagined seeing and visiting. Brandenburg Gate, The Berlin Wall, Eiffel Tower and the canals of Amsterdam and Venice. Visited The Alamo on my drive west along with Tombstone. Visited the Grand Canyon and San Francisco.
So in the past 15 years, I have to look back and say wow!!! What a ride it's been. And there's so much more to do because to live, really live, is the greatest adventure.
Until next time...
BBP out!!!
When this site became active, as mentioned, I was in Afghanistan and about 7 months later, moved to Iraq. Was there for a year and came back to the states where I once again took up residence in St. Petersburg, FL. I was there for about a year and a half before I got the chance of a lifetime and took a position in Stuttgart, Germany for about a year. Just before my projects were completed in Germany, I interviewed and was hired for a position out in Stanton, CA where I lived for nearly 6 years. After seeing the writing on the wall, I left CA to move back to Florida, Orlando more precisely where I have been for almost 5 years.
In my travels, I have made it to many of my favorite activities, theme parks. I have gone to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Also went to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. Went to Sea World, Busch Gardens and Six Flags over Georgia. Also hit Disneyland Paris, Disney Studios in Paris and Europa Park along with a couple of festivals, Oktoberfest in Munich and SpringFest and Volkfest in Stuttgart. On my travels out west, I visited Universal Studios Hollywood, Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm, Disneyland and California Adventure. Throw in the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar and the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa.
Saw many countries during this time too. Afghanistan, UAE, Ireland, England, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, France, Austria, Luxomburg, Belgium, Netherlands.
Saw so many cities and towns that there are so many I can't even remember all their names. Here are some of the ones I can remember. London, Dublin, Istanbul, Baghdad, Kabul, Dubai, Stuttgart, Berlin, Nuremburg, Frankfurt, Baden-Baden, Strausburg, Colmar, Milan, Lake Como, Venice, Garmisch-PartenKirchen, Hintertux, Prague, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Munich and Zurich.
Saw so many castles and castle ruins. One of the top of the list was Neuschwanstein and also Lichtenstein and Frankenstein Castle. I have them all under the Castle Explorations tab. Saw many places I had only imagined seeing and visiting. Brandenburg Gate, The Berlin Wall, Eiffel Tower and the canals of Amsterdam and Venice. Visited The Alamo on my drive west along with Tombstone. Visited the Grand Canyon and San Francisco.
So in the past 15 years, I have to look back and say wow!!! What a ride it's been. And there's so much more to do because to live, really live, is the greatest adventure.
Until next time...
BBP out!!!