I don’t know about anyone else but the summer always gets my travel itch going. I used to love summer vacations each year growing up, the freedom of the day fully determined by whatever I wanted to do, whenever I wanted to do it. But back then I never understood why we didn’t use our free time to travel more. My parents, like most folks, were hard-working blue collar people and they reserved their limited traveling for time to visit with family in Nebraska, usually around fall/winter holidays.
Now as a hard-working adult myself, I understand I’m limited to choices that fit my responsibilities not my desires. So while prices continue to rise (along with the thermometer) I thought I’d spend some time imagining what kinds of vacation I would take if I had all that freedom from childhood, combined with some serious financial fantasy fulfillment to not limit myself.
Here goes:
#5- Ashikaga Flower Park (Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan)
The picture really says it all. Beautiful flowers creating a lovely atmosphere. This is best viewed in late April/early May so I’m starting my imaginary summer travels here.
#4- Douro Valley– Portugal
Stay in a castle with river AND mountain views, surrounded by vineyards? Yes please! The oldest region in the world to grow wine grapes, this is a must visit for any reader/wine lover.
#3-Zentralfriedhof– Vienna
Okay if you know me this one’s not that weird. I studied music when I was younger and still dream of visiting the Musicians Graveyard in Vienna. The number of prominent musicians resting here deserves the honor of thanking them for the gifts they left the world to this day.
#3-The Pink beaches of Harbour Island, Bahamas
Not really a “beach” type person, I just really want to see if the sands are a pink as they appear to be in photos.
#2- Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland
This is pretty self explanatory so moving on to …
#1-Mon-Saint-Michael, France
If I only had the chance to travel one time in my entire life, the totality of France would be on my bucket list. I want to plant my feet in the dirt that grows Chateauneuf de Pape, I want to see the Eiffel Tower, sit in one of the Café Terrace chairs featured in a Van Gogh painting and watch the world go by. But the one place I would love to stay is the monastery at Saint Michael. Yes there are roads to drive you there but as the tide comes in each night you have this lovely, historic, almost fairytale island to rock you to sleep. What could be better?
What dreams may come? Who knows. I’ll keep you updated.
Dian Burns 