In high school I started a travel bucket list of the some of the places I want to visit and the things I want to do there. I have since continued to add to it as I have learned more about the world. I am constantly being inspired. I think it is safe to say this is how I will spend my life, because I can’t imagine never doing these things in life.
Christmas Market in Germany
I have been to Germany a couple times, but never in the winter time, when Europe is full of Christmas markets. I have also been to Christmas markets in Europe, but not in Germany. The markets in Ireland and England are nice, but Germany is renowned for its markets. They are full of warm yummy food, crafts to buy, and lots and lots of Christmas lights. I was the fairytale experience of a German Christmas market.
Eat Macarons in France
There is a story behind this one. Many years ago a friend was telling me about how great the macarons she bought were. In that moment I realized that I never have tried them. I knew of them and I knew that they were very French, but I didn’t know of the taste. Then I had the idea that I would have the first time I try a macaron be in France. After about a year of waiting I realized that I probably would have to wait a really long time for this dream to come true and I almost gave up on it, but then something amazing happened. I found out that on my trip to Germany in a few months I would also get to go to France for a day. I was so happy and I even almost cried. My dream of trying my first macaron in France would come true and it did. On my little day trip to Strasbourg we stopped at a little French bakery and bought macarons, my first macarons. I will tell you that it was worth waiting to be in France for.
Visit Venice
This is one I am am so happy to say I got to check off my list. Of course, who doesn’t want to visit Venice. It is like a fairytale; the old architecture, the steamy history, the blue canals, gondolas driven by an Italian men, and well Italian food. I have always been in love with the idea of staying in an old Italian building and waking up and going on the balcony to look out to a beautiful city and vibrant canals. While I didn’t have the budget to exactly do this, I still got to stay in Venice and experience its magic. I was really worried that I wouldn’t get to Venice with the fact that it is thinking, but I did!
Water Puppet Show in Vietnam
If you haven’t heard of Water Puppetry, which you probably haven’t, it is a type of Vietnamese show and music. I learned about it in my World Music class and immediately wanted to attend one in Vietnam. Most people visit Vietnam for the food or the beaches, but I want to visit Vietnam for the Water Puppetry. I included a video I found on Youtube of a Water Puppet show. I highly recommend watching it.
Attend Mass in Another Language
One thing to know about me is that I am Catholic and I actually really like attending mass in other countries. The thing about the Catholic church is that mass is the same all around the world, except for maybe the language it is in. The first time I experienced this was when I was in Montreal in high school and we attended mass in the old basilica there. It was a beautiful church and a beautiful service. I didn’t understand anything, but who wouldn’t be in love with the sound of French in an old church. I have since attended mass in Spanish in Spain and Mexico, Mallorcan in Mallorca, and Italian in Italy. Attending church in another country is a great way to learn more about the culture and religion of the place you are visiting. I highly recommend at least trying this once in your life.
Ziplining Through Costa Rica
Here is the thing. I have been to Costa Rica and I have been ziplining, but I haven’t been ziplining in Costa Rica. We were going to go in the spring of 2020 when my family and I were in Costa Rica, but ended up choosing to do a hanging bridge tour instead. We didn’t have very much time and more of us wanted to do that instead of ziplining. It is ok though, because it just gives me another reason to go back to this beautiful country.
Live in an Irish Cottage
I don’t know if I can officially cross this one off, because I have lived in Ireland and I stayed for a cottage a couple days when I was there, but I never actually lived in an Irish cottage. I am going to cross it off because there was some charm to my apartment when I lived there that really captured the cozy Irish feeling. Maybe someday I can actually live out my dream of having a small cottage next to the sea where I have a garden and a bunch of cats and spend my days baking bread and playing at the trad session at the local pub.
New Years on the Beaches of Brazil
The rest of the world celebrates New Years differently than we do here in the states. It seems to not be a huge deal here, but in the rest of the world it is. I have wanted to spend New Years in Brazil ever since my Brazilian friend told me about it. She described to me how they go to the beach, set up a bonfire, sing songs, and watch the fireworks from the shore. I want to be apart of this. It sounds magical! Someday I will visit her during New Years. It would be nice to get out of cold Minnesota anyway.
Tuk-Tuk Through Thailand
It is pronounced Took-Took, but is spelled Tuk-Tuk. Tuk-Tuks are something unique to Asia. The are cute little cars that come in many shapes and colors. I was on one for the first time in Thailand. It was so fun! In every video I have of our ride on the Tuk-Tuks we were all laughing. This might just because there are basically no driving laws in Thailand, but it still was fun. If you find yourself in a country with Tuk-Tuks, then you better ride the Tuk-Tuk.
Eat Real Mexican Food in Mexico
Another thing to know about me is that I absolutely love Mexican food. I don’t think there is a single Mexican food that I don’t like. Tacos, Quesadillas, Mole, Tostados, Guacamole, Chorizo, and Enchiladas; I love it all. I had been wanting to go to Mexico forever just to eat the food.I finally got to go for the first time a few years ago. I was so excited, except here is the kicker. I didn’t actually get to eat Mexican food while I was there. They didn’t want us to get sick on this school trip so we only at at Italian and Argentinian restaurants while we were there because they were the nice restaurants. We went to a Mexican restaurant one night, but I am hesitant to count it. I think for now I am not going to cross this one off because I want to cross this one off when I have a truly authentic and enjoyable experience with Mexican food in Mexico. It will happen someday.
Roadtrip the Riviera
I am not entirely sure how I came up with this one, but I think it would be so charming and fun to road trip the Riviera. But I mean it in a very specific way. I would need a cute European car, like a convertible and it would need to be summer. I have been to Cinque Terre in Italy and Barcelona in Spain, but I also want to see everything in between. I want to drive along so coast stopping in all the cute Italian, French, and Spanish towns on the coast. I also want to stop in Monaco and experience the lush life. Its safe to say this won’t happen for a very long time, because it would require an extravagant budget, but a girl can dream.
Drive on the Autobahn
This is one that you don’t really realize you have to do in life until you actually do it. I had previously been on the autobahn in a manner of being a passenger, but what I really wanted to do was to actually be the one to drive. There are no speed limits on the autobahn and driving on it is so freeing. I got to do it a couple years ago when visiting a friend and she asked me if I wanted to drive. Of course my answer was yes! I don’t remember exactly how fast I got up to but it was somewhere around 100 mph. But don’t tell my mom that.
Have Fika (and a Cardamom Roll) in Sweden
This is not a normal bucket list item, but for me it makes a lot of sense. I have been making Cardamom Rolls for years for myself and my baking business which is quite literally named, Emma’s Fika Eats. I feel like a fraud sometimes when I am selling them though because I have never actually been to Sweden and had real Fika. I need to know if I am selling the real thing, so I have to get to Sweden and hopefully sometime soon.
Step Back in Time in Havana
Right up there with Sweden for one of the places I really want to go next is Cuba. I have been in love with the idea of going to Cuba since the travel ban was lifted a decade ago and I saw all the beautiful pictures of what looks like the 1950s in Havana. My parents are not super thrilled about the idea of me going to Cuba, but I will find a way to do it. If that means spending a bit more to do a tour, then I will, because I need to see Cuba and experience the rich Cuban culture.
I am always open to ideas so if you have stumbled across this page, please leave some suggestions in the comments for travel experiences I have to have!
The Journal of Wanderlust 