When I was a little girl my Mum (like most Mums in the 90s) went through a phase of buying Readers Digest books. Looking back they must’ve had a big influence on me – books about alternative healing, crystals and herbs – books about seeds, plants and flowers – books about baking and styling and collecting. Of all of them, my favourite book was one called Strange World – Amazing Places.
for as long as I’ve been able to read about the World, I’ve dreamt of exploring it
I read that book most nights, hid it under my pillow – it was a book of dreams. I treated it like a menu in an ‘all you can eat’ restaurant. My eyes moved greedily around the pages.
it was a book of dreams
I’d start with a warm, spicy stay in Marrakesh. I’d take in the markets, learn about the cuisine and make friends for life. From there I’d head back to Europe – sashaying my way from country to country. First Mont St-Michel, it’s walls steeped with centuries of prayer, then on to the unspoilt beaches of Sicily, the steamy craters of Mount Etna, then finally Germany – Neuschwanstein, the most beautiful fairytale castle in the World.
I’d round it all off by backpacking around Tibet, slowly, gently acclimatising to their way of life – I’d stay as long as I could. Perhaps tomorrow I’d try the Amazon.
These days I imagine would-be explorers get ideas from Pinterest but I grew up in a time before smart-phones and for as long as I’ve been able to read about the World, I’ve dreamt of travelling. Life of course had other ideas, but I still feel the draw of the places in that book. Wanderlust still rages strong!
We’ve been on some adventures together – our little family. Together we’ve visited four continents – mountains, swamps, tropics and deserts and I’m very grateful. We took a bit of a break after Dorothy was born and my health deteriorated, but Phill and I have decided to start ticking destinations off our bucket list again. We’d hoped to begin with Iceland and the Northern Lights – somewhere I’ve wanted to go since I was a very little girl with my nose in a very big book and an experience that graced the top of both of our bucket lists, but sadly Covid had other ideas!
I was a very little girl with my nose in a very big book
What’s at the top of your travel bucket list?
Love Rachel ❤️
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