What’s a country that’s at the top of your bucket list?

View all responses

My Bucket List Needs More Than One Country

What country is at the top of my bucket list?

Well, apparently I have trouble following instructions, because my answer needs a little French, a little Italian, and a little Spanish.

How am I supposed to fit all of that into one country?

If I have to choose where to begin, I would say France—somewhere along the French Riviera. But in my imagination, that is just the first stop.

I picture myself sitting outside a little café, watching people go about their day while I take my time with mine. No rushing through a meal. No checking the clock every few minutes. Just enjoying the unfamiliar sounds, the scenery, and the feeling of being somewhere I have dreamed about.

Then let me experience Italy.

I want to wander down a beautiful street without being in a hurry to reach the end of it. Stop for something delicious. Admire a building. Turn a corner simply because I am curious about what is there.

And yes, Spain belongs on this trip, too. I imagine an evening filled with music, conversation, and a dinner I have no intention of rushing.

By this point, my suitcase may be a problem, but we will address that when we get there.

What draws me to this dream is the chance to experience a different rhythm of life. To be somewhere new and pay attention. To remember that there is a whole world beyond the places where I work, run errands, and take care of what needs doing.

I would bring a notebook, of course.

Something tells me I would find plenty to write about. A conversation overheard at a café. The view from a window. The way it feels to wake up with an entire day available for exploring.

But I also hope I would know when to close the notebook and simply enjoy being there.

Sometimes I think we get so accustomed to being useful that we forget how good it feels to be curious. To try something for the first time. To have a day that asks very little of us beyond showing up and enjoying it.

That is the trip I want.

A little French. A little Italian. A little Spanish.

And enough time to come home with stories, photographs, and a few moments I wish I could step back into.

So my bucket list answer begins with France, takes a turn through Italy, and makes room for Spain.

The prompt asked for one country. I have apparently submitted an itinerary.

What country is at the top of your bucket list—and what do you hope to experience there?