I think the 2 major differences are that I really like contemporary (mid-20th century and later) design - and I like fish a whole lot more than beef (rarely eat beef).

Also - I don't want to go on a Japan length plane trip on a flight that doesn't have lay flat seats. Reckon there are some to south America - but I would have to go a lot out of my way - maybe Chicago or somewhere in New York - to get to them. On airlines where I don't have lots of miles. For frequent travelers - this may sound stupid - but I want to take a red-eye on a lay flat seat flight at least once. Just to see what it's like. I have been on a plane with lay flat seats before - but it was a day flight from Atlanta to LAX. I want to see if I can actually get a good night's sleep on a red-eye flight (I'm a stomach sleeper). It's kind of like when I went from Tokyo to Osaka - I just had to take the Shinkansen (bullet train) - to see what it was like. As someone who grew up with Star Trek - I pretty much expected that - by now - I could just be beamed from here to there with no hassle whatsoever <just kidding>.

OTOH - as I get older - I want to use the easiest/most pleasant ways to get from here to there. IMO - travel isn't getting easier - it's getting harder. I mean why on earth should I have to worry about packing some Pepto Bismol or Milk or Magnesia when I go on a trip? Or why should my husband have to wear gym shorts under his pants so when security wants to spray his leg brace with explosive detecting powder - he doesn't have have drop his pants in public????

Also - I want a trip for my birthday in September. It is still pretty much the end of winter in south South America. Although I know it will be fall type weather in Stockholm as well (which is pretty much like winter where I live). Think I'd rather have fall than end of winter - but I am not an expert on the climate in either area.

Is there any really fun way to travel today unless you can afford your own private jet (I can't)? Robyn