Yesterday a site called Twisted Sifter posted their top 100 photos of 2012. There are some really creative photos in the mix, but the ones that truly moved me were of locations I had never heard of or seen before. They struck me as a few of the places I’d love to visit in my lifetime. For the cities, I’d like to settle down and live among the locals for the week. For the vistas, I’d like to sit and write and soak in the beauty as long as possible. And for the restaurant…well, I want to eat there.
I have many other places I’d like to visit and experience, but here are five that I’d like to share with you today. I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve been to any of these places or if you have any bucket list destinations you’d like to share.
1. Gásadalur Village: This little gem in the Faroe Islands (I had to look it up too–they’re between Scotland and Iceland, and you have to take a specific route to get there like in Lost or you’ll end up in Greenland with Walt) would be beautiful enough as it is. But then you add in that waterfall, and suddenly I have a naturection. I want to write there and eat whatever weird food they serve (I’m guessing it involves fish buried underground for 12 days and then served over cow tonsils. And I want it in my belly).
Photograph by GARETH CODD PHOTOGRAPHY on Flickr
2. Bern: When I think of Switzerland, I think of the rolling hills of the Sound of Music, not “place that looks like Euro-style board games.” But if this city were a board game, I’d play it all day. Also, I’d love to write here. I’m sure I’d end up getting into some In Brugges-style hijinks here, but the permanent limp and nipple scars would totally be worth it.
Photograph via loki010 on Reddit
3. The Redwoods Treehouse: When I was little, I was fascinated by redwood trees. So tall, so old, and so majestic. I’ve never seen them in person, and what better way to do so than this incredible restaurant in the canopy. They no longer serve food to individuals, but book a party of 30 and you’re in. Destination wedding in New Zealand, anyone? (Note to readers: That does not count as a marriage proposal. But the first lady to say yes in the comments wins a lifetime of this (*gestures to pale, skinny, hairy-in-the-wrong places, hairless-in-the-other-wrong places body*).
4. Cinque Terre: This tiny town is either located in Italy or a fantasy novel where the color of your house indicates the type of magic you’re capable of. Either way, I want to live here for a week among the spiraling buildings, the warm Mediterranean Sea, and the topless women. I bet the seafood is amazing too.
5. Beachy Head Chalk Cliff: This place sounds like a type of viral dandruff, but it’s so much more than that. I’ve honestly never seen anything like this. Apparently–and unfortunately–a lot of people commit suicide off of this thing. I wonder if people seek it out as a place to commit suicide, or if the human instinct when you get to the edge is to give in to that fear of jumping you get when you’re on top of something really tall. Or maybe they just think that there’s a glorious land of chocolate rivers and trampolines below those clouds (in reality I think there’s a gas station and a Captain D’s down there). Regardless, like the other places on this list, I want to go to there.
Photograph by RHYS DAVIES
Where do you want to go to there?*
*“I want to go to there” is a joke from 30 Rock, perhaps even the most repeated line from that show. Someday it will become grammatically correct.