seven (revisited)

November 12, 2010
A little less than a year ago, I wrote a post on my seven favorite places in the world. My dear friend, Maddy, tagged me to write seven things about myself, so I thought I'd redo my list after traveling much more. This time, my list is limited to my favorite international cities, but it was still a difficult list to make. It's hard not to fall in love everywhere I go.

7.
nauplion
Nauplion, Greece
It's hard to forget the first city that showed me Greece's magic. It was the first time I saw water so warm and blue.

6.
assisi
Assisi, Italy
Other than stories about St. Francis of Assisi, I didn't know much about the city before I went. It's magical. The lovely little pink city is at the heart of the Umbrian hill towns and it's so peaceful and relaxing. From almost any spot in the city, you can see for miles and miles around you.

5.
steph & chels, tea in bath
Bath, England
(or any tea house, really)
Even though I spent most of my time in Oxford, Bath was the perfect little getaway... especially since all we really did was sit in a tea house for hours and eat bath buns with clotted cream. The town isn't as overwhelming as London and it doesn't seem as small as Oxford. I wish I took more pictures and spent more time there.

4.
san gimignano
San Gimignano, Italy
When I first came to Italy, I asked my host dad what his favorite Italian cities were. He told me San Gimignano, a small Tuscan hill town, was "meravigliosa." And he was right. The little town with 14 medieval towers is quaint and marvelous.

3.
englischer garten
Munich, Germany
I know I wrote about Munich recently, but it still holds a special place in my heart after going there last summer. I love Germany and all of the cities I've been to (Frankfurt, Cologne, Berlin and Potsdam) but Munich has a different feel to it. Maybe it's because it was summer or maybe because it felt like a miracle, but Munich was such a wonderful experience.

2.
salzburg
Salzburg, Austria
The fairytale city I never expected. Even though I chose to go because of my love affair with The Sound of Music, it was really wonderful beyond that. Quaint. Surrounded by the Alps. Beautiful pastel colored buildings. And gigantic cinnamon sugar pretzels. I wish I could go back and bring my whole family with me.

1.
oh hey florence
Florence, Italy
The one place abroad I never feel like I need my family with me, because my family is already there. Florence is the reason I fell in love with Italy and the main reason I want to go back everyday. My host family was one of the best matches I could have imagined. I love that I have a favorite gelateria and salumeria, and that I know the streets well enough to take shortcuts to get where I want. I love that it was my first real experience abroad and I love that I have family to visit whenever I go back. Mi manchi, Firenze (anche tu, babbo!).

Lastly, I'm really terrible at tagging people so I'm going to leave this open-ended. If you have seven things you'd like to share- things about yourself, favorite places, things you couldn't live without, anything!- please blog about it and leave me a link to visit!

15 comments:

  1. This is such a good idea! I love it. I loved reading all your favorite places. I got chills when I saw the picture for number 2. :) I'm such a dork. But hey, I am going there this weekend! :)

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  2. oh I love this! I have only been to Italy once, but that photo of Greece makes me want to go there as soon as I can!

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  3. How beautiful! you picked a lot of great places.

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  4. I've only been to Munich and Florence (such a magical place), but I'd love to visit the others you talked about! They all seem so very charming.

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  5. I hope to go to at least half the places you've been!!!

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  6. So many incredible places! I still haven't made it to Europe yet... looks so lovely.

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  7. Assisi is one of my places as well!!! I have to admit that I am a little biased because my family is from Assisi

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  8. How awesome is this?! I'm jealous that you have so many amazing places to put on your list!

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  9. that picture of munich is so beautiful! and florence always makes me go weak at the knees! i want to go back oh so bad! some day!

    xo,
    cb

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  10. This was so fun to read! I love Assisi, too. I love how the streets are so narrow, and how everything is made of stone.

    And I decided to play along with your "seven favorite places" post on my blog! Here's my list, if you want to check it out:

    http://northwestbohemian.blogspot.com/2010/11/seven-favorite-places.html

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  11. I miss Florence. :( I am still forever jealous of your travels. One day though, we shall exchange stories!

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  12. You are so blessed to have traveled so much! I am planning a trip to France and Italy this summer and will definitely check out the three places in Italy you mentioned. I'll email you in a few months to get the names of your favorite places! This was a really fun post to read! :)

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  13. ooh i would LOVE to go to Bath one day!

    i agree with you, munich (and germany in general) and austria are some of my favorite places too!

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  14. These photos are amazing! I can't wait to visit Germany and Austria after I have a little better grasp of the language...

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  15. Wow!
    I adore your blog!
    I also love to travel.
    I noticed that you've been to Ephesus in Turkey, it's amazing, right? I went when I visited Bodrum/Bitez.
    I haven't been to many of the places you've been but they look amazing.
    I've not really travelled around Europe too much it's more Asia that I've been.
    So far I've been to Singapore(beautiful place), Hong Kong, Dubai, China, Thailand, Turkey, Tunisia, Greece and a few states in the US.
    I'd love to see Italy, where would you recommend visiting in Italy?

    PS. Now following :]

    Ayeisha
    x

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