I’m a travel whore. I’ll turn a travel trick and whisk myself away over daily routine any day. In preparation for my next jaunt, and inspired by the onslaught of “before you die” books and “bucket list” movies, I’ve been sitting down with friends to generate a list of our top ten favorite trip ideas to do before we die. On the top of my list is a daydream six-month trip where I will crisscross the globe bouncing from one festival to the next.
The word festival means gaiety, revelry, merrymaking—three words I want to embrace and embody in my final days ... in my every day. To kickstart the merrymaking this year, I’m considering the following festivals:
Carnival
February 2–5, 2008
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I’ve always wanted to shake my cheeks with feathers towering over my head in the streets of Rio and perfect how Brazilians laugh and play. If like me, you’re seeking some carnival in your life, you’ll want to book ahead for the mass influx of sensual Samba dancers that stroll down the promenade in Rio’s Sambodrome.
Tet: Vietnam’s Lunar New Year
February 6–8, 2008
With the actual day scheduled for February 7 this year, fireworks and gongs will sound in the air while families clean their homes, buy new clothes, and mend severed relations with family and friends in preparation for the New Year. Tet is a wonderful festival to plan your travels around; just make sure you book a hotel in advance and stay put while the cities and town shut down for daily rituals.
Las Fallas
March 15–19, 2008
Valencia, Spain
Five days of concerts, fiestas, and a finale of blackened streets with exploding statues (las fallas) filled with fireworks gives this festival its name. Make sure to bring your walking shoes since the city center is closed off to cars and book your room well in advance.
Pen World Voices Festival
April 29–May 4, 2008
New York City
The World Voices Festival is where I can expand my love for all things literary. Thousands of writers hold panels on international issues and their role in literature to build global bridges from their thoughts into the written word.
