Andrea,  The thing about the Kimberley is that you can actually wade at low tide and see the most beautiful underwater displays.  It is here we saw the elusive blue octupus and photographed it.  A gorgeous deep blue, its looks are deceiving as I believe it is the only poisonous octopus.  That in itself does not bother me — as I have had many such encounters in other places.  Normally, you find that unless you pose a threat, the animal is not interested in you as prey — of course, there are exceptions.  But for those of us who choose to take our chances, our world opens up in a way that we would never see otherwise.  In the Kimberley inland - when needed - a helicopter would land on the beach and bring us inland to a place without roads or trails and yet with waterfalls and rock sculptured into forms of incredible beauty that only a few have ever seen.  The memories remain so vivid.

I must add that I totally agree with the writer here who said that our own country can easily hold its own in wondrous place to see.  As I look at a U.S. map, there is not a road I have not been on more than once - and a few that we should not have ventured into without 4-wheel drive, giving us close calls of never getting out (before cell phones).  I personally find Sedona, AZ the most breathtakingly sited town in our country.  For red rock, there is no equal to Arches National Park in Utah — and hiking in a few miles brings you to wonders that do not exist from the road.  Monument Valley, AZ takes my breath away as does the Eastern route into Yosemite when seen from the heights.  Majesty - the word must have been invented there.  Jumping borders, the Canadian Rockies are splendor that must be seen to be believed.  The danger with bears - especially in the earlier years with fewer tourists as I would go as a child - has given me more than my share of "starts" when we have come face to face, but when I hike now, chance encounters are more the name of the game.  At one time, the area was "the bears’ world!)  So yes, we DO have the glories right at our own doorstep.

James, you remind me of my first husband (and no, that’s not an insult). :-) It’s only that he always said that there was so much in the U.S. yet to see, he had no interest in traveling elsewhere.  To each his own. Some people find contentment right at home, but as for me, I want to see it all… Luckily, my husband now is a traveler as well, which makes each new place twice as sweet since we get to share it.

The U.S. is unique and breathtaking and I’ve traveled to the majority of it. I’ve driven across country six times, traveled to nearly every state including Alaska and Hawaii, and even lived in a half-dozen different states in my adult life, but until recently I never had the opportunity to go abroad and now that I have, I want more! 

Last year, we went to Southern Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria and not only do I want to go back to these places (soon and often), but I want to keep going!  Zurich was fascinating, but I feel as though I only touched the tip of the iceberg (the Swiss Alps were wonderful).  I adore Southern Germany and I completely fell in love with Salzburg, but I still haven’t seen Vienna and there were so many towns in Germany that I also didn’t have time to see.  I also want to see Northern Germany and Italy, Greece, France, England, Ireland, Prague… Now that I’ve finally fulfilled the dream to get to Europe, I can’t get enough! 

It’s the history and grandeur that has captivated me.  In Munich, we sat outside at a cafe in the moonlight in the shadow of the Cathedral - incredible.  We visited ancient castles dotted across the countryside that now stand in ruins, yet we couldn’t help but imagine the former residents and their lives.  On our travels, we stayed a night in Oberau where we could see Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest up on the mountain in the distance from our room.  When in Dachau, we experienced the striking dichotomy of the quaint little town and the concentration camp that stands alongside it.  In Salzburg we looked up at HohenSalzburg, the castle that sits above the city, knowing that even when Mozart lived there, he too looked up at that "old castle" that was already centuries old! 

If I had the resources, I’d travel constantly, but alas, I’ll have to dream and carefully plan, but it’s a guarantee that I’ll get to Europe again.  I’ve also studied Russian history (and love Russian novels) so Russia is also on my to-do list.  I’ve never had as great a desire to go to Central or South America (I’ve never even been to Mexico) or to visit Asian countries.  Granted, I’d love to see the remnants of Incan or Mayan civilizations or view the Great Wall, and I certainly wouldn’t mind a chance to experience the uniqueness and beauty of Japan, but since the fiscal reality means I have to pick and choose, I’ll choose Europe.  There’s enough there to keep me busy and visiting for many years to come!