Hit the Road Jack

I love to travel. As far back as my memory takes me (which could be yesterday) I’ve always traveled.

Growing up, we traveled as a family. In my 20’s I traveled solo. Then with my husband and son. And now? Back to traveling solo again. My husband isn’t big on traveling. He’s a stay at home kind of guy. Me? I’ll travel anywhere. Even to the next state. I like the adventure of seeing and learning something new. New places. It’s like a quest.

I’m not big on the tour group thing. Been there. Done that. I don’t like being rushed. I’m all about history. Any kind of history. And so, visiting historical sights is a big passion. I want to see every detail. I also try to research and study about any place I’m visiting, whether it’s Tokyo or Mystic, Connecticut (yes, I DID watch Mystic Pizza. The pizza is actually pretty lousy).

I like getting involved with the locals. Even if I don’t speak the language. The first experience I had with that was in 1971. We were in San Francisco’s Chinatown. My Dad was determined NOT to eat in a touristy type place and so he found a great little dive. We were the only non Chinese customers in the place. I don’t remember what we ate, but I remember it being good. AND there were no forks on the tables. Chopsticks only.

Yes, yes of course one MUST visit the places that all the tourists go to. You HAVE to visit Piazza San Marco in Venice. It’s a must. It’s history. It’s beautiful. My first visit to Italy was filled with all the tourguide places. These days…if I need to be anywhere around Piazza San Marco, I walk quickly. I still look up to see the majesty of it all, but I don’t linger.

It’s nice to know people that live in the places you visit. You get a local point of view. I don’t mind being a tourist at all. I just prefer going to the out of way places. The little hole in the wall restaurants that have the best food.

I have this mental list (growing by the minute) of the places I want to visit. Some are very doable and some are a far reach. The downside is that travel is not cheap. Five star hotels are not an option. Actually, staying in family owned B&B’s are in fact, so much better.

Here’s my mental list. I wouldn’t call it a bucket list because the reality is that there are some places I probably will never visit. It’s a list in progress:

CLEVELAND, OHIO. Why?? You ask. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I answer!

MONTREAL and QUEBEC, CANADA. I’ve been to Canada a few times, but I was too young to really appreciate it.

CHICAGO. I know….it’s true. I’ve never been there. I’ve been to almost every state in the USA but never to Chicago or

NEW ORLEANS. Both cities…for the jazz of course. And the food. You knew that, right?

ALASKA. The last frontier.

HAVANA, CUBA. Mainly for the music. And the food. Duh.

BRAZIL. Not during Carnival time.

SPAIN. The music. The culture. I’ve wanted to go there for as long as I can remember.

THE ORIENT EXPRESS. From Venice to Istanbul. The ultimate train adventure. I need to win the lottery for that one.

PARIS, PARIS, PARIS. Sooner than later. Maybe in a year from this October. Top of the list.

It’s a short list. For now. Yes, there are places in ITALY I would like to visit…but, since I go there a lot, it doesn’t count!

And now, I will travel to the supermarket. Not terribly far, but always an adventure!

Happy Labor Day. 

See you next week.