tracey l heppner - photographer & lover of life

i have been extremely blessed and fortunate to travel a LOT in my life. and i have been to some fairly AMAZING places. 

and i know that there are some places that i want to go BACK to one day and spend christmas there - and places i HAVEN’T been to that i want to spend christmas at. :)

of the miles i have traveled to, there are 3 places i wish to be at during christmas: ITALY, NEW YORK CITY, CANNON BEACH, OREGON.

ITALY

this probably is a given, as most people who either know me or my blog, know my love for italy. :)

the closest i have been to italy at christmastime was siena in early november in 2010. some lights were starting to get put up and it was “cool” enough to FEEL like christmas was in the air.

SIDE NOTE: i think living in a hot place plays with my psyche and the ability to really FEEL like it’s christmas. there is something, to me, that cool air, roaring fireplaces, and warm sweaters that makes it FEEL like christmas. END SIDE NOTE. :)

italy and christmas. from what i have read, it’s not flashy commercial christmas as it is in the west (north america). honestly, i’m QUITE ok with that. instead, there are nativity scenes…many of them. as a christian, this is the reason why we celebrate the holidays, so i can identify with this very much. there are some very old, hand-carved nativity scenes i’d love to see. and the hand-made gifts that one can buy at this time of year, in comparison to going down to a local box store - that is what i would love. finding treasures hand-made to give. mmmm. :)

or what about the MEATLESS christmas eve feast? now THAT i could do with!! no i’m not a vegetarian..but all the meat these days - too much. i try to eat very little meat as i can. and going to family and friends houses for antipasti, and cakes and gelato and… ya.. i could totally get into that.

one day i will..one day…my family will go and have christmas with my italian family…yes..one day….

NEW YORK CITY

the first time i went to new york city i fell in love. it was back in 2001. it was also in the month of may - very far away from christmas.

but i have watched enough christmas specials on tv and heard stories from friends who have spent the holidays there and WOW…..THAT is another place i want to spend the holidays in. 

there is something about skating at rockafeller..and all the artists who come perform christmas songs there.. and eating roasted chesnuts on the cool, crisps streets where macy’s and nordstrom are. 

back up to rockafeller - dude..to see the big tree light up…ahhhhhhhhhhh.. so nice. and times square…i bet it would JUST be bustling. 

ya..christmas in new york is definitely another on my bucket list. :)

CANNON BEACH, OREGON

yes…this is another place i have been to that i would love to spend christmas at. we have spent many summers visiting there. it’s a very “happy” place for us. 100% R&R. and right on the ocean. jonathan and i LOVE the ocean. and to hear the crashing of the waves in our cottage over an open fire…DUDE. THAT would be fantastic.

cannon beach has snow in the winter too, as does new york. think of it - small village type town on the coast of oregon…socked in for the winter, type feeling. i could TOTALLY do that. talk about a place to UNWIND.

that would be a dream. yes, add that one too, to my bucket list.

there also is MONTREAL & BORACAY. ok..add two more to the bucket list. :)

PLACES YET TO VISIT

now my list of places i’d like to visit for christmas that i have never traveled to..

SCOTLAND, because my husband wants to go there so badly and what a better time to make lovely memories than at christmastime.

and it’s now 5:30pm and i can’t think…how pathetic is that..must have been the buttertarts and sugar cookies i ate this afternoon. ;)

so i will leave it at that for today’s christmas post. in my home country’s other tongue: joyeux noel. :)

xotracey