Can you tell I have been day dreaming during these cold grey days of winter?

1. Fort Collins Colorado – If I had to pick a mid sized town with a college feel but isn’t too full of itself. . . Hello FoCo (as my Boulder friend calls it). We spent a few days in a rented house during the pandemic and loved every minute. We tubed in the river, rode bikes around town and shopped at the local Safeway. It was so vanilla yet perfect and without tourists.
   
2. Anywhere in Portugal or Spain. This is a part of Europe that I spent some time visiting in my youth, fell in love with the land and people, but sadly never returned. The food and general laid back approach to life is something I want more of. Siesta? Yes please.
   
3. Patagonia Chile – On the bucket list. We got a small taste of South America years ago when traveling to Quito. I love the mountains, forests, beaches, ocean, all of it. I want to explore it all.
   
4. Zermatt – Obvious if you’ve been there, it’s the perfect Swiss alp town with skiing access to northern Italy. I want to awake to fresh snow, strong coffee, mountain air. In the evenings, I want to feast on fondue and chocolate. During our honeymoon, my wife and I went on a James Bond date where we took the train up the mountain for a fancy dinner dressed in a tuxedo and formal gown.
   
5. Coromandel New Zealand – Yes another southern hemisphere location for January. See a pattern? Longer days, more sunshine. My lovely bride and I spent two weeks in this region on a holiday after we got engaged in Australia. This part of the world holds a very special place in my memory and I can’t wait to get back to hot water beach and cathedral cove.
   
   
6. Antartica – Yes, more sun. 24 hours. High on the bucket list as the last continent to visit. My wife worked there for a few months during graduate school. I’d happily sign up for a six month polar job just for the stories and experience.
   
7. La Jolla / San Diego – I spent a few days in Oceanside and La Jolla last spring for work. I was taken by the beach, quirks of the community, and the general vibe of the place. I have wanted to go back for.a longer stay, preferably during the less busy season like now.

I must now resume to my routine here, dreaming of faraway places with sun and adventure.