Where would you go? OK, a thread in the sims 2 forum got me thinking about this (the word exotic and the not-from-here aspect), so it made me wonder, if you could go any where in the world for a visit, where would it be? Me, there's so much of my own country that I haven't seen, I would really like to go up north and see the Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park, they look awe inspiring! Outside of my country, my choice would be the UK, it's where my family is from, particularly Nottingham as that's where my ancestors are from (specifically Church Warsop, traced back to around 1350 on my grandmothers side). There is so much human history to be seen there, I would love to explore the castles, even the ones that nothing more than rubble now, to see Stone Henge (even from a distance) would be cool, going through the old buildings that so many other feet have walked through for so many centuries, I imagine the feeling of age in those walls. I don't think I'd like the weather much though.... Australia is considered 'new', the oldest buildings we have are, at the most, 200 years old, buildings made at the beginning of colonisation I doubt have survived well, so there is not much sense of history or a feeling of 'oldness'. Our history is in the land, the formation of such things as the Bungle Bungles and Ularu, but still, they are part of the Aboriginal past, not really mine. Ok, so I'd want to go to the Uk,and the reason why, what about you?
Oh, my!!! Where do I start? My dream is to travel the world and see things. In the US: I want to go to Washington DC, Charleston SC, to Gettysburg and Philidelphia PA, and to Hollywood. I want to take my kids to Disney World before they get too old to appreciate it. (My oldest is 14, and I'm afraid he's already there.) Then I really want to travel to the UK, especially see the places that my ancestors were born, which would take a month of traveling around since we have so many diffrent places. Ireland, Wales, counties around London, and one or two in Scotland. I'd have to go to Scotland anyway just to try and catch a peek at Nessie. Finally, I want to go to the Medeterainian and see the ancient ruins in Rome, Greece, and Egypt.
So basically, Kristal, you just want to take a year off from work and see EVERYTHING ... (And don't worry about DisneyWorld, I went when I was 18 and had a blast ... there's something for everyone.) Me, I want to see Paris before I die. It's on my list. See Paris, see wild whales. (I once said that out loud and someone said, "Haven't you already been to Wales?" LOL.) I also want to visit the monastery of San Michel, also in France. I want to return to Italy and the UK, and see Greece. And Portland, Oregon as well as New Orleans. Two cool cities I have yet to experience. Possibly Seattle and Cape Cod as well. And I think it would be really cool to attempt to travel the old Route 66 across America, though these days you'd have to cheat a little since it's mostly defunct. That would be one great road trip.
Ahh, travel... that is something I would absolutely love to do. Interestingly, I have no desire to travel within the US, but outside... I'm sure I could develop a longer list than below. Things to do on my travel list: Cross the Atlantic on Queen Mary 2 England Scotland Ireland Germany Switzerland Outside of Europe, I'd like to see Australia, and maybe Japan... that seems really fun Yeah, when I get older.... I am definitely going to travel.
I couldn't resist this thread! I've traveled a lot but seldom the way I'd have liked. I never want to take a "tour" again. So on my "to-do" list...before I die...I want to live in Italy for a year. I'd love to have the luxury of time to sit in piazzas and watch the people. I'd like time to contemplate the architecture, statue or painting to my heart's content. A year in the British Isles poking around ruins, cathedrals and old castles would be lovely, too. If I won a big lottery and the world was different...I'd love to really see Russia, Africa, China and some of the Middle Eastern countries. As a southern girl, I'd like to spend some time where they have a lot of snow. I've always wanted to drive a dog sled, ski long runs (unlike the ski slopes here), snowmobile and ride in a horse drawn sleigh.
I'd like to take a train from East to West across the US, through the cities, the corn fields, the mountains. I've also dreamed of a cruise around the Mediterranean, visiting Egypt, Greece, Italy, Spain. *sigh* Can't take all that time off from work.
Been there, done that. My husband's family owned a business that allowed us wonderful perks. We took lovely trips as a family. Unfortunately, their idea of travel to foreign countries entailed seeking out the McDonald's or taking tours. My FIL is one of those people who thinks he's the life of the party. He'd take over the tour bus mike and turn it into a kareoke or one man stand up comedy show. I'm afraid I spent many trips trying to find a hole to crawl in! We were also big on Suzuki method music. We swapped our kids with Japanese families for short periods of time. We went to music institutes in Germany and Australia, too. The nicest trip I've ever taken was a 2 week drive down the Pacific Coast Hwy. My husband and I stayed in Napa Valley and had a champagne breakfast in a hot air balloon. We got to go to a private taste testing at Robert Mondavi winery. Spent a few days in San Francisco. We toured the Hurst Castle, spent a few days in Carmel, went to a private dinner at the Monteray Aquarium, and visited friends in L.A. We did all the touristy things there like go to the Tonight Show, Disneyland, Universal, ate at Spago's and even took a tour in a hearse of all the places famous people died. It was strange but entertaining. We stayed at the hotel where John Belushi died, Chateau Marmont. While waiting for the valet to bring our car around a small group of men were standing near us. Being southern and all...I started chatting. Five big men formed this wall around the 6th and stared me down. Apparently Sean Penn isn't big on chatting.
Wow, Zydeco, you've had adventures! I too would love to live in Italy for a year, actually forever, but I'd miss my extended family. I felt so at home there ... Your FIL makes mine seem bearable, so thank you for that. Sean Penn is a horse's patoot if he didn't realize you just wanted to be friendly. I think movie stars have enormous out-of-proportion egos, considering all they do is stand in front of a camera and look good saying some lines. I like movies as much as anyone, but I wish our "heroes" were a bit more substantial ... you know, like Ghandi or even John Candy, who may not look as pretty but did so many things for so many people ... Did you know John Candy used to give away large sums of money to complete strangers if they needed it? He was a truly good person. All Sean Penn does, as far as I can tell, is whine.
That trip was in the late 80's. I doubt Maxis existed then. I believe that was my Sierra period in computer gaming. Ahhh...sbw...you acquired an interesting FIL, too? I could fill a few pages of embarrassing stories...like the time he threw a punch at Mohammed Ali in the airport. He couldn't just ask for an autograph or wave. I'm thankful every single day my hubby takes after his mom. I'm afraid I didn't recognize Sean Penn. I didn't recognize the other men as body guards. I believe I was talking about what a nice evening it was. I can't imagine why they would have considered me any type of threat! I suppose they had to look like they were earning their salary. (I'm all of 5' tall. If he couldn't take me out by himself he'd have to be a complete wuss! ) I wanted to ask JohnEZ if he got to visit the QM2. Did you talk about it on the forum somewhere? I've never taken a cruise.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I did visit the QM2 on Sunday... I was able to get my ID. She is a truly amazing ship, she's huge... I found myself going in circles when I was trying to find a stairway Anyway, she has some very elegant spaces... the Britannia restaurant, for example. However, it's almost like she's trying to lead two lives... on one end, she's trying to be a classic British ocean liner (which is an American interpretation of British, so she's supposedly more British than Britain is, we overdid it there) but on the other hand, she's trying to be a modern ship which will draw people to book cruises and crossings. It leaves you with mixed feelings, making yourself question, "What exactly is she?" I think I could've done without all the red carpet with gold and purple bubbles... But anyway, I still love that ship. I can't wait until I return to her... which, if I'm lucky, may be as early as next summer. A friend said they'd do a transatlantic with me if we could get a good deal on a stateroom Unfortunately, all the pictures I took are on a film camera. I went against using the digital one because even at 3.2 MP, I think the film camera takes nicer photos. I'll post them after they're developed.
Is the QM2 an American liner? I look forward to your pictures! Sounds like a cruise that requires you to pack a lot of formal wear. What's the price range on the tickets? Lynet mentioned wanting to go on a cross country train trip. This appeals to me, too. Has anyone done that? This is the first time I've lived anywhere that had passenger train service. I've never ridden one. (I've only been on those steam locomotive scenic tours.) I've considered taking my son to D.C and going by train...just to learn the ropes. His obligatory 8th grade trip to the capitol was the year of 9-11 and everything shut down. His trip was cancelled. Anyone live in the D.C. area? Is everything open for tourists?
Aw that's a bad bad shame! On trips I'm pretty much a sucker for road and rail, rail generally being preferably. I like boats but am prone to sea-sickness and anyway the best way to view the sea is from a beach ... preferably a good rocky, craggy one (sand is for making concrete ) I've always wanted to take some of the great journeys. The Orient-Express (the proper Simplon Paris to Venice one ), cross North America on the Royal Canadian Pacific, Take the Trans-Siberian train preferably to Beijing via Ulan Bator. As a swan-song I'd also really like to take a year-long trip hitch-hiking the length of the pan-American highway going south to north summer to summer; it would probably be dangerous in parts ... but hey! these days even breathing is a risk.
It's nice to know there are a few others who aren't "beach" people! I, too, love the ocean when it's wild and crashing against rocky coastlines. On the other hand, hot sun, sandy beaches and tame waves don't appeal to me in the least. That is my hubby's idea of heaven though. Our travels have two types of destinations. "Trips" and "vacations". Vacations are for him. They seem to entail sitting on a beach doing nothing. Trips are for me. They are for going places and doing anything educational, interesting or fun. Thank goodness he's a good sport about this. Rail travel isn't readily available in many parts of the U.S. Airfare is obscene unless you live in a major city. (You can fly cross country from NY to LA for 99 bucks frequently. For me to fly from my little town to the next state requires me to drive for over an hour to a major airport and costs 300 dollars...one way...for a 15 minute flight. It's usually a puddle jumper and you feel like you need to pick your feet up to help the plane over the mountains.) Driving is the only option for most of middle America. Rail travel would be relatively exotic to me! I'm an avid Michael Palin fan. He's always taking the rail tours you mentioned. Everything about these trips appeal to me. I've backpacked most of the Appalachian Trail. (I prefer horseback, though.) I'm willing to meet you at the southern U.S. border and hike north on your pan-american excursion but you'll have to do the Central and South American countries on your own...unless you can talk a pescado-type into accompanying us.
She's technically British. She's registered in Southampton, England. However, Cunard, which is a British line, is owned by the Carnival Corporation. Yes, a cruise on her would require some formalwear. A crossing would probably have two or three formal nights... but on a cruise (yup, big difference!) who knows? For the QM2, the range on tickets is about $1000 (inside stateroom) to $25,000 (penthouse suite), based on double occupancy, for a one way crossing. So you're talking at least $2,000 - $50,000 when all is said and done... plus gratuities, alchoholic beverages, soda, casino, extra tarriff restaurants (if this appeals to you). But this is only if you do everything the "proper" way, booking months ahead and what have you, BUT.... ...there are some great last minute deals on her! If you know where to look or you have a good travel agent, a stateroom with a balcony can run as little as $699 per person if you can book last minute. (Actually, I'm going to take this option when the time comes. My friend had said that if we can get a good last minute deal, we could go to England as early as next summer. However, that's with a lot of "what if" so no guarantees there). I know what you mean regarding the shore. Every year, my family goes there.... or at least they did until I hit high school. Anyway, though I love the shore it sometimes gets boring for me. There is nothing like a good trip, though!
LOL but I always kind of assumed that I would have some seriously bad-attitude in the form of a male personage of the masculine persuasion to maintain my "honor" (what little there is left of it to defend ). I would not too apprehensive about South America, Chile and Peru are (arguably) quite civilized. As for the narrow bit that is so appropriately shaped like a toilet "S" trap it might be prudent for any traveller simply to skip that bit and hitch a ride on a cargo boat from ... say Lima to Acapulco.
