for as long as I’ve been able to read about the World, I’ve dreamt of travelling
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.
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. We’ve visited four continents – mountains, swamps, tropics and deserts and I’m very grateful. We’ve had a break since Dottie was born but that it is about to end as Phill and I (hopefully) tick off something from both of our bucket lists – somewhere I’ve wanted to go since I was a little girl with my nose in a very big book.
Mr P and I are off to Iceland later this year, just the two of, in search of the northern lights.
What’s at the top of your travel bucket list?
Love Rachel ❤️
