OUR 10 DREAMED TRIPS: OR THE TRAVEL DREAMS WE (STILL) HAVEN'T FULFILLED

2020 was shaping up to be one of our most eventful travel years -_-. We celebrated the New Year in Thailand with good company, and spent a few months escaping the cold winter in Japan. But then the pesky virus hit and left us separated: Lety was in Korea, discovering a city, Seoul, that can't wait to see again, and Rober confirmed that Myanmar, despite the changes, was still one of his favorite countries. And everything took a turn for the worse. Short-term plans vanished, but we remain hopeful that sooner rather than later, we can pack our bags again and fulfill some of those travel dreams, like the 10 we share in this post.

We should warn you that there are only 10, but the places or travel experiences that we have in mind are almost endless. These are the 10 that we are most eager to do and explore, and some that we have had to postpone due to circumstances. So here are the 10 dreamed travels or travel dreams that we haven't completed (yet) and hopefully will soon:

Going on a safari in Africa sounds like a classic, we know. But it's one of those trips that should be etched in memory forever. Being able to connect in some way with the most authentic part of this world, to admire the greatness of nature (without having to turn on National Geographic), feeling awe at the gaze of a lion... it must be exhilarating. And since we're at it, we would choose to travel to South Africa or Tanzania (or both hehe).

Or at least the legendary cities where the caravans of this mythical route used to pass. Rober has always been interested in ancient Persia, partly due to books like Samarkand and The Physician, and Uzbekistan has long been on our travel dreams list; in fact, we already had our flight to Tashkent booked... But, damn Covid! Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand, celestial domes, carved doors, singing minarets, hot tea, and apparently, wonderful people. What we're missing out on!

Update! We finally fulfilled this travel dream and at the end of 2021 we took an amazing trip to Uzbekistan!

Polynesian culture, green landscapes, and the feeling of being lost in the middle of nowhere are three very enticing reasons for us. But let's be honest, another big reason to travel to the other side of the world would be to lounge on its pristine beaches and dive into its crystal-clear waters; we might not be beach lovers, but we're not that indifferent! A month exploring several islands in French Polynesia sounds great, doesn't it?

South America is another one of our great travel dreams. Inexplicably. We share the language, we love the food, we're drawn to the culture, and what little we've seen of the South American continent (Colombia) we loved. So why haven't we returned? In fact, we had planned a trip to Peru this year (and perhaps Ecuador and Bolivia) so it's likely to become our priority once travel is possible again.

Update 2022: We just returned from an incredible trip to Ecuador (including Galápagos), Peru, and Bolivia

Oh, we almost forgot, Lety's lifelong travel dream is to set foot on Easter Island. And... shhh, don't tell Rober, but I've been trying to convince him to go to Brazil (so far I haven't succeeded, so send positive thoughts).

Lety would stay in Kathmandu eating momos, but Rober can't die without experiencing some of the treks that cross the valleys and mountains of Nepal. And what the heck, it's Asia... and we love Asia, and Nepal is one of the countries we still haven't explored on the continent. Everything is somewhat studied (right, Felipe?) because we better not wait too long; the years weigh on us more and more!

We discovered van life in New Zealand, realized that it's a lifestyle we really enjoy in the United States, and in Australia, and are certain that sooner or later we will buy a camper to travel around Europe. And for weekends near home... there's no need to go all the way to Norway to enjoy the small great things that life on the road offers

We have never seen the Northern Lights (delicious) and the truth is we also haven't done much to compensate for this travel gap :-p But it's one of those experiences that everyone should live at least once, and we know from other travelers that watching the 'Lady of the North' dance is so mesmerizing that (almost) everyone does it again. There must be a reason for that, right?

Our first foray into Russia made it clear that we would return: this country is so vast and different that it's unfair to be left with just the image of Moscow and St. Petersburg. And what better way to explore it than on the legendary Trans-Siberian? This train covers a distance of nearly 10,000 km from Moscow to the last Russian city: Vladivostok. Although if we had to choose, we would almost prefer to take the Trans-Mongolian route, which crosses the vast steppes of Mongolia before arriving in Beijing. A travel dream that we are sure many share with us

Although we know many corners of both, there are still many trips to make there... and both Italy and Spain are countries with such an immense tourist offer that it's almost impossible to know them completely. But we have resolved to at least try. Do you realize how lucky we are to live in such attractive places? And what about our cuisines? And the good weather? Ahhhh, we can't wait to go for a little trip, please!

We are aware that fulfilling this travel dream isn't so easy (and let's not even talk about the costs) but being able to walk on the sixth continent, see penguins in the wild, and marvel at the pristine whiteness of Antarctica is one of those longings that many travelers share. Plus, there are cheaper options than the typical cruise; Javi from Mi aventura viajando visited Antarctica on a ship from the Chilean Navy!

That's it for our travel dreams... although phew, there are a thousand more... Visiting Yellowstone National Park, reaching Uluru in the heart of Australia, spending a day in Hallstatt, taking a van trip through southern France, returning to our beloved Balkans and our beloved Southeast Asia, traveling through Turkey, Israel, Jordan - wow! The world is so big and beautiful 0_o

What's your greatest travel dream?