“Imagine If I Lived Here” involves sound and thorough research, in the form of the following questions: is it cute, would I feel scared, is there a lot of good food nearby, do I like this country’s food so far, how close is the ocean, is there a language barrier, how do I feel when I’m here, would I actually be able to survive here, and so on. It usually involves me putting myself in the shoes of a local, and wondering what their everyday life might be like. I try to pick a variety of locals, from the girl at the market to the fisherman on the bay, to try to give myself a glimpse into what it could be like. Of course, I have no idea what life is really like. It’s not my reality. It’s theirs. I’m sure I also make it much more romantic than it actually is. Such is my nature. However, I think it’s the best way to travel–to imagine the different nuances and daily events that happen in these beautiful places we visit.

While I am happy with our choice to be nomads for a while, it’s tempting (and fun!) to imagine what will happen next in our life. Will we ever truly live anywhere again…or will we decide to try living somewhere new? Perhaps in one of these places…

I’ve wondered what it will be like to move back to the Pacific Northwest, perhaps to the beautiful city of Seattle, where we’d be close to family and close to the water and close to the mountains.

I’ve imagined living on the small island off the coast of Croatia, Hvar, most specifically in this tiny house in the tiny town of Brusje, where I’d buy olive oil and limoncello from my neighbor, learn to make wine, drive around all the time on a scooter, and gaze at the ocean every day.

I’ve pictured myself living in Paris, learning about the areas outside of the tourist zone, living in a teeny yet dreamy flat, haunting the sidewalk cafes and learning French.

I’ve imagined moving to the island of Cozumel in Mexico, where my life would be all about scuba diving. I would improve my skills, perhaps even start teaching scuba, experience the island when no one is visiting during the rainy season, and remind myself that once I could speak Spanish (and maybe still can).

Imagine If I Lived Here, Part One; Imagine If I Lived Here, Part Two; Imagine If I Lived Here, Part Three.

Do you play a similar game when you travel? Where have you imagined living? 

Linking up with Travel Tuesday. 

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“Imagine If I Lived Here” involves careful research and thorough data collection.

Ha, not really–but it does involve me putting myself in the shoes of a local, and wondering what their everyday life might be like. I try to pick a variety of locals, from the girl at the market to the fisherman on the bay, to try to give myself a glimpse into what it could be like.

In truth? I really have no idea what it would be like to live those lives, since that is not my reality. It’s theirs. I’m sure I also make it much more romantic than it actually is. Such is my nature. However, I think it’s the best way to travel–to imagine the different nuances and daily events that happen in these beautiful places we visit.

I’ve imagined what it would be like to own a vineyard in Napa, California, seeing those views everyday, tending my vines, and hosting wine tastings…

I’ve imagined myself living in Scotland, perhaps in the Highlands, with castles around every corner and a local pub where everyone knows my name…

I’ve wondered what it would be like to live in a tiny surfing town, like Huanchaco, Peru, where the locals are friendly, the food is delicious, people come from all over the world to ride the waves, and the sunsets are divine…

I’ve imagined (and am now experiencing!) what it would be like to live in Prague, to walk across a grand bridge and see a castle over the river, and to lose myself in the alleyways of the city.

Do you play a game like Imagine If I Lived Here when you travel? 

Welcome to Travel Tuesday!

I am so excited to announce that for the next three months, I will be co-hosting Travel Tuesday with Bonnie, Camila and Jessi! I’m thrilled to have been nominated (thank you past co-hosts!), as Travel Tuesday is one of my favorite days of the week. I can’t wait to read all of your travel stories and hopefully meet some new faces over the next few months!

Ready to link up? 

1. SHARE a post about travel! From road trips to trips abroad and from past travels to dream vacations. You can write about travel tips and tricks, favorite places to stay, or anything in between! Just make it about traveling somewhere!

2. GRAB the lovely button above. If you run into trouble, just make sure to mention Bonnie, Amy, Jessi and Camila in a link! 3. LINKUP goes live every Tuesday at 0800 GMT. Make sure to comment here, on the cohosts blogs, and visit around!

TIPS:

1. Please only one linked up post per blogger. Save other posts for future linkups!

2. The last Tuesday of every month will be a themed prompt if you want to join in!

3. HOP around and meet new travel loving bloggers! Check back to visit some of the newer travel posts!

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Once a month, Travel Tuesday, my favorite link-up, has a prompt (such as languages or three places or food). Since July has five weeks (thankfully!), there will be two prompts, one of them for today. Today’s prompt is what is your travel style?

Instead of discussing the intricacies of my travel style and my patterns (which, full disclosure, seem to change on every trip!) I decided to share another rendition of my favorite travel game: Imagine If I Lived Here.

Imagine If I Lived Here epitomizes my travel style. I put myself in the shoes of a native and try to see what it would be like to live like that. It helps me at least attempt to gain a new cultural perspective and appreciation for all different ways of life. This informs how I travel more than anything else, because this is the root of why I travel: to see and experience these new cultures, perspectives, views, food and languages. Not only is Imagine If I Lived Here informative, it’s really fun! I love picking out a stranger on the street and daydreaming about what their life might be like. Of course, these are simply daydreams, as I couldn’t really imagine what their life is like (at least until I talked to them), and sometimes it’s easier for me to imagine their lives (or romanticize them!).

I’ve imagined what it would be like to live in Iceland, surrounded by the wild landscape, in a country where a large part of the population can trace their roots back to the Viking settlers (including the resident horses!) and many of the Icelanders believe in elves:

I’ve dreamed of living in Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. There are whales that live nearby year-round, bunnies that fill the university campus, red phone booths, gardens galore and afternoon tea:

I’ve wondered what it would be like to live on the beach in Thailand, with those perfect water views, laid-back lifestyle and easy access to scuba diving:

I’ve placed myself in the Alps of Switzerland, in a green valley ringed by peaks and full of the ringing of cowbells:

I’ve seriously considered living on Orcas Island, Washington, where they have endless views of water and wood, adorable shops, and a shop dedicated to just pie:

p.s. One thing I know for sure about my travel style is that I love to plan! If you need helping planning your next vacation, be sure to check out my travel planning services!

Do you have a ritual or game  every time you travel, or a specific travel style?  

The post Imagine If I Lived Here, Part 2 appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

This means that while I am traveling, my favorite thing, I am also simultaneously playing a game I call “Imagine If I Lived Here,” another favorite thing of mine.

Imagine If I Lived Here involves sound and thorough research, in the form of the following questions: is it cute, would I feel scared, is there a lot of good food nearby, do I like this country’s food so far, how close is the ocean, is there a language barrier, how do I feel when I’m here, would I actually be able to survive here, and so on. Some places merit more questions than others, especially in places like Beijing or Bangkok, where I spent most of the time slightly terrified for my life. (I think that’s a side effect of growing up in a small town in a state with more cows than people).

I’ve imagined what it would be like to live in Bruges, where I would ride a bike everywhere, buy fresh baguette to carry home in my basket, run a bed and breakfast, and walk by views like this:

I’ve imagined what it would be like to live on the Irish coast, in a tiny village where you know everybody and they all know you, on a little farm, with a view of the coast from my attic:

I’ve imagined what it would be like to live in a bustling city like Hanoi, riding a motorbike through the overcrowded streets, visiting Uncle Ho (as in Ho Chi Minh) every once in a while with the crowds:

I’ve imagined what it would be like to live in London, a huge, busy city, commuting home every day on the Tube, walking in my charming neighborhood on the weekends, heading to the South Bank for summer sunsets:

I’ve imagined what it would be like to live in the Andes of Peru, surrounded by ancient monuments, selling crafts or writing down local stories, amongst the behemoth mountains:

It makes me wonder if that’s why I travel: to find my elusive “home.” I’ve learned that the more places I go, the more I can imagine anywhere being my home, and parts of me really wants that. Other parts of me want to be nomadic forever. I love to travel, but it gets murky when the word “home” is tossed around. Jamie wrote a wonderful (and much more eloquent) post on this subject of home.

Maybe I’ll always be a nomad, because that feels okay to me–I can’t imagine never having travel be a major focus in my life.

And maybe, I’ll find a place I want to settle in, and I’ll be okay with that too.

In the meantime, I’m going to keep playing Imagine If I Lived Here…because why not?

Do you want to live everywhere, or do you have a place that will always be home? 

This is letter I for the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Some of these letters are kind of hard! Just wait until Q and X, I guess…

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