Experience Collections

Patrica McKevlin of Charleston, South Carolina, wrote, “In 2018 I finished viewing all of Johannes Vermeer’s paintings, which I was introduced to in the sixth or seventh grade! It was a difficult challenge, but I had wanted to do it for a very long time. I know some travelers who are counting countries, while others are aiming to visit all the capitals of Europe. I would like to hear what types of experiences other people are ‘collecting’.”

Another ITN subscriber, Carole of Waterloo, Iowa, wrote, “On my next trip to India, among other things, I will ‘get’ my 26th and 27th of the 27 principal hill stations of British India for my ‘collection.’ Collecting these has been fun, with history, geography, geology, sociology and anthropology. (While there are many British hill stations, these are the ‘principal’ ones as defined by Dane Kennedy in his book ‘The Magic Mountains: Hill Stations and the British Raj.’ I found my copy at the marvelous Oxford Book & Stationery Company shop in Darjeeling in 2008.)

“I know people who ‘collect’ wineries or visits with different tribal cultural groups, and I’ve crossed paths with people focused on narrow-gauge railroads or golf courses. I’m wondering what other experiences travelers ‘collect’.”

ITN subscribers, if a particular type of experience that you seek out, “collect” or hope to complete as a goal influences your choices of travel destinations, tell us what it is and what started you on this quest. In what ways have you found it rewarding? Describe any special moments or encounters. When and where was your last trip related to this?

Email editor@intltravelnews.com or write to Experience Collections, c/o ITN, 2116 28th St., Sacramento, CA 95818. (Please include your mailing address.) Responses will be printed in a future issue. Photos, with captions, are welcome.