Dream Trip Giveaway

It may be known that I don't like February so much - winter bleakness bums me out! - so it's a time rife with fantasy.

I block weeks out of my calendar with things like "Go to California" when I haven't booked a ticket or made real plans.

I ask myself things like, "If you could go anywhere next month, if money and time were not obstacles, where would you go and why?"

Then I answer.

I'd go to Bali. I'd go there because I hear it is beautiful, colorful and sacred, and when the winter blahs come after me, I need those precious things.

I also go around asking others that same question. Hearing about others' dream trips gives me a little boost of excitement. Plus it helps me know them better.

So, to you, I ask this question.

"If you could go anywhere next month, if money and time were not obstacles, where would you go and why?"

Answer in a comment here on the Journey Juju blog and you'll be entered into a drawing for copies of my e-books, The Creative Toolkit for Travelers and The Graceful Return: Relish Your Adventure After You've Come Home.

By the way, after I declared that I wanted to go to Bali, I was invited to go speak at a writing workshop there. Unfortunately I'll be in Rome in October, but I can't help thinking it was a bit of journey juju, n'est-ce pas?

Share your dream trip here so you can enjoy your dream and real trips even more. And maybe invoke some of your own journey juju!

One winner will be drawn at random from comments left here before March 1st, 2010. Tell your friends - help everyone defeat winter blahs with luscious travel fantasies!

Bonus giveaway! Name the locations of the first two photos above and I'll give you a copy of The Creative Toolkit for Travelers for being extra clever. The last photo was taken in Portugal, near Sintra.

Comments

[Donna Druchunas]

I'd go to Lithuania because I've always wanted to be there in winter, and I'd go to England because I can hardly waiting until June to get there! I'll be in both places this summer, so it's just a bit of patience that I need right now! Good thing I'm busy all the way up to my trip.

[Clara]

Argentina. I've always wanted to go, and this is the time of year to do it. My first language is Spanish, and when I was a little girl, in Cuba, my mother often played records by Carlos Gardel, who was dubbed 'El Rey del Tango' (the King of Tango). My mother would take me in her arms and we'd do an ersatz tango around the room.

Although it's unclear whether he was born in Uruguay or France, Gardel lived in Argentina from the time he was a child, and was idolized in Latin America and Europe. He died in 1935 in an airplane crash, and his death was mourned through South American similarly to the way the French mourned the death of Victor Hugo. You can listen to one of his most famous tangos, 'Volver,' here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5JQ1m3mxKw

Thanks for the giveaway!

[Dora Ficher]

Cynthia, you post the coolest questions. If $ or time were no object , I would probably go to Spain. I have not been there and with a whole month available I could really visit and spend time in Barcelona, Madrid, costa del Sol, Malaga....and so on. The weather is perfect in March to be in Spain. Your 2nd picture is in San Francisco. The 1st one I'm not sure, but I tend to think Amsterdam???
I could probably also be in Puerto Vallarta, where I have spent many weeks in March. One of my all time relaxing places. :)

[Dora]

Clara, I am from Argentina. It is an awesome place to visit. There is so much to see and do not only in Buenos Aires but all over. I love Carlos Gardel's tangos. My dad who is now 88 met Gardel because my grandfather (a musician) used to play the violin in his orchestra when he first moved to Argentina from Russia.
Plan a trip to go there! It's worth it!

[Dale Anne]

I would LOVE to go to Australia. I have a penpal that I started writing to in 1967 and we've never met.

[Cynthia Morris]

Donna, patience, patience, you will be there!

Clara, thanks for the beautiful evocation of Argentina and tango! It's cool to see you and Dora connect over that colorful place. I've never been but Dora is encouraging me to go there!

Dora, you could spend a wonderful month in Spain. I particularly want to go to Barcelona; it's been years since I've been there and it's quite popular now.

Dale Anee - that's a seriously long-term penpal! I'm impressed! Have you started a savings fund for your trip to Oz?

[Lisa Morales]

I would return to Brazil! l am interested in improving my Portuguese ( I am an interpreter) and I absolutely adore Brazilian music!

[Kim Ritner]

Bora, Bora. I can picture myself on a warm tropical island and I've never been there. It's on my list of places to go.

First picture: France?
Second picture: San Francisco, Golden Gate Bridge in background.

[Cynthia Morris]

Brazil! That sounds like fun!

Kim, Yes, that is SF. Yes, that is France, but you need to be more specific about the location to win the prize!

[Dora]

Wow! I was way off with the 1st picture. Is it Roquebrun, France?

[Kim Ritner]

One of the pull offs on Lincoln Blvd, probably above China Beach in San Francisco. And I think Avignon, France.

[Julie Thompson]

Oh I *love* the idea of Bali!! In a warmer time I would love to see Mongolia - beautiful, captivating country!

[Jenny]

England. That is where my soul is at home and my creativity soars! I was there as a college student and it was a transformative semester. My heritage is Celtic and my artwork is inspired by myth and folklore... I am who I am today because of that period in my formative years!

[Wendy Edsall-Kerwin]

Right now I would really like to go to South Africa. It would just be getting into Fall there in March and it would be lovely to visit the wineries at that time of year. Also, I think that I need a bit of adventure and would love a small safari and trip to the carnivore restaurant. I know that's a bit touristy, but it would still be fun! Plus, with the World Cup coming up I bet their tourism infrastructure is pretty good right now.

[Laurel Jean Becker]

I would love to go to Kenya, but the State Department does not recommend that now. However, I also would like to see Tuscany. I have a friend who feel in love with that part of Italy, and I want to see why.

[Martina]

Hi Cynthia,
I would like to make (and dream of it every single day) a roundtrip all over the United States. At least for 8 weeks, maybe more. On the days we are not hit the road my husband and I would work with laptops and pen and paper on our knees (because we love our work and don´t want to be without)in nice diners, coffeeshops or at the poolsides of gorgeous hotels. Our route follows invitations of wonderful people who invites us, because they like what we have to offer. I´m a drawing artist, my husband is a filmmaker. And we were granted a come-and-go-when-ever-you-like-visa from the US Government for our whole lifes. (We are German Citizens and right now we are only allowed to stay 3 months per year in the US.)We would visit the Arizona deserts, Seattle, Washington of course, Cape Cod and so many other wonderful places. :)
Have fun in Amsterdam !!!!

[Douglas]

I would go back to medieval hilltop town of Bergamo, Italy. Specifically, the upper ancient Città alta. It is a truly magical place.

[Moira]

Before this morning, I might have said a return to Chile - the northern coast: La Serena. I spent a weekend there several years ago, and it wasn't long enough.

Greek Isles - beach, water, casual lifestyle and a month to relax and take it all in.

[Anne Randolph]

You are fearless. The creative spirit leads you, my hero. I would love to win some of your material. Opened email today.
Anne Randolph www.KitchenTableWriting.com

[Cynthia Morris]

It's been so much fun reading about your dream trips! It's like haiku armchair travel- small clips of travel dreams that take me around the globe.

Thank you for sharing your dream here. I will be writing soon about how to make those dream trips easier to realize.

Stay tuned! I'll announce the winner of the drawings and the photo id contest tomorrow.