Potentially last item on bucket list

I've always wanted to take a cross-country train trip through Canada or one of those fancy sleeper-car trains in Europe. I believe the packages include stops at various locations along the route. The views are stunning and, some places, the Northern Lights are on display — one of my bucket list items. I'm sure it's very hard to narrow it down with nearly endless options on deck, but I hope you're able to plan and take a fantastic trip.
I've done something like this in Russia ~15 years ago. It wasn't "fancy", but traveling by sleeper car is wonderful and a unique experience. Especially if you have leisure time to spend, it's a really laid back way to travel.
 
I've done something like this in Russia ~15 years ago. It wasn't "fancy", but traveling by sleeper car is wonderful and a unique experience. Especially if you have leisure time to spend, it's a really laid back way to travel.
I've always been fascinated with train travel. Even my Chicago-Detroit Amtrak travel was something I really enjoyed. So much to see out there. I hope to one day have both the money and the time for some grand train adventure.
 
I've done something like this in Russia ~15 years ago. It wasn't "fancy", but traveling by sleeper car is wonderful and a unique experience. Especially if you have leisure time to spend, it's a really laid back way to travel.
A train across Canada or taking the Orient Express across Europe and Asia seem to be excellent candidates for the end of a bucket list. I took an overnight train from St. Petersburg, Russia to Moscow a few years ago. While this train didn't make any stops we still experienced a bit of Russian life on board. There was a very large stern-faced Russian lady in charge of our part of the train. She gave us orders and didn't tolerate and slackers. We passed through dense, gorgeous forests and small remote villages. It was a great experience and I recommend it. Unfortunately my personality is not suited for long train trips or I would definitely consider an Orient Express trip.
 
A train across Canada or taking the Orient Express across Europe and Asia seem to be excellent candidates for the end of a bucket list. I took an overnight train from St. Petersburg, Russia to Moscow a few years ago. While this train didn't make any stops we still experienced a bit of Russian life on board. There was a very large stern-faced Russian lady in charge of our part of the train. She gave us orders and didn't tolerate and slackers. We passed through dense, gorgeous forests and small remote villages. It was a great experience and I recommend it. Unfortunately my personality is not suited for long train trips or I would definitely consider an Orient Express trip.
Haha I was on a similar train trip around the same time... my Russian was practically nonexistent but enough to answer the drunk dude who was staying in the same sleeper car when he asked where I was from. Then he made loud angry comments about the USA and the Russian woman in there with us got in an argument with him and he left to go drink some more, muttering under his breath.
She spoke a bit of English and wouldn't tell me what he said, but her assurances that 'we all don't think that' gave me a hint.
I slept with my passport and wallet in my pillow case that night.
Sounds like your 'Russian life' experience was more positive, or maybe you didn't go for the 'shared sleeper car' option 😆
 
Haha I was on a similar train trip around the same time... my Russian was practically nonexistent but enough to answer the drunk dude who was staying in the same sleeper car when he asked where I was from. Then he made loud angry comments about the USA and the Russian woman in there with us got in an argument with him and he left to go drink some more, muttering under his breath.
She spoke a bit of English and wouldn't tell me what he said, but her assurances that 'we all don't think that' gave me a hint.
I slept with my passport and wallet in my pillow case that night.
Sounds like your 'Russian life' experience was more positive, or maybe you didn't go for the 'shared sleeper car' option 😆
I was part of a tour group and had a guide. I almost never join groups but maybe I did this time because I remembered my grandmother telling me how she and her father ran across the snow to escape the Cossacks and get out of Russia in 1907. We had several incidents on the trip that made me glad I was with a guide. Two huge cops cornered me in a market and demanded to see my papers. They whipped out a book and pointed to a page that supposedly said my papers were invalid and they said they were going to take me to the police station. I had $430 in my pocket. They demanded $415. They must have seen me pay for something and used their experience ripping off tourists to estimate how much cash I had. I bargained them down to like $50 but they insisted I step behind a wall so no one could see me pay them. Once behind the wall I realized how vulnerable I was but fortunately they spotted some other tourists/victims and quickly left me. In all my travels it's the only time I was robbed. One woman in our group had an accident but the ER doctor wouldn't accept cash, the guide had to pay him with vodka. While waiting for the train a group of young criminals walked around and around us in a very threatening manner until our guide chased them. About the overnight train, we had a woman in our group that was, I'll say 'Frisky'. She insisted on using the other bed in my cabin and flirted strongly with at bedtime but she had a lot of mileage on her and had too much to drink so I have no salacious story to report. The guide did help us to enjoy the the amazing Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basils, The Kirov Opera, the fantastic Hermitage Museum.... oh, one more story. Leaving the Hermitage there was a man with a performing bear on the lawn. The bear smelled that my dog at home had chewed on my shoes and very quickly the bear had my foot in his mouth. Fortunately he was harmless.
 
I was part of a tour group and had a guide. I almost never join groups but maybe I did this time because I remembered my grandmother telling me how she and her father ran across the snow to escape the Cossacks and get out of Russia in 1907. We had several incidents on the trip that made me glad I was with a guide. Two huge cops cornered me in a market and demanded to see my papers. They whipped out a book and pointed to a page that supposedly said my papers were invalid and they said they were going to take me to the police station. I had $430 in my pocket. They demanded $415. They must have seen me pay for something and used their experience ripping off tourists to estimate how much cash I had. I bargained them down to like $50 but they insisted I step behind a wall so no one could see me pay them. Once behind the wall I realized how vulnerable I was but fortunately they spotted some other tourists/victims and quickly left me. In all my travels it's the only time I was robbed. One woman in our group had an accident but the ER doctor wouldn't accept cash, the guide had to pay him with vodka. While waiting for the train a group of young criminals walked around and around us in a very threatening manner until our guide chased them. About the overnight train, we had a woman in our group that was, I'll say 'Frisky'. She insisted on using the other bed in my cabin and flirted strongly with at bedtime but she had a lot of mileage on her and had too much to drink so I have no salacious story to report. The guide did help us to enjoy the the amazing Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basils, The Kirov Opera, the fantastic Hermitage Museum.... oh, one more story. Leaving the Hermitage there was a man with a performing bear on the lawn. The bear smelled that my dog at home had chewed on my shoes and very quickly the bear had my foot in his mouth. Fortunately he was harmless.
Wow, even with a guide you had more misadventures than me, flying solo in St. Petersburg (I was staying with a friend in Moscow, but I had to entertain myself the 14 hours a day he was doing his lawyer stuff, and go alone to St. Pete). I stayed in a (nearly empty, because it was October) hostel right outside the gates of the Hermitage. Never saw the bear, alas. But I did see lots of futbal hooligans rioting one night, and the police push in with a wall of shields (and some kind of tank thing) below my window.

I think I went out the next evening when things calmed down, and ran into a group with a guy who spoke English at an art opening, and he give me the worst cigarette I've ever had. They laughed when I lit it up, "Russian seeegaret! haha! They sheeeet!". Then they invited me to a film opening, "Eeenglish movie!" the next night. The movie was entirely dubbed in Russian, and I can't lip-read. Good times, and I met other random Russians who wanted to have coffee and practice their English; one of them knew a Russian artist i knew in NYC. So mostly friendly! I literally wore a pair of boots out walking 10 hours a day randomly around Moscow.

I loved the Hermitage with no tourists, just the Russian equivalent of aged 'mall-walkers' getting their steps in that time of year. Rained every single day. It's a country I have no desire to return to, but I'm glad I went.
 
Thank you for your kind words. It was my first Christmas abroad since 1999 and I didn’t expect to spend it in a hospital in Argentina! I’m also very fortunate to have had my surgery free. CABA now charges extranjeros for non-emergency medical treatment as of two weeks ago although from comms with public hospitals here it seems they are still ironing out the details! In the meantime I’ve gone private for physio.

It’s a tricky question since I’ve actually never had my own home. I haven’t even rented since the mid-2010s. I stay with my parents in the UK when I’m there and use Airbnb wherever else I am. I’ll never be able to afford anything reasonable in London so I have no interest in planting roots there. I work remotely but retain my parents house as my residence.

That said, if I wasn’t working while I travel, in terms of where I’d buy a house would certainly be north west Greece. Such a beautiful place with incredible food which is still so cheap! That and quality seafood is my jam

Countries that have surprised me favourably: North Macedonia, Belarus (though that’s not so relevant post-2022), Armenia, and South Korea.

For South America I’ll always have such a soft spot for Peru. It was my first trip after finishing secondary school and those two months exploring are still unparalleled for wanderlust. I adore Jujuy and Salta accordingly for the edge of the Incan culture.

I definitely still need to see the Algarve too! Porto and Lisbon were gorgeous but Faro is still on my list!
That sounds amazing! Peru is such a perfect destination to spark lifelong wanderlust, especially with its rich history and breathtaking landscapes. It's no wonder it left such a lasting impression—it’s truly the heart of the Incan world with gems like Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. And yes, Jujuy and Salta in Argentina definitely echo that Incan legacy, with their unique combination of Andean culture, stunning geography like the Quebrada de Humahuaca, and colorful villages steeped in history. Such a blend of places really must make your travels unforgettable!

Are there parts of Peru or northern Argentina you hope to revisit? Or, do you have a new destination in mind for your next adventure?
 
This is a really excellent suggestion for the last item on a bucket list.

The current version of the Orient Express is highly overrated - relatively short trip and the sleeper cars, while lovely, do not have private bathrooms. My suggestion would be El Tren Transcantabrico - a week long adventure across northern Spain on a luxury train with proper sleeper cars and private bathroom/shower. The suites are large; food is fantastic; and very 1930’s decor. We did it last year and loved it!

 
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