I don’t know about you, but 2020 has me suffering from a serious case of wanderlust. I can’t stop dreaming about all the places I’d love to explore once it’s safe to take off again. Below, a handful of countries at the top of my international travel bucket list.
Egypt
Egypt is at the very top of my travel wishlist. I’ve always been intrigued by Egyptology and long to see the pyramids in person and boat down the Nile. In the meantime, I’ll be reading this best-selling biography of Cleopatra and this memoir by Rosemary Mahoney. (Image below: The “salon” aboard a Nour el Nil luxury boat)
Russia
I booked a solo trip to Russia when we were living in Denmark, but wound up so exhausted from fertility treatments that I decided to stay home. Now that I have a little one and live so far from Russia, I regret having cancelled my trip! I dream of wandering the halls of the Hermitage and taking in a ballet at the Bolshoi or Mariinsky. This Catherine the Great biography will have to do for the time being. (Image: Lilies of the Valley Egg, circa 1898, presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna)
Uzbekistan
I adore the textiles from this region of the world and have heard Samarkand is spectacular. I’d probably be traveling solo (it’s not high on my husband’s list) so maybe I’d consider joining a tour. Let me know if you’ve been and have any tips! (Image: A page from this gorgeous book published by Assouline)
Mexico
Last December we were supposed to spend a week in San Miguel de Allende and the entire trip fell apart at the Seattle airport when our flight was delayed four hours (until 2am) and then eventually cancelled. Gabe was only 11 months old at the time and we were so exhausted we wound up cancelling the entire trip. Thankfully, Charlotte to Mexico City is just a four hour flight so hopefully another Mexico trip is in my future. (Image: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende / Photo by Sarah Elliott)
Jamaica
I’ve never been to the Caribbean and have long been captivated by images of the legendary resort Round Hill. Gabe has some Jamaican heritage so I think it would be wonderful to show him the island. Where else in the Caribbean should we explore now that we’re relatively nearby? Let me know if you have a favorite island we ought to visit! (Image: Round Hill Hotel and Villas)
I’m also hankering to visit Columbia, Peru, Argentina, Cambodia, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa…the list goes on!
Where are you most eager to voyage post-Covid?
I’d love to hear your ideas!
Hi Katie,
I live in San Francisco but work in Kenya. I have a phenomenal travel agent for luxury safaris. She’s managed 10 safaris for my husband and I in Botswana, Namibia, and Kenya. Each one more magical than the last. I’d be happy to introduce you to her when you’re ready to plan your African adventure.
Congratulations on your house!
Best,
Tammy
That’s a wonderful list, Katie. I also have some bucket list places that I dream about when it is safe to travel, Turkey, Tunisia (the southern part of the country near Libya, Dutch West Indies, Japan and specifically the Ryukyu Islands, Buenos Aires!
We took three weeks and drove all around Sicily a couple of years ago with our teenagers and that was a phenomenal ancient history lesson for our family and cultural blend of Northern Africa and Europe (we visited the oldest chocolate confectionary shop in Europe), my husband and I loved Enna. Locally, I want to visit Charlotte, Charleston and Savannah- Southern cities that I would love to visit, as I haven’t spent a great deal of time in that region of the US, as well as St. John’s in Newfoundland.
On our very next trip we will do a self guided walking tour along Hadrian’s wall. Uzbekistan sounds intriguing, let us know if you find an interesting tour. I also read Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra biography, it was fantastic. Love seeing your posts of late.
Round Hill is a wonderfully warm, spectacular place. We keep in touch with our housekeeper, and favorite bartender, throughout the year. So glad they are able to be open again. We always go in August, when the resort is less full, and it feels like our own private stay!
Tammy – What an interesting career you must have! I would love your travel agents info. We want to wait to go on safari until Gabe is old enough to come along—not sure how many years off we are?!
Kumi – You have so many wonderful ideas!! I spent two weeks in Sicily many years ago and fell in love with it as well. And you will love Charleston and Savannah! I’ve only been to Charlotte briefly, but now that we’re only an hour and a half away I hope to explore it more, too. Thanks for saying hello!
Blair – Love hearing this about Round Hill. It sounds so wonderful. Here’s to hoping we can both be there August 2021 (thanks for the tip!).
What a dreamy list! So many of these places are high on my list too; I’d love to go back to Egypt and Russia (I went to Egypt as a child in the 80s, and I’ve only made a fleeting visit to Moscow but like you want to explore the Hermitage, see the Bolshoi, and possibly to a trans-Siberian rail journey on the Orient Express), return to Mexico, visit the Caribbean (I’m dreaming of Harbour Island and St Lucia), India, a safari in Kenya, explore the South of France and Amalfi Coast and more of the Greek Islands, and finally properly explore Cornwall. And of course come and visit you and explore more of the South.
Briony xx