To see the world…

We’re in England! Spencer and I hopped the Eurostar in Paris this afternoon (very early morning for any of you in the US!), and we are now in London for partie deux of our honeymoon! All the exclamation marks in the world aren’t enough to convey my excitement! But you’ll be hearing much more about our eight day extravanganza once we’re stateside again!

It’s almost New Year’s, which means time for fireworks, Auld Lang Syne, and lists, lots and lots of lists! There will be a couple more coming your way in the next few days, but I thought it seemed fitting to begin with a list of my dream travel destinations. After all, I have just recently (read: today) crossed two big ones off the bucket list! So without further adieu, here are the top places that I would love to travel to before I die (and you might be seeing these again on the blog later in 2015!)

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Tyler Hope’s Definitive Travel Bucket List

Australia and New Zealand

Yes, I know, these are two completely separate countries, and you could spend weeks exploring each of them.  But, the way I see it is that if I ever get to take the insanely priced plane ride over (down? up? across?) to one of them, I’ll have to check out the other.  Basically, I’d need about three weeks to just relax and take in everything.
Highlights: Hobbiton, Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef

Belfast, Northern Ireland

In case you haven’t caught all of my references, I’ve been to the Republic of Ireland twice, and I love it to pieces.  However, I have never had the opportunity to visit Northern Ireland, and as someone who loves Irish history and culture as much as I do, this must be amended.
Highlights: Peace Wall, Ulster Museum, Crumlin Road Gaol

Machu Picchu, Peru

When I was twelve, I went on a drama mission trip (did you even know those existed? I certainly didn’t!) to Perú with my performing arts troupe.  We spent the entire two weeks in Lima and the surrounding suburbs, but ever since I’ve kicked myself for not begging my dad to let us visit this incredible Incan site.
Highlights: I think this goes without saying…

Edinburgh, Scotland

When I was a little girl, my grandfather would regale us with stories of his time in Edinburgh as a member of the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team.  He also had a little replica of Edinburgh Castle, which I’m surprised was never broken by eager tiny hands.  Now I must fulfill my childhood wish of visiting, perhaps with Poppop in tow!
Highlights: Edinburgh Castle, Scottish National Galleries, Scott Monument

Athens, Greece

Ever since the 2004 Olympic Games, I have been obsessed with visiting Athens.  It also helps that I’m such a history nerd, and Greece is basically the place to go for everything ancient history.  I’ve always loved learning about where we came from, and hearing some stories about Greek gods wouldn’t hurt either!
Highlights: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, National Archaeological Musuem

Amsterdam, Netherlands

My maiden name is very obviously Dutch, so despite being much more Irish, English, and even Native American, I have always identified with this specific group of my ancestry.  Amsterdam has always been described to me as such a beautiful city, and I will visit the home of my great-great-great… grandfather at some point in my life!
Highlights: Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam Canal Tour

Cairo, Egypt

Alright, I’ll just go ahead and say it.  From the fourth grade on, I wanted to be an archaeologist.  I read everything I could get my hands on about ancient Egypt, the pyramids, the pharaohs, the Egyptian gods, and of course, archaeology.  Just getting to see the Nile would be a dream come true.
Highlights: Pyramids of Giza, River Nile Cruise, the Egyptian Museum

Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland

I went back and forth about putting this specific spot on my travel bucket list, but it is somewhere that I have wanted to travel to since the first time I read The Diary of Anne Frank in elementary school.  I truly believe that if we don’t know our history, we’ll doomed to repeat it, and I can’t imagine a better way to not forget the Holocaust.
Highlights: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II – Birkenau, the Museum

Budapest, Hungary

And finally, we’ve made it to the final must-see item on my list!  Budapest is probably the newest item on my list.  My grandfather came back from a Viking River Cruise and absolutely raved about his experience in the “Queen of the Danube.”  That plus its rich, unique history makes it a great way to end my travel list!
Highlights: the Great Synagogue, the Fisherman’s Bastion, the Hungarian National Gallery

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Of course, there are dozens of other places that I would love to visit in my remaining time on this lovely planet of ours!  I can only hope to be blessed with even more travel opportunities like the one we’re currently experiencing.  I can’t wait to share all of our honeymoon adventures with you!

Keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts for updates on the fun. (We’re having lunch at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants tomorrow!)

Do you have a travel bucket list?  Are some of our selections the same, or do you have any different places I should consider adding to the list?  Have you ever been to any of my must sees?  I’d love to hear all about it!