Galapagos Islands

I love birds, and one of my favorites are on this island. They are called Waved Albatross. They have to use a runway to take off just like a plane, since they are very awkward on land, but perfect and graceful in the sky. They have long wingspans and can live a long time in the air.
They do come to the  island to mate, and have elaborate beak fighting (or beak dancing if you prefer) as part of their courtship ritual to see if they are compatible, or to renew their bond each year. Once they find their mate they will stay with them until they die.

Another beautiful bird is the Blue Footed Boobie. These also beautiful.

There are also hawks, penguins, finches, cormorants, frigate birds, and mockingbirds.
This is not counting the tortoises, lizards and underwater animals.

Also the islands are just beautiful. You can take a cruise and stay on ship at night. This would be a great dream vacation for me.

If you can please watch The Life of Birds with David Attenbouorgh, The whole show is wonderful, and he has great segments on Albatrosses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBZkNwer7Co

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flDL2ZQtK8I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6EZN4szlqM

Mansfield, Missouri

I know this might not be the location most people dream about visiting, but I would love to see Rocky Ridge Farm where Laura and Almanzo Wilder lived.
You may know Laura Ingals Wilder from the Little House books, which I strongly recommend to everyone to read, no matter what age.
Almanzo wasn't a tall man, and built the house himself perfect for his height. It was the second house he built as the first one burned down in De Smet, Sd (where I also want to visit as Laura's fathers home is still there.)

laura ingalls wilder and almanzo

rocky ridge farm

A great reason to go would be to see Pa's fiddle. He played it many times as Laura was growing up to help them get through rough, and happy times. He was an amazing man.

pa's fiddle

 This would be a great vacation for me, though I'm sure it wouldn't be for everyone.

Please don't confuse the books with the TV show which I never could watch, it is not a fair or even a decent representation of the books.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPY9IIGAvgU

Arles, France

What does a Roman Amphitheater and obelisque, Vincent Van Gogh, beautiful old buildings, and the Rhine have in common? That is Arles, France pronounced without the S.
I know I use  the phrase "so beautiful" a great deal on my blog, but this city is so beautiful.
They still have events inside the Amphitheater. I cannot imagine the wonder of going inside, and actually watching a performance, or to just to go inside. To think of all the people through out time who have walked inside, and who had hopes and dreams and feelings just like we do-- it just astounds my mind.
 I would love to meet these people at Starbucks, and over coffee speak of both worlds. I know anyone who actually reads this would think Starbucks, why not a cafe in Arles with a beautiful view. I live in Texas so the closest cafe I have is a Starbucks, and believe there is one every couple of miles.

Another very strong reason for me to go to Arles is that Vincet van Gough stayed there and painted hundreds of  paintings about the city. I love his art, and to go to the place where he drew his inspiration would be--words could not describe. I found this picture of a scene he painted and a scene from today. I thought was amazing.

When you add in amazing older buildings, and the Rhine, then how could anyone go wrong visiting here.
So again this would be a dream vacation for me.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

I can't believe this is 130 years old, I have never heard about it. This is so beautiful, and I would love to see it. Another dream for me to have. It is in Milan, which I would love to visit, but that is another story.

Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what yo will.                                
George Bearnard Shaw

The Galleria at Christmas

Galleria Vittorio  in Milan

Prince Edward Island

From the first time I read Anne of Green Gables I have wanted to visit PEI. The pictures are so beautiful--of the beaches, houses and trees.


Lucy Maud Montgomery is a wonderful writer, and adults can enjoy her books too. I didn't read them until I grew up, though some may argue that point in my life hasn't arrived yet!

The beauty of the island shines through her books, and calls my name to come and visit. 

PEI

PEI

PEI

The cost from Texas would be close to 3,500 USD, for 2 people for 7 days if booked through a travel agent for hotel and flight.

It would be such a dream of mine to go, and sometimes dreams are better than the real thing.


“Because when you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worth while.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Monaco

MONACO

When I think of Monaco, I always think of James Bond gambling at one of the casinos in Monte Carlo.

 the Monaco Grand Prix is very famous.

I could get by with nothing but walking and sight seeing. Sitting in a cheap outside cafe and people watching. Staying on the beach, and watching the expensive yachts move about.

G



Most flight and hotel packages I've pretended to book, hmm I mean looked up are over 10,000 US dollars, which is a dream vacation for me.

A few fun facts about Monaco:

Citizens do not pay tax, but they they also are not allowed to gamble, so this would be a hard toss up with so many casinos

Natives are called Monegasque, which is also the name of a language spoken there along with English, Italian, and French.

Second smallest country in the world, with the Vatican the first (which I still have a hard time understanding why this is a country)

Lord Hercules 1 of Monaco, a noted ladies man, was supposedly murdered by a gang of irate husbands and fathers.

There are more policemen per person than any other country = no crime.

“Walt Disney World is nearly 30,000 acres, or 48 square miles. That is more than 80 times the size of Monaco. Grace Kelly would have been queen of a larger and wealthier, kingdom if she'd married Uncle Walt instead of Prince Rainier.”  ― Eve Zibart, 

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Saint Augustine

I would love to travel, but I don't have the means to do so. I am very blessed to have what I have, and God is very good to me, so I only dream of travel, and will post all the places I want to see.

If I could go anywhere the first place I would go is Machu Picchu. There is a train to the top, but it is quite expensive.

 Staying 5 days for two people is very expensive even for just the lodgings there. I think it would be almost 3,000 to 5,000 to go to Peru from Texas, and travel the train and stay at the Sanctuary Lodge for two people.








This is my most coveted dream vacation. If you have been there, please tell about it

“Machu Picchu is a trip to the serenity of the soul, to eternal fusion with the cosmos, there we feel our own fragility. It is one of the greatest marvels of South America … ” – Pablo Neruda