What’s a country that’s at the top of your bucket list?

If I could pack my bags today and travel to any country in the world, Greece would definitely be top on my list. And not just anywhere in Greece. I have my eyes on Santorini!

Santorini, Greece with whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches, a golden sunset and a woman dreaming of visiting the island.
Santorini, Greece – one day, I’ll trade the pictures for the real thing.

Those beautiful white buildings, blue-domed churches, gorgeous views of the sea and sunsets that look as though someone sat down to paint them personally. Abeg, who wouldn’t want to experience that kind of beauty?

I can already imagine myself strolling through those beautiful streets, taking pictures, enjoying the views and having one of those “God, you really created all these?” moments.

The only small problem is that while I’m busy imagining the holiday, the Nigerian economy is busy reminding me that imagination is currently the most affordable part of this trip. lol

The exchange rate is doing its own thing, flight tickets are not smiling and my bank account? That one has left the group chat indefinitely.

Santorini is calling but my bank account isn’t picking up. lol

But Greece isn’t the only place on my mind. There’s also Qatar.

I once travelled to Lebanon and passed through Hamad International Airport in Qatar. I didn’t get to explore the country itself, but that airport alone left an impression on me. It was so big and beautiful! Everything about the place made me curious about what lay beyond those airport walls.

And ever since then, Qatar has quietly occupied a little corner of my travel bucket list.

Doha, Qatar, skyline at sunset with traditional wooden boats on the waterfront and a woman looking towards the city
Qatar- from a beautiful airport stopover to a destination I hope to explore someday.

Isn’t it funny how a place can capture your attention even when you haven’t properly experienced it? Sometimes, all it takes is a glimpse, a passing moment or something you see along the way to make you want to return and discover more.

That’s the thing about travelling. It’s not just about visiting new places or taking beautiful pictures for social media. It’s also about experiencing different cultures, seeing life from another perspective, meeting people, tasting unfamiliar food and collecting memories that become stories you tell for years.

My train ride to Ibadan reminded me of how beautiful it can be to experience something new, even when it’s not a trip to another country. Sometimes, adventure is closer than we think. We just need to be willing to step outside our usual routines.

Still, I won’t pretend that I don’t want to see Santorini with my own eyes or walk around Qatar beyond the airport. A girl is allowed to dream!

And while we’re dreaming, I hope that one day, I get to visit these places without having to calculate every expense seventeen times, convert currencies until my head spins and ask myself whether the holiday is worth sacrificing three months of peace of mind. lol

But beyond the destinations, there’s something beautiful about having places you hope to see someday.

Our bucket lists remind us that there is still so much of the world waiting to be discovered. they give us something to look forward to, something to work towards and sometimes, a little excitement in the middle of our everyday routines.

Not every dream has to happen immediately. Some dreams take planning, saving, patience and a few adjustments along the way. And that’s okay.

The important thing is not to stop dreaming simply because the timing isn’t right yet. We can be realistic about our present circumstances without allowing them to dictate the limits of our imagination.

So for now, Greece and Qatar remain on my list. One for the breath-taking view and Santorini magic, the other for the curiosity that began with a beautiful airport.

And hopefully, one day, I’ll be writing another article about how I finally got there.

Until then, I’ll keep dreaming, keep planning and keep an eye on the exchange rate. Because, my people, faith is important but checking the cost of flight is also a spiritual discipline in this economy. lol

One day, by God’s grace, we’ll look back at the things we once only dreamed about and smile because we finally got to experience them.

Until then, may our dreams remain big, our hope remain alive and our travel savings account experience supernatural growth. Amen!lol