3,2,1…Let’s Go!

So I’ve been writing quite a bit lately about my recent trip to Portugal…and yes there’s still more to come…but I thought I’d take a break and think about what my top sites, cities, and country (or countries) visited so far might be.

Let’s start with 3 sites…for my first one I’m choosing be the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. This site was beyond what I could have ever imagined. To start with the setting, perched on a hilltop, is perfection. Day and night the stunning Alhambra, which means “red one” sits above the city and is magnificent from wherever you view it from.

Once inside the grounds you will gaze upon palaces with incredible architecture inside and out, gardens that delight, and history that dates back to the 1st century. This UNESCO site does not disappoint! You can read more about the Alhambra and the city of Granada with this link here.

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My second site is going to take us to North America and the Grand Canyon. I can honestly say that when I say this canyon my jaw dropped. Everything you hear about how you feel small standing beside this canyon is true! The sheer size, not only of the depth of this canyon, but also the length of it, is hard to imagine until you’ve stood on the side and looked around you.

The third site is a bit of a cheat…it’s temples in Bali. Any temple and as many as you can fit in! There are temples in villages, temples on mountains, temples in the water, and temples surrounded by vegetation. Here are a few to whet your appetite. For a blog about the temples in Bali click here.

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Now for two cities…this was definitely more difficult, but I’ll go with Porto for my first choice. I just fell in love with this city and could have spent weeks enjoying the winding alleyways, the churches with their azulejos, the cafes serving pastries, and the riverfront area beside the Douro River. There’s also Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river from Porto, where the port wine cellars can be found.

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You can read more about Porto in the blog I wrote previously…just click here…and enjoy.

So now for my second city…it has to be…London! Again there’s lots of churches…okay maybe I have a love of churches…

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…but there’s also museums and galleries, amazing parks, restaurants with all kinds of cuisine, and history absolutely everywhere.

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And of course there’s always a boat ride down the Thames to enjoy part of the day in Greenwich…or a day tour to a city close by such as Windsor or Bath (which would be my runner-up for a city!)

Finally we come to the number one and my top pick for country…at least so far…and I’m going with Costa Rica. This country for me had the most spectacular beaches…

…the lush jungles with plenty of wildlife…

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…the laid back towns…

…and the fantastic fresh food (and coffee!) that all together made going here so wonderful. You will definitely understand why in Costa Rica they say “Pura Vida”

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Costa Rica wasn’t a country that I had put on any kind of a “must-see” list, so I was a bit surprised to enjoy it so much once I was there! My Costa Rica blog can be found here.

My runner-up country would have to be England!…and I feel confident that in the coming years I will be able to return and explore more of this country. The quaint villages and rolling hills have a way of making me feel like I’m at home whenever I do return there.

I’m sure my list will change over time…there are just so many more places I’d like to visit and spend time in…but for now I’ll stick with what I’ve got here. What would your top picks be?