Oh, The Places You'll Go
BERGEN readers are eagerly counting down the days until their 2018 adventures.
Whether you’re flying solo or going with a group, traveling almost always creates a sense of excitement, as these local residents have found. With their bags already packed and passports handy for this year’s trips, they share their itineraries, the reasons for their travels and who’s booked a ticket to join them.
Switzerland
“A trip to Switzerland has always been something I’ve wanted to do— even more so now that I’m learning French in college. I’ll be graduating soon and would like to start my travels in the next year. I already speak German, and these are two of the most prominent languages in the country. I’ll practice my language skills in Geneva—it’s a diverse place with residents from all over the world and close to the Swiss Alps, which is a must-visit. I also plan to visit smaller villages like Gimmelwald and Interlaken— with their sprawling green hills and cobblestone streets, they look like they’re right out of a fairytale.”
—Michael Kaefer, Ramsey
Greece
“My husband Luciano and I will be going to Greece—and taking along the entire family (our 17-year-old triplet daughters and our 13-year-old son). We want them to experience the history and unique architecture of ancient Greece, coupled with the beautiful island beaches. We’ll start in Athens to visit the Acropolis and Parthenon, plus the area’s museums and gardens. Then we’ll both fly and hydrofoil to the islands of Milos, Santorini and Mykonos. I know it’ll be a trip my children will never forget.” —Mary Jane Bruni, Franklin Lakes
Germany
“I’ve been wanting to meet my relatives who live right outside of Frankfurt. There are about 10 of them there, and my grandmother was very close with them. She recently passed away, and I know she would have been thrilled with the idea of me going. I also hope to catch up with an old friend, an exchange student we hosted from Karlsruhe, who I haven’t seen since she left the States. Switching roles and getting to finally meet her family would be really special.” —Sam Bayles, Mahwah
Costa Rica
“I’m planning to visit Costa Rica with an organization called Under 30 Experiences, which organizes trips for 20-something-year-olds. We’ll spend our time in the La Fortuna/Arenal area, where we’ll go hiking, kayaking and zip lining through the rainforest. Costa Rica has a number of naturally occurring hot springs as well, which will be a welcome change from the Jersey sleet and snow!” —Angelica Bracco, Ramsey
Southeast Asia
“I’m a freelancer so I have huge chunks of time when I’m not working. So I decided to use this flexibility and started planning a two-month trip to Southeast Asia. I’d like to spend time in the Thailand countryside, Cambodia, Vietnam and maybe Japan. I was bitten by the travel bug after visiting my friends while they were studying in Prague, so I’ve made a point of putting money aside for another adventure.” —Kierra Jordan, Midland Park
