She explained that she had wanted to visit Venice her entire life! As usual she received some very good feedback from other members and now feels more reassured that she is making the right decision to spend at least one week there! Whew!
It made me think about what places I have wanted to visit my entire life. I have a gazillion places that I want to visit, but I'm talking about "my life won't be complete if I don't see it before I die" type places. With that in mind it took less than a minute to come up with . . . .
# 1 - Venice, Italy (Was there even any doubt!) :)
# 2 - Rome, Italy
# 3 - Florence, Italy
# 4 - Swiss Alps, Switzerland
# 5 - Paris, France
# 6 - Salzburg, Austria
Mission complete! But wait . . . maybe I can add a "Non Europe" list and add Africa, India, Thailand, Peru, Chile and Argentina . . .
Great list! Those were also places on my "to see" list and have been to all now. I also have a few more "non Italy" places I would like to see IF I could only tear myself away from Italy. A few of mine are Greece, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and perhaps a few more South American countries.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add...Croatia and Montenegro.
ReplyDeleteHi Girasoli, I know what you mean when you say about tearing yourself away from Italy. That's my challenge too. I decided that I would visit Italy one year and someplace completely new and different the other year so I can see as much of the world as I possibly can. Now if I could only win the Lotto that would help speed up the process but that won't happen since I don't even play.
ReplyDeleteLuckily I have all the Slow Travel Blogs to follow for my Italy fix. It's not the same as being there but it definitely helps ease my "Missing Italy" blues! :)
What a wonderful list! I've been to all except the Swiss Alps and Salzburg. I really want to return to Rome for two weeks; I feel like I barely scratched the surface there.
ReplyDeleteAnd I would like to return to Paris and also Amsterdam, a city I really enjoyed (I like canals!).
But I've got the same dilemma...tearing myself away from Italy, and more specifically Venice! I don't know what I'm going to do this winter. I will probably end up going back to Venice even though part of me thinks I need to branch out. It's tough when you've got limited vacation time and cash!
Maybe we need to start playing the Lotto!?!
This is a great list, and a great idea. I've also not been able to pry myself away from Italy in recent years, but at some point I must!
ReplyDeleteI've been to Vienna a few times, but never made it out to Salzburg -- so, it's on my list! I also want to spend some time in Spain, in Greece, and I'd like to return to Paris. But I think Ireland will have to be the first non-Italian trip. I'm in the process of getting an Irish passport, so I'll have to put it to use!
Hi Annie, I know what you mean about Rome. The city has so much history. Same goes for Paris. Amsterdam seems like a really cool City too!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'll ever feel the same way about another country as I do Italy, but I figure it would be kind of fun to find out! Which is why I'm forcing myself to try. It's not easy though.
I don't normally play the Lotto because I can't stand the disappointment of losing. However, when the jackpot gets up to $60 million or more I will usually plop down $5 bucks just in case donkey's start flying and I actually have a shot at winning. Do you have a Lotto in North Carolina too? If not, next time the jackpot gets to $60 million, I'll buy $5 worth of quick picks for both you and I. Maybe one of us will get lucky!
Hi Sandra, thanks for your comments. Wow, all of us girls seem to be in the same boat when it comes to Italy. One of the things that I think about whenever I plan a trip away from Italy is the possibility that I might also end up loving the new country that I'm visiting just as much as I do Italy. And then I feel a little better about planning my non Italy trip - at least for a little while.
ReplyDeleteI'll be going to Spain this year so I'm really excited about that. I wouldn't mind seeing Greece and re-visiting Paris too.
That's so cool that you're getting an Irish passport. I almost went to Ireland and Scotland in 2006 but with our weak dollar I decided to delay the trip and went to the Czech Republic, Austria and Munich instead. But it is definitely still very high on my must see list!
So much to see!
Hi Kathy, yes North Carolina only recently got a lottery and I haven't played it one time yet! It was very controversial and lots of people were opposed, but so many North Carolinians were driving up to play the Virgina lottery that they finally gave us one of our own. It's called the "NC Education Lottery" since supposedly all the profit goes to our public schools.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea about buying some quick picks when the pot is very big. I need to start paying attention to it! I know it's a long shot....but somebody wins, why not us?!?
I love your list! I've been to all except Salzburg and I would revisit them over and over. You' re going to love Spain. It's a beautiful country with wonderful cuisine, great wine and gorgeous and diverse landscape.
ReplyDeleteItaly stole my heart when I first visited in 1979 and the love affair has gotten stronger with time. I visit every-other year and I should be there this Fall but instead my husband convinced me to visit a new place so it seems that we'll be going to Turkey and Greece. To be so close to Italy and not touch Italian soil will be a torture!
Annie, California is the same way. Proceeds from the Lotto is supposed to inject some financial resources into our schools. Hopefully, it is doing what it was intended to do, because the schools here really need it.
ReplyDeleteI think it's cool that you will get the chance to visit Venice again this year. I would love to see it in the winter time with possible snow! I bet Venice is even more beautiful with a light dusting of snow.
I've been keeping tabs on an ST thread about a direct flight from LAX to FCO and may try to visit Rome too and maybe head down to Positano and Capri (again) next year. I was in Rome in 2005 and spent 4 days there with a daytrip to Pompeii. And like you said, didn't even scratch the surface.
I just can't get enough of Italy!
Hi Maria, thanks for you comments. I think I will love Spain too! I just have that feeling about it. Funny how Italy is just that kind of place for everyone.
ReplyDeleteWow, Turkey and Greece. That sounds like a great trip! I always tell myself that Italy will always be there for met to return. And I will over and over again!
I haven't done much travelling yet, but Italy has my heart too, no question! I found Budapest beautiful, and enjoyed what I saw of England last summer, but I am always dreaming of Italy. I really want to visit Greece and Spain sometime though.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post, very thought provoking!
Hi Anne, thanks for your comments. I just started traveling more regularly myself as well ever since 2005. I have not been to Budapest, but it sounds like a really great place to visit.
ReplyDeleteI think Italy seems to have the hearts for many of us and for good reason. It's an awesome country.
Great list. You will love Spain. The Granada is stunning.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard not to go back to somewhere you have been before. On the first trip, you just start to get a feel for the city. But we find it so hard to go back when there is so much more we want to see.
Hi Marta, thanks for your comments. I think I'm going to love Spain too! It's so diverse.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that it is hard not to return to places you want to see more of (like Italy for me). But then again, there is a whole wide world out there to see with possible surprises around the corner.
My only requriement, I'm not allowed to stay away from Italy for more than two years! :)