About three years ago when I was getting ready for my first extended trip abroad, I created a list of the top ten places I wanted to visit. I forgot about it until recently when I went back to take a peek: I had visited six of the places, and I think I’ll get to check another two off the list within a year.
Now I want to create new goals. I want to see more of the world, not just Europe. Today I was brainstorming some places I really want to go. I didn’t include any of the ones from my previous list, but I did add a few more continents. For most places, I’m only including the country as a whole, since many of these countries have more than one city I want to see, and it’s almost always more fun to see some of the sights off the beaten path. I’ve also decided not to include them in any order because I just couldn’t decide which place I wanted to see the most.
Without further ado, Expedition Erika’s Places to See 2017!
Portugal
I’ve really wanted to go to Portugal for a while. You may be thinking: “You lived in Spain for two years and never went to Portugal?!” I know, I know. The truth is, Barcelona is pretty far from Portugal and plane tickets are expensive and the train would be far too long for a weekend trip. Now that I’ll be off to Madrid, I’ll hopefully have more opportunities to get to Portugal – there is even a night train to Lisbon.
Why Portugal? I really love the Portuguese language. One of my regrets in college was only taking one semester of the language. The economy is still pretty bad there, even worse than Spain’s, but the culture is very much alive. Lisbon is definitely on the top of my list with a more cosmopolitan feel, but I have also heard amazing things about Porto. Plus, Portugal is home to the Azores, and Madeira (Cristiano Ronaldo museum, anyone?).
Munich, Germany
This is one of the few places that I’ve included the city. I have been to Germany twice now, but there is still one city that I want to check out: Munich.
Why Munich? I have actually been through their airport twice since it’s a hub for Lufthansa, but I’ve never set foot on the actual Munich soil. I guess I want to see Munich because it is to Germany what Andalucia is to Spain. It’s the image of Germany you see in your head: Oktoberfest, lederhosen, beer. The Bayern Munich football team actually goes out and wears lederhosen and drinks beer out of steins. How awesome is that? I actually have a friend who is going to be traveling through Germany and Austria this coming year, so maybe I’ll actually get a chance to check this place out.
Greece
I’ve been drooling over Greece for a while, but it’s not the easiest to get to and their troubled economy has been a tourist nightmare. I did have a friend who had a long layover in Athens and went out into town while they were waiting for their connection. I’ve never been so lucky!
Why Greece? Well, for one, it is one of the oldest civilizations that still has a daily impact on our modern lives. Also, I love ruins, and the Parthenon is something I am dying to see. I’d also really like to travel outside of the city and see what life is like. While watching Who Do You Think You Are? with John Stamos, it was amazing to see the geography of Greece – there was even snow! I’d like to get over to Santorini and see the white houses. I think we all have this romantic image of Greece in our minds, even if it may not be in real life.
Morocco
I have a secret love of Morocco. It seems so exotic and foreign, yet extremely close to Europe simultaneously. Ferries from Spain can take you there in about an hour or two. My mom looks at me like I’m crazy when I tell her I want to go to Morocco, especially with the ever present terrorist threat. My argument is that they went there on America’s Next Top Model, soooo …
Why Morocco? Well, like I said, it seems so exotic. I’d love to go ride a camel across the desert or go shopping in the markets in the cities. I would definitely want to go with someone who really knew the area or at least the language. My one hope for a trip to Morocco any time soon is probably one of the ferries that takes travelers to the island of Tangiers.
Mexico
Somewhat of a cheat, as I have technically been to Mexico, but I was like four and we just went to Tijuana for day. Mexico often has a bad reputation amongst Americans and is known for being dangerous, but I’ve had a friend who went to Mexico City by himself and did just fine.
Why Mexico? It’s part of my blood. My great-grandmother came from Chihuahua, Mexico (yes, the dogs are from there). I’d love to be able to see where she was from, but unfortunately, the drug cartels pretty much run the area around there. I also really want to see the Mayan ruins. Every summer I beg my parents to go on a cruise to Cozumel … hopefully one day it will happen. And then there’s the capital: Mexico City. It’s got some great museums and Aztec ruins. At least I can speak the language! I would just have to keep my guards up.
Argentina
Tango, cowboys, and a mix of many cultures. Argentina is full of everyone – indigenous people and Europeans looking for a better life. What isn’t there to desire about Argentina? And unlike my British friends, I would be more than welcomed there!
Why Argentina? There are so many parts of this country that I want to visit. Of course I would not want to leave without seeing Buenos Aires, so cosmopolitan and so lively. But I also would like to take a trip down to the southern most part of the country to see the vaqueros on the pampas and hike through Patagonia. It’d also be a dream to go out to the west into wine country. Si, porfa!
Brazil
Much like Argentina, Brazil has so much to be desired. After watching a documentary about David Beckham traveling through Brazil into the most remote areas where no one knew who he was, I was sold. As mentioned above, I also love the Portuguese language, especially the kind they speak in Brazil – so musical, so beautiful.
Why Brazil? Carnaval, beaches, rainforests – anything else? There’s Rio, there’s São Paulo, and then there are so many beautiful beaches along the coast. My professor of Portuguese showed us her pictures from her vacation there and it was stunningly beautiful. Plus, I’d kill to have some 100% authentic Brazilian barbecue and pão de queijo.
China
Way out of my comfort zone, but doesn’t that make things more fun? China is that elusive country in Asia, looked down upon for its communism while also a necessary keystone in world trade. There are so many myths, like that they eat dog and other such things. But, it’s also a country with some great history and beautiful cities.
Why China? History is my main selling point. Who doesn’t want to see the Great Wall or the Terra-cotta soldiers? Plus, there are huge cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. I’d also like to get a taste for real Chinese food, since my friend always likes to note that we don’t eat real Chinese food here. My hope is that she’ll be able to show me around her birth country some day, although I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about teaching English there. (If anyone has any experience, tell me!)
Tokyo, Japan
Whenever I see Tokyo on TV, it’s always seems so forward thinking and technologically dependent. It’s got the influence of anime, manga, and other video game characters. My car is even Japanese! I was blown away by their introduction in the closing ceremony for the 2016 Rio Olympics and I’m really looking forward to seeing how they put on a show in 2020.
Why Tokyo? I really like how in Tokyo, anything goes. There’s the Harajuku fashion made famous in the US from Gwen Stefani, the subways are literally packed like sardines, and it is the hub for modern technological advances. It seems like a thoroughly modern city that would be tons of fun to visit. Meanwhile, it’d also be amazing to see Mount Fuji and just experience the Japanese culture. My cousin visited it a few years ago and she really liked it, so I’d love to check it out, too.
Australia-New Zealand
I know Aussies and Kiwis are probably yelling at me through their computers right now because I combined these two places, but in my mind, it forms a dream vacation. I am always looking at the trips to Australia and New Zealand on Education First, wishing I had thousands of dollars to spend on a dream adventure. Maybe some day.
Why Australia/New Zealand? Touch down in Sydney. Spend a few days exploring the city and climbing to the top of the Opera House. Take a few days out to the Outback before heading farther south to check out the Great Barrier Reef. Then, I’d like to hop on a plane over the New Zealand and see the amazing countryside up and down the island. I’d love to see the places where they film so many blockbuster movies and see the sheep (ok just kidding there). These two countries seem almost unreal, surreal. It’s a long journey over there, but it would be worth it.
It would be a dream to visit all of these places, but it may take many years before I get around to it. I’m also sure that there will be so many unexpected places that I will fall in love with along the way. The best part of traveling is that there are unlimited opportunities and an infinite amount of sights to see. Keep exploring!
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