Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Questions for the Game of Life and Love

I've decided to flip my entries and do my audio entries later in the week. Now that Scalzi is running the Weekend Assignment on Thursdays, I'm feeling a bit cramped. So today is the next question from The Big Book of If.

"Our ability to imagine is the remarkable gift we have been given to lead us into joy and aspiration and out of despair or sadness, because common to all of us is the idea that there could be a different world, perhaps a better one."

If you could have a year any place in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?

Years ago I saw a movie called Summer Lovers. The movie starred Peter Gallagher and Darryl Hannah and was pretty lame, if my memory serves me well. However, it was set in Greece. I fell in love with Greece because of that movie. But, not the archaic ruins Greece. I fell in love with the small fishing village Greece. Ever since then, I have wanted to take a trip there. I was actually beginning to save for it. I was putting all of my spare change into a piggy bank. I deemed it my Greece Can. When 9/11 occurred, I rolled the change and cashed it in. I had several hundred dollars saved. I spent the money on something else. I just couldn't imagine taking a trip overseas any time soon. But, I still hope to go one day. And, to spend a year there would be the ultimate so I could soak in the culture and life of the small fishing villa that I imagine waiting there for me.

Kevin and I are planning on taking a trip to Europe next year as a celebration gift to ourselves for graduating. I'm not quite sure where. I don't think Greece will be part of it. Probably France, England, and Italy is what I'm thinking, maybe Germany. I still feel a little uneasy about even doing that, but I want to finally see another part of the world, to expand my horizons. I'll just tell everyone I'm Canadian.

Where would you go for a year, if you could?

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would go to France, to where I was born.  It's been my dream to return to the place of my birth before I die.

Love, Penny

Anonymous said...

I'd go to England--I've always wanted to go there, even live there.  I saw the movie you're referring to when I was 12 and babysitting late one night for someone who had cable.  I know what you mean about wanting to go to Greece after seeing that movie.

Anonymous said...

"I'll just tell everyone I'm Canadian."  Smart move!

I've never had the desire to visit Europe.  I went to London for a couple of weeks years ago.  But that was just because my boyfriend was studying there for a semester.  I've always wanted to see Australia.  Don't know why.  Just always have, since I was a kid.  That and California [so I feel completely at home here].  Maybe Hawaii too. Never been. Would like to go.

Anonymous said...

Greece sounds nice.  I would have to think about this.  I've never been the type that wants to travel and see the world (I'm not sure why, I just don't).  And a year sounds like such a long time.  Maybe Ireland, or Italy...

Anonymous said...

I was so excited to see you move the question to a different day!  I answered it and almost forgot to stop here and tell you....again!  Here's the link...
http://journals.aol.com/inthepaddedcell/LunATicThoughts/entries/531
Tricky :þ

Anonymous said...

Some place tropical...with low humidity!  I think hawaii perhaps!

Anonymous said...

I would vote for New Zealand or Iceland. My second pick would be the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (Kaibab Plateau).

Anonymous said...

Gosh, where would I go for an entire year if I could?!  Hmmmm, you are talking to someone who has lived in Connecticut her entire life, so I don't have an answer for this one.  I can't imagine living anywhere else but here.
Hugs and love, Lisa

Anonymous said...

I would spend a year in Taiwan with my sister.  Taiwan isn't a great place, its greatest attraction for me is that is where my sister lives and I miss her terribly.  I don't think a year would be long enough.  Kristi

Anonymous said...

Arizona!! Oh wait. I've already been here for 13 months. Find me another Arizona with maybe just a teensie bit less heat in July/August time frame. My gal pal in Hawaii tells me that's paradise. So ... I pick Hawaii.

Anonymous said...

I saw that movie Summer Lovers-- didn't realize it was Peter Gallagher- I remember an impossibly thin, tan, young hunk!  I'd go to Greece for a year if it was with him (as he looked back then). Darryl Hannah's not bad either-- she's wacky, would probably be fun to hang out with... what was the question again?
--Albert

Anonymous said...

I would stay right where I am, but I would take the money and do something crazy with it. Paula

Anonymous said...

I'm dying to go to Europe.  But I don't just want to go on a vacation.  What can you see in a week or two, or even a month?  What can you experience?  What kind of an understanding can you get of a culture that is not your own?  A year would be perfect.  I would live somewhere in England, Ireland, or Scotland, and make forays over to the Contintent from there.  My idea of heaven!  Lisa  :-]

Anonymous said...

Greece would be a great place to go.

Here's mine :)http://journals.aol.com/ggal3133/LivinginSavannah/entries/715


Anonymous said...

las vegas lol i know thats bad but i really would but ill have to be 21 before this all expense trip occurs

Anonymous said...

God. Robbie, I can`t answer that.....Hmmmm
V

Anonymous said...

I have been lucky enough to visit Greece, England, Italy, France, Portugal, and the Czech Republic--and I would advise Prague 1st, ANYWHERE in Greece, anywhere BUT Rome in Italy (Florence #1, Venice #2).  Greece is inexpensive; Prague won't be much longer as it will definitely take over Paris' allure in a matter of a year or two, guaranteed.  All of Europe's appreciation for ART will bowl any US citizen over.  I always go home ashamed I do not take more effort to know the language of the country I visit.

A year away from my soybean fields and industrial pollution?  I'm not sure I could take it!  Nah, I would choose a return to Quebec & Nova Scotia.  Always dreamed of Hawaii but now loathe the notion of me in a bathing suit.  Sydney, Australia?

Who knows?  I am excited to be on my way to Pennsylvania in 9 days and looking forward to seeing Mae's family home in Michigan in August.

Anonymous said...

I love the Mediterranean and Greece will definitely be a lingering stop for me.  I think a Mediterranean cruise would be out of this world.  The waters of the Aegean, as clear and smooth as blue glass...sigh.

Short of that I strongly suggest you go to Italy.  I've been to Tuscany, Rome and Florence, lovely unforgettable cities all!

Anonymous said...

I've always wanted to do one of those grand European tours.  When I was young, I daydreamed about living in New York. Then I thought I'd backback through Europe, using the hostle system?  But when life settles in on you, those things just seem impossible.  Now, my dream is to save up my money and do one of those European train tours.. go from country to country.  Bliss!  

Anonymous said...

"I'll just tell everyone I'm Canadian." LOL! Good idea. My dream vacation has always been somewhere in Italy, but my brother in law was describing his honeymoon (well, the surroundings anyway lol) in Hawaii and they were cruel enough to send a postcard, so right now that would be my vacation of choice. You should start a new Greece can! Or go there on your graduation vacation, you know you wanna! :)
~Mary

Anonymous said...

PTOBABLY SAN FRANCISCO! the food the people the scenerey..and not to foret the the wine! I went there once and I never wanted to leave!

Anonymous said...

PENNY: I want to go to France too! I want to spend a day at the Louver (sp?) and eat in a small French café. You should definitely make a plan to do it!

GREENHEART: I’d like to visit England, but I fear I would hate the weather. I imagine it to be so darn cold and clammy.

FREEE: My friend lived in Australia for 6 months. She really liked it! You should go! I’d like to go to Hawaii too! One of these days soon, I hope. Relatively speaking, it’s so close living out here on the West coast. Regarding telling them I’m Canadian: I’ve actually heard that American’s abroad are doing that because we are so hated right now – everywhere.

KAREN: Funny, I would think that a secret wild woman would have a few oats to sew abroad. I’d like to go to Ireland and Italy too. I would love to go someplace for a year because I think you get so much more out of an experience when you are there and living then just visiting.

TRICKY: Thanks for your enthusiasm. It makes doing the entries worthwhile.

CONNIE: Is Hawaii humid? I would think surrounded by water that an Island would be. I love heat and humidity though. I’m sick like that. ;-)

SCREMO: Very interesting choices that beg the question why. For instance, why the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? Wouldn’t any part of it be great? I heard of a tour you can take that takes you on a donkey or horse down to the base of the canyon. There’s an Indian Reservation down there and they don’t have electricity or phones. I’d like to do that some day.

LISBNJVI – LISA: Well, I remember you mentioning New Jersey???? I’ve been through Connecticut, from what I saw it’s a very pretty state, so I can’t blame you for wanting to stay where you are at.

Anonymous said...

KRISTI: Taiwan? Now that’s an interesting choice! Why is your sister there? Is she in the military?
You should take a trip to visit her. How great would that be?

STEPHWEISS: You’re right where you want to be, like I told Tricky, that’s the best place to be anyhow.

ALBERT: Only how he looked back then??? I think he’s still pretty darn sexy. I think?

PAULA: Yet another person, exactly where they want to be. I’m a gypsy. I’ve moved so much that I can’t imagine staying anywhere forever. So a year someplace to me would be a drop in the bucket.

MLRAMINIAK: I feel the same way too! I want to go and stay a while so I can soak it all up.

GGAL: Thanks for playing. I think Spain and Greece have similar attributes. At least in Spain, I could make my way around with my rudimentary Spanish. But, gosh, I love Greek food!

VANESSA: You’re not 21! I don’t know why I thought you were older. How old I thought you were I’m not sure. How old are you?

VINCE: Please there has got to be some place. Maybe to Italy to see the Sistine Chapel since you’re such an art aficionado???

Anonymous said...

MERELYP: 9 days in Pennsylvania can be an adventure, of course that depends where you will be going. I’d like to see Quebec someday too. Where I lived in PA our French class went every year but you had to be at least a junior to take French. I took two years of Spanish and switched to French just so I could go on that trip but we moved to Texas the week before the trip. Bummer!!!

Thanks for your advice on all those places. I heard Prague was incredible too!

MUSE: I’m a Mediterranean kind of person. I love the food. The weather sounds perfect and the beaches, oolala.

UBERDUDE: I have been to San Francisco once in the eight years that I have lived in California. It was for work and I flew in when straight to the site, did what I had to do, and left on a plane that afternoon when I was done. I couldn’t tell you a darn thing about San Francisco, other than there’s a cabby out there with really bad fricken breath! lol

DEROSSET – MARY: Yeah, I want to but I’m too chicken shit right now. It’s just too close to all the heat that’s going on over in the Middle East. I figure a lot of American hating crazies will be closer to the action then they would be in some of the more Western countries.

SLO: I still daydream about living in New York! But, I’m too much of a chicken-shit to give it a try. I’d love to do a backpack kind of tour thing in Europe but I’m with you on the train tour this go around. Kevin and I will probably do something very simple like the hostel system. Cheap is me! :-)

Anonymous said...

Italy.  Period.  The books I have read, the travel shows I have watched, the movies I have seen all tell me I need to go.  Tuscany and Venice.

Anonymous said...

I've enjoyed reading your journal.  We've been to the Greek Islands and also Italy.  My favorite place out of our European visits is the Island of Santorini, in Greece.  It's just so picturesque and beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like that would be a great vacation; sun, culture & history all in one spot.  The place I've always wanted to go is Madagascar.. do the eco-tourism thing.  ¤Holly

Anonymous said...

ALPHAWOMAN – MARY: I would love to see Venice too! Something about the water ways around those houses just looks so interesting to me.

PIPPE – Lucky you! I will have to start check out the Island of Santorini. Thank you for the heads up.

HOLLY – Madagascar, that’s a unique choice. I would definitely associate it with ecology, or maybe anthropology too.