Are you dreaming of visiting a beautiful, sun-soaked beach in the tropics?
Perhaps you love exploring new cities, finding unique spots to eat, shop, and sightsee in. Or maybe you just love being on the road, wherever the wind takes you.
Regardless of where you love to travel, odds are you haven't been able to do much of it this year, if at all. While travel opened up during the summer months for travel in B.C., the Government of Canada strongly advised against international travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Now, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has extended a public health order that bans travel outside of your respective home health authority until Jan. 8, unless it's for essential travel.
So, why whet your appetite for recreational travel while B.C.'s top doctor has issued an order against it?
Welcome to the "Theatre of the Mind"
While it won't replace physical travel, there are countless places, worlds, and galaxies to explore via your computer, phone, surface, and television. For now, these electronic devices offer safe avenues for exploration during this unprecedented time.
Here are some exciting journeys you can take in lieu of the "real" adventures.
The Lord of the Rings
Venture to Middle-earth and lose yourself on one of the most epic adventures penned in modern times. While you may have watched all three films prior to the pandemic, you may not have attempted to watch them all in one day. This will be no small feat, because each one is approximately three hours long. That said, if you give this fantasy trifecta the full attention it deserves, you will be rewarded with a truly satisfying cinematic experience complete with fantastical creatures, complex heroes, impressive villains, lavish battle scenes, and so much more.
The Fifth Element
While it isn't similar to The Lord of the Rings, The Fifth Element offers a fantastical respite from your lack of travel. A cult classic, this science-fiction flick is set on earth, but in the 23rd century, so there are plenty of flying cars, weird clothes, and space aliens. It stars Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, and Milla Jovovich, who each deliver captivating performances. Interestingly, it was the most expensive European movie made at the time of its 1997 release. But with high-action scenes and elaborate set designs, it isn't hard to see why.
Loving Vincent
Loving Vincent is the world's first fully painted feature film, and it is a beautiful tribute to its namesake, Vincent van Gogh. Not only will you get to enjoy the breathtaking appearance of the film, but you'll also learn about the life of the Dutch post-impressionist painter. While he was largely unknown until after his death, he is known for having painted some of the greatest masterpieces in Western art.
Spirited Away
While many of Hayao Miyazaki's films are considered masterpieces, Spirited Away is an Academy Award-winning classic that is great for people of all ages. This epic animated fantasy features a young girl who travels with her parents to a seemingly abandoned amusement park. However, her parents are turned into pigs after they feast upon food at one of the otherworldly eateries, and she has to navigate a strange new world on her own. With breathtaking animation and a fascinating narrative, it isn't hard to get lost in this incredible feature.
