The Bucket List: Write It Down & Make It Real
When traveling, I sometimes create expectations for myself that are hard to live up to. This is partly because in all of my favorite movies and TV shows where people leave their normal lives to go halfway around the world, they either fall in love, find out who they really are, or discover their true purpose in life. Dramatic? Yes... but since I've been living in London I'll take this time to quote English filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock,
“Drama is life with the dull bits cut out.”
I am always worried that while on vacation, I will end up spending time doing a ton of things that I can do back home. So for my expedition to Cyprus, I made a special effort to avoid getting caught up in monotony, and created a bucket list.
What started out as imaginative thoughts and scribbles, drifted into reality and lasting memories with pictures to match.
When I'm feeling creative or inspired, my handwriting tends to be a little abstract. So in case you can't make out certain words or phrases, my bucket list started out like this...
- Visit a Monastery
- Go to a Beach
- Go to Three Museums
- Climb a Mountain
- Take the Most Memorable Photo of a Lifetime (Or Something Close to It)
- Buy an Authentic Item
- Visit 3 Historic Monuments
- Ride a Scooter, Bike, or 4 Wheeler
- Visit an Art Gallery
The most refreshing part about this whole ordeal is that I started the list to just ease my mind and give me some direction. There was no real plan about how any of these things would get done, but as the days went by each number on the list became a mission. With the help of some new friends, friendly baristas, and a very well traveled and knowledgeable taxi driver... my bucket list became an itinerary for the duration of my trip. I accomplished every single thing on the list, but to save some time, I'll share with you what impacted me the most.
Visit a Monastery
The Monastery of Saint Herakleidios
Visiting a monastery was number one, because there is special about visiting sacred grounds that have been around for centuries. Whether you consider yourself to be religious or irreverent, spiritual or physical, there is something to be said and felt after leaving a monastery like this one. Upon entering, a nun approached my group. She held our hands while asking us a few questions about school and where we were from. She used the little bit of English she knew to piece together her story, and we used our taxi driver as a translator to help piece together ours. This woman who had been on that mountain the majority of her life, looked at our diversity in admiration. While organized religion and those who devote their lives to it sometimes get a bad rep, this woman held back all judgement. She put fourth all the positivity she had to offer with zeal and confidence. Before we departed, she prayed for us and informed us that no matter where we come from, who we are, or what we believe in... the God that she believes in, is for everyone.
Buy an Authentic Item
Handmade Leather Change Pouch
Throughout my European travels, one rule I have set for myself is to buy something that represents each place that I go. In Spain I purchased a handmade jade necklace, but in Cyprus I wanted to make sure I got something that I could use on a day to day basis. When going back and fourth between countries that use pounds and euros, it can be confusing and difficult to keep track of all the coins that bounce around in my pockets. They all start to look the same, but I figured this coin purse would do a good job of separating the two. While inexpensive, it was also handmade and I purchased it from a small leather shop on Paphos Harbour. Imprinted in the leather is a map of the island.
Go to a Beach
Mackenzie Beach (Larnaca)
Last year was my first time ever on a beach. It took me nineteen years to make it to a sandy shore and it turned out to be absolutely everything I expected. I felt drawn to the ocean and loved the way the sun gently toasted my complexion. Since then, I try to sink my toes in the sand whenever possible, and Mackenzie Beach in Larnaca was the perfect place to do so. The iron colored sand stretches as far as the eye can see, and the shallow calm waters allow for time to just stare at the ripples and get lost in ones own thoughts.
Take the Most Memorabel Photo of a Lifetime
(Or Something Close to It)
Russian Orthodox Church
Though I'm not sure that this is the most memorable photo of my lifetime... I am sure that it will be somewhere high on the list. This photo was taken outside of a Russian church in the Cypriot countryside. It significance? It is the first Russian style church in the entire country. Its gold domes draw attention from kilometeres away, and in my eyes it's a testament to the idea that a 'first' can sometimes also be a 'best'. Lately I've been doing and seeing a lot for the first time. Though the first time can be scary and filled with disaster, it can also be filled with marvel and important lessons. Aside from it's beauty, this photo proves that you can get it right on the first time.
Even if I only accomplished one thing on my list, I would have still been satisfied. Because along the way I would have accomplished so many other things. This is why I encourage you to create your own bucket list. Whether it be for your next trip, the next year, or the next month. Sometimes putting a pen to paper and writing things down, makes them more real than saying them out loud. If you feel inclined, share your bucket lists with me, and don't forget to take as many photos as you possibly can along the way.
