I don’t know about you, but I’m really enjoying the  52-Week Blog Challenge was started by Britts Daily Dose & Sit Back And Just Live They welcomed anyone to link up with them. I am loving the challenge and if you want to participate you can too!  All you need to do is 1. post the below banner and 2. link both of their blogs in your post!Week 4: Top 5 Places I’d Like To Visit

It would be easier to list the Top 5 Places I’d Like To Not Visit.  That could be a great idea for a snarky post, but it’s not wise to offend especially so near Christmas.

I[ve always been fascinated with seeing the world and other cultures.  For the top 5, I’m going to start and end with Europe! 

There’s something magical about stepping onto terrain you’ve never experienced before. The culture, cuisine, and the essence that makes the place unique proves spellbinding.  

While the various cities of Europe would more than captivate me, I also like taking in the small towns and the countryside.

1. Italy, Italy, Italy

You get my drift.  I freaking love Italy.  I could blather on for days.  

I had the great fortune of having been on a Taste of Italy vacation where I took in Rome, Florence, Pisa, and Venice with the islands of Murano and Burano included. Let’s say I haven’t been the same since.  (There will be a Taste of Italy post in the near future).

The reason why Italy is at the top of my list is due largely in part to a course in Art History I.  It was during the class I became enamored with Italian Renaissance artists.  I soon discovered my Gian Lorenzo Bernini is my all-time fav.  

Never did I dream I would touch foot in Italy and see some of the works I had studied, but once I did I was hooked and quickly began reading anything about Italy that I could get my hands on.

I’d love to visit those same cities to see many more sights, but other cities I would love to visit include Milan, Naples, Sicily, and Turin.  

 2.  Spain 

I’m pretty sure my head would explode if I made it to Spain (or anywhere else outside of Iowa and Arizona, but I digress).    

Unfortunately, I’m not as knowledgeable about Spain, but take me to Madrid, Barcelona, and to smaller cities such as Granada, and Cordoba (totally looked this one up) and I’d be a quick study.  

Fun Fact:  There is a town named Toledo in Spain.  Who knew?

3.  United Kingdom

Many years ago, my late Grandma and her best friend, took a tour to England.  I think it’s where my fascination with travel started.  Grandma returned from England and each subsequent trip, with a souvenir doll for me.

That taste of other cultures, through something that a young girl could relate to as a doll adorned in finery, along with the stories my grandma told, made the places I had read about in books come to life.  

Grandma was pen pals for decades with a couple in the United Kingdom.  When she passed, I knew I would need to send them a letter as each year Grandma dutifully wrote them, including a card a Christmas.  

It was through correspondence with them that I learned they had ordered a part for something and it had been shipped from my small hometown, with the local newspaper used as wrapping.  The couple had sent a letter to said newspaper and the newspaper in turn printed all or part of the letter.  

Grandma always liked writing letters and having traveled to this couple’s neck of the woods, she began a friendship that lasted through the years.  

When I received my first response from the couple, in my grandma’s stead, I couldn’t help but cry.  It felt as if Grandma herself had reached out to me.  (I know she was looking down with great love).

12 Days Of Christmas in London by XYU & Beyond has some gorgeous photos you’ll want to check out!

4.  France

Paris is always a good idea and I’ve had a fascination with it since I was a girl.  I want to see all the landmarks and spend a day or two at the Louvre.  

It would seem I should know more about France since I took French in high school, but I soon learned foreign languages were not nearly as interesting as learning about the culture.  Could there be more of that please?  

Again, I want to see all the infamous landmarks, but I also want to take in the charming countryside (and cuisine and wine, thank you).

5.  Germany

My husband was stationed in Berlin from 1990-1995.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t yet my husband.  However, he dreams of traveling there to show me his old stomping grounds.  

It was fascinating to listen to him to tell stories of his time in Germany including the Berlin Wall, the differences between East and West Berlin, and the Burning of the Castles/ Heidelberg Castle Illuminations.  To learn more about the Heidelberg Castle Illunminations click here.

So there is a glimpse of my Top 5 Places I’d Like To Travel.  Places with rich historical and cultural components, including castles, green countryside, landmarks and art!  

It’s your turn!  What are your Top 5 Places You’d Like To Travel?

To catch up on Weeks 1-3 of the blog challenge check these out:

Week 1:  Meet My Best Friend

Week 2: My Favorite Things

Week 3:  Meet My Family