As summer begins to wind down in the United States, many vacations are coming to an end. Although my husband and I usually travel in the fall, October or November, last year we took a fabulous Mediterranean cruise. We added pre-cruise days in Venice and post-cruise days in Barcelona. My sister Kathy joined us on her first trip to Europe and her first cruise.

Although we had an amazing trip, it was unbearably hot. That made me remember why we choose to travel in the fall. So, this summer we’ve stayed home. Of course, that makes me hunger to get on the road (or the sea) again. The question arises, where would I go this time?

My mother was born and grew up in Ireland, specifically Spiddal in Galway. Despite my many journeys I have never visited the Emerald Isle. It’s on my bucket list, and at 72 years old, I better get going if I hope to see it.

As some of you may know, I’m a writer. I’ve wanted to write a book or story about Galway for some time. If I had the money I’d love to rent a cottage and spend six months to a year there. Certainly I’ve read about the country and seen films of green fields, rousing pubs, and a roiling ocean with fishing boats bobbing on the waves. To see it in person, to interact with people I may be related to, seems thrilling.

There are things about places that can’t be fully captured in a photo or a tale. Those are the impressions others have. Enjoyable, yes. But, to experience the scents, the colors, the sounds of a place is different. The visceral response to something new can never be fully understood until you’re right in the middle of it.

Hopefully I’ll add Ireland to my list of places seen in the near future. Until then, I’ll map out the sites I want to see. And I’ll try to fill my piggy bank a little every day.

If you could go anywhere, what would be your chosen destination? What would you like to see?