So today I am going to cover 5 cities that I feel I must see before I ... hit the NY times best seller list (thanks Nate). Okay, maybe shortly after, but that's not the point! To the cities!
Ding! If I were filthy rich and could live anywhere in the world it would be London. No I wouldn't stay there year round, but still. The history. The culture. The diversity. I mean come on? Westminster Abbey? Big Ben? The Tower of London? Trafalgar Square? Piccadilly Circus?
What is a Piccadilly Circus anyway? Talli?
I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture, especially with the Samurai and Shogun of feudal Japan. During that period Kyoto was the imperial capital. It still contains some of the most beautiful and well preserved ancient architecture in the world. About 20% of Japan's National Treasures and 14% of Important Cultural Properties exist in the city proper. Kamigamo Shrine. Shimogamo Shrine. Nijo Castle. The Ryoan-Ji Zen Rock Garden.
Plus, Iwatayama Monkey Park. Look this one up. Have you ever heard of a cooler place? Nathan?
Prague is a central European city full of rich history, and according to Ted, one of the most beautiful cities on the continent, if not in the world. It's been the seat of two different Holy Roman Emperors, and has been the economic and cultural center of the Czech state for over 11 centuries. It is also host to some of the most amazing architecture in Europe, from church spires to castle walls, and even modern museums. There is much to see in Prague.
Plus some of the best beer in the world comes from there. Ever heard of a Pilsner?
Saint Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter I and was the capital of the Russian Empire for hundreds of years until the Bolshevik Revolution. It is sometimes referred to as Russia's most western city, and is a large port on the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. Saint Petersburg, also formally known as Leningrad, is home to The Hermitage, the largest art museum in the world.
Can't get much cooler than that.
I don't actually know much about Reykjavik, but something has always fascinated my about an island in the middle of the bitterly cold North Atlantic, so removed from the rest of the world. This city is the northernmost capital of any sovereign state on planet Earth. Ted also names it as one of the most interesting cities in the world, and Ted knows, he's pretty much my go to guy on all things international.
Besides, who doesn't like Bjork?
So that's it. Man these posts take a long time to put together. Whew. So what are your dream cities to visit? You can steal some of mine, and you don't have to come up with five.
27 comments:
Wow, you picked some amazing cities. I'd have to agree that London would be at the top of my list. Also New York. I've never been and would love to make it there some day.
Wow Ted called you out! heheh LOVE yourchoices-- I loved London and dying to go to Prague too!
Reykjavik and Prague are on my list. I've already been to London. The others don't do it for me. But I've always wanted to visit Seattle!
I don't like Bjork :PPP She isn't very intelligent in stating her political views and is quite ignorant sometimes about it.
It interesting that Prague is very similar to my hometown of Subotica, here in Vojvodina, we also have a lot of such dreamy, fairytale mansions, palaces, cathedrals, fountains, everything is like in 19th century Vienna, Budapest or Prague :)
I'd love to see London as well but my husband doesn't fly. (I forced him to marry me in Jamaica but that was probably a one time thing.)
Poor Detroit...always getting left out.
You'll really dig London. Plan for a week in that city alone.
And sorry, I don't like Bjork...
Tulum, where the Mayan spirits dwell.
I've been to 4 out of the 5. the one I liked best was Prague ... and I agree that Bjørk is cool >:)
Cold As Heaven
oooh Prague is on my list. And even though i've already been there, i'd love to return to Rapolo in Italy. oh man, it was so awesome
My list is ridiculously long. The beauty and the culture around the world is something pretty cool.
Er... your choices yesterday may not have been romantic (but whose to say no-one's found love there?!!?) but they're most definitely rich in history - natural or otherwise!! Oh dear. Machu Pichu not rich in history?!?!? Ok, I shall slink away now..!! Sorry!!!!!!
Great cities here!!!
Take care
x
More amazingly beautiful choices! I love to day dream about where I would go if I could. Ahh to be disgustingly rich..
I want to see London, Venice, Rome, and I better stop now because my list is ridiculously long.
that ted. What a pain in the a**... ;p (j/k, ted)
JRM's been to Prague and insists we MUST GO BACK. So I guess it's a good one to have on your list. I'm more wanting to see something *completely* different. Like... Moscow. Or Thailand...
Can you imagine? ;o)
I want to go to London SO bad. I've wanted to live their since I was 12. Just for a year or two and just for fun.
Ooo--you haven't been to London? YOU NEED TO GO! Such an awesome city. And while you're there you have to take a train (not a plane--you have to do the train, because it was that same train ride where JK Rowling came up with Harry Potter) up to Edinburg. Best. trip. ever.
You should check outhttp://tessyquin.blogspot.com/. Tessa's from Iceland. It sounds like a really cool place. You should read her blog post about the Mayor. I want to go to all of those places you mentioned too.
We should start a writers travel group. Tour during the day, write at night.
I'll second those choices and raise you: Athens, Jerusalem, Bucharest, Budapest, and Edinburgh
Out of all of these, I've only been to Londond, but I also want to hit up the others. Such beautiful cities...
One place that is really, really amazing to see? It's an island in the Canary Islands called Lanzarote. And there's no place else on the planet like it. It looks almost like another planet. One of the most memorable places I've been.
...London is a must. Sydney tops my list, with a stop in New York, and a quick drive through Tampa...seeing old friends:)
Great post!
Love your list!! I'd have to add Budapest, since I have family history there that I'd love to check out.
Thanks for the mention, Matt!
I mentioned Prague yesterday, but I'll round out my top 5 with Sydney, Budapest, Bangkok (partly for the food), and London (not for the food).
Budapest and Bangkok are definately deserving, as well as Rome. Dubrovnik is a great lesser-known city. For Reykjavik, check it out at New Year's -- it has hands-down the best fireworks in the world (and yes, I have seen Beijing's; Iceland is better!). Paris is as beautiful and historic as London, but in London they speak English, so I can relate to everything better!
"and London (not for the food)"
giggling over here) I see what you mean, Nate, but there are ways around this. Go to the Indian restaurants, many good ones in London >:)
Cold As Heaven
Nice list! But no Istanbul? I'll have to work harder it seems. :)
BudaPest, Cordoba, Copenhagen are also must-sees for me.
Two other perks about Iceland - it's got a high women to men ratio, and it's also the most literate nation in the world. Women who read! In hot springs!
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