View Full Version : Fantasy Vacation?



Karried
06-12-2007, 10:15 PM
I'm dreaming of Tahiti... a 12 day Tahitian Cruise - or Hawaii - Island hopping.. an endless tropical drink with an umbrella, gourmet food and a cabana boy (ooops, did I say that out loud..tee,hee) okay, scrap the cabana boy..

But, I'm wishing for a vacation.. I also want to see Greece, Ireland and Italy. One of these days.,... hopefully.

I'm one of those who want to do it all before I retire and can barely walk around with a cane... but that's not always practical from a financial standpoint.

Still, I say, make memories now and enjoy it while you're still able to.. you never know if you'll even be here tomorrow.

What's your vacation philosophy? If money were no object and you had no constraints or barriers, where would you be next month on vacation?

Midtowner
06-12-2007, 10:16 PM
Probably in Munich in a bierhall (sp?)

Rifleman2C
06-12-2007, 11:14 PM
I'm with Karried on this one... see what you can as early as you can manage it! The problem with having all that time after you are retired is that you often need that time to visit the doctor to fix what ails you from all the stress from working in your younger days.

I've been posting a few pictures of my travels in Europe in the photos section, in hopes of helping to spark the exact kind of interest in travel that Karried is expressing. No better time than the present!

(By the way, Karried... Ireland is a real gem! Highly recommended!!!)

Oh GAWD the Smell!
06-12-2007, 11:46 PM
Well...I've been to 30-40 countries, and have hit 48 of the states.

I also have poor impulse control over what I buy (lots of toys, tools, and stuff in general) due to being "unsupervised" for so long.

And I'd have to say that the memories of all the places I've been, people I've met, and cool things in the world I've seen...FAR outweigh the neat toys I have laying around my house in value.

Example: I can tell a great story foor the rest of my life about my trip to see Christ the Redeemer in Rio, but my big screen TV will always be pretty damn boring to talk about.

Easy180
06-13-2007, 07:09 AM
Just a plain kind of guy so my fantasy vacation would be something like hitting 7 different baseball stadiums right in a row....No real interest in seeing Europe, but I'm sure the Mrs will drag me over there at some point

Karried
06-13-2007, 07:34 AM
Rifleman2C, That's so cool!

My dream has always been to go to Ireland. I'm a big fan of Irish fiction. Maeve Binchy is one I love ' Circle of Friends' ..and many more.

Just something about reading about the pubs and gorgeous green countryside has me intrigued.

Did you take a package tour or just go on your own? I've neven been across the Atlantic.. boo, hoo..

With the kiddos, it's always been easier to do the all inclusive sorts of trips ie Boscabel Beach in Jamaica or a resort in Puerto Vallarta...but our favorite trips are cruises.. there is nothing like going to sleep in Cozumel and waking up in Belize and not having to lug your bags around from place to place.

The kids have so much to do ( giving mom and dad some alone time) and the food is gourmet and lots of entertainment.

But, I have to say, my all time favorite vacation ever was roughing it on the Inside Passage of British Columbia.. camping out along the shores, watching eagles, bears, kayaking with the Orcas and eating fresh salmon nightly... it was heaven.

I think the memories made on vacation are so valuable. The kids will be gone and grown before we know it... this is something that we'll always cherish.

CuatrodeMayo
06-13-2007, 07:42 AM
I have never left this country, mostly due to lack of time and finances. Nor have I gone on fantastic vacations for the same reasons. I grauduate in 11 months with a professional degree in architecture. I have decided that my life will change at that point. It is time to see the world.

I agree with OGTHS...toys pale in importance compared to what the world has to offer. The world it too big for me to waste my time and money trying to buy a little piece of it.

Karried
06-13-2007, 08:32 AM
Take me with you

kmf563
06-13-2007, 09:25 AM
Vacation. what is that again? I vaguely remember it. Please! I would settle for a day off without any appointments, bandmembers, kids, or animals. It's been about 3 years since I have had one of those. That includes Saturdays and Sundays.

jbrown84
06-13-2007, 09:30 AM
The only reality show I watch is The Amazing Race.

I love travel and I love both the wilderness (National Parks, etc) and the big cities.

I've been fortunate to have already taken several amazing vacations (Western US Nat'l Parks tour, NYC, London, Hawaii), but I'd say that what makes it great is the people you go with and the memories you make.

OKC PATROL
06-13-2007, 02:31 PM
I was fortunate to be given a vacation this summer by living in a cottage in the city of carmel by the sea. It was so refreshing with carmel being located on the Monterrey peninsula. The town was a bit touristy but had shops like tiffanys and was also very bohemian. Everyone was in casual attire/fleece ect. so it wasnt stuffy or uppity. The cottages were like hobbit dwellngs with moss and wood combining everywhere. The beach was all white sand and is close to pebble beach so you can see from a distance the famous tree that associates itself with the golf course......whatever i felt like I finally had a fantasy vacation I guess.

Rifleman2C
06-13-2007, 04:18 PM
Well...I've been to 30-40 countries, and have hit 48 of the states.

I also have poor impulse control over what I buy (lots of toys, tools, and stuff in general) due to being "unsupervised" for so long.

And I'd have to say that the memories of all the places I've been, people I've met, and cool things in the world I've seen...FAR outweigh the neat toys I have laying around my house in value.

Example: I can tell a great story foor the rest of my life about my trip to see Christ the Redeemer in Rio, but my big screen TV will always be pretty damn boring to talk about.


OhGawdTS, are we like long lost brothers or something? Like you, I have been to nearly 30 countries, and more locally, I have been to every state except for Wisconsin. Seems just a little too coincidental to me...


I truly hope more people want to get out and see the rest of the world every now and again. It certainly helps broaden your perspective a bit, and gosh knows that there are some folks that could use a bit of 'view enhancement'...



My fantasy vacation? Right now, that would be to be able to spend the necessary time, money, and energy to be able to get to Antarctica and experience it's austere beauty before the 'myth' that is global warming cuts it down from a respected continent to an area that is the size of any old ordinary country.

Betcha the drinks are cold down there! :Smiley051

Karried
06-13-2007, 05:08 PM
It was so refreshing with carmel being located on the Monterrey peninsula.


I lived less than 40 minutes away from there for 15 years...it's strange, when you're so close to it, you don't really appreciate the beauty of it all. I would give anything to be on the beach watching a sunset right now.... I took it all so much for granted. The 17 Mile drive was something we did at least every few months and we went to Monterey at least 2-3 times a month. It is so beautful there.

Oh GAWD the Smell!
06-13-2007, 06:31 PM
My fantasy vacation? Right now, that would be to be able to spend the necessary time, money, and energy to be able to get to Antarctica and experience it's austere beauty before the 'myth' that is global warming cuts it down from a respected continent to an area that is the size of any old ordinary country.

Betcha the drinks are cold down there! :Smiley051


Speaking from experience here....DON'T JUMP IN THE WATER!

OKC PATROL
06-14-2007, 12:08 AM
I lived less than 40 minutes away from there for 15 years...it's strange, when you're so close to it, you don't really appreciate the beauty of it all. I would give anything to be on the beach watching a sunset right now.... I took it all so much for granted. The 17 Mile drive was something we did at least every few months and we went to Monterey at least 2-3 times a month. It is so beautful there.

Ya- I enjoyed the 17 mile drive- it was really nice. So many vineyards and all the natural beauty. I have been to most major cities in the world and have been to more cities/places on the east coast than west coast. The two are a complete contrast of course. When you compare a beach house on Marthas vinyard to a cottage in Carmel both have equal qualities. Of course- Cali has endless nature and NY/Boston/D.C has more culture. Tough decision if one were to relocate to either coast. It was nice to get out of Oklahoma for a bit. It had been awile. You always miss home even in the best of places.

CCOKC
06-14-2007, 08:17 PM
I was just at the west coast of California. it was great. I would post my pics but i Don't know how.

CCOKC
06-14-2007, 08:31 PM
My 15 yr old knows how to get pics on here, so this is the west coast of California
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8954141@N06/550272067/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8954141@N06/550272083/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8954141@N06/550275251/

flintysooner
06-14-2007, 08:44 PM
Like this - cool photos -

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/550272067_70e70857db.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/550272083_7efc7d512c.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/550275251_759e298ed9.jpg?v=0

SouthsideSooner
06-14-2007, 10:21 PM
My wife and I are self employed, so we really don't have time for a dream vacation, but we are about to enjoy what we consider to be somewhat of a dream weekend. We are flying to Vegas Friday and will see The Police, on their reunion tour after 23 years. We are also going to see Pink Floyd's Roger Waters on Saturday night.

Two of our favorite bands of all time. Funny how the concerts fell that way on consecutive nights.

Dark Jedi
06-18-2007, 11:58 AM
My dream vacation:

An Olympic class ski resort that empties out in to a beautiful tropical beach surrounded by coral reefs and shipwrecks.

(My two favorite pastimes: skiing and scuba...)

jdsplaypin
06-18-2007, 04:31 PM
If i could tag along with Anthony Bourdain on a trip... it would be my dream vacation. He brings places to life like noone else can. Definately a visit to Amsterdam would be nice... and not for the coffee shops, i think the city is amazing. Any city that has bustling pedestrian activity without a stale corporate feel is my kind of place.

CCOKC
06-18-2007, 09:23 PM
I love his show on the travel channel. Nooooo reservations. But I think I would rather watch him than have to eat some of the things he does. Especially since I am a vegetarian. His show in Beirut was a classic.

SpectralMourning
06-18-2007, 10:24 PM
My dream vacation:

An Olympic class ski resort that empties out in to a beautiful tropical beach surrounded by coral reefs and shipwrecks.

(My two favorite pastimes: skiing and scuba...)

So Dubai? (Does Dubai even have shipwrecks? I guess with the amount of barges they're bargaining for, they will inevitably.)

Dark Jedi
06-19-2007, 08:24 AM
So Dubai? (Does Dubai even have shipwrecks? I guess with the amount of barges they're bargaining for, they will inevitably.)

Never knew about the Dubai ski thing. Interesting.

Nabber
07-08-2007, 08:14 PM
My Fantasy Vacation, Would be to travel the Medieval faire circuts and also go to every circus. But if I could afford that I'd settle for living in a small room in NYC for two years while attending circus arts collage, and going to cooking classes.

love life live
Nabber

Dave Cook
07-09-2007, 08:18 AM
Karried....

Great post!

I'll say this.....do what you can now...but in moderation.

I lived for 10 years with the motto that today could be your last day on earth so live it up. Stayed overseas the entire time......enjoying a 20-something year old retirement. Things you wouldn't most likely enjoy in old age......motorbiking across Cambodia, climbing Mt. Fuji, backpacking Europe, living in Burma, working in Japan...etc. All wonderful times with no regrets.

But having said that, reality can be an ass kicker once you return - or try to return - to American life.....in your mid to late 30's.

Not that many great paying jobs in OKC once you've been out of the game for a while. How do people make a living on $10 an hour? Seriously?

Nine more months of this and......back to dream world.

But to answer 'fantasy' vacation....mine would be to drive the Pan American Highway or the do the TranSiberian Express across Russia.

Oh GAWD the Smell!
07-09-2007, 08:40 AM
I've been wanting to go back to Peru for quite some time.

And I'm thinking of doing this: Inca Moto (http://www.incamotoadventures.com/)

Karried
07-09-2007, 09:19 AM
That looks fun... reminds me of the Foreign film about a motorcycle trip -

Two words.. Travel Insurance!

Seriously, get coverage in case you need to be air lifted out of the country to get medical care in the US. Add about $300-400 to your trip budget. Travel Insurance - InsureMyTrip.com (http://www.insuremytrip.com)

Rifleman2C
07-09-2007, 10:24 AM
That looks fun... reminds me of the Foreign film about a motorcycle trip -


Karried, you and I may be the only two folks on here who have seen that movie, if you are thinking of the one I am...

Eversmile, New Jersey :biggrin:


But I'm curious to see if anyone else that sees this thread has seen it!


By the way, although it was never on my fantasy vacation list personally, I can now recommend Prague in the Czech Republic as a great city to visit!

JWil
07-12-2007, 11:32 AM
Oh man, I have so many places I want to see it's not even funny. I'll preface this by saying I've seen 31 states and spent three hours out of this country: In Tijuana, Mexico. Yeah, I know. Barely counts.

Here are my dream destinations:

-- AUSTRALIA: At least 3-4 weeks. Three days Gold Coast. Week in Sydney. Four-five days in Melbourne. Maybe get out the Ayer's Rock. But I will go there more than once, so I'm not gonna cram.

-- GREECE: A week or two here would be great.

-- 2012 OLYMPICS, LONDON: I've never been to London so this would be an insane time to check it out. I don't know if I'd stay the whole two weeks for it, but I might. Plus, I'd see an Olympics... something I haven't done yet. (Though I figure Chicago will get the 2016 games so that might not matter as much then.)

-- SOMETHING TROPICAL: Fiji, Caribbean, Hawaii. Lots of choices within those, but all good options.

-- EUROTRIP: I think it'd be cool to fly into London, train to Paris, then take trains up to Switzerland, Germany, Austria and finish up in Rome. Do that over two weeks and spend three days in each area.

So yeah, I need to get my passport...

Misty
07-12-2007, 12:00 PM
I really want to go to Bora Bora but my boyfriend is 1/2 English so it looks like England & Scotland will be my first "real" vacation, maybe in February. Should be fun but there are soooo many beaches I'd like to visit. But I'm sure the cold, wet, English trip will be fun too.

Midtowner
07-12-2007, 01:02 PM
Christmas in the Swiss Alps would be nice.

El Gato Pollo Loco!!!
07-12-2007, 05:25 PM
Fantasy Vacation? Detroit or San Diego.....

escan
07-12-2007, 06:33 PM
Are we talking about Motorcycle Diaries ....regarding Che?

Oh GAWD the Smell!
07-12-2007, 08:10 PM
Fantasy Vacation? Detroit or San Diego.....

I lived in San Diego for several years, and I can see that...I LOVE that city. It's one of the few cities I'd leave OKC for if somebody stacked the cash high enough.

But...Detroit?

DETROIT?

Rifleman2C
08-11-2007, 01:15 PM
Reviving an old thread...

DETROIT?

No... never.

Now, I can say that one of my current vacation plans is to visit Helsinki, Finland, over the Christmas Holidays. I know for a fact it will be more fun than Detroit... and I've not been to Detroit!


DETROIT?

Karried
08-11-2007, 01:49 PM
Detroit.. yeah, that is an interesting choice.

Yes, I was thinking of Motorcycle Diaries.. is that one and the same Rifleman?

Rifleman2C
08-11-2007, 02:01 PM
Nope, probably not... unless Hollywood decided to give the movie I had seen an alias.

The movie I was thinking of starred Daniel Day Lewis (you know, the guy in The Last of the Mohicans and Gangs of New York) in a strange trip across the South American Continent... he was a roaming dentist on a motorcycle, heading south through Argentina. But no one here has probably ever seen it...

Yep, that's probably not Motorcycle Diaries, from the sounds of it...

Karried
08-11-2007, 02:40 PM
oh Eversmile, New Jersey (1986) is the name of the movie :bright_id .. no I haven't seen that one.

hmmm, sort of similar:

I thought this was an excellent film ....

In 1952 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1952), a semester before Ernesto "Che" Guevara is due to complete his medical degree, he and his older friend Alberto, a biochemist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochemist), leave Buenos Aires (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buenos_Aires) in order to travel across the South American (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America) continent in search of fun and adventures. Their objective is to spend time working at a leper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leper) colony in the Peruvian Amazon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazonas_Region), and then travel on to Venezuela (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela). Their method of transport is Alberto's ancient and leaky but functional Norton 500 motorcycle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norton_500_motorcycle) christened La Poderosa ("The Mighty One").

Their route is ambitious. They head south, aim to cross the Andes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes), travel along the coast of Chile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile), across the Atacama Desert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atacama_Desert) and into the Peruvian Amazon and reach Venezuela just in time for Alberto's 30th birthday.

During their travel, Guevara and Granado encounter the poverty and suffering of the lower classes of society while the rich live ignorantly in their high life-styles away from the problems.

They meet a couple who have had their land taken away from them by the landowners, and the exploited workers of a mine. In Peru (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peru), they volunteer for three weeks at the San Pablo leper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leprosy) colony.

There, Guevara sees both physically and metaphorically the division of society between the people and the rulers (the staff live on the north side of a river, separated from the lepers living on the south). Guevara also comes to see Catholic church dogma as stubborn and difficult.

These encounters with injustice change the way Guevara sees the world, and by implication motivate his later political activities.
Guevara makes his "final journey" one night when he chooses to swim across the river that separates the two societies of the leper colony and spends the night in a leper shack instead of in the cabins of the doctors.

This journey implicitly symbolizes Guevara's rejection of the wealth and aristocracy into which he was born in Argentina and the path he would take later in his life fighting for what he believed was the dignity every human being deserves.

This choice was also earlier reflected at a scene when Guevara and Alberto were content with sleeping over at a peasant farm after losing their tent instead of going to the ranches higher up at the hills.