975 Places left to see before I die!
Have you heard of the book 1000 Places to See Before You Die? I think I'll have to live to be approximately 900 and win a million air miles to see them all. Crap. Here are the sites I've been to, and a few thoughts on them:
To preface: I'm a little upset that the city I lived in for three months in Australia isn't even mentioned in the book. Well, I guess it wasn't a must-see anyway, but the prison in Freemantle which they made the prisoners build (talk about cruel and unusual) with the flirty tour-guide should have made it. Also, Charminar (the seventh largest mosque in the world) didn't make it. I spend five months in India, and they didn't have the decency to put any of THOSE places in the book.
1. Mount Cook National Park, South Island, New Zealand
So here's where the book lists my first accomplishment--New Zealand. Mt. Cook is in fact the same as Mt. Doom in the LOTR movies. They edited out the snow and made it into a volcano, but it's this mountain. Beautiful. Saw it on a driving tour with my hot brazilian mamacita friend.
2. The Home of Bungee Jumping and Jet-Boating, Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand
Now it sounds like I've done something really exciting, but really, I've just been to Queenstown and saw a few other people jump off bridges and waterski and all that.
3. The Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
This is no mis-nomer. Freakin' amazing. It's so incredible that it takes about half an hour for your brain to stop telling you that it's a backdrop. It's that huge and surreal. Beautiful.
4. Death Valley National Park, CA, USA
I'm not entirely sure I've been, but I think we drove through it once en route to my cousins' in LA. I remember it was hot. Very, very hot. Like death.
5. Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Seen the sign.
6. Monterey Peninsula, CA, USA
This is quite clear in my mind--I think I was eight or so when we went, and the best part is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where you can TOUCH MANTA RAYS AS THEY SWIM!! It made quite an impression on me. You can also pick up and play with the starfish.
7. Pacific Coast Highway, CA, USA
Breath-taking views the whole way.
8. The Million Dollar Highway and the Durango & Silverton, Durango, CO, USA
I've been on this train ride more than once, as it's in the area where my Dad grew up and we used to go up all the time.
9. Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO, USA
Just went last October (2004) with Jason and Sheryll & Floyd from the BAS. Beautiful. We saw more elk than you could eat in ten years.
10. The Las Vegas Strip, NV, USA
I think I was also eight when we drove through Las Vegas. It's like daylight even at night. Insane. No, we didn't stop over at any of the casinos. But we did stop over at my aunt's mother-in-law's house and swim in our clothes because we didn't have our suits with us.
11. Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta, NM, USA
Went to this like every year since I was four or five....except for the past four or five years. Too busy to do the tourist thing. Or too busy working to get up at five in the morning just for the heck of it.
12. Route 66, Albuquerque, NM, USA
I lived two and a half blocks from this almost all my life. It's less exciting that way.
13. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, NM, USA
I've been three times, most recently with my dearest love, Jason. We went in May/June of 2003 before I headed out to Australia. Really cool. You could spend days and not cease to be amazed.
14. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM, USA
My dad likes railroads.
15. Roswell, NM, USA
It's on the way to Carlsbad Caverns, otherwise we wouldn't have gone. Full of whackos and tourists. But if you ever go, my brother installed the windows on the MacDonald's that's shaped like a UFO. He's a glazer.
16. The Oregon Coast, OR, USA
We once drove all the way up the Western coast from California to Washington. Lovely country. Green.
17. Philly Food, Philadelphia, PA, USA
My sister flew out to New Jersey when she was 16 and brought us home a Philly Cheese Steak that she bought that morning in Philly. Excellent. I'd highly recommend one.
18. Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA, USA
I may not have ever been here, but I think I remember visiting Independance Hall. My mom would know. I was like three at the time. Valley Forge wasn't on the list, but that I actually remember. Should have made the list. It's so historical.
19. The Black Hills, SD, USA
Mt. Rushmore. Cool. Buffalo, etc.
20. Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, USA
When I went out to WA for my friend Jenn's wedding, she took us here one day. Lots of fun--you can even buy a live lobster and have it mailed back live to wherever you came from.
21. The Mall and Its Monuments, Washington DC, USA
Another event we did when I was three or four, and I'd like to go again.
22. The Smithsonian and Beyond, Washington DC, USA
See above
23. Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks, AB, Canada
I've actually been to Banff twice--once on Boxing day with Stacey's family (she wasn't back yet so her dad & step-mom took me by myself), and once after DTS with Jason. Beautiful. I'd like to go in the summer. We also went to Lake Louise, which should be on this list.
24. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver, BC, Canada
This is where I picked up almost all of my obscure facts about Chinese culture. Really cool. Vancouver is full of neat things. The Buschart Gardens should have been on this list (on Vancouver Island).
25. Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
Jason took me to the Falls on our first date. I've since been back with Amy, to show her the wonder. I suppose they felt obliged to list the seven wonders of the natural world.
To preface: I'm a little upset that the city I lived in for three months in Australia isn't even mentioned in the book. Well, I guess it wasn't a must-see anyway, but the prison in Freemantle which they made the prisoners build (talk about cruel and unusual) with the flirty tour-guide should have made it. Also, Charminar (the seventh largest mosque in the world) didn't make it. I spend five months in India, and they didn't have the decency to put any of THOSE places in the book.
1. Mount Cook National Park, South Island, New Zealand
So here's where the book lists my first accomplishment--New Zealand. Mt. Cook is in fact the same as Mt. Doom in the LOTR movies. They edited out the snow and made it into a volcano, but it's this mountain. Beautiful. Saw it on a driving tour with my hot brazilian mamacita friend.
2. The Home of Bungee Jumping and Jet-Boating, Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand
Now it sounds like I've done something really exciting, but really, I've just been to Queenstown and saw a few other people jump off bridges and waterski and all that.
3. The Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
This is no mis-nomer. Freakin' amazing. It's so incredible that it takes about half an hour for your brain to stop telling you that it's a backdrop. It's that huge and surreal. Beautiful.
4. Death Valley National Park, CA, USA
I'm not entirely sure I've been, but I think we drove through it once en route to my cousins' in LA. I remember it was hot. Very, very hot. Like death.
5. Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Seen the sign.
6. Monterey Peninsula, CA, USA
This is quite clear in my mind--I think I was eight or so when we went, and the best part is the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where you can TOUCH MANTA RAYS AS THEY SWIM!! It made quite an impression on me. You can also pick up and play with the starfish.
7. Pacific Coast Highway, CA, USA
Breath-taking views the whole way.
8. The Million Dollar Highway and the Durango & Silverton, Durango, CO, USA
I've been on this train ride more than once, as it's in the area where my Dad grew up and we used to go up all the time.
9. Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO, USA
Just went last October (2004) with Jason and Sheryll & Floyd from the BAS. Beautiful. We saw more elk than you could eat in ten years.
10. The Las Vegas Strip, NV, USA
I think I was also eight when we drove through Las Vegas. It's like daylight even at night. Insane. No, we didn't stop over at any of the casinos. But we did stop over at my aunt's mother-in-law's house and swim in our clothes because we didn't have our suits with us.
11. Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta, NM, USA
Went to this like every year since I was four or five....except for the past four or five years. Too busy to do the tourist thing. Or too busy working to get up at five in the morning just for the heck of it.
12. Route 66, Albuquerque, NM, USA
I lived two and a half blocks from this almost all my life. It's less exciting that way.
13. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, NM, USA
I've been three times, most recently with my dearest love, Jason. We went in May/June of 2003 before I headed out to Australia. Really cool. You could spend days and not cease to be amazed.
14. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama, NM, USA
My dad likes railroads.
15. Roswell, NM, USA
It's on the way to Carlsbad Caverns, otherwise we wouldn't have gone. Full of whackos and tourists. But if you ever go, my brother installed the windows on the MacDonald's that's shaped like a UFO. He's a glazer.
16. The Oregon Coast, OR, USA
We once drove all the way up the Western coast from California to Washington. Lovely country. Green.
17. Philly Food, Philadelphia, PA, USA
My sister flew out to New Jersey when she was 16 and brought us home a Philly Cheese Steak that she bought that morning in Philly. Excellent. I'd highly recommend one.
18. Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA, USA
I may not have ever been here, but I think I remember visiting Independance Hall. My mom would know. I was like three at the time. Valley Forge wasn't on the list, but that I actually remember. Should have made the list. It's so historical.
19. The Black Hills, SD, USA
Mt. Rushmore. Cool. Buffalo, etc.
20. Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA, USA
When I went out to WA for my friend Jenn's wedding, she took us here one day. Lots of fun--you can even buy a live lobster and have it mailed back live to wherever you came from.
21. The Mall and Its Monuments, Washington DC, USA
Another event we did when I was three or four, and I'd like to go again.
22. The Smithsonian and Beyond, Washington DC, USA
See above
23. Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks, AB, Canada
I've actually been to Banff twice--once on Boxing day with Stacey's family (she wasn't back yet so her dad & step-mom took me by myself), and once after DTS with Jason. Beautiful. I'd like to go in the summer. We also went to Lake Louise, which should be on this list.
24. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver, BC, Canada
This is where I picked up almost all of my obscure facts about Chinese culture. Really cool. Vancouver is full of neat things. The Buschart Gardens should have been on this list (on Vancouver Island).
25. Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
Jason took me to the Falls on our first date. I've since been back with Amy, to show her the wonder. I suppose they felt obliged to list the seven wonders of the natural world.
posted by Judy Baskerville at
5:35 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home