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In 2003 I went to Toulouse, France, for the summer to stay with a dear Irish friend. My itinerary was to explore, photograph, and speak French. Nothing else was planned until it happened. The summer before I had befriended a Frenchman named Michel while traveling in Ireland. He drove a motorcycle and played the clarinet on the street for fun. He was always up for an adventure. Sara, my Irish friend, and I traveled with him to Carcassonne one day to explore the ancient walled city. He played his clarinet late into the night as we hung out two stories up on an overlook. We missed the last train and stayed up all night. Dawn came and I must have fallen asleep, because I was woken by angelic singing. Looking down there was a brigade of men jogging and singing in perfect unison. I never found out who exactly they were.

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Carcassone
by Elli Williams, Abbeville, MS

Elli's Dream Trip
A midsummer in Finland

Years ago, I stood on top of a Lahti ski jump and scanned the evergreens in the diffused summer light. There was something about Finland, something beyond my own family roots.

Upon returning, my husband and I would visit my grandfather and begin our travels among the low wooden houses, wide boulevards, and modern industrial design of Lahti, filling up on ripe raspberries and three-inch-thick pancakes. By night, there will be pear cider and rich chord progressions under the stars at one of their many music festivals.

Then on to Helsinki to explore museums and the thriving culinary tradition there. We'd have a meal at world-renowned Ravintola Sea Horse before embarking on the ancient King's Road along the southern coast. Once an old postal route between Sweden, Russian, and the Baltic states, it boasts grand manors, stone churches, and ironwork villages.

The next stop is the Kuopio dance festival. Nestled between two clear lakes, Kuopio draws thousands of people from around the world to see performances there.

Then midsummer celebration begins, and on we move to Rovaniemi, the residence of Santa Claus, to celebrate summer solstice with wild bonfires on the shores of arctic lakes. This is the time to see the midnight sun when it is white night for 24 hours. I imagine staring into color-filled skies, photographing what the Cree call "the dance of the spirits," the aurora borealis.

After the festivities, in the traditional fashion, we would join a family at a country cottage for relaxation in hot saunas and icy lakes before finding our own places of solace to hike, canoe, and see the roaming elk and brown bear. And there among the evergreens, I hope to find that special something about Finland.

Elli's Travel Tips

• When planning your travels, strike a balance between scheduling and improvising. Nothing always goes as planned, so integrate the idiosyncrasies of travel with the experience of adventure.

• Don't be afraid to talk with people. Learning a culture's customs and basic phrases not only shows respect, but also helps you learn about what makes the place unique.

• Be aware that tourism is a driving force in many economies. Understand the impact of your travels on a particular country and make sustainable choices.