OUR FAVOURITE PLACES, PART TWO

 

You may remember that Anne C gave us her favourite places in the world a little while ago, and now it’s Anne H’s turn to give us the lowdown on her most memorable and enjoyable holidays.

First up for Anne has to be Vancouver and Vancouver Island, which she visited a few years ago with her daughter Lizzy.  As a city, Vancouver was manageable to navigate and easy to walk (increasingly important as we get a little older), and is such a beautiful location, situated on the waterfront, bounded by the ocean and its many inlets. Surrounded by mountains, this bustling seaport is a gateway between the great outdoors and a thriving and successful modern city. No wonder it is high on the index of best cities in the world – and for Anne at least, one of those places you could imagine living.  Further details about Anne’s previous trip can be found here. 

The same trip also encompassed Vancouver Island, which was probably her paradise on earth, with stunning scenery, a myriad of wildlife featuring birds, sea creatures and even bears. Fortunately the seals were not threatening and Anne and Lizzy didn’t encounter any bears (though there were some lurking in the woods). They were able to appreciate the stunning views of wild and unspoilt countryside, empty beaches and glorious sunsets.

They found Victoria to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with sea planes landing and taking off, hydrofoils heading to Seattle and lots to see and do.  More details here.

Next up on Anne’s list has to be Tropea in Italy, where she has family so is a regular visitor. One can’t visit Italy without mentioning the food, and Tropea has an abundance of fabulous restaurants dishing up the most amazing food. With its stunning hilltop setting, the beach is a bit of a trek down the steps, but offers crystal clear water and great beachside dining, a beautiful position, laid-back life style and sun, sun, sun! While Anne has family here and usually visits at least once a year, we have both holidayed there and absolutely love the laid back vibe. See previous visits here and here.

Staying with Italy, Rome is high on the list of favourite cities for both of us – though actually we have never visited there together.  What’s not to love about the amazing history, the stunning architecture and seeing for real all those fabulous landmarks you’ve only ever seen in the movies? And then of course there’s the wine, the food … and you can’t visit without mentioning Italian gelato which is to die for! And the shops – definitely la dolce vita! See previous visits here, here and here. Three visits - you can tell me love it there!

So where to next? There are so many different European cities which have such a lot to offer, that it’s difficult to choose where next to go… Madrid? Lisbon? Porto? Florence? Hamburg? Vienna? And back to France – where we have both previously enjoyed visits. 

For us Brits, Europe offers much closer destinations and it’s easier to get to as we get a little older (at least under normal circumstances and not during COVID restrictions).  Every city has a different vibe due to cultural differences and natural geography. It’s also nice to relax on a fabulous beach holiday from time to time, which gives us the opportunity to relax and recharge the batteries.