As I have traveled around the past few years I have come to respect how different and unique the world really is. Too many times I feel we take life for granted (especially us American's). We get lost in our daily routines of work, movies, restaurants and television that we quickly forget about how the world is for everyone else.
Over the past four years I have traveled all over Europe including a trip to Egypt. And the most common question I am asked is.... which place did I like the best. I usually say Venice, Italy but truthfully I can't give just one answer. Each place has a uniquness all its own that makes it worth seeing.
For instance... the best place to see ancient ruins of past civilizations would have to be Rome. The forum around the Colosseum stretches for about one square mile and blocks out the modern age buildings. You can literally stand in the middle of the Roman Forum and feel like you are instantly back in time some two thousand years. And the sheer mass of the structures themselves will simply blow your mind. A distant second would be Athens, Greece. There are some fantastic ruins to be held but nothing on the scale of Rome.
For archetecture Madrid was simply gorgeous. The whole city seems to be so beautifully constructed that it's hard to pick and choose which buildings to photograph. By the end of the day you will end up with so many pictures of just buildings that you will have a hard time narrowing down which you like best.
For people I would have to go with Salzburg, Austria. The town is small and perfectly compact to walk around in one day, but the people that live there are some of the nicest individuals I have met. Everyone seems so polite and the town itself welcomes any newcomer that graces it's land. From ordering at a restaurant to playing a life size game of chess on the streets I would highly recommend this town on anyone's itinerary. It also so happens to be the birthplace of Mozart.
For complete romance nothing holds a candle to Venice. The streets are small, winding, safe and peaceful and the views of the canals are simply breath taking. The atmosphere is so relaxing that you will never want to leave. No amount of time spent in Venice is ever enough. Days could be spent by simply sitting down at the docks watching the waves of the gondolas hit beneath your feet.
The place I would most like to live (outside of LA) would be Nice, France. The weather was perfect, the French Riviera was right there, the food was great, the people were friendly and the place was just awesome.
For night life it is hands down Dublin, Ireland. The Temple Bar area located near the city center stays open all hours of the night it seems with it being more crowded at 2 in the morning than at 10 at night. It's a constant party with live bands on the streets and friendly people in the bars singing old Irish tunes.
Picking the place with the best food is a tricky one because everyone has different tastes, so I will have to break this down a bit. You can't go to London without getting at least one order of fish and chips. Athens has some fantastic Greek food that will keep you coming back every night. Rome had the best seafood platter I have ever seen with mussels, clams, shrimp, oysters, crab and lobster meat all on one plate. And for those pastry lovers you can't miss Spain. Whether you go to Toledo, Segovia, Madrid or Granada you will have your pick of some of the best pastries you have ever tasted.
For ancient history.. besides Rome.. it is the whole country of Egypt. Each city seems to have it's own unique background. Cairo is the capital, Giza has the pyramids, Alexandria is off the coast, Luxor is the Valley of the Kings and Aswan is the nubian culture. Also a day trip away from Aswan you can visit the colossal ruins of Abu Simbel. A truly magnificent structure dedicated to Ramses II.
For art lovers Florence is the place to be. From the stunning views of the city at sunset to the statue of David this place seems to have what it takes to inspire anyone.
For mysticism Stonehenge is a good place to start. It's a very simple structure from afar but up close you feel this electricity that seduces you to its origins.
And lastly for beauty Scotland has my vote. Just outside of Edinburgh you will be amazed at the rolling hills and green grass surrounding you on all sides. The hills in Ireland are a very close second.
There are many more places that are simply can't miss. Paris at night time, Amsterdam hash bars, Irish pubs (mentioned before), the beautiful Bavarian Alps in Germany, the islands of Greece (outside of Athens), and the warm calming sands of Cancun, Mexico. Perhaps at the end of this year I will add the Great Wall of China to this list... September can't come soon enough. In the next few years I hope to add New Zealand, Australia and South America to my list as well. Who knows... maybe Antarctica will be my final stop to complete the 7 continents journey.
If you haven't had a chance or the means to visit at least one of these places as of yet... my suggestion is find a way and a time to do so. It will literally change your perspective on life.
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