Thank goodness for Chicago. Otherwise, this past week’s measurement standards for travel accomplishment would be woefully disappointing. The 1,000 Places to See Before You Die calendar once again showed we’ve “Got A Lot O’ Living to Do.” (See Post #835). Maybe I need to find an easier version because if this was B-I-N-G-O I would have a lot of open spaces to fill, especially on the “G” line. We haven’t yet traveled to Tanzania, Cuba, Spain, the Falkland Islands, or Kyrgyzstan. Only a couple of these are even on our Bucket List, but it clearly shows how many must-see sights there are in this world.

I haven’t played B-I-N-G-O in years, but it’s been discussed as a potential retirement “sport.” Maybe we’ll play on a cruise ship or at a Marriott resort? I certainly wouldn’t want to challenge our Tucson friends to a game of travel B-I-N-G-O. Their world map looks like a pin cushion and they have more pins on order. In looking at the extent of their worldliness, I notice that a large majority of their travel is confined to a 30 degree longitudinal band that starts just below the Tropic of Cancer and extends around the globe. They did, however, just get back from Australia and New Zealand, two more places in the Southern Hemisphere we haven’t yet explored. They’ve already covered Europe like a glove, while next is Scandinavia and then Ireland. We simply can’t keep up with them or the calendar. We would need some “free spaces” on the travel B-I-N-G-O card to even remain competitive.

In a few weeks we’ll go to Thailand, a new exotic land to experience. It’s just above the equator. They, of course, have already been there several times. The only occasion we have ventured south of the equator was our trip to Tahiti and Bora Bora. As a consolation, we did discover that they have not been to the Northwest, including our Portland home. Before that, we’ll meet them in New York City and compare notes once again. They also want us to join them in Steamboat this summer. These mainland destinations don’t give any of us any more pins to place on the map, but there are trails to hike and new Broadway Shows to see. In the meantime, we’ll go back to Maui for another breathtaking dose of beauty.

This year’s travel card starts strong with a “pin-worthy” adventure but only sputters by the time the last letters are called. Bangkok will be our “B” in B-I-N-G-O. Our home state of Indiana would be the “I.” An “N” for New York City and “O” for Chicago’s O’Hare would almost get us a winner. The “G” however would have to be nearby Gresham, Oregon, hardly a desirable travel destination. Greece was on last year’s card, along with
Hawaii’s Big Island, Illinois, Napa Valley, and Oregon’s Crater Lake. Next year, it’s Super Bowl, Maybe Idaho? New York never gets old, Giza, and Orlando. B-I-N-G-O.