That’s a map of every place I’ve visited. Plus two, which I’ve coloured in in advance of my visit to them next month. If you’d like to guess which those two are, put your answers on a postcard. I’ve got another potential trip the following month, if finances allow, that will colour in another three countries. It’s fun colouring in pictures, isn’t it?
When I look at that map though, what stands out most are the countries I have yet to see. I have a bucket list. Argentina, Chile and Peru in South America. Namibia, South Africa and Kenya in the Dark Continent. Kazakhstan, Georgia and Azerbaijan. In Central Asia. Cambodia, Indonesia and Japan in the Far East.
Will I see them all? It’s an ambitious list, with plenty that could go wrong and put paid to my plans. My life expectancy not being quite what I hoped. Unemployment. Financial crises. Extreme civil unrest. Disease. Failed states. Nuclear war. Climate armageddon. Oh, how I’d have laughed at the sheer implausibility of that list of disasters just a few years ago. Nowadays, we refer to that list when planning next week.
But allow me to tell you what I like most about that map, as things stand at 14:09 on 5th September 2022: I see places that I want to visit. At one point early in their lives, the last time Europe was embroiled in war of this scale, my dad and grandad would have looked at that map of the world and seen theatres of conflict to which they might be sent. I prefer my view.
There’s another country on my bucket list, one that I haven’t mentioned. But as soon as I can, I’ll fly there. To see Kyiv, Pripyat, Lviv and Odessa. I’m doing what I can to hasten that trip. I’m using less energy at home. I’m calling out fascism when I see it. I’m getting on with life in a world that excludes Russia from civilised society.
Death to Putin.
The Mexile 
OK, first, don’t worry about upcoming climate catastrophes, mass famines or apparently the continued rule of the UK by the Conservatives, until forever. If anything, such grim scenarios should encourage to travel more, and as soon as you can. If the whole place blows up, WTF. At least you tried your best.
I had planned to visit Kyiv too, before Putin. And pictures I have seen of the country, even after much of it has been devastated, still recommend a visit. Even outside the capital, Ukraine looks beautiful.
Finally a glaring omission: Cuba! Don’t you like Cubans?
And, oh, BTW I think you’re planning to visit Libya and/or Tunisia.
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Gary: see if you can open this. It’s pretty funny
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Al, I fear you misunderstand the seriousness of the situation. The hot weather has spoiled the potato crops, sending the price of fish n chips rocketing upwards. Economic catastrophe in Sri Lanka threatens our supply of tea. We’re just one burned apple crumble away from being legally obliged to invade France.
I’ve long tried to impress the importance of spending money. You can’t take it with you. If I see #nuclearwar trending in second or third place on Twitter, I do intend to withdraw my life’s savings before it’s too late, and indulge myself in some legally and morally questionable stuff.
And Cuba, of course! That is likely to happen one day, hopefully sooner rather than later, as an add on to a Merida, Mexico trip. Maybe early 2023….who knows?
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Actually, I think they have direct flights from Cancún to Havana, about $300 dls roundtrip, or at least they used to. As for Mérida, be sure to go in November or thereabouts, because it’s infernally hot and humid, although you’re probably used to that after this summer in UK
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My first trip to Merida was July 2003. It was warmish. To put it mildly.
But yes, the Cancun to Havana route is the one I’ve always looked at. One day…
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Color Belize and Guatemala blue if you have not yet, (it was hard to tell if they were blue on my monitor). Belize does a nice ruin set-up, its back country is akin to a tropical Pennsylvania. Guate just has a lot going on for a place about the size of a medium sized US state.
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I nearly made it to Guate once, back in 2003. It was Tikal or San Cristobal de las Casas. I sadly went in the wrong direction.
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Be sure to go to Peru. Although I was there decades ago before it became so crowded with tourists, Machu Picchu was without a doubt the most incredible place I have ever seen. And while you are in that part of the world, Ecuador is also a beautiful country.
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Funnily enough, I’m not so fussed by Manchu Picchu. I want to go to Peru for a sampling of the best of South America – the Andes, the Amazon, the Ancients, Nazcar, Rainbow Mountain and the Spanish cities.
I sadly have visions of Machu Picchu being ruined to some degree by hordes of backpackers and the accompanying litter.
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Agreed, there is much more to Peru than Machu Picchu… but even with the tourist hordes, it is amazing (although now very expensive). I have friends who went there recently, and it definitely surpassed their expectations. That said, I am glad I went when I did back in the late 80s. In Peru I also visited Lima (only place I did not care much for), Cuzco, the ruins of Ollantaytambo, and a couple nights at a lodge on the Amazon.
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I’d rather like to do a lot of my future travelling in the late 80s/early 90s. But that’s going to be a bit difficult…!
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Gary: see if you can open this. It’s pretty funny
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I have seen it! He’s been a hit in the UK for some years, but I see the NYT just hired him….
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