Thus far in my life, I’ve had the pleasure of traveling extensively. I was born and raised in one of the most popular cities in the world, good old New York, and rested my head for months in many others. I’ve had the good fortune of traveling to (or through) more than half of the United States, dozens of islands in the Caribbean, countries in Europe, and the Mediterranean. But the world is so big, and there’s so much that I haven’t seen and even more that I want to see. When I thought about writing this post for the Traveling Brown Girls Blog Carnival, I struggled in narrowing my list down to just 5 places that I’ve never been and would like to see. But I did it. Here’s my travel bucket list of those 5 places.
Spain
Every time I think about Spain, I’m baffled at how I missed visiting this country while I lived in Italy. I always wanted to visit. Some of my closest friends in boarding school were from Spain and spoke highly of their country. I took Spanish for years in school, was enamored with the language, loved reading about bull fighters, and even won the coveted Spanish award my senior year of high school. I knew that visiting Seville, Barcelona, Madrid, and the Canary Islands was in my future but somehow I’ve still managed to miss the boat. Spain is rich with color, history, nightlife, energy, and food – all the ingredients for a well-rounded and must-do trip in my book.
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is a popular tourist destination in Southern Italy and unfortunately, I didn’t learn about it until after I finished my student exchange in Florence. Had I known about this romantic and picturesque coastline, it wouldn’t be on this list. When I think of the Mediterranean, the Amalfi Coast is one of the visuals that comes to mind. This UNESCO World Heritage site, though madly popular and a proper place to party in the summer time, still maintains its small village feel.
Bora Bora
You might be noticing a pattern as you look at my list of 5 places I’ve never been but want to visit – many of them are close to beautiful warm waters. Bora Bora is the penultimate island paradise in my book. I don’t even know when I became familiar with Bora Bora. I think it was after a boy in my class asked me if I was from Fiji and I looked up the island and all the other islands in French Polynesia. The characteristic huts, propped, what looks to be just inches above the water, lazy hammocks, colorful flora and fauna, cobalt blue and turquoise waters, native peoples, temperate weather, and location, in what appears to be the middle of nowhere, all appeal to my I’d-like-to-be-stranded-on-an-island sensibilities. If I had to choose one, Bora Bora would probably be it.
Santorini
Yes, another coastal area makes my list. I can’t help it. I’m meant to be near water. Santorini is a Greek island, about 120 miles south of Greece. It’s the remains of a volcanic eruption, known for its steep cliffs, and whitewashed colorful homes perched on the sides of hills sloping downward to the Aegean Sea. The weather is warm and because the soil is rich with volcanic ash, produce is supposedly like nothing to be tasted here in the states. A Greek waitress I recently met at a local Greek restaurant intrigued me even more about Santorini as she sang its praises when I told her I wanted to visit. Nightlife, amazing wine, beautiful friendly people, old towns, and well-preserved ruins make this destination a prime must-see on my list.
Switzerland
A stark (and cold) departure from the rest of my list, Switzerland is one of those countries that I’ve always wanted to visit. I think because it is SO different from anything I know, it intrigues me. If I had to think about how Switzerland made it to my mental travel map, I’d have to say it was my friend’s mom. She worked as a diplomat to Switzerland and would always come back with stories and chocolate. I’d love to travel on the train there and walk through a small Swiss village. I’d also like to visit Zurich, Geneva, and the Swiss Alps for fashion, skiing, chocolate, and even more exploration.
Check out my other travelista friends’ bucket list HERE (<-click the Link!) to see how great minds think alike. You’ll enjoy this world tour.
So tell me, what 5 places have you never been to and would like to go? Happy Travels!