When one of my sons texted asking me to dig out an old document he needed, I immediately went to a drawer where I keep such things. But I was quickly distracted. Along with a handful of documents – nothing terribly unusual – is a stash of kid drawings and photographs. And among the photographs…
Yummy! Images of travels to some of my favorite overseas haunts.
What could be more fun than revisiting places you love where you’ve had amorous adventures, gotten up-close and personal with amazing art and architecture, built lifelong friendships, and felt blissfully content? Isn’t that as good as a glass of wine or a hit of chocolate? Doesn’t that suit nicely at the end of a tiresome week?
And why not share a few of those blasts from the past on a flashback Friday?
My Usual Dream Destination? France. What’s Yours?
France has always been one of my dream destinations – this, dating back to travel in my early teenage years and experience living with French families, subsequently studying in Paris, then working with clients in France over the course of 15+ years.
Naturally, every moment was not necessarily blissful — ever been injured in the Paris metro and whisked off in a paddy wagon-like vehicle to the ER? — but, generally, my stays and visits have been memorable in the best possible ways.
Oh, how many ways to express the wonders of Paris and my good fortune to explore them over the course of four decades?
And from galleries to glorious gardens — how much more there is to see! Alas, these days, my firstborn is more likely to be wandering alongside the Seine. He currently lives and travels in Europe for his job and is kind enough to text cool (drool-worthy) photographs (and bring back nifty fun gifts at holiday time).
Now, if France is my go-to destination, what about you? Do you return time and again to somewhere far away that always makes you feel good?
Luxury Hotel? Charming Hotel? Anywhere With a Clean Bed?
For more than 25 years, regular travel was part of my life. Some was work-related. Some was study-related. Some was definitely a matter of pleasure — and even, on occasion, love.
My accommodations? Well, they varied. As a student, they were very much “whatever” — sometimes good and sometimes less so. Even then, a stunning interior may be visually pleasing but if you aren’t allowed to touch anything (or to shower more than once a week), the aesthetics become less important than matters of (hygienic) practicality.
On most of my adventures in France when I’ve picked up my own tab, I’ve stayed in modest rooms or hotels. And they’ve always been just fine. Location and budget have dictated my choices; luxury accommodations were always a… well, luxury.
That said, every now and then I’ve been privileged to stay in a hotel or private residence with those high-end “amenities” we might all dream of, which is not to say that the accommodations weren’t utterly charmants and the service, personalized and warm (which is how I like it). And if the interiors include historical references or exceptional design or unique artworks as is the case in the Marais and the center of the city?
Divine.
After exhausting overnight international flights? When dealing with jet lag? When you’re hungry at all the wrong times those first two days? Oh, the joy of an elegant and uber-comfy room, sumptuous and interesting décor, delicious details… along with excellent room service!
Dream Locations… Dream Retirement? Ah Yes, Reality.
Paris is not the only city in France where I have lived or traveled, though I certainly know it better than many American cities. Why?
Hmmm. Perhaps because I walked or took the metro everywhere, as a general rule. Perhaps because it suited me in some inexplicable way. Perhaps because for years, I thought it was the destination that I would ultimately call “home” once my kiddos had flown the nest and I semi-retired. (What’s not to love about starting over in Paris?)
When it came down to it though… life intervened. Besides, I couldn’t imagine living quite that far away from my two sons. (The irony is not lost on me that one of my kids is now on the other side of the Atlantic. Moreover, he is living a not dissimilar life from the one I led in my twenties.)
Moving on…
Another city that holds cherished memories is Nice, where I lived for a month as a teen and a place I’ve returned to in the years since. While it had changed in the 20+ years between visits — so. many. tourists. — it still felt grand to stroll the quai along the beach where I spent many days with my 15-year-old copine-in-crime when I too was that age.
On one of my “later life” trips, I was fortunate enough to meet up with an old French friend and spend time in Aix-en-Provence, which is a delicious place I would very much like to revisit. And thinking back to that week of pure escapism, I have fabulous memories of sightseeing, relaxing in the sun, hours wandering through town, road trips here and there, a day in Marseille (gorgeous), and amazing cuisine.
Oh, to return to that region! And when I do, I am certainly going to stop by and visit this delightful person and her B & B, which looks sublime.
France is not the only place I’ve spent time outside the U.S., which you may already know. As a high school student, I spent a summer traveling throughout the (then) U.S.S.R. and parts of Eastern Europe, which was fascinating, despite the fact that we were camping, which is not my best event! As for the food, let’s just say — it was a good thing that I loved cabbage soup, beets, potatoes, and heavy breads — not exactly my usual fare or a varied diet.
I also spent two decades traveling back and forth to Belgium (for business and pleasure — a marvelous country with exquisite food and lovely people, which helps to make up for the weather), I’m dying to see Italy (can you believe that I never have?) and likewise Spain (a friend just returned from Barcelona and adored it). When I think of the art to be seen… I want to swoon… and get on a plane!
Sadly, the photographs I took of Russia and environs (with a little Instamatic camera back then) are of woefully poor quality. They’re good enough for me to enjoy from time to time, and happily, bring back memories, like washing my hair in the Volga. (No kidding.) That bit of mischief always makes me grin.
Any favorite destinations that bring back a warm smile and good memories? Where might you go to spend a few weeks (or longer) if money were no object?
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Your shots are wonderful.
Sometimes I dream or remember flashes of different places, and I am not sure which city they are in. Who was I with? Was it a solo trip? I run through the destinations, but there are too many. When I first moved to Europe, I had a two-year commitment, and so I traveled every weekend in order to pack in as much as possible before my time ran out. I ended up staying, but until I had a baby the travels continued apace.
To go back, though, would be to Kenya, where I lived for two years. Sometimes I use Google Earth to see where I lived and to retrace the path from the town. But then I think about other places, like India, with its tantalizing smells and colors, and wish I could experience it again. So much to see, so little time.
Yes, I do know what you mean about the way memories and images of far-off places can sometimes blur and blend and confound.
I recall one of your posts (not sure which) that described your time in Kenya — a few snippets anyway, to the best of my recollection — what an extraordinary experience.
I’m thinking about Barcelona, Singapore, the Netherlands, Sweden, possibly Germany. Places with a more holistic, high quality-of-life vision for the future than the U.S. More like dreaming, truth be told, at least for the moment.
Quality of life. Nodding…
When I dream of a place I’d like to revisit it’s usually of a small town or village where my husband and I have been briefly, and where I could see myself ensconced in a cottage for a month or two. I’m thinking of somewhere in the Yorkshire moors, or Derbyshire. Or in Co Kerry Ireland. Maybe a little mountain village in Italy. We saw lots of these driving through Italy last year. Not a crowded glitzy town on the cliffs of Amalfi. More like a small village in Abruzzo where we spent a few days and fell in love with the open spaces, the views, and the truffles.
Those destinations all sound delicious. And I know you will take incredible photographs and write about those visits, as you have all your travel adventures!
These days, I am an armchair voyager, but I do get a great deal of vicarious pleasure out of hearing about where other people might like to go or where they have been. So much fun.
What an envious lifestyle you had. People say that about mine, and it’s true to some extent, but I know way too much about Mexico and Central America and the Caribbean and not enough about Europe and nothing about Asia. This fall I’m going to England, so I have a chance to rectify some of that.
Mexico and Central America! Places I’ve never been, Brenda. And the UK — also little known to me ( if you don’t count a business trip 30 years ago where I saw virtually nothing).
Will you be staying long enough to really be able to enjoy it and travel to different regions?
I’m glad I traveled very young, but I do wish that I had spent some time in England. I look forward to hearing more about your travels when you’re there and when you return.