We all do it.
Lay in our beds, dreaming of some far away land. Where would you go if you could ACTUALLY get there?
When I read the book Eat, Pray, Love I was totally mesmerized by the idea of spending a year going to different countries and immersing myself in the culture. I don’t think it’s something I will ever get to do (well, maybe when the kids are grown) but the idea of just picking up and going for an entire year is incredibly enticing.
Here’s where I would go:
Two months in and around Dublin, Ireland – I would start here. I have Irish heritage and just think it would be amazing to spend some time in the city and then head to the countryside.
Two months in and around London, England – I just want to go, see plays and live in a flat.
A month in France – Visit with some of my husband’s extended family
A month in Spain – Barcelona, Madrid…maybe I’d actually pick up some of the 8 years of Spanish that I’ve managed to lose.
A month in Sweden – After working for 6.5 years with a bunch of Swedes, I am yearning for a visit to Stockhom and then Halmstad.
A month in Athens, Greece – I spent an AFTERNOON in Athens on a cruise ship expedition. Can you say not enough time?
Thailand – I’m not sure how much time I’d want to spend here, but it just sounds like a fascinating place.
Tokyo, Japan – Feels like a must do. And I’d love to experience sushi there.
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| New Zealand |
A month in Australia – Sydney, Perth, the outback….I want to experience them all.
At least a month on a return trip to New Zealand – I had the privilege of going in 2007 for just shy of a week, but we could have easily spent a month. And we didn’t even make it to the North Island.
By this time, it’s probably getting close to the 365 days, so I’d spend my last few weeks in an off shore hut in Fiji relaxing with my hubby and a daiquiri with a fancy paper umbrella.
My husband was a bit more practical when I asked him. He said he’d spend 8 months in France getting immersed and practicing/learning the language (his family is French). Then he’d spend the other 4 months traveling around to lots of different places.
And when I really stop and think about it, there are many other places I want to go. But if I had a year…just a year and only a year, I would definitely hit up the places mentioned above.
What about you?
Sounds like an awesome dream… I have some friends who are making a lot of similar type of trip a reality starting this fall. We lived 3 years in Europe and I hope we get to go again before kids are too old.. Now we have just made traveling a lifestyle for our family and move around the US 🙂
Oh, and you would love Sweden, so serene, modern, clean.. just like my Finland 🙂
Like Katja said, this is an amazing dream. My husband and I have been looking at London as a place to move before Peanut is much older. I can't decide if I'm an anglophile or francophile…so I'm torn with France and the UK.
I love Switzerland and would love to spend more time there, so it might be one you want to check out as well.