Where Would Graham Like to Travel?

In social situations, the fact that I maintain a travel blog often comes up. It's not that I'm trying to push my blog on anyone, but this blog is one of my hobbies so I bring it up. Upon learning that I'm fairly well traveled, two questions invariably pop up.

1. Where have you been?
2. Where would you like to travel to?

In answering the first question, I have plenty to say. Traveling for work for over 7 years will give you a plethora of material to talk about on this topic; I tend to dominate this part of the conversation.

When the second question comes up, I slink into the background and listen to others as they fantasize about their dream vacations. Since I travel for work, I get burnt out on being someplace else. I miss my home, family and eating well. When I explain this, I get strange looks from my conversational companions which seem to say, "You're crazy! You need a vacation."

It may be true that I do indeed need a vacation, but what is a vacation if not a break from your routine. When your routine is being on the road, then being home is a vacation. While this is a truthful response, it dances around the original question. Where would I like to travel to?

In order to have a more constructive response in such situations, I've given this topic a fair amount of thought and I've come up with two destinations that I'd like to visit.

The first is Hawaii. I've never been and I'd like to see volcanoes, some of the old Tikis and enjoy a nice cocktail while watching the sun set. Of course I'll need to do plenty of research in order to find out where to get a decent cocktail, but that's another story.

The second place I'd like to visit is Cuba. I don't smoke cigars so I wouldn't be going to smuggle some back, but I would like to visit a rum distillery or two. Unfortunately bringing rum, or anything for that matter, back from Cuba is forbidden. I think the forbidden nature of Cuba is the main reason that I want to go.

If you tell someone that they can't have something, they want it even more. Cuba is so close, yet it is also exotic and unattainable for most law abiding citizens. This makes Cuba as a destination appealing. I'd just like to spend a week wandering around and exploring Cuba: seeing pre-embargo cars, trying local rum and talking to people about how they feel about the embargo.

If the embargo ended tomorrow, I'm not sure that I'd have the same desire to go to Cuba that I have today. Sure I'd track down a couple bottles of newly available Cuban rum along with some Coke made with cane sugar in order to have a real Cuba Libre (rum and coke with lime juice), but the magical allure of the not so distant island would most likely be gone.

The inevitable influx of American tourists would cinch the removal of Cuba from my list, leaving only the more logistically attainable Hawaii. That's one trip that I'm really looking forward to.

I now turn the question to you. Where would you like to go? Please answer in the comments section below.
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