For as long as I can remember, there have been two constants in my life: books and the dream of traveling. I’m living my bookish dream right now, being able to read the books that I feel like reading. My dream of traveling, while it breathed and lived for a while, taking me to places like the USA, Greece, and Indonesia, came to a grinding halt because of two reasons: lack of funds and my arthritis. I can’t walk for long and any strain makes sure I’m groaning in pain for a good few days after. This has filled me with longing as I watch people I know have adventure after adventure as I sit snuggled up at home.
So I made a little list of my own that will allow me some relief as I go about fulfilling the dreams that both my constants have been filling my mind with. I have been to a few places like Atlantis Books in Santorini and Gertrude and Alice in Sydney. But in today’s blog post, I’m sharing with you 15 bookish places on my travel bucket list, in no particular order, and they are across the world, making it the dream of a lifetime.
Can I work to fulfil these dreams? It remains to be seen. 😉
1. Shakespeare & Company, Paris
I don’t think I have to explain anything about why this place is on this list. It’s a bookworm’s haven and even though I’ve heard that it’s smaller than we think it is, I think I’d like to see and get the whole experience for myself.
2. El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires
This was a theater that has now been turned into a bookstore and in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful, most royally inviting bookstores to ever exist. I mean, just look at how gorgeous it is! I don’t think I’d leave for hours and days once I went in there! Great, now I’m having nostalgia for a place I haven’t even been to yet!
3. Trinity College, Dublin
For some reason, I find the interiors of this library to be so serious and regal and that, I think, is what appeals to me. Footsteps slicing through the silence and the pure awe with which I’m sure I’ll be gazing around everything makes me want to book a ticket and leg it there asap. Ironic much?
4. The Jane Austen Festival, Bath
This is held annually in September every year and celebrates the genius that gave us stories like Pride and Prejudice and Emma. It’s held in Bath and though I know I won’t fit into the crowd – not because I’m not white but because I’m the most introverted of introverts to ever exist – I’d still like to see everything up close and get at least a partial experience.
5. The Emily Dickinson Museum, Amherst
This museum covers two houses – one, the home of poetess Emily Dickinson from 1855 until her passing in 1886, and the second, a home that her father built for her brother. I’ve read Emily Dickinson’s poems and I think that she was a particularly humane genius with words. So to visit her home would be something to cherish.
6. Dubrovnik, Croatia
This is here on my travel bucket list thanks to Game of Thrones and it was in this city that a lot of the scenes for King’s Landing were filmed. I enjoyed the show, up until they ended it like that, that is, and I’d love to take a stroll through the streets of Dubrovnik to throw me back into some fictional past.
7. Stratford-upon-Avon
The Bard was born here. That’s all I’ll say.
I’m kidding. I’m not a huge Shakespeare fan, to be honest. I find his sonnets really tedious to read because a lot of it is old English. But then, he was the one who revolutionized the English language and brought so many words into existence. And for that and that alone, I’d love to pay tribute to him by visiting his birthplace.
8. Agatha Christie’s House, Greenway, Devon
I feel like I’ve mentioned this on the blog before I don’t know for sure, but Agatha Christie got me my first job. I won’t go into details, but that isn’t just why I want to go to this place. I’ve loved Agatha Christie’s writing for as long as I can remember and when I came upon pictures of this place, I knew instantly that I was going to visit. I don’t know when, but it WILL happen.
9. Library of Congress, Washington DC
I was in Washington DC about 8 years ago and missed visiting this gorgeous looking place. It’s a major missed opportunity but maybe it didn’t come onto my radar because of how not worldly-wise or bookish-wise I was back then. I made a lot of mistakes on that first solo trip and not visiting this was one of them. Let’s see how I can correct it. And soon.
10. Stay at the Library Hotel & Visit New York Public Library, NYC
Another city I visited 8 years ago and the previous reasoning applies here as well. But the double dhamaka here is that we can stay at this hotel (whaaatt!!!) and experience its hospitality! It sounds pretty sweet and the thing I was looking for when I was adding these places to my travel bucket list. Although, it’s pretty expensive, so I need to GET TO WORK!
11. State Library of Victoria & NSW, Australia
While the State Library of NSW is in the state I am currently in – New South Wales – I feel like I missed out on the State Library of Victoria when I was in Melbourne a few years ago. And yet, I am extremely grateful for the resources I have at my disposal today. So I’m hopeful that I will get to see both, one sooner than the other, but both, nevertheless.
12. Book and Bed, Tokyo
Tokyo is a beautiful city that has been on my travel bucket list for eons now. So when I saw that there is a hostel in the city that is a combination of a bookstore and a hotel, I pulled it onto this list faster than I could say, “visa.” I couldn’t find a free-for-use picture, but do look it up. Doesn’t it look gorgeous?!
13. 84 Charing Cross Road, London
This location is purely because of the book 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. That book wrecked me in the most beautiful bookish ways and ever since, I’ve wanted to visit this location where booksellers Marks &. Co. once stood and the people of which forged such a meaningful connection with Hanff. If I ever go to London (which I hope I do), this will be one place I shan’t miss!
14. Cărturești Carusel, Bucharest
Another dreamy bookshop from Europe? Yes, please, sign me up! This is all kinds of epic because how can a bookshop located in an old bank and intertwined with staircases that makes my bones ache by just looking at them make me feel like I need to walk up and down them like old royalty? I don’t know. Humans are paradoxes, okay? Don’t ask me for explanations. 😛
15. Hay-on-Wye, Wales
This is a little Welsh town that is known for its bookshops. I think that’s enough said because say books, say quaint, bring them together, and I’m sold! I also remember a bunch of authors and Booktubers posting content from the Hay Festival this year, most prominent in my memory being Jack Edwards. So 2 and 2 makes 15, right?
So those were 15 bookish places on my travel bucket list. What places are on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
I’ll see you in the next blog post.
Until next time, keep reading and add melodrama to your life! ❤
All pictures sourced from Wikimedia Commons.
The Melodramatic Bookworm 
Hay-on-Wye has been on my bucket list for a while now. I need to visit ASAP!
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Hope you get to visit sooner than soon 😊
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