RHYS BOWEN: Last fall I flew to England to join my college friends in a reunion. We’ve been getting together regularly over the years. At first it was every five years, then every three, then two and now we are reaching our sell-by date it’s every one.
These are old broads by any definition but some of us are still living our best lives. I stayed for a few days before the reunion with my friend Evelyn. She was married to an international consultant and they traveled a lot. He died a few years ago but Evelyn keeps on traveling. Last year it was a cruise that started in Indonesia and went up through Asia and around Japan. When we were together she said she had booked to travel the Silk Road. I looked surprised. Why? She said she’d just read a book about it and was curious. And so in November she did.
This was no easy travel. Bumpy roads, crossing strange borders. But she had a great time, (apart from too many mosques, she told me).
That made me think: where do I still want to go that I haven’t been? I’m trying to be realistic and know that I can’t do the hike around Mont Blanc, which I had always wanted to do. I’ve been to a lot of Asia and don’t want that nineteen hour flight again. I had always wanted to do an African safari but wonder if my back can take the jolting of a jeep over rough ground.
So what could still be on my bucket list? I’d always wanted to do a canal boat trip through France. I know France well, have been all over and love to go back, especially to the south. Ditto for Italy. I’ve never been to Puglia so that could be a future trip. And also Switzerland. I love the Alps and would happily ride trains all over Switzerland. But anything more exotic? I’ve never been up the Amazon. Or to Peru. I don’t think I’d tackle Machu Pichu and the altitude. I find more and more that I long to go back to the familiar: Cornish fishing villages, Villefranche Sur Mer, Venice, Tuscany. As long as I can keep traveling it’s fine with me.
How about you, Reds? What’s on your bucket lists?
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: I’m like you, Rhys, in that there are places I once had on my list that time has crossed off for me. I’m not making that hike up to Machu Piccu either!
I’d love to do luxury train trips: the Orient Express, the Andean Explorer in Peru, the new Brittanic Explorer which goes through Cornwall and Wales. I’d love to visit Asia and southeast Asia: Korea, China, Singapore, Malaysia. If I could find some sort of guided tour based around eating, that would be heaven!
I’ve long wanted to see Kashmir, but I suppose that’s out of reach until India and Pakistan reach an amiable agreement, so… a hundred years from now?
The Adriatic Sea from Albania and Montenegro, before everyone catches on and starts going there.
But honestly, the vacations that most appeal to me these days involve a sunny beach, a stack of books, and a waiter bringing me lunch and pineapple drinks!
RHYS: Julia, we were lucky enough to visit Kashmir while it was still open. Such a glorious place.
HALLIE EPHRON: This is hard, because my Jerry was THE best traveling companion. I’m so much less adventurous without him. Our last trips were to Peru (Yes, Machu Pichu!) and Panama. I’d always hoped we could get to Texas for the whooping crane migration.
On my own, now, or dragging along a daughter or two, I’d be up for one of the small river boat cruises of eastern Europe.
JENN McKINLAY: I’m still up for anything but my short dream list is Iceland, Japan, and Kenya. On the immediate actually happening list is Spain, Portugal, and the Azores.
The Hooligans are fabulous travelers—curious, helpful, and independent so they have their own lists. It’ll be fun to see where their adventures take them and if I can hitch a ride. LOL.
DEBORAH CROMBIE: My parents went to Machu Pichu, Rhys, but it has never been on my bucket list. There are so many places in England that I still want to visit, and many that I want to revisit. And I have never been to Ireland! My kiddos are going for a week's tour over spring break and I'm very jealous. I want to go back to Paris and the south of France. I want to stay in a Tuscan villa and drink wine. I'd love to do one of those European river cruises, too. I feel very dull compared to Jenn!
HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oxford, Oxford, Oxford. I have never been there, and I cannot believe it. I would hop on a plane right now if I could. And then Ireland. And then a river cruise, although I am always hearing the people get sick.
Debs, I am here to tell you that staying in a Tuscan villa and drinking wine is ALL its cracked up to be. Fabulous in every way. I’d like to go back to Paris and just live there, with no tourist responsibilities
RHYS: All the above are so doable, Hank. Please go while you and Jonathan are still young and healthy enough to enjoy them!
LUCY BURDETTE: We are in the airport right now after a 12 hour delay so it’s a little hard to answer this question lol. But I will anyway. Iceland and Japan, yes. And now I know that Jenn would be a fabulous traveling companion. Among other good qualities, she can reach anything on the top shelf and put a bag in the overhead Compartment without breaking a sweat. More France, more Scotland and England, and definitely Switzerland. I feel like I should go to Germany because a lot of my ancestors came from that area. I’m delighted to hear that Rhys and her buddies intend to keep traveling! I am in.
RHYS: So my message to all you Reddies out there. Don't put off travel until you finds it's too late. I know the world is crazy at the moment but let's hope soon sanity will be restored and the world will be our oyster again. Where do you want to go?
