Top Ten Places On My 'To Visit' List

While I have been many places, there is so much more of the world I wish to discover. London/Stonehenge and Australia were on the top of the list since childhood and I finally got to see those glorious places this past year. They were every bit as amazing as I had always thought they would be. I am sure the rest will not disappoint either...

Hungary -  I have long been enamoured of gypsies and oft times lean toward the colorful flowy skirts depicted in tales about them. Hungary also has a history rich in castles, which have always fascinated me. Thankfully, we are slated to spend our vacation in Budapest come June, and then drive from there to the next place on my list...

Romania - This is all about Vlad the Impaler and my warped interests in him. He is the basis for the Dracula legends (or many think.) I simply must visit his castle. Even if it were not for the whole Dracula thing, I am fascinated with his history. While much of the world remembers him as a bloodthirsty warmonger, the people of Romania regard him as a hero. I cannot wait until June!

Wales, Scotland, Ireland - Since these three are all in the general vicinity of each other, I am hoping to eventually make a long trip of it and explore the whole area in one go. My ancestry is half German (Where I have been already) and half Scots-Irish. This one will be trickier since we were in the UK last June. It is going to take some coaxing on my part to get my husband back that general direction soon...

Egypt -  I want to see the pyramids. I really want to go to Giza. Unfortunately, my husband spent his entire military career there and has some deeply ingrained prejudices for the region, so this will entail getting my daughter to go with me. I keep it on the short list, but having to pay for her as well from the US is gonna be pricey. Where there is a will, there's a way, no?

Greece - This is not so far away from Sweden in the scheme of things, and it is also a place my husband has already been and likes. This one is very doable, quite possibly within this year. I have seen numerous pictures of the place and it enchants me.

France - Technically I have been here. I landed at CDG. My feet touched the soil and I gave them generous amounts of money for a few items. Still. I wish to leave the damn airport one of these times and actually see the city. Plus, I read an article like 9 years ago about this little village 20 minutes outside Paris that transforms into a huge live-it, breath-it Medieval town every summer. I simply must see this. I almost went last July while my son was there, but he got busy with friends so we never did solidify meeting arrangements. The brat.

 Rome - I would like to see Italy in general, and yes of course Venice, but Rome is the city there that really captures my interest. I am not religious at all, in fact I lean more towards the anti-religion side of the coin, but that does mean I am not interested in the history of it all. Besides, they have such very cool ruins to explore.

Norway -  This is just silly, and is really at the top of my list simply because of proximity. That I have not been to Oslo yet is pure idiocy, as close as it is to me in Sweden. It is a gross oversight on my part. How could I not want to see the country which gave birth to Soren Rask, after all? Perhaps I can also arrange to meet Trine and buy more paintings from here while I'm there.

Finland - Oh do stop groaning. Again, this is ridiculous on my part for not having already made my way there. Helsinki is a train and ferry away from me. Not real costly at all. There is a long-held rivalry between the Finnish and the Swedish. I wish to see the place for myself so I know what everyone is laughing about. Well ok, there is Lordi to laugh at, but I mean besides that...