Having something to look forward to is a good way to boost happiness. So, while we are still some time away from returning to somewhat normal travel, I have been daydreaming about my favorite places I have been to and destinations I want to visit when it’s possible. I am sure I am not the only one, so as you start thinking about your future travel, I am going to take you on a quick travel daydream that may bring some inspiration. The places I describe are all different and I mention them for different reasons. But what they have in common is that they captured my heart in some way. Some over the years, others were love at first sight, and yet others were the right place at the right time.
Croatia – I have been there so many times and can never get enough. There is something special about its endless, often rugged, Adriatic coast. Sprinkled with little villages and towns and islands just off of the coast, it stretches for hundreds of miles, its beauty reflecting in the turquois water of the Adriatic Sea that is among the clearest you can find. One of my favorite memories is walking on little paved walkways along the coast, smelling the soothing and ever-present essence of pines while breathing in the salty air and here and there being sprayed by the tiniest crystal-like droplets of sea water as waves crash into the white rocks along the path. From Zadar and Split to Makarska Riviera all the way down to Dubrovnik, it is a never-ending stretch of natural beauty, architectural sights, and cute tourist towns with all that a good tourist town should offer from local restaurants serving amazing fish to jovial salesmen trying to convince you to go on a boat trip.
Iceland – one of the most unbelievable places on earth. Its natural beauty is hard to describe in a few sentences, as there are so many different sceneries. Thousands of gorgeous waterfalls, black sand beaches, the iceberg lagoon, hot springs you can jump in, lush green pastures, volcanic fields with volcano craters you can climb, whale and bird watching…Iceland is a nature lover’s paradise. The best way to see the island is by driving along the ‘ring road’, a road that more or less circles the island. Most American tourists visit only the Golden Triangle, three sights near the capitol Reykjavik, which – while very pretty – don’t do Iceland justice. As you venture further away from the capital, you see the mix of tourists changing from mostly Americans to mostly Europeans, and eventually, you often have many places all to yourself. We rented an SUV that through a custom made system conveniently converted into a pretty comfy sleeper at night. In Iceland, you will find a clean campground in every village with more than a few houses, making travel in camper vans or with a tent easy and one of the best ways to explore the island. Sometimes it was tricky to cook outside – the wind is constant and even in the middle of summer mornings and evenings are quite chilly, but totally worth the experience. We drove around the eastern part of the island and then cut through the only road that goes through the center of the island (open only in summer for 4wd vehicles). I certainly will come back for more hiking and to see the western part of the island.
Lisbon, Portugal – mouthwatering pastries, beautiful tiles, delicious wine, stylish shops, and low key vibe. Walk everywhere. That’s how I would describe Lisbon. A city that captured my heart right away. There is a pastry shop with an overwhelming selection of deliciousness on every corner AND they stay open ALL day. People come to grab a pastry and a cup of coffee no matter the time…you know that a place where you can buy pastry at 10pm will speak to me. A hilly city, it also offers many panoramic views, and Castello S. Jorge sitting at the top of one of the tallest hills offers particularly gorgeous views of the city all around. We visited just before Christmas, so much of the city was decked out in festive lights and décor, but I also can’t wait to visit during the summer to taste its warm weather atmosphere.
Tuscany, Italy – much has been said about Tuscany’s beauty and rightfully so. Green rolling hills sprinkled with medieval stone towns, farms, and wineries, it is a place that gives you a warm, relaxed feeling and you inevitable want to slow down and enjoy. Its cities are as gorgeous as its countryside. Old stony buildings mixed with red brick ones, flowerpots on every corner, and sweet delicious smell of pizza and pastries pleasantly filling their narrow allies. Stop for a glass of wine or a cappuccino to people watch, reflect on life, and soak up the atmosphere. Or check out one of the many shops uniquely built in the first floor of ancient buildings. Oh yes, and don’t forget a tiramisu or gelato. In the countryside, I would often stop my car on the side of the road to take the view in. Immaculate fields stretching over rolling hills as far as you can see, from vines to olive farms to horses, it’s a unique mix of country side with what feels like impeccable, cared for with love agricultural production. I enjoyed my drives on the little country roads that often turned into dirt roads for parts of the way. And for overnight stay, Italy’s recent phenomenon of ‘agriturrismo’ accommodation is a unique experience. Many old farm houses have been turned into small apartments and studios for visitors, keeping their old charm while providing the modern amenities tourists expect.
Myanmar – closed off to the world for decades during the military rule, which unfortunately has returned in recent weeks, Myanmar is a place like no other. Its former capital and business center, Yangon, has more Buddhist temples and pagodas than a tourist can reasonably visit, all of them with a unique charm. It’s jewel, the Schwedagon pagoda, with its gigantic golden stupa, always leaves me in awe and I have not missed visiting it on any of my trips, often coming multiple times to take in its energy. At first I was a little uncomfortable walking barefoot in all pagodas, but quickly I relaxed opening my mind to the experience, as the scent of jasmine and burning incents filled the air. Visiting Bagan, a complex of over two thousands of pagodas and monasteries, I wondered how magical this place must have been centuries ago when it was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom. I loved watching sunsets and sunrises from Bagan’s stupas, pondering life in quiet and feeling grateful for being able to visit such places. Inle Lake, a nearly 45 sqkm lake in Shan State offers a unique sight of floating villages built on stilts in this relatively shallow lake. Taking a trip to see the villages, watch the unique fishing style of local fishermen, and float through its water gardens on one of the traditional wooden boats powered by loud, smelly, and environmentally unfriendly diesel engines is one of a kind experience. All along, Shan noodles were my regular, delicious favorite. Myanmar’s future is uncertain at the moment, but I hope that better days are ahead for this unique country and its people.
I miss traveling and I cannot wait to travel more. I am already preparing the list of my destinations. But it is moments like this when I flip through pictures, conversations, tastes, sights, and smells stored in my memory from these adventures that give me a warm feeling in my belly. It is the feeling of gratitude for having seen such amazing places and carrying a piece of them with me every day.
