bucket-list

List of 2016 Michelin 3-star restaurants

Michelin stars are a rating system used by the red Michelin Guide to grade restaurants on their quality. The guide was originally developed in 1900 to show French drivers where local amenities such as restaurants and mechanics were, the rating system was first introduced in 1926 as a single star, with the second and third stars introduced in 1933. According to the Guide, one star signifies "a very good restaurant", two stars are "excellent cooking that is worth a detour", and three stars mean "exceptional cuisine that is worth a special journey". The listing of starred restaurants is updated once a year.

A Somewhat Bucket LIst

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I have so few items on my bucket list that it seems almost odd to even be thinking about writing down a bucket list. I do have a few items, though:

1. Walk on every continent.
2. Swim on both sides of every ocean.

I've been doing an okay job with that first one, having walked on North America, South America, Australia, Africa, Europe and Asia. I tried Antarctica over a year ago, but, well, that didn't work out. Maybe this coming winter, er, Antarctic summer.

I've been doing an okay job with that second one, having swum on one side of the Pacific Ocean, both sides of the Indian Ocean, and one side of the Atlantic Ocean. There aren't really sides to the Arctic and Southern Oceans. I expected to swim in the Southern Ocean during that trip to Antarctica, with a Solar Plunge, which includes a defibrillator and a glass of whiskey at the end.

I used to chase eclipses, which is a fantastic way to choose new, interesting destinations when travelling. That chasing took me to Machu Picchu and Curacao, both places I likely wouldn't have visited otherwise (of note, the mosquito-less Aruba and Curacao are mosquito-less for a reason, and that reason also causes them to be nominally vegetation-free, and that reason isn't pleasant for a mountain girl).

Ultimate changed my destination selection algorithm, with travelling to new places depending on where the next tournament was. Another good way to choose a bucket list, BTW: play ultimate on every continent.

I've decide that the next item to add to my travel destination generator masquerading as a not-really-but-sorta-is bucket list is hexagonal basalt formations. I've been meaning to go to Devil's Postpile since Mom and I went to the Giant's Causeway years ago. And now, having found a list of basalt formations, from kottke.org, I have to say that, yes, this would be a great way to travel around the world.

The places listed are:

1. Litlanesfoss, Iceland
2. Sea Cave on the Akun Island, Alaska, USA
3. Ghenh Da Dia, Vietnam
4. Takachiho Gorge, Japan
5. Los Organos, Canary Islands, Spain
6. Jusangjeolli Cliffs, South Korea
7. Garni Gorge, Armenia
8. Fingal's Cave, UK
9. Giant's Causeway, UK
10. Prismas Basálticos, Mexico
11. Kirkjugólf, Iceland
12. Svartifoss, Iceland
13. Hexagon Pool, Israel
14. Cape Stolbchaty, Russia

I'm adding:

15. Devil's Postpile

One of those I've done. One trip going from Iceland to the UK and I have another 1/3 of them. A weekend trip to Devil's Postpile and I'm approaching half of them seen.

Should be a fun item to cross off the bucket list.

Right after that Solar, er, Polar Plunge.