The one that got away [Country I Want to Visit but Can't]

[drron]

I have been reminded over 1 that U really should have taken but didn't. In 1983 Mrsdrron and I were invited by the Russian Ambassador to Australia To visit Russia. He even said he would source a good Russian mink coat for Mrsdrron. I thought I had good reason not to accept but with time I have regretted that decision.

 

[VPS]

Went to Lake Bled (Slovenia) several times in the early 70's with my uncle who took us there in his car. He was quite a prominent figure in Klagenfurt Austria, which is close to Slovenia (then Yugoslavia) and where he had a number of mates, including border guards no doubt. The bond of the slivovitz drinkers was very strong.

Also went to Moscow in 1973 to see the Bolshoi Ballet and the State Circus (amongst other things), and it was very interesting. The old joke that you had to speak into the toilet in your hotel room to get any service was very true...

When I was in Moscow in the 1980s my friend said his room hadn't been serviced well for days and commented on how dusty it was by the TV - it was dusted very well the next day

 

[Journeyman]

Iraq . I grew up in Basra. and last saw it in 1964 and regret that I cannot visit this unfortunate country.

What a mess the west has made of the Middle East. The cradle of civilisation

 

[prozac]

As I get older and tick more of my bucket list destinations, especially the ones that have bird watching as the primary goal I was thinking that there was one destination that I won't be able to get to in my travel lifetime.

Venezuela has 1412 bird species and spectacular scenery. I was there briefly in the 80's when I was budget backpacking around South America but I didn't get into birding until the 2000's. I would love to go there and see all those beautiful "lifers" as we call new birds we haven't seen yet. But with the crime and political situation I can't see Venezuela being safe to visit or being taken off the Do Not Travel List in the near future.

So Venezuela is my "One that got away". What country is yours?

I want to go to Venezuela to see Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall!

Angel Falls - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

For over half a century I have had Venezuela on my to do list. If I could be more at ease about the crime situation I'd be there.
With everything going on in the ME it has stirred my interest to visit Israel too.

 

[Journeyman]

You cannot visit! When I have decided I no longer want to visit the US (can't get ESTA after going to Iran), I will go to Iran. Does crossing over the DMZ line onto the North Korean side count as having been to NK?!

I had the same ESTA denial due to spendning two glorious weeks visitin Iran 6 years ago. I do need to visit US (Hawaii) once a year so had to get a B1B2 stamped in my passport after having to lash out for a trip to Sydney, hours at Consulate etc. Still get pulled over at immigration. Je ne regrette rien!

 

[Journeyman]

As I get older and tick more of my bucket list destinations, especially the ones that have bird watching as the primary goal I was thinking that there was one destination that I won't be able to get to in my travel lifetime.

Venezuela has 1412 bird species and spectacular scenery. I was there briefly in the 80's when I was budget backpacking around South America but I didn't get into birding until the 2000's. I would love to go there and see all those beautiful "lifers" as we call new birds we haven't seen yet. But with the crime and political situation I can't see Venezuela being safe to visit or being taken off the Do Not Travel List in the near future.

So Venezuela is my "One that got away". What country is yours?

I would highly recommend Tunisia to those who have not visited. Had two weeks there in November. Steeped in history. Lovely people.

 

[chitown_boy]

Managed to visit St Petersburg twice, once by rail from Finland and once on a Baltic cruise (both were wonderful), so can live without another visit to Russia.

Our one that got away was a combined Israel and Egypt tour, that has been cancelled twice, the first by Covid and the second one by the current conflict. Not sure another opportunity will open up for us in the foreseeable as age and infirmities meet other risks.

Coincidentally we’re the exact opposite.

I did Tel Aviv twice back in the days and glad I squeezed that in in the before times…

First was a general touristic trip (including Carmel Market, Jaffa, Jerusalem and the dead sea, which also had the world’s lowest altitude bar), which was a side trip from Istanbul on my first SQ J experience. The trip was so memorable, there were only 3 ppl in B777-200 J (back in the days when they had the even wider J seats) and the service was incredible. Got a handwritten thank you note from the whole crew as I disembarked. As with Tel Aviv, my fondest memories there are marked by lively music and amazing food (the market stalls had subwoofers and the vendors were all singing and dancing as they peddled produce) …also memorable were the full-on immigration interviews on entry and exit Who do you know in Israel, what are their names, how did you meet them, etc etc

The other time was for Tel Aviv Pride just after Israel won Eurovision so the winner was the headlining act in the final night’s main party - again an unforgettable experience.

The one that got away for me - like with many ppl it seems - is most definitely St Petersburg. I wish I did a side trip on the train from Helsinki that time I visited Finland…or went via Moscow back when SQ flew there…

 

[Journeyman]

I know that the Middle East is on many people's wish list but I honestly have no desire to visit there at all, even if I could. I had a brief 3 days in Dubai a few years ago and that was plenty.
No wish to go back to Paris though other France is OK - been there many times.

Dubai is NOT the Middle East my friend. Ifoubt you would have even met an Arab.

 

[drron]

Dubai is NOT the Middle East my friend. Ifoubt you would have even met an Arab.

You sure about that. Most recognise the UAE as being part of the Middle East and Dubai is one of the Es.

The term first came into general use in 1902 When a US Naval strategist labelled the countries that surround the Persian gulf which Dubai cetainly is there. But of course Dubai is not a country it is part of the UAE which is recognised as the country.

 

[nancypants]

Syria. Early 2011 i planned Christmas in Turkey. My plan was to go from Cappadocia down to Gazientep, Diyarbikar then across the border and through to Aleppo and Damascus. Then the uprisings began in March and the rest as they say is history. Plans scuttled and i went west from Cappadocia instead undertaking a loop of Selcuk/Ephesus, Pamukkale and Gallipoli to Istanbul.

Same for me with Libya