So let’s say you’ve just won a squazillion dollars in the lottery. And you’ve never had the chance to travel overseas before. But you DO have some hobbies or interests that a trip OS would slot in with quite nicely*
Mine would be visiting every single country (and regions of countries) to try the very best of their culinary offerings. I’d also take cooking classes to enhance the experience. I want kobe beef in Japan, grilled octopus in Greece, peking duck in China, schnitzel in Austria, enchilladas in Mexico etc etc. I’ll pass on the lutefish of Norway though, thanks anyway.
What’s your ‘thing’ that you would want to travel the world for?
Castles. I have always been a fan of castles, but have never visited a real one. I realise that there are hundreds across Europe, and after a while it might get a bit samey, so I’m sure I could find a way to mix it up a bit with, I don’t know, ports or other historic fortifications, and archaeology maybe.
Anyway, that would be my main excuse for it. A bit of art and culture would mix with the history quite well, though.
Visit locations from video games, mostly concentrating on the US and Japam…
Washington, DC and Bethesda, MD. Las Vegas, Primm, and Goodsprings, NV (gambling in multiple casinos in Vegas and Primm, having a drink at the Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings), and Nipton, CA (buying a lottery ticket, there). Hoover Dam.
Shibuya, Tokyo. Challenging myself and my traveling companions to get from one landmark to another within certain time limits, daily for a week. Shirakawa, Gifu…just sight-seeing. (Not officially a video game location, but the basis for the location of a VN.)
As I’ve gotten older and illnesses taken hold, my ambitions for the lottery have grown smaller. I’d hit some hospitals to get the best possible care, then having (hopefully) improved my health some, I’d do some relatively modest things. I would like a place in NYC, so that I could see shows, museums and such, take advantage of what it offers. If I had a gazillion (spellcheck corrected this word, interesting) dollars, I’d try to get a place in the Dakota, just because of it’s history, and because Agent Pendergast had a place there
I don’t even know what the Dakota looks like inside, but I imagine, for the money they ask, it would live up to my needs. For all I know, it isn’t terribly close to access to concerts and shows, but I guess that’s what limos are for. It’s near Central Park, so it had that going for it, which is nice.
I think I’d use my money to see lots of shows and concerts, and throw it around so that I could get the seats the plebs aren’t ever given access to (sold out/accounted for before they even go on sale), or maybe backstage passes.
I wouldn’t ONLY live in NYC. I’d have a place in my hometown, and on the West Coast, I think. Never been there. I’d attempt to use some of my money to make more money, just to see how much easier it is when you start out rich. I’d pick a pet charity or 3.
Hah, lottery ticket. Nice. Better hope you win.
I’d like to spend some time in D.C. as well, particularly at the Smithsonian.
Kambuckta, I’m going to say your choice goes without saying, 'cause ya gotta eat anyway. Culinary exploration would be a big one for me, sure. But knocking that out as a “given,” I’d have to say visual arts. Show me your museums, from your fine art through architecture through archeology, but teach me what has changed and what’s relevant in your country now, what’s hot, what’s standard, what’s cliche; show me your brightest minds, and let me take a class with one of the best. (I’d say the same for dance, but I’m too decrepit right now for that to do much good.)
Fill in the countries Ive never been to before. The main points would be New Zealand, Mongolia, Pakistan, Niger, and the Czech Republic. (I was in Czechoslovakia several times, but only in Slovakia). Also, hire a boat for a cruise of the Pacific and Caribbean island nations., which I’ve mostly missed.
Every tropical island likely to disappear as the oceans rise. Every Buddhist country. Then every British museum. And then, …well, I could go on like this all day!
My theme would be post-apocalypse. I’d see any ruins or empty buildings, no matter if they were of castles, of modern buildings, or ancient Rome. Plus, they’d have to rebuild after the apocalypse so I’d also want to see any 30s-70s “brutalist”/“modernist” concrete structures since that’s what I imagine apocalyptic-era buildings to look like.
If I had a second goaround, I’d see a lot of caves (even though all things considered America probably has the highest total “spectacularity” cave-wise). After taking every cave tour in America, I’d also go see the caves in Vietnam, and the western balkans/eastern alps , especially Škocjan Caves. Google Image that and you can see why I want to see that. It looks like a blatant homage to … well, you’ll see!
I’d love to go on some “herping” expeditions. (No, it has nothing to do with herpes, it’s herpetology. :p) I’m fascinated by reptiles, especially exotic ones, but know perfectly well I don’t have the money and space to properly keep one as a pet, so I like to visit zoos and pet stores. Actually exploring and seeing these amazing animals in the wild, and the variety across the world, would be fantastic.
And since there’s nothing guaranteeing I’d ever really see a single reptile on my expeditions, I’d probably be visiting a lot of zoos too.
I’m the same way. I’ve turned down chances to visit Germany, the U.K., and Iceland. I like to go to Caribbean beaches and eat the best that area has to offer.
I could see me doing some cannabis tourism though.
I choose miniatures. I don’t actually collect miniatures or anything like that. But, well, I’m not much of a shopper, and I’m not too big on galleries and architecture and all. But one thing that HAS captivated my interest when I come across it is miniatures. For instance, dollhouses and small replicas of buildings are somehow more fascinating to me than the buildings themselves. Seeing mundane household items in miniature is suddenly interesting.
Around Christmastime, a place near my house hosts a show every year, where manger scenes from all around the world are displayed, and you see how each culture adds its own flavor to the scene of miniature animals and people. It’s such a cool thing to look at, so I imagine seeing how different cultures addressed the task of replicating life-size items in miniature would keep me captivated for a long time.
I actually have this trip planned to happen sometime before 2020:
I’m going to order a mid-range BMW from the Munich factory, pick it up, then we’re going to drive to as many places in Europe as possible (except the UK – the thought of driving on the “wrong” side of the road scares the shit outta me if I don’t have very expensive, comprehensive U.S. insurance). BMW will cover two weeks of European insurance and also offers tour packages (hotels/food/etc). After two weeks of zipping around I’ll ship the car back to New Jersey from one of 11 European/UK ports BMW uses, then ship ourselves back after we train it around the UK/Ireland.
If I won big bucks, I’d do the following:
Buy the most expensive BMW possible
Drive all over the Continent, cross over to England, figure out a REALLY good auto insurance package, roll around England/Scotland, then ferry over to tour Ireland.
Here’s where the big moola really comes in: we’ll buy a really cool historic cottage in Scotland by the sea with a buttload of property. Somehow our dog herd will be able to join us without being in quarantine jail for months (bribe a dog passport agent perhaps?) We’ll also somehow become citizens – am I correct in one can become a citizen in some countries if it can be demonstrated he/she is independently wealthy?
I am 8,300 in line to inherit a family castle in Scotland, so maybe they’ll take that into account re: citizenship
Then we’ll live out our years in our cozy cottage by the sea with zillions of dogs frisking about.
