It’s time to get up to date on the 1000 Places to See Before I Die calendar, as we continue to dream about upcoming travel. As each day goes by on the calendar, more often than not they are destinations where we’ve never been or even thought of going. In looking ahead, I’m at least glad to see that tomorrow features the Chateau de Castelnaud-la-Chapelle on the Dordogne River. It’s a fabulous memory of our trip to France when my wife’s daughter was studying over there. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve turned the pages past Malaysia; Krakow, Poland; Morocco; Bruges, Belgium; Wachau Valley, Austria; Minnesota Lake Company; Burma; Madrid, Spain; British Columbia, Canada; Bohemia, Czech Republic; and Morelia, Mexico. We’ve touched the edges of some of these locations, including the Brussels and Minneapolis airports. We also took a recent adventure into Vancouver, British Columbia. (See Post #992).

We’ve made a lot of plans for next year that will start in Florida. We’ll start looking for a permanent retirement home along the Gulf Coast. In May, we’ll take that long flight to Bali that includes a stop in Sydney, Australia. Last night, we did a tasting at up and coming Portland gourmet restaurant, Berlu. In my opinion, the best part of the experience was my trip to the restroom. The owner/chef had decorated with David Bowie custom wallpaper. It was a sharp contrast from the all white interior of the dining area. As my wife and I began talking about Bowie concerts with our server, I did a quick search on my phone to refresh my memory. I was not a big fan, so I didn’t remember the details of his death a few years ago. I noticed that he had his ashes scattered in Bali in accordance with “Buddhist rituals.” I will make it my mission to find out more about this in the ten days we are there. 

Bali was never on my bucket list, but one of my wife’s top choices right after Tahiti. We spent a night there on the way to Bora Bora just before my retirement, so the details were not recorded on this blog. When I look back on our ten-year travel plan as outlined two years ago (See Post #284), Bali was accurately projected for next year. However, with my wife’s recent early retirement, some of these plans have accelerated while others have derailed. We’ve since added cruises through Russia and from Spain to Norway. Also, a Nile River cruise is scheduled for next October. This is definitely one of my top bucket destinations. I’m looking forward to seeing the Egyptian Museum, the Sphinx, Great Pyramid, and Valley of the Kings. These landmarks have been a personal fascination for many years now. Next, we’ll book China for our twentieth wedding anniversary, fulfilling the Hallmark gift guide suggestion of giving china for that occasion. 

We will never come close to seeing all the sights on my desk calendar, but have made extensive plans to add to our worldly experiences while we’re still relatively young. Before I know it, I’ll be seventy years old when standing on the Great Wall. Who knows how much life I have left in me, and how many places I’ll see before I die?