"Traveling enables us to see the world through the eyes of someone else, and to understand their aspirations and assumptions.  It's about empathy, which is not only important to the work of our diplomats but to all of us as we seek to understand different cultures 
as well as our own."
John Kerry

"Travel literally forces us out of our routines and, in doing so, gives us the freedom to see things with fresh eyes."
Annabelle Selldorf

Where we are headed next 

From Barcelona to Monte Carlo and Beyond

In my last posting I wrote about Barcelona as a destination.  We plan to spend a week there in the near future.  But after that week we will rent a car and explore the nearby region.  Below are some of the places we are planning to visit. 

Andorra
I am hoping to take a side-trip to Andorra while we are in Barcelona.  Andorra is the 6th smallest country in the world.  It is located on the border between Spain and France.   Andorra La Velia is the capital of Andorra.  It is nestled in a picturesque valley at the junction of two mountain streams.  With its charmed cobblestone streets and small stone houses, it is like being transported back in time to the 13th century.  It is home to the country's parliament building, Government Exhibition Hall, and a piazza that is used for various cultural events throughout the year.  The entirety of Andorra is renowned amongst tourists for being a tax haven because of its independence from the European Union.  Neighboring Europeans and visitors from all over flock to Andorra to take advantage of the tax-free prices on clothing and other luxury items.

Nearby El Serrat is one of the many picturesque mountain villages in Andorra. Many stay here while hiking or skiing nearby, but the breath-taking views of the Pyrenees supposed to be fantastic.  The  Madriu Valley, which cuts through about a tenth of the principality of Andorra, with its jagged cliffs and dramatic glaciers, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As well as stunning views, the region abounds with traditional shepherd’s cabins and quaint hamlets, which are the precious remains of an ancient Pyrenees farming culture.  

Besalu, Spain
Besalu is a Medieval village  which is close enough to Barcelona that it makes an easy side trip from the city.  It has the old world charm that makes you feel like you've stepped into a time machine.  The village dates back to the 11th century.  The village has restored the picturesque bridge and maintained the areas of the Jewish quarter that make the village a walking museum.


Besalu

Besalu is fairly small, and we could walk around the village in an hour, but there is so much history to see, we will want to take our time and explore.  We plan to explore some of the cobbled alleys and stroll along the banks of the river.  The area is known for its seafood paella, and there are quaint cafes to enjoy the paella or other foods.  There are artists shops and other shops to explore and a museum of miniatures.  Also - while walking around the city, I have been told to keep an eye out for the odd chair or two. Look up, down and behind things - the city has a strange and fun fascination with chairs!

Rupit, Spain


Rupit

Rupit is another small medieval town not far from Barcelona.  Instead of the stone bridge it has a suspension bridge you can walk across.  All of the buildings are made of stone.  It also has cobblestone streets and wonderful little shops to explore.  And some wonderful bakeries and shops to wander through.  They produce a drink called ratafia, which you can purchase there.  It is a sweet liquor made from green nuts and herbs.  It is the perfect beverage for winter and goes great with pastries and desserts..



Carcossone

Our first overnight stop when we leave Barcelona will be Carcossone, France.  Since the pre-Roman period, a fortified settlement has existed on the hill where Carcassonne now stands. In its present form it is an outstanding example of a medieval fortified town, with its massive defences encircling the castle and the surrounding buildings, its streets and its fine Gothic cathedral. Carcassonne is a UNESCO world heritage site.  It is one of the few sights in the world that genuinely justifies the epithet "breath taking."  Many movies have been filled here, including Camelot.

The old  town is famous for its double walls and 53 watchtowers.  It is also France's second most visited tourist spot (after the Eiffel Tower).  So it can be quite touristy.  The fortified old town of Carcossone is on a hill above the more modern town below.  The best time to visit the walled city is in the evening after the crowds of tourists have left.  We actually have hotel reservations within the walled city, so we plan to spend the night.   We are looking forward to exploring the city when there are less tourists.

Toulon

On our trip from Barcelona, we will spend our second night in Toulon.  Why Toulon?  We are headed toward Monte Carlo and don't want to just drive straight through from Carcossone.  We plan to spend some time stopping along the way to see the sights.  This seemed like a good place to stop.  It is not a real touristy spot, but it is on the Mediterranean Sea, with nice beaches and a good half way point to our next stop.  So what is there to do in Toulon?

As I mentioned above, it is on the water, so there are some nice beaches if we decide we just want to relax and enjoy the beach for awhile.  There is also a cable car, which I definitely plan to take to the top of Mount Faron to see the views over the Bay of Toulon.

Menton
Our next overnight stop will be in Menton, which is on the French/Italian border.  To get to it we go through the small country of Monaco.  I chose Menton because of its location near Monte Carlo, and because it is less expensive for hotels in Menton.  And a friend of mine had stayed in Menton and said that it was a charming place that she enjoyed.  Menton is known as the "Pearl of France."



We will probably explore Monaco on our way to Menton, but will have the evening and the next morning to do a little exploring of the city.  It will be a short stop-over.  On our way back through Monte Carlo, we will probably explore a little more. I may wish I had more time in Menton, as there are things to see, and there is always the wonderful beaches of the French Riviera.

Monte Carlo, Monaco
Monaco is the second smallest country in the world, just behind the Vatican which is the smallest.  It is also the most densely populated country in the world.  It is surrounded on 3 sides by France and the 4th side is on the Mediterranean Sea. Monte Carlo is the largest ward in Monaco.  Famous for its casinos, the Grand Prix, and for being the playground of the rich and famous.  Monaco is a constitutional monarchy ruled by Prince Albert II, who is the son of our former movie star Grace Kelley.

We will only have one day to explore.  There is an old town which is up on the hill with good views of the harbor below, considered to be one of the prettiest harbors in the world.  We could tour the palace, which allows us to see the throne room and main courtyard.  We can watch the changing of the guard which takes place daily at 11:50 a.m.   We may walk through the casino, just to see it.  Neither of us are really casino people.  Mostly I just want to wander around, have lunch by the harbor or in old town, and maybe drive up through the hills of Monaco.

Aix en Provence
 Aix en Provence is on our way to our next stay, and we plan to make an afternoon stop there.  It is known as the "City of Counts" because the Counts of Provence once lived here.  It has several impressive old aristocratic palaces and hundreds of fountains.  Cezanne is from this area, and you can visit his atelier and gardens and take a walk in his footsteps.   Outside of the historic city center, about a ten-minute walk from the Atelier Cézanne, is the beautiful hillside park Terrain des Peintres (Painters Park) popular among Impressionist painters including Cézanne.  It is now a public park.
   
After we leave Aix en Provences we will be headed towards Arles, but I hope to stop and see the Roquefavour Aqueduct. on our way.  It is an old Roman aquaduct, built in 1842.  It is in perfect condition, and would make a nice stop along the way.

Arles
Arles is our next stop. It is on the Rhone River. Arles is famous for being the home of Van Gogh, and where he cut off his ear to give to a prostitute.  We will spend the night in Arles and the next morning we will board our ship, the AmaDagio for a 7 night cruise from Arles to Lyon.  Our stops along the cruise will be Avignon, Viviers, Tournon, Belleville and finally Lyon.  From Lyon we take the train to Paris where we will spend 4 nights before heading home.

While in Arles we will be taken to the village of Les Baux de Provence to see the castle and their exhibit of medieval weapons.  We will also visit an olive farm.  We will also be given a tour of the city, and we will visit the cathedral and amphitheater.

From this point in our trip to Lyon we will be on the river cruise and will be seeing whatever the cruise people have planned.  I know I missed a lot of famous areas along the French Riviera.  If I had more time we would explore Nice and Marseilles and even check out the nude beaches of St. Tropez.  But this will be our trip, and we will leave those places for another time. 



Destination - Barcelona
 

 "Visiting Barcelona is not just going to touristic places but discovering the hidden corners not listed in the travel guides."
 Unknown
"My favorite thing is to go where I've never been."
Lonely Planet

 

I haven't added anything to my destination series in quite awhile.  But we are planning a trip to Barcelona, Spain in the spring.  Our friends from Scotland will be meeting us there. I have been looking at things to do while there.  So I figured that while I am looking, maybe I should put some of that information into the blog, and have that information available to anyone who reads this blog.  And even though I will be listing all the touristy spots that everyone should see while in Barcelona, remember that you haven't really seen a place if all you do is explore the tourist spots.  Its important to take the time to wander off the beaten path, into neighborhoods, and back streets.  Get into areas where the people of the city live and work and eat.  Try to make some time to talk to the people who live there, to make that contact with another person from another country.  It is how we learn more about each other. 

We will probably spend a week in the Barcelona area.  I am thinking that at least 2 of those days we will make day trips to nearby areas.  So I will be researching those also.  Below are the most popular tourist things to do in Barcelona according to my research.

Basilica de la Sagrada Familia :

The most popular and probably most famous attraction in Barcelona is the La Sagrada Familia which attracts nearly 2.8 million visitors each year. It is a large and intricate basilica designed by Gaudi. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day. The building is predicted to be completed within the next 30 years.  A glorious exterior and interior make this a place you have to visit.

However, it is such a popular place that the lines can be long.  It is not unusual to be in line for 2 or more hours.  In addition to the problem of long entrance queues, if the Sagrada Familia reaches capacity it will not permit more visitors to enter for safety reasons. This means that even after standing in a long queue for hours you could be further delayed while the Basilica empties to a safe number of visitors.   There is a way to avoid those lines.  You can purchase your tickets online.  Here is the link for the Skip the Line tickets :
http://partner.city-discovery.com/en/3255/barcelona/PID9120-Skip_the_Line_La_Sagrada_Familia_Guided_Tour

La Rambla:
This is probably the city’s most famous street and is a bustling hive of activity. It is often called Las Ramblas, because it is actually a series of several different streets that all have a distinct feel. Located just off Plaza Catalunya and leading right down towards the port and beach, visitors will find street performers, lots of bars and restaurants and the fabulous Boquería Market.  For a tourists' first visit, sitting on the Ramblas with a jug of sangria is an absolute must.

La Rambla is primarily pedestrianized with only two narrow one-way traffic roads which run on either side of the central Ramblas Boulevard. Barcelona city council have restricted traffic flow through this region and you have the overwhelming feeling that pedestrians rule in this area (which makes a welcome change). Unlike other cities that have huge roads running through the middle Barcelona has chosen to structure the road system such that the heart of the city centre is primarily pedestrianized with larger roads that service the periphery.

If you are looking for some speciality items, practically anything, from an electricity adapter, special camera batteries, clothing, or even stationary items difficult to find in a regular shop you will probably find  it in El Corte Inglés, which is a large department store in the Plaça Catalunya square  If you can't find what you're looking for in El Corte Ingles, you can't find it anywhere.

The Las Ramblas is also famous for its many street artists.  It is an interesting area to just wander around in, and is the heart of the city.

Casa Mila:

Casa Mila is popularly known as‘La Pedrera’ (the stone quarry).  The colorful building is considered one of the artist’s most eccentric and enticing architectural creations with not one straight edge on the exterior.  It was constructed between 1906 and 1912 by Gaudi.  In 1984 it was inscribed on  the UNESCO World Heritage List, for its exceptional universal value. Tours of the interior and the incredible roof structures are available. It also hosts a large exposition of Gaudi works, covering Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlio, not only La Pedrera itself.

Parc Guell:



Located in the city of Barcelona, the ​​Park Guell is one of the most beautiful icons of the city.  It is the work of Antoni Gaudi  and is located in the upper part of Barcelona, which has wonderful views of the city.  It was originally meant to be a residential property development with Gaudi doing much of the planning and landscape design. Only two houses were built and the land was later sold to the city of Barcelona and turned into a park. It is home to the famous Salamander sculpture, as well as other buildings and structures designed by the architect.  The park has amazing stone structures and stunning tiling.


Parc Guell.

At the top of Güell park is a terraced area where you get a wonderful view of the park and of Barcelona City. Here you will find multi-coloured tiled mosaic seats.  The vibrant colours of the tiles are truly breathtaking.

Like other famous places, there can be long lines to get into the park.  You can purchase your tickets online ahead of time and avoid the lines.  Here is the link to purchase tickets:
http://www.parkguell.cat/en/buy-tickets/


The Casa Batllo:

The Casa Batlló, a remodeled nineteenth century building, is one of Gaudí’s many masterpieces in Barcelona. Often overlooked for La Pedrera, La Casa Batllo is equally as stunning with its unique architecture and infamous two ornamental pillars in the entrance to the terrace. Its unique interior is just as extraordinary as its fairytale-like exterior.

Casa Batlló is one of the two great buildings designed by Antoni Gaudí on Passeig de Gràcia, the other being La Pedrera.

From the outside the façade of Casa Batlló looks like it has been made from skulls and bones. The "Skulls" are in fact balconies and the "bones" are supporting pillars. Gaudí used colours and shapes found in marine life as inspiration for his creativity in this building.

This building is a stunningly original work and well worth the visit. If you decide to take a look around inside you will learn how much attention to detail Gaudí spent on his designs thinking about such things as varying window size depending on how high the window is from the top of the building. In this way he could ensure uniform lighting conditions in each room of the house. The audio tour that comes with the entrance ticket gives you fascinating insights into Gaudí and his influences when designing this house.
 

Santa Maria del Mar Church:

The church of Santa Maria del Mar, built in the 14th century, is one of the landmarks of Barcelona.  It is located in the middle of the La Ribera district.  It is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic style churches in the world.

 

While Barcelona's cathedral was the centre of the old city, this church became the main building of what was then the new part of the city, next to the sea, in which a nucleus of merchants and shipowners settled. The speed at which the new church was built – 55 years - was an incredible feat at a time when most churches took longer than a century to construct, and makes it a rare example of pure Gothic architecture.  The unique harmony and elegance of this church's interior will take your breath away.  The inside of the Santa Maria del Mar is particularly worth a visit.
 

La Boqueria market:

About two thirds of the way up the Ramblas, on the left, you will see one of Europe's largest and most famous food markets.  Food plays a big part in Catalan culture, and there's no better way to get a taste of local cuisine than exploring the city's markets.

 The Boqueria's grand iron entrance leads to a fully functioning world of food that throngs with both tourists and locals. The floors are slippy with melted ice and fruit skins and the stall holders are loud, but this all adds to the charm of the experience. You will find foods of all varieties and nationalities under one roof.

It is best to get to the market in the morning, as this is when the market is in full swing.  Dotted around the market there are bars selling both food and drink. It is a great place to get lunch or a light snack.  The Boqueria Food Market is a must-see during a trip to Barcelona. Specialist stalls selling many and varied options of olives, seafood, fruit, meats, cheeses and much more are all on offer. Whether you buy some picnic ingredients, feast at one of the tapas bars or simply take a look, you are guaranteed to have a memorable experience.

Montjuic:

 

 
 

Monjuic is a scenic wooded hill in the South West of Barcelona.  It gets it's name from the  Catalan meaning 'Jewish Mountain', and was once the home of the city's Jewish community
The eastern side of the hill is almost a sheer cliff, giving it a commanding view over the city’s harbor immediately below. The top of the hill was the site of several fortifications, the latest of which remains today.

On the hill you will find the fabulous Palau Nacional, a majestic palace which now hosts the the Museum of Catalan Art and the Font Magica - an impressive waterworks which spurts to the tune of classical music and still functions today, and Poble Espanyol, a mock-Spanish village designed to showcase the various regional styles of archictecture on the peninsula, which has subsequently become one of Barcelona's most popular  tourist attractions. 

The best way to get up to Monjuic is to take the cable car.  The cable car links the city to the top of Montjuïc. To do so, its glazed cars climb 84.5 metres on a 750-metre run that shows the whole of Barcelona, from the Serra de Collserola to the sea. The cable car has three stations: Parc de Montjuïc, Miramar and Castell de Montjuïc.  There is much to see when you get to the top of Monjuic, and you could easily spend most of a day and evening there.
 

Font Magica:

 

Font Màgica is a fountain located below the Palau Nacional on the Montjuïc hill and near the Plaça d’Espanya and Poble Espanyol de Barcelona. The fountain, like most of the surrounding developments, was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition.  More than 100 hydraulic valves are used to spout water and some 4,000 lights illuminate the fountain

On selected evenings, when the fountain is activated, it attracts hundreds of visitors who watch the spectacular display of light, water and music. At the same time, the Palau National is illuminated, providing a beautiful background.

There are many more things to see in the city of Barcelona.  Just exploring the city and taking some time to wander down side streets, have a beer and watch the people, and do some shopping, I am sure we will have no problem filling up our week.  But I would also like to take a couple of side trips before we leave that area.

There are so many places near Barcelona to explore.  There is the Costa Brava area,  Girona, Figueres, Bealu, Rupit, Carcossone & Andorra.  Since we are going with another couple (our Scottish friends), where we go will be decided by the group, and we will probably decide while there.  After our week in Barcelona, our friends will head home.  We will then pick up a car and drive up the coast of France, exploring as we go, ending in Arles, France, where we will pick up our river cruise to Lyon.  We will spend 4 nights in Paris at the end of the trip, where I will get to take one thing off my list.  We plan on doing a day trip over to Monet's home.  So my next destination series that I will  write will be the area we will explore from Barcelona to Monte Carlo and beyond.

 

Australia - Again?

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today.  It is already tomorrow in Australia."

Charles M. Schultz

People always ask me what my favorite place is.  And I can't really name it, because I like almost everywhere I have been, for different reasons.  We recently went to Australia.  And while I can't say it was my favorite place, it certainly would make the top 5.  I loved Australia, and wished we had seen more of it.  We only saw the east coast cities and the Great Barrier Reef - which I particularly loved.  I usually don't want to go back to a place I have already been, because there are so many other places in the world to still see.  But Australia is so large, and we only saw a small part of it.  It would be like the United States if someone said they had been there and seen it, but all they had seen was the east coast.  I mean really, there is so much more to see.  So I can't really say I've seen Australia, there is much more, and I never saw any of the outback.

So now I am thinking that I want to go back to Australia in the near future, but see a different area.  I had heard about a wonderful train trip in Australia, and I'm thinking that next time we will include that in our itinerary.  The train is The Indian Pacific and it goes from Sydney to Perth, with a few stops along the way. I started looking at itineraries that would include the train, and mixing in some other places I would like to see.  Here is the trip I someday soon would like to take when we return to Australia.

Some of the 12 Apostles

We would probably fly into Melbourne again.  But instead of staying in Melbourne, we would rent a car and drive over to the Great Ocean Road. When we were here before I didn't realize how close Melbourne was to the Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles. I would like to take this drive in this next trip.  The 12 Apostles are large rocks that stick out of the ocean.  They look quite spectacular.  You can't see them all at one time, you have to travel along the road.  And I understand that one of the rocks collapsed completely, so I guess they should now be called the 11 Apostles.  The Great Ocean Road is suppose to be one of the most scenic drives in the world.  From there we could drive back to Melbourne and catch a flight to Sydney.  There we would catch the Indian Pacific Train which goes from Sydney to Perth, with stops along the way.

This is a journey defined by contrast, encompassing the towering majesty of the Blue Mountains to the barren expanse of the Nullabor. Taking its name from the Latin meaning ‘no trees’, the ancient Nullarbor conjures the sense of limitless space and time.   Outside the train window, the landscape shifts over and over, revealing hidden secrets, from long abandoned homesteads to the marvellously resilient wildflowers of Western Australia. With all of its variance, this is the definitive Australia.

 

The train gets its name from the two oceans that the train encounters on its journey - the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. When the train leaves Sydney it climbs into the majestic Blue Mountains. Our first day on board we will settle into our cabin, enjoy the scenery and have a relaxing dinner onboard. The first stop is the next morning when we arrive in Broken Hill, which is a mining town where the streets are wide and there is a pub on every corner.  Here we can explore the town and discover the history of mining.  It is a short stop, and then back onboard.


Adelaid

From here we will notice a dramatic change in landscape as the outback makes way for the green and golden fields of Australia's food bowl.  In the afternoon we arrive in Adelaide where we will take a walking tour through the city and into their Botanic Gardens.  We will have dinner at the National Wine Centre.  Then back on the train to continue our journey.

The next day we will wake up and marvel at the raw beauty of the Nullarbor. We can reflect on the changing landscapes and enjoy the hospitality of the Outback Explorer Lounge as we travel across Australia’s longest single stretch of railway.  That evening the train stops in Rawlinna.  Here we will enjoy an evening stop to partake in a traditional Outback lamb roast dinner under the wide Nullarbor skies.  The next day, after lunch, we arrive into the cosmopolitan western capital of Perth.

Perth

We will spend several days in Perth, exploring that area.  I would like to get away from the city and look for some quokkas, which are very small marsupials.  Quokkas are the happiest animal on earth, according to a website I recently read.  Not sure if it is true, they do look happy, but that doesn't mean they are.  They certainly are cute though.  When we were in Australia this past year, we didn't see a quokka.  I hadn't even heard about them.  But then I saw a picture of them and thought - "I want to see one for real."  Well, it seems the only place to see them is Australia.  They are not in any zoos here.  So, another reason to go back.  They are only found on the west coast of Australia, although some of the zoos in Australia, including the Sydney zoo, do have them.  But I'd love to see one in the wild. 

From Perth we would then head to Ayers Rock.  We didn't make it to the outback at all on our previous trip.  This time it is a must.  I would like to visit Ayers Rock which is sacred to the aborigines of Australia.   They call it Uluru.  Ayers Rock is one of the most impressive landmarks in Australia. A huge chunk of sandstone and a ‘true’ monolith, it resides in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Ayers Rock is located down towards the southwest corner of the Northern Territory and close to the geographic centre of Australia.  There is a hotel right at the rock where we could stay, but I would also like to explore Alice Springs which is about 6 hours away.  Maybe we would fly into Alice Springs and then rent a car to drive out to Ayers Rock where we would have to spend at least a night or two.

I am thinking that from there we might fly to Darwin and explore that area.  We could take a side trip down to Katherine Gorge and Nitmiluk National Park.  That is suppose to be a really pretty area and we could spend several days in that region. 

Our last stop though has to be back to the Great Barrier Reef.  It was my favorite part of our trip this past year, and I think it would certainly be worth another visit.  We stayed on Green Island last time, and I wouldn't mind going back there.  But then again, we have been there.  It was beautiful and the snorkeling was great.  But it does have a lot of day visitors.  Maybe this time we would go to a more isolated island.  Possibly Heron Island, which has a nice resort and is famous for its turtles..

So far this is just a plan for the future.  And I haven't put it back on my list that I have to do.  But I just may put it on the next time I take something off that we have done.  And we really wouldn't be going back to somewhere we had been if everything we see in Australia is different from what we saw on our last trip.  So, Australia, again?  I hope so!



Katherine Gorge in Northern Australia

My List of Things to See and Do

 "I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived
just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well"

 Diane Ackerman

 

"Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving"

 Terry Pratchett

"It is when we connect with others that our own spirits soar".
Virginia Aulin

I haven't written much on this blog in the past year.  But I was recently thinking about planning my next trip.  My list is there, I know the places I want to go.  But maybe I need to start looking at the list with more detail.  That way I will have a plan in place when I decide where I want to go next.  Maybe I can even combine 2 of the places into one trip.  So I am going to write about each destination on my list, and what I would want to do if I took a trip to that destination.  Below is my list.  I will take each place or thing to do and put together a rough itinerary of what I would do.

• Blue train from Pretoria to Cape Town, South Africa 
• Cuba
• Iceland - see the Northern Lights
• River cruise in France with a visit to Monet's home
• St. Petersburg, Russia - River Cruise to Moscow
• Stay at Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu
• Swim with whale sharks or humpback whales
• Switzerland -Night skiing on a ski bicycle in the Alps
• Taj Mahal, India
• Viet Nam - Halong Bay



Blue Train

Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town, South Africa - I loved Africa when we were there in 2013.  We spent most of our time in Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania on that trip.  I would love to see more of the continent.  Everyone says Cape Town is fantastic.  And I have heard about this fantastic train trip, very elegant.  It would be fun to take the train and enjoy the scenery from the train.  The trip is 29 hours long, so you do sleep overnight on the train.  From the descriptions I have read, it is very luxurious. 

Besides exploring the Cape Town area, which I think would be beautiful and quite interesting, I would love to also visit Kruger National Park.  It is one of Africa's largest national reserves.  It has a high density of wild animals including the Big 5 - lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos.  

Cuba - For a long time, the only way for an American to go to Cuba was to first go to Mexico or Canada, or some other country, and then fly from there.  And if you did, you were breaking the law.  So not many Americans have gone there.

Havana, Cuba

But in the last few years, things have opened up some.  They actually have tours there, but they are all cultural tours with restrictions.  You couldn't go on your own and just wander around.  But now, thanks to our President and negotiations with the Cuban government, things are opening up more.  I would like to go and see this country in the Caribbean, before it becomes too commercial.  The old time cars, and the scenery, and the culture.  I think it would be fascinating.  Of course, Havana is the largest city and since we would fly into that city, we would probably start there, but I would like to explore other places around the island, and really get a feel for the place.  And also, enjoy the warm Caribbean waters and the beaches.

Or we could take a cruise.  Most cruises make such short stops in port that I wouldn't consider seeing Cuba that way, as we would probably only stop at one port and have only a few hours.  But I recently came across a cruise to Cuba that interests me.  It is with Fathom Cruises, which is new.  It currently only goes to 2 places, and one of those is Cuba.  The Cuban cruise is 7 days.  It leaves from Miami and stops in 3 Cuban ports.  First in Havana and it is there 2 nights, then on to Cienfuegos/Trinidad and a final stop in Santiago de Cuba. While onboard the ship you are immersed in the Cuban culture for the moment you step on board.  There is music and food and even classes on Cuba that you can attend.  I am seriously considering this option, and possibly this year. https://www.fathom.org/cuba-whats-included

Iceland - I was recently looking at a website that had information about day tours in Iceland that specialize in looking for the Aurora Borealis.  The one that really intrigued me was with a company called Floating Tours - www.floatingtours.com .  It combines some sightseeing during the day with a evening in the Secret Lagoon where if your are lucky you can be floating in warm thermal water while watching the lights.  Of course, there is no guarantee you will see the lights, they are a natural phenomenon, and they will appear when they appear.  But they happen in Iceland more often then most places.

Northern Lights

Of course there are so many other things besides the northern lights to see in Iceland.  There are beautiful waterfalls.  The Floating Tour company stops at several of them on there day tours.  The Seljalandsfoss waterfall is 60 meters high with a foot path that takes you behind the falls.  The Skogafoss Waterfall is the largest in the country. And Gullfoss Waterfall, which like Victoria Falls in Zambia falls into a deep canyon.  There are also national parks and several UNESCO world heritage sites in Iceland.  And the city of Reykjavik has lots of sights and restaurants and night life.

Floating in the Secret Lagoon

But floating in the Secret Lagoon appealed to me because I have visited hot springs and thermal baths and have always found them to be fun and relaxing.  With this lagoon they provide you with special floating caps and supports for your legs so that you float without any effort.  You are in the hot water, with underground music playing.  They even provide a 15 minute massage in the water.  They say that 1 hour floating in the lagoon equal 4 hours of deep sleep.  They also give you an egg to cook in the water, which may sound weird, but is intriguing to me.  I have decided that I have to have the floating experience on my trip to Iceland.  I would like to spend 5 days there, which will give me 5 chances to catch the light show, and give me time to visit as many of the beautiful places the island has to offer.  I would like to also visit the Blue Lagoon, which is another thermal pool and one of the most visited spots in Iceland.

Having read different websites on Iceland, it seems mid to late September through October, and mid-March through April would be the best times to go.  Since this would be a destination where I would most likely only spend 5 to 7 days, I would probably combine this with a trip to Europe, either going or coming.  It would break the long travel up and be a lot of fun.

River Cruise in France and a visit to Monet's home -

Barcelona, where we will start this trip

This is a trip I am actually in the process of planning.  We will do this trip sometime in 2016.  We have friends in Scotland that we meet somewhere in the world every other year.  This is our year to meet them.  They have said that they would like to meet in Barcelona.  They only plan to be there a week, as they have other trips planned for later in the year, and other obligations.  Barcelona was a great idea.  We have been to Spain, but did not get to Barcelona, so have wanted to go there for awhile, although I had not actually put it on my top 10 list.  So we will meet them in Barcelona and spend the week visiting with them, seeing the sights, and I hope to make a day trip to the  tiny country of Andorra, which is nearby, and another day trip to the city of Carcassone, which is also nearby.  I think both places would make good day trips for the 4 of us.

AMA Waterway boat in Lyon, France

But after they leave we will still have at least 2 weeks on our own.  I never feel like we should spend the money and the time to fly all the way to Europe without spending at least 3 weeks. There are several towns along the French Riviera that it would be fun to explore, so will spend a few days doing that, maybe even make it to Monaco.  From there we will take an 8 day river cruise from Arles to Lyon, with stops along the way.  I am thinking we will take the cruise on AMA Waterways.  I like their itinerary the best so far.  And we did a cruise in Germany on their ships, and we liked them.  Included in the cost of the cruise are tours of each city we stop in.  There are some stops where we will go to vineyards and do wine tasting.  And my favorite - "a decadent chocolate and red wine tasting" is advertised for our stop in Tournon. We also visit a hilltop town surrounded by lavender fields, a truffle farm, and an olive farm.

Monet's garden

Then we will take the train over to Paris for 4 nights.  We have seen Paris several times, but love the city, so it is always a pleasant place to visit.  One of those days, we will take the train to Vernon and then go over to Giverny which is Monet's home.  We may also take a day trip out to Versailles.  I was there back in 1989 with my daughter, and I'm sure it hasn't changed, but my husband has never been there, so I think he would enjoy seeing it.  We are looking forward to seeing our friends, exploring Barcelona and the surrounding area, taking the cruise and going on to Paris and seeing the sights near there.  This will probably be in the spring.

St. Petersburg and a river cruise to Moscow -  Russia has always interested me.  There was a letter to the editor of our newspaper recently.  The writer was complaining about the paper putting an article in the travel section about Russia as a destination.  The writer said we should not go to Russia because Putin is a horrible ruler and because we have differences with their government.  I wrote a letter to the editor, which they later published.  In that letter I said "Yes, Putin is a bully and there are some problems between us and the Russian government. But if we couldn’t travel somewhere because we disagree with their government, a lot of the world would be unavailable to us."  And I believe that the Russian people are just like us in so many ways, and I look forward to meeting some of them.

St. Petersburg

I think the best way to visit that region would be to take the river cruise from St. Petersburg to Moscow.  I have been looking at Viking Cruises for this trip.  I had sent some clients on the cruise when I was a travel agent, and they loved it.  The tour is called Waterways of the Tsars.  It starts with 3 full days in port in St. Petersburg, with guided tours and free time to explore.  The tours include a trip to Catherine Palace, Peterhof Palace, a folkloric performance and a ballet performance.  On the cruise we visit 2 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and enjoy  a home hosted visit and a visit to a school.  We then end with 4 nights in Moscow.  A city tour and a guided tour of the Kremlin are included with our stay in Moscow.  The entire trip is 14 days.  Since I like to stay at least 3 weeks when I travel, we may take a side trip from there over to one of the Norwegian countries.

Stay at Sanctuary Lodge in Machu Picchu -

Sanctuary Lodge

I think Machu Picchu is on almost everyone's bucket list.  I have wanted to see this place for a long time.  My only worry is the altitude.  Some people have a problem with that.  I sent clients there and they never actually made it to Machu Picchu.  The wife got very sick because of the altitude and was airlifted from Cusco to a hospital in Lima, because her life was at risk.  Both my husband and I have had some breathing issues. and it does worry me, however, it has stayed on my list. 

Machu Picchu

But when I go, I would like to stay at Sanctuary Lodge.  Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the only hotel located adjacent to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.  It offers guests exceptional access to Machu Picchu from early morning to late afternoon, when most of the day visitors and buses have left.  We have stayed at a Belmond hotel before (at Iguazu Falls, Brazil) and loved the hotel.  Yes, it will be more expensive than other places, but it is the only one that is located right where we want to be.  Why go and be farther away?

I am also looking forward to visiting other places in Peru before and after our stay.  Lima looks like an interesting city, but I would particularly like to visit some of the smaller Andes villages.  I think the whole trip will be very interesting, and hopefully we will be able to handle the altitude.

Whale shark with a person swimming above

Swim with whale sharks or humpback whales - I actually got the idea to do this from talking to two women who were in Rio de Janeiro when we were there.  They were telling me about their experience of snorkeling with humpback whales.  I thought - "what fun."  And I started looking into doing that.  While researching that, I came across snorkel trips with whale sharks.  That also interested me.  I would love to do either one, or both.  I am actually leaning towards the whale shark at this time.  It is the largest shark, but very gentle and curious.  They will interact with swimmers, but they are not dangerous.  I have found a place near Cozumel, Mexico that will take you out and hopefully find some to snorkel with.  There is also a place in Baja Mexico.  So we may just do that, either this year or next, I hope.



The Matterhorn in
the Alps at night

Night skiing on a ski bicycle in the Alps - I got the idea to do this from watching a Rick Steves travel show.  It showed people taking a gondola up the mountain and then coming down the mountain on these special bicylces that had skis attached.  They were carrying torches, because it was nighttime.  Of course it was winter time also, so I am sure it is very cold.  I don't always do good in cold weather.  Having lived in Southern California for most of my life, I am more of a warm weather person, but it looked like a lot of fun.  I have a friend here in San Diego who has family in Switzerland that she visits often.  She and her family have done this, and she told me that it is a "blast", so I put it on my list, and hopefully some day we will try it. 

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, India - For years I had no interest in seeing India.  But after seeing the movie "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" I started to get interested in it.  In the past few years I have become even more intrigued, having researched it some.  So even though I put the Taj Mahal on my list, there are more things in India that I want to do then just that. 

There is a train trip that I would like to take.  It is The Maharajas' Express. They have several different voyages that you can book.  They stop at many of the places on my list of things to see in India, including Jaipur and Agra - where the Taj Mahal is.   It travels at night.  During the day you stop and take a tour of the area.  You sleep on board in luxury.They have several itineraries available.. I think I would like to do the Treasures of India trip, which is only 4 days and begins and ends in Delhi.  I picked it because it has the most time at the Taj Mahal and includes the city of Jaipur which I would like to see, and also includes Ranthambhore and a trip into the jungle for possible sighting of the elusive tiger and other wildlife.

Jaipur Market

I would combine the train trip with visits to other areas of India.  I know there is a lot of poverty in India, and some of that may be hard to see, but I think there are also some beautiful things to see, and I know that all of the Indian people that I have met have been delightful, and I look forward to meeting some of the people living there.  I think there marketplaces will be fun to wander through also.

Halong Bay

Viet Nam, Halong Bay -  My husband was in Viet Nam during the war.  He has expressed an interest in going back.  I know that quite a few veterans of that war would not want to do that, but as my husband has said "every persons war is different\."  For him, his memories are mostly good.  He was not in the jungle fighting.  He was part of a medical team assigned to the city of Hue to give medical training and aid to the civilians.  He visited some of the sights close to Hue.  He would like to show me some of those.  Because of his interest in going there I started researching trips to the area and became fascinated also. 

 

Our trip will definitely include the city of Hue so that my husband can see again the places he saw then.  But the place that interested me the most was Halong Bay.  I would like to spend a night or two on a junk cruising the bay.  I saw a show where Sandra Brown did that, and it looked spectacular.

 

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

And if we go to Viet Nam I feel that we should also go over to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.  We would be so close, and it makes sense to do that at the same time.  I am considering doing that with a river cruise.  There are several companies that cruise the Mekong River and include a visit to Siem Reap where the temples of Angkor Wat are.  I enjoy the river cruises because it is a relaxing way to travel and  you do not have to pack and unpack all the time.  The boat stops at several small villages along the Mekong River which I think would be interesting.
 

I am considering also ending the trip with a short visit to Thailand.  We were in Bangkok in 1979, but that was so long ago and we only saw the city.  I think a week seeing other areas of Thailand would be a nice way to end this trip.
 

So there is my list, with more detail.  I hope we get to do everything on the list.  And I hope anyone reading this is inspired to put together there own list.  I am 68 years old now.  I hope we have many years of travel ahead of us.  I wish I could have started when I was younger, but sometimes life gets in the way.  If you can see a way to doing the things you want to do and seeing the places you want to see, then do it!  You never know how long you have.  My sister had dreams of places she wanted to go, and didn't make it to many of them, because she died in a car accident at the age of 36.  We never know what can happen, so grab at life now, do the things you can.  You never know what tomorrow will bring.  Hopefully only good things!

          

Our Australia/ New Zealand Trip

We just returned from our trip to Australia and New Zealand.  As always, my husband wrote letters home to friends and family to keep them up on our trip.  I have taken those letters, added a few personal touches to them and some photos.  The report is listed under Trip Reports on the side panel.  It is the last on the list - Adventures Down Under, in case you would like to read about our day-to-day activities down under.  Or you can click on the link below to go directly.  Thanks
http://havelistwilltravel.blogspot.com/p/tuesday-13-october-all-great-adventures_10.html

   “Why do you go away?  So that you can come back.  So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors.  And the people there see you differently, too.  Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”

Terry Pratchett

 

And Now Our Next Adventure

 

Koala

As soon as I finish one trip I start planning my next.  And as I have gotten older I have started pushing them closer together.  I know I only have so many good travel years ahead.  I have to do the more adventurous trips now, and I can do the more sedentary excursions later in life.  The cruises, or tours, in my older age.  So what do I have planned next?

 

Snorkeling the GBR

On my list is - snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef.  I also have New Zealand on my list, so many things to see and do there.  So off we go again.  The trip is planned, booked, paid for - except for traveling expenses and the house/dog sitter is scheduled.  We are again going on our own, but everything is pre-booked, so we just have to get from place to place. 

 

Fairy Penguins in Tasmania

We fly into Melbourne, Australia as our first stop.  I was planning on visiting the penguins on Philip Island while there, but read more about it and discovered its really a touristy place with an average of a thousand visitors a night.  Did not want to sit in a grandstand to see the penguins.  So instead we are only staying there for one night, and the next day we take a flight to Devonport, Tasmania.  We pick up a rental car there and drive to the town of Penguin, which is aptly named for the penguins that come ashore each night, to a small crowd of onlookers.  Much less touristy and I think more fun.

 

Sydney Harbor

From Devonport we fly to Sydney for a few nights, where we will sightsee on our own.  We do have a dinner cruise on a boat set up for one evening.

Then we fly to Brisbane for 3 nights.  While there we will visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, where we will be able to feed kangaroos by hand, and cuddle a koala.  We also have booked an all day trip to Moreton Island to relax on the beach, snorkel, and explore.  We may even go sand dune sledding - sounds like fun!
 

sand dune sledding

Green Island

From there we fly to Cairns, where we will be picked up and taken to a ferry that will take us out to our island.  We will spend 3 nights at a resort on an island in the Barrier Reef.  The island is Green Island, and it is the only coral surrounded reef with a rain forest on it.  While there we will be able to use all their equipment - kayaks, snorkel gear, rides on their glass-bottom boat, etc.  We also have a one day boat trip further out into the reef for a day of snorkeling.  The island is touristy during the day, as the ferry brings out day-trippers, but in the evening when they leave we will have the island mostly to ourselves, as the resort is fairly small and is the only one on the island. 

Snorkeling off Green Island

 

Cairns

After 3 nights on our island we will spend one night in Cairns, and we do have a tour set up for the evening.  It is the Tjapukai by Night Tour which includes a native Aussie dinner and dancing.

Then we fly off to Christchurch, New Zealand;  We will spend 3 nights there, and one of the days we will drive down to the French town of Akaroa.  My husband spent several months in New Zealand when he was in the navy.  He was in Christchurch prior to his deployment to a year in the Antarctic.  So he wants to show me some of the places he visited when he was there.

Christchurch, New Zealand

 

TranzAlpine Train in Arthurs Pass

When we leave Christchurch we are going by the TranzAlpine Train.  This train trip sounds really great.  It goes through Arthur's Pass and ends in Greymouth.  We will pick up a car there and drive to the Franz Josef Glacier where we will spend that night.  The next day we have set up a flightseeing trip by helicopter.  We will actually land on the glacier and walk around for awhile.

 

Then we drive to Queenstown for 3 nights.  We will do a day trip over to where some of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies were shot.  And we plan to take the gondola to the Skyline Tower which is above the town, and then luge downhill from there.  Sounds like a lot of fun for an old lady.

Luge downhill at Queenstrown

 

Steampunkers in Oamaru

From Queenstown we drive to Oamaru, which is known for its Victorian style homes and for Steam Punk, which is why we are going.  My husband is into the Steam Punk culture and wanted to see this town.  We are staying in a really nice B&B there, and we will also see penguins there, as they come into shore each night.

 

Then it is back to Christchurch for one night.  We then fly to the north island and to Rotorua.  We will enjoy the mud baths at Hell's Gate and explore the geysers and other sulfur areas.  We will also probably spend some time in the Polynesian Spa, just relaxing. We have an evening dinner with the Maori's which includes dancing and other entertainment, and a visit to glowworm caves.



Hobbiton

 

Then back in the car for the drive to Auckland.  But on the way, we will stop at Hobbiton, to see where the Hobbits lived in the movie.

 

From Auckland, we fly home.  Time to start planning our next adventure.

 

I know that we are very lucky to be able to travel as much as we do.  I wish everyone could travel to the places they dream about.  This year alone we have taken a Caribbean cruise, visited Costa Rica and Brazil, spent a month on the road visiting our cabin in Washington and going up to Canada, and now this trip.  Eventually our money will run out.  I am spending our retirement funds on travel, and when we are too old to travel, we will have to stay home.  And hopefully we will do okay.  Until then I plan to see as much of the world as possible.