:: travellingcari.com ::

interesting article from the New York Times on the 53 Places to Go in 2008…

My thoughts on those I’ve been to, or am likely to go to…

1. Laos – don’t have a huge interest in SE Asia but the history of Laos and the French influence interests me.
2. Lisbon
3. Tunisia
4. Mauritius
5. Mid-Beach, Miami/6. South Beach, Miami - maybe it’s just me and my general lack of interest in all things Florida, but these two seem out of place among their list neighbours.
7. Maldives – heard wonderful things about these islands.
8. Death Valley
9. Courchevel
10. Libya
11. Hvar
12. Puerto Vallarta
13. Sylt
14. Prague - it sounds bad to say been there, done thatbut I think it’s safe to say I won’t be back in 2008.
15. Quito - had an interest in Ecuador since I did my undergrad research on the economic issues; and I’d love to visit Galapagos.
16. Liverpool – I went there in December 2000 and I’d agree there’s more to it than the Beatles. Very pretty at Christmas time.
17. Munich – I’ve been to the train station and the Starbucks therein – does that count?
18. Iran - yep, love to do that for the region’s history although I don’t think 2008 is realistic for me.
19. Tuscany
20. Anguilla
21. Bogota
22. Playa Blanca, Panama
23. Alexandria – I don’t have a huge interest in Egypt but I’m curious about the region’s history.
24. Mazatlan
25. St. Lucia
26. Oslo
27. Buenos Aires - love to go one day, heard such wonderful tales.
28. Rimini, Italy – I love Italy but “raging club scene”… sounds like a miss as I’m sure there are quieter stretches of the Adriatic Coast.
29. Malawi
30. Roatan
31. Mozambique
32. Kuwait City
33. Verbier
34. Lombok - raging popularity among backpackers and I have 0, no negative interest in going.
35. Northwest Passage
36. Easter Island - am saving my miles for this one! One day, but it’s not at the top of my list.
37. Virgin Gorda
38. Namibia
39. San Francisco – nice city, but I’m in no rush to go back
40. Detroit – been through the airport many times but I can’t say I have an interest in the city.
41. Itacare, Brazil
42. Kilimanjaro - was wondering when this would come up! Even before I went to Tanzania Night at NYU and met the Tanzanian delegation, I had an interest in the country and especially Kilimanjaro. Not sure I want to climb it, but I’d love to see it. Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.
43. Algeria
44. San Diego
45. Malaga
46. Puerto Plata
47. London - love the city, it was great to go back in May.
48. Vietnam - yep, similar interest to Laos.
49. Essaouira
50. Las Vegas - had a wonderful time, fun city.
51. Barossa Valley- a lot of fun to visit the homes of some of the wines I enjoy, but I enjoyed McLaren Vale since it was less touristy.
52. Tokaj, Hungary
53. New York - nahh, I’d never go there

I’ve been to eight. Not outstanding, but to be honest I wouldn’t use this list as an aspiration. They’re not my kind of destinations. My own goals for 2008:

• stop going “back” – I love Australia, Spain will always be a favorite and CapeCod is my ‘home’ but if I want to visit new places, I need to get out of the reruns.
• New continent — Antarctica is not realistic for 2008 but I’d like to do either South America or Africa. Tanzania is probably not going to happen in 2008 but Egypt or Morocco might — my two other interests. Rio is also a real possibility.
• Plan for the next “big trip” — not long, but interesting. Where? When?