For the past week or so, I've been getting sporadic e-mails from my dad. He and my mom are in Greece at the moment. Every year, they pick a place to visit and go away for a couple of weeks. He's always wanted to go to Greece, and they appear to be having a wonderful time.
I'm not sure it's possible to have any other kind of time in Greece, though. What with the sun and food and ouzo.
A. has also been contemplating vacation destinations recently. His ideal destinations revolve more around places with no people, anti-social man that he is. Mine do not. Our vacation preferences are somewhat incompatible.
He asked where I might like to go. I said Boston. I've still never been there, despite living only a few hours from it for three years in Albany. He was not so keen on that idea. He was thinking more along the lines of vast stretches of emptiness in Nevada. See what I mean about incompatible?
BUT ANYWAY.
I've also always wanted to go to the Vatican, despite being a very lapsed Catholic. And England. I've never been to England. And Patagonia, in Argentina, would be kind of cool. And I want to go back to Alaska, and see Nova Scotia and Maine, and I've never been to Oregon or Australia or New Zealand or . . . well, I have some ideas. None of which are feasible at the moment, but a girl can always dream.
So tell me, duckies: Where do you dream of visiting?
A beach.... but not East coast beach... I'm talking the kind of beach that I have to use my passport to get to. I just want to sit and read a book and listen to the ocean. I haven't been on a vacation since May 19, 2005, and I'm starting to lose it a little.
ReplyDeleteBeing that I used to live on a sailboat when I was a kid, I saw lots of islands and beaches. What I would love to to do is spend a year in Australia and New Zealand, both islands, but really really big ones. Sure, I would hang out on a beach for a day or two but I would love to go inland.
ReplyDeleteWe will build a yurt next to the chicken pen for A. so you can get your Boston holiday. Flying into the same airport is almost the same as vacationing together. He's hardy, so I'd recommend a winter beach vacation. Very solitary.
ReplyDeleteAnd they have ouzo in Boston.
Have you ever considered Ireland? Been to the rural west coast of Ireland twice and I highly recommend it. Beautiful countryside and very friendly people.
ReplyDeleteI'm a terrible traveler. In fact, I think it's my single biggest character flaw. Theoretically, travel sounds great and exciting, but when it comes right down to it, I fail to organize and I cheap out. Mostly, I love home. We go to Colorado every summer without fail, and I adore my time spent on the mountain. And we've been on a couple of big trips -- Yellowstone, Florida, etc. But we're just not travelers like most folks are.
ReplyDeleteBut Boston . . . my god it's a wonderful place. And yes I'm biased because I lived there two years, but it's the one place I would go every year if I could afford it and talk anyone in my family into going with me. Go there!
I forgot to mention, six years ago I traveled to Rio de Janeiro and Sau Paulo Brazil and it was the trip of lifetime. Do not let your life pass you by without seeing the beaches of Rio -- Ipanema in particular is otherworldly.
ReplyDeleteI'm daydreaming of a trip through Italy and France in September when the grapes are harvested...However we've also been talking of visiting South America to explore Chile and Argentina while we don't have kids. Though both for now are but dreams!
ReplyDeleteOh the places I'd go. Next on the list is Holland with friends, Italy with a lover whenever he appears and India with my two best girl friends :c)
ReplyDeleteI loved in Buenos Aires, Argentina for 6 months almost 10 years ago. It's a whole other world, seriously.
We plan to visit the island of Vieques off the coast of Puerto Rico someday soon. It's very small, secluded, and relatively inexpensive. And no passport necessary!
ReplyDeleteHere's a picture of Sand Mountain east of Fallon, Nevada that I took in December '08 if A. is looking for the ultimate no-man's land. I personally find the desert absolutely breathtaking.
Greece. I really want to go to Greece. Your parents are living my dream right now.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Spain. And Africa. And Alaska.
I have a lot of ideas, I guess.
So, are you saying you don't REALLY want to see San Jose, CA? I am so shocked right now.
Pub crawl, no itin, through Ireland and Scotland. Or, Windjammer cruise through the Greek isles. Or, houseboat in the Norway fjords. Or, Yangtze River cruise.
ReplyDeleteI could go on... sigh...
But A. -- those vast expanses of Nevada? Really, just vast expanses. Brown expanses of tumbleweed. Then a crazy-ass city. Nothing else. If you're leaning that way, think Utah or New Mexico.
First, avocados... yum. Eating over the sink seems to make things taste better, right? Or the craving is too overwhelming and eating faster is more satisfying? Who knows, all i know is avocados are a splurge of mine as well.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of splurging, having visited Argentina just over a year ago (the bf is from Mendoza) I would totally recommend it. A vacation may not be totally realistic for me this year either but i WILL say this, the exchange rate works to our favor. did i get you thinking about it? ;)
Honestly I can't think of any place I would turn down if the opportunity presented itself. But in particular I've always wanted to go to Russia, England, and France.
ReplyDeleteNova Scotia! Take the Cat ferry from Portland, Maine to Yarmouth. From there, choose your direction! We spent time in the tiny town of Lockeport. Great people.
ReplyDeleteI would like to visit (do photo excursions to) various U.S. cities and small towns.
ReplyDeleteInternational excursions include Spain, Italy, London, Cuba, Portugal, Greece, and Israel.
Besides finances, my biggest problem is that I HATE to fly.
MariaV
Mr Chiots and I have a savings account that's for our dream cruise to Alaska. We're hoping to have enough in the next couple years to take a month off and head out, we want to take the rail tour, go dogsledding, hiking and anything we think sounds like fun.
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