#13 - On the road to Rhodes

I have wanted to go to Greece for a long time. The coastal areas are gorgeous and the food is some of my favorite. My in-laws were lucky enough to experience a Greek vacation, and their favorite place was Rhodes. So, for this vacation I choose

Wishful Vacation #13
Rhodes, Greece

Why I imagine I would go to Rhodes:

Rhodes is a gorgeous island off the coast of Greece. At one time, it was home to the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

 

Colossus of Rhodes from The Book of Knowledge, The Grolier Society, 1911 

In 2008, it was announced that they are planning to build a new colossal statue. That would be a wonder to see, huh?

The island has amazing ancient ruins in an absolutely beautiful location. So I'll go. (I wish.)

Photo by Karelj, Creative Commons

Where I imagine I might stay in Rhodes:

In the harbor area of Lindos is a charming small hotel called Melenos-Lindos. The area around the hotel is magnificent. See?

Photo from here.

The outcropping of rock at Lindos is topped by the Temple to Athena, built in 300 BC. Wowzers. The unique architecture of the houses in Lindos was developed in the 17th century, when it was a major trading port.

Melenos-Lindos' accommodations include local artwork and a rustic style. I love the look of this suite:

Photo from here.

The view from those windows! The beams in that ceiling! I love the character that their rooms have. It's a different style than anything I've seen before.

The hotel also has a roof-top restaurant and cooking classes! How fun would that be? The best part of the hotel, though, has to be the artistic details all over the property. It is just amazing. The style is based on the traditional mansions of the area. Love it.

Photo from here.

What I imagine I would eat in Rhodes:

I would eat Greek food, of course! I am hoping for lots of seafood. One positively reviewed Lindos restaurant is To Kamapiko Taverna, pictured below.

This photo of To Kamapiko Taverna is courtesy of TripAdvisor

The restaurant looks as pretty as the hotel! To Kamapiko Taverna is a new restaurant located in a very old house. It seems like small dishes (meze) and plenty of wine are the way to go at this tavern.

Photo by Frente, Creative Commons.

The dish above is feta cheese, olives and bread: a very traditional meze. Simple and delicious. At To Kamapiko Taverna, everyone raves about a dish of mussels with blue cheese. I think I could handle that.

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity in Rhodes:

I would definitely want to check out as many of the ancient sights as possible during my visit to Rhodes. I think I would hire a tour guide to take me around the island to maximize my time. It is a small enough location that seeing most everything would be feasible. I love to be awestruck by something ancient. Rhodes has amazing sights everywhere you look, it seems. I can't wait!

Been to Greece? Where should I go next? If I'm going to keep up wishing I could visit a new place (or two) every week, I need some more ideas!


Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

#12 - Jag kommer till Stockholm!

Today's post is another one inspired by House Hunters International. I like the idea of going to any Scandinavian country. The countries in northern Europe always look so beautiful to me. I hope I can take a trip that hits many of them in one go. To narrow it down for this imaginary vacation, I choose

Wishful Vacation #12
Stockholm, Sweden

Why I imagine I would go to Stockholm:

Stockholm is about 750 years old, which means that there is a lot of history to see. The city is made up of 14 islands, connected by bridges. The scenery is absolutely beautiful.

Photo from here.

There is a well-preserved area called Gamla Stan, which is the medieval city center, where Stockholm was founded in 1252. I would have to check that out! It is rated as one of the best historic places to visit in the world by National Geographic Traveler.

Photo from here.

Stockholm is one of the cleanest cities in the world, as well. It has the first urban national park, the Royal National City Park. Green spaces are integrated into the city's plans, encompassing 30% of the area of the city. The Swedes seem to recognize the benefits of creating a beautiful and clean city. I like their commitment to caring for their environment.

In addition to all of that (which would be enough), Stockholm is home to 100 museums! I think I would find plenty to do during my visit!

Where I imagine I might stay in Stockholm:

I'm so torn about where to stay! If I were a younger person, I think I would not hesitate to pick a hostel. Doesn't it seem so Swedish to stay in a hostel? It seems right. But, in looking at the options, it seems like maybe I should pick an actual hotel and have some actual amenities, since this is a wishful vacation, after all. When choosing a hotel, I'm also torn. If I stayed in Gamla Stan (the old town), I would stay at Rica Hotel Gamla Stan.

Photo from here.

The whole place is furnished with 18th century style and antiques. They have very good reviews and a great location in the old town. That would make for a really unique stay!

I also think staying in an ultra-modern style hotel would be very authentic. I picture Swedish style being simple, clean, and modern.

The Nordic Light Hotel has mood lighting in the rooms. It looks pretty awesome.

Photos from here.

  
I also have to share this room I found at the Nobis Hotel. Not exactly clean and white like I was looking for, but still pretty amazing.

Photo from here.

So that's an option!



What I imagine I would eat in Stockholm:

It would be nice to include a smörgåsbord, a buffet of hot and cold dishes, in my eating plans in Stockholm. Unfortunately, I read that traditional smörgåsbord restaurants are becoming hard to find in the city! One remaining example of the old style is Örtagården. It looks positively charming, and I am looking forward to the buffet of Swedish delicacies: meatballs, potatoes, lots of herring and other seafood, and lots more that I'm sure I would be trying for the first time!

Photo by Per Ola Wiberg

The restaurant, while it serves food in the smorgasbord style, also includes various cuisines from around the world in their buffet.

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity in Stockholm:

While in Stockholm, I would love to spend time at some of the many museums. One definite visit would be to the Vasa Museum. The museum houses an actual warship from the 1600s. It looks so amazing!

Photo from here.

The museum's guided tours detail the history of the ship and the state of Sweden at the time of her construction. I know my husband and son would love this museum, too.

Stockholm seems pretty sweet. I imagine I would have a great time there. Where else should I go? Have you been on any trips that I just must repeat?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

Merry Christmas! - From Austria's Christmas Markets

Sorry for my late Christmas greetings, but things got a little Christmas-y at home, if you know what I mean!

For my Christmas post, I imagine I would like to go to the beautiful, snowy winter markets of Austria. I want to wear a puffy white jacket and a colorful scarf and hat, and drink tons of hot chocolate. I imagine I would let my husband go skiing, if he wants, while I take pictures of the mountain scenery and drink some more hot chocolate!

Photo from here.

Some day, I hope I get to spend part of the holiday season feeling chilly and eating treats while exploring a mountain village in the Alps. It sounds too cute to pass up.

Photo from here.

Merry Christmas and Happy Travels!

xoxo - Erika

#9 - Mom? Dad? Uncle Frank?

It's the holiday season, "the most wonderful time of the year". I love listening to Christmas music and looking forward to all of the fun events and activities. I also love me some Christmas movies, and for me, Home Alone, written by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus, is at the top of the list.

Photo from here.

It is so adorable, silly, and sweet. The music by John Williams is awesome, too. In Home Alone, the whole family leaves poor little Kevin at home alone while they go to Paris. He survives the ordeal, but no one really gets to enjoy Paris because they are all worried about Kevin! So, in honor of Home Alone, for this imaginary trip, I choose

Wishful Vacation #9

Paris, France

Why I imagine I would go to Paris:

I actually have been to Paris before, back in high school. It was pretty amazing then, but I didn't get to spend enough time in the city. Now, I'm married to an awesome man who hasn't been to Europe. I want to go back to Paris with him and explore! I love French food, so that would be another huge reason to go.

Photo by Benh LIEU SONG.

Paris is the capital of France and a very stylish city. It has a long history (the area has remnants of settlements from 4200 B.C.) and some really cool landmarks. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées (pictured above), and the Louvre are all spots I was able to visit the first time I went to Paris. I'd like to visit those again and add to the list! Paris around Christmas-time must be totally gorgeous, too.

Where I imagine I might stay in Paris:

If I'm staying in Paris, I want to stay somewhere with a very classic French style, somewhere like the Plaza Athénée. Built in 1889, the hotel features guest rooms with Louis XVI and Regency-style decor. It's so beautiful! I know that I would feel very fancy staying there.

Photo from here.

Depending on which side of the hotel my room is on, I could have a view of the avenue Montaigne, La Cour Jardin (one of the hotel restaurants' courtyard), the rooftops of Montmartre, or a side view of the Eiffel Tower! I guess I choose the tower. Check out this view!

Photo from here.

A special feature of the Plaza Athenée is their pillow menu! I would have my choice of six different types of pillows, including wheat or de-stressing (whatever that means, I'm sure it's lovely). I want to stay in a room that looks like this:

Photo from here.

Perfectly Parisian, don't you think? I think staying here would be quite a luxurious experience, which leads me right to my next topic.

What I imagine I would eat in Paris:

The Plaza Athenée hotel is also home to Alain Ducasse at Plaza Athénée restaurant. Chef Alain Ducasse has many renowned restaurants around the world, but the closest I've been to eating at one was going to Las Vegas and not eating there. He has a restaurant in Vegas called miX, but it was too expensive! Being this is a dream vacation, and his restaurant is IN my hotel, I think I'll just go ahead and eat there, no?

Photo from here.

On the website, there is a link to his New Year's Eve dinner menu. It sounds pretty delightful. It includes sea scallops, prawns, turbot, and lobster, and you know what a fan of seafood I am! For dessert, there is truffle brie, chocolate, champagne, and citrus. Yummy!

While I'm in France, I want to eat the way the locals do, too. I love French bread, cheese, pastries, cured meats and pates. When I went to Paris in high school, we ate at some random bistro, and I was amazed by the delicious (and simple) roasted chicken and fries. The fries were round potato slices, which just seemed so much better than any fries I had eaten before!

I want to find a bakery like this:

Image from here.

and a bistro like this:

Image from here.

and I want to eat what they have to offer. I think it would be great fun to eat in Paris. They seem to place a bigger emphasis on food quality and meal-time than in America, and I like that a lot. From my experience, they also include chocolate in their breakfasts regularly. Awesome!

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity in Paris:

I think a fun activity to do in Paris would be a walking tour! There are many amazing sights within walking distance, and I have found that walking tours really allow you to take time and see things. Being in another country, it's also nice to be walking among the local people, to get a feeling for the place. In a car or bus it can feel more like a show than a real place. Many companies offer walking tours in Paris. Paris Walks looks like a nice one.

Have you been to Paris? What do you suggest I do there? Do you love Home Alone as much as I do? I didn't think so, most people don't. That doesn't stop me from loving it, though. Let me know where you think I should go next on a wishful vacation!

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

Weekend Wish - Postcard from Matera

#7 - My addiction to House Hunters International

Okay, so I just spent a couple of hours watching HHI. Are you a fan? House Hunters International? It's on about 20 times a day on HGTV. Maybe more. I set my DVR to save five episodes at a time, and if I get a quiet moment, I watch them. The show follows people as they choose one from among three houses to purchase or rent. The international version only shows houses outside of the US. It's a cool glimpse into the lives of people in foreign lands, and I love seeing the variations in house size, price, age, and style.

The episode that inspired this post featured a couple looking for an apartment with an ocean view in Dubrovnik, Croatia. I had heard that this city is beautiful and has become a more popular tourist destination in the last five to ten years. Dubrovnik, which is part of the Dalmatian region of Croatia, has gorgeous old buildings and a really dramatic, rocky coastline. Check it.

Photo by Anna Zgorelec.

Dubrovnik looks like a place I would love to explore. I would love to wander through the tiny alleyways in old town and to visit the amazing Sponza palace and Minceta tower. I don't think I would purchase a home there, but this couple fell in love with it on vacation, so I guess anything is possible!

Photo from here.

Wishful Vacation #7

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Why I imagine I would go to Dubrovnik:

Dubrovnik, the "pearl of the Adriatic," is a very old city. Evidence suggests that this area was settled sometime before the 1st century AD. The city has been under the control of many different empires through history. Coming from America, where we don't really have many ancient structures around, I love the idea of visiting the location of an ancient civilization.

In addition to being historically interesting, Dubrovnik is really beautiful. The sea is deep blue. The color of the stone buildings and terracotta tile roofs remind me of Santa Barbara, California. With more history.

Where I imagine I might stay in Dubrovnik:

I found the website that the couple from the House Hunters episode operate, Dubrovnik Apartment Source. They maintain a listing of rental properties available for vacationers in Dubrovnik. Based on their site, I found some beautiful choices for my stay. I would love to have a sea view and a really relaxing place. Let's see what I can find. . .

All photos of Villa Umbria from here.

Aha! Though this place, Villa Umbria, is located an hour north of Dubrovnik, it is spectacular! I love that the house is made of stone and the ocean view is awesome.

What!? That place is incredible. The inside of the house is also magnificent. It looks handmade and old, and has several big bedrooms. The stonework and arched windows have such great character.

The huge dining room table would be great to have a big family dinner, and there is another huge wooden table on the patio, as well. I think in this imaginary vacation I will bring the whole extended family! It would be such a nice place to hang out together. There is a minimum stay of 5 days. I think I could make that work.


What I imagine I would eat in Dubrovnik:

Dubrovnik features Mediterranean cuisine - lots of seafood, pasta, pizza, polenta - everything cooked with olive oil, garlic and parsley. Imagine coastal southern Italian food. Sounds pretty good to me! Maybe since this is an imaginary vacation, I could hire a chef to come make some food at my rental house and serve it up on the patio. That would be perfection!

Photo by Jerzy Strzelecki, Wikimedia Commons.

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity in Dubrovnik:

The biggest tourist attraction in Dubrovnik is the ancient city walls. The walk around the old town on the walls is a great way to get a good look at the whole city. The walls also overlook the beautiful blue sea, which would be lovely. The walls are old and some of the walk consists of steep stairways. I think I could handle the trek in order to see the views and get up close to such an interesting old structure. I can anticipate a lot of photo opportunities along the way!

Photo by Daniel Ortmann, Wikimedia Commons.

Dubrovnik sure is beautiful! Where should I go on my next imaginary adventure? What is your favorite place to dream about?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

#5 - It is a journey, not a destination

Sometimes when things are really crazy, it is nice to remember that Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, "Life is a journey, not a destination." I am lucky that my husband and I agree on most things. We definitely agree that our work should allow us to do more with our family, and not take us away from them. The daily times we share with each other are the best part of life!
Having said that, it's rough when I'm exhausted and my baby won't sleep! It happens to all of us and it makes me want to go on a journey of the relaxing kind. So, with Emerson's quote in mind, I present for your consideration:

Wishful Vacation #5

Transatlantic Crossing aboard Queen Mary 2

Why I imagine I would go:

On a short trip to Long Beach, CA, my husband and I checked out the old Queen Mary ship. This huge ship was famous for making extremely fast Atlantic crossings, back when that was the only option. Now it is permanently moored in Long Beach and acts as a hotel and tourist destination. My husband and I stayed on board for the night. It was quiet and a little eery. The deco style of the bars and shops and the sense of history I felt there was extraordinary.

The original Queen Mary - photo from here.

Once air travel made ocean crossings nearly irrelevant, there was no longer a competition for fastest passenger ship. Today, the Cunard line ship Queen Mary 2 can make the trip in a week, sailing from New York, NY to Southampton, England (the port nearest London).

I would love to take a transatlantic voyage on Queen Mary 2 because it would give me time to relax and rejuvenate. The trip would also give me a better idea about the width of the Atlantic ocean. I love imagining how things were "back in the day," and this trip would show me how the wealthy used to be able to make the trip across the ocean in style.

Where I imagine I might stay:

The Queen Mary 2's most luxurious accommodations are called Queens Grill suites. Each level of accommodation is connected to a specific restaurant, and these fancy rooms all come with the chance to dine in the Queens Grill restaurant. Booking a Queens Grill suite also allows for early check-in and a snack of champagne and strawberries on arrival to the room. Yes, please!

The picture below shows a Princess Grill suite, but it gives you an idea of how the rooms are furnished. It looks very comfortable and pretty.

Although it's not the largest suite, I like the look of the penthouse suite. It has a nice big balcony for lounging the day away. It looks like the perfect sized room!

What I imagine I would eat:

The Queens Grill restaurant would have a table for two reserved for my husband and me at our designated time in the evening. They have a sample dinner menu on their website. I love reading menus! For my appetizer I would choose Symphony of Salmon Tartar, Shrimp Ceviche on Trumpet Mushroom & Green Asparagus. Sounds pretty fancy. Symphony of some seafood? I'll take it! My salad would be Endive Salad with Asparagus, Honey Ginger Dressing. Endive is one of my faves. My entree selection would be Lobster Américaine Flambé with Cognac, Truffle, Wild Mushroom Risotto and for dessert?? I guess I would have the Chocolate and Raspberry Crêpe Soufflé with Oranges, Vanilla Sauce. Are you hungry yet? I am!

I'm sad to say, I can't find pictures of any of this luscious-sounding food. I guess my imagination will have to do for now.

In addition to the Queens Grill, I could also eat at the Todd English restaurant, or the Golden Lion, which is a British pub-styled restaurant. I'm a fan of Todd English and fish and chips, so I think I would have to try both of those.

There is a tea room for traditional afternoon tea. Love that. My husband and I once enjoyed high tea at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria, BC. The food is so adorable and it's fun feeling fancy, too.

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity:

Cunard created a cheat sheet of things to do while traveling across the ocean. I don't think I would have a problem keeping myself entertained on the ship. They have a guided tour of the trip, which would be a good way to start the journey. I definitely would want to have a massage or two at the Canyon Ranch spa.

I would love to take a cooking class at the Chef's Galley and to enjoy a 12-course tasting menu of Asian food at Lotus restaurant.

I think the best idea of all (and I'd have some work to do convincing my husband of this) is to get dressed up and participate in the Black and White Ball! I rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to wear a ball gown and to "feel like royalty" as they say. I think this would be my chance! How fun would that be? (Maybe my husband can spend some time playing virtual golf at Pebble Beach in the golf simulator as a fair trade for me getting to go to the ball!)

Have you taken a cruise? This would be my first. Where else should my imagination take me?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika

Weekend Wish - Postcard from Barcelona

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Happy Halloween! - A Haunted Castle

I don't usually write blog entries on Monday, but in honor of Halloween, I thought I should take an imaginary bonus trip to an old haunted castle. There are many castles to choose from in Europe, most of which have had bloody histories. Time to look for some ghosts! This Halloween, I choose to visit


Old Wardour Castle, near Shaftsbury, Wiltshire, in Great Britain

Image from here.

Look at that place! Imagine walking around that building at night! The castle was built in 1393, and eventually became the home of the Arundell family. During the civil war, the castle was damaged. In 1643, an army of 1300 men came to take hold of the castle, which was held only by a woman and her 25 servants and housekeepers.

The army figured it would be a simple siege, but the woman, Lady Blanche Arundell, held the house for nine more days! She surrendered after the forces set off two mine explosions in the castle.

Image from here.

Legend has it that although Lady Blanche and her men surrendered to the Parliamentary troops, the castle was sacked and they were all executed. It is said that her ghost walks the grounds to this day. She is most often seen walking toward the river that runs by the castle.

This ghost story does not seem to be entirely true, but I am not sure that any of them are! Being in a creepy place at night makes me believe in ghosts. If I think enough about it, it's hard to keep believing, but a good ghost story now and then is exciting. And scary.  Have you ever seen a ghost? Or something that you couldn't explain? Happy Halloween!

Weekend Wish - Postcard from the State Historical Museum of Russia

#1 - My First Daydream Vacation

Welcome aboard Wishful Vacationing. I realize you have a choice in imaginary vacation blogs, and I am so happy you chose to read mine!

But really, with two children who could both be considered babies, I don't get out as much as I sometimes would like. I've been daydreaming about taking an amazing vacation. The other day, I bought a world map at a garage sale, and I asked myself where I would go if I could go anywhere in the world. You see, in my imagination, I can go anywhere. It's a very tough decision.

I asked my 2-year-old son where he would go. He said, "S." That's his favorite letter and one of his favorite words to say - he's not much of a talker yet. "S," I thought. That sounds great! Maybe he meant Sweden! Or Spain. South Africa? Singapore? Saudi Arabia? Possibly Suriname. Does El Salvador count? I guess until he learns some new words, I'll have to make the decisions about our destination. The only problem is that I can't come up with a number one spot. There are so many places I haven't been, it seems like I'll just have to select one at random. I guess I might as well start with "S" after all. And so, I choose

Wishful Vacation #1
Lucerne, Switzerland

Why I imagine I would go to Lucerne:

Lucerne is in the center of Switzerland, in a region filled with lakes. The city is on a lake also named Lucerne. It looks absolutely gorgeous.

Image from here.

Lucerne is an old city with some incredible historic buildings, including a covered wooden bridge. Chapel Bridge was built in 1333 and is the oldest covered bridge in Europe. The bridge features paintings of historic scenes on the inside that date back to the 17th century. Sweet! Lucerne also includes an old town area with eight watchtowers, which sounds pretty rad.

One famous Lucerne landmark is a rock carving of a dying lion, created to commemorate the Swiss soldiers who died in the French Revolution. It looks very dramatic and I would like to check it out in person.



My toddler would definitely appreciate the city's transportation museum, filled with trains and planes. I can't even imagine how many times I would hear the word "truck" during that visit. And look, that big plane has an "S" on it!



Lucerne sits in the perfect place for a tourist to venture out into the surrounding lakes and mountains. Check out the cool idea I have for a fun activity at the end of the blog!

Where I imagine I might stay:

If I want to stay in the city, the Astoria Hotel downtown looks very modern, beautiful, and white. It has rooms by designers Herzog and De Meuron.

Image from here.

Across the lake from downtown, is the Seehotel Hermitage. I think it would be incredible to see downtown across the water every night from my room!

Image from here.

It appears that the Swiss enjoy nice white bed linens, and so do I!

What I imagine I would eat:

According to one source, food in Switzerland is very expensive. Lucky for me, that doesn't much matter when you are only visiting in your dreams! In Lucerne, I might eat at the Thai restaurant in the Astoria Hotel or the trendy Kaiten sushi bar. But that wouldn't make any sense at all, would it? I think I would like something more locally authentic, like Old Swiss House, built in 1859. I think I'd have the Tera, a fish caught in Lake Lucerne, or maybe wienerschnitzel. In either case, the restaurant looks super cute.



Apparently, there is also a wide variety of good take-out and fast food from all over the world available in the city. Sounds good to me!

What I imagine I would do as a fun activity:

I think it would take a little boldness on my part, but one activity I just couldn't pass up in Lucerne is a mountain railway ride! There is an amazing mountain railroad on Pilatus, the dragon mountain. How badass does that sound!? And the Pilatus railway is not your average ride - it is, in fact, the world's steepest cogwheel train! After making it to the top of the mountain, I can take an aerial cable car ride back down. I don't think I'm afraid of heights, but I think this ride might put me to the test!

Image from here.

Seriously. That mountain and train both look hardcore and awesome.

So, that is a small taste of what awaits in my imaginary vacation to Lucerne. Have you ever been to Switzerland? Have any suggestions for my trip? What about other places around the world? Where should I imagine vacationing next?

Happy travels!

xoxo - Erika