Consequently I keep a running list I call the "Next Time List". Next time I'm in a place there is a list of things to do.. places to visit, suggested hotels, attractions or other things. I know many people who poo-poo being a tourist, but I love it. I'm a traveller, a visitor and a tourist rolled into one... Here's a quick experience list from UK/European trip last year:
* Worst cup of tea in my life ever: Jane Austen Centre Bath (yes, really!)
* Best cup of tea: S&M
* Reliable cheap lunch: Starbucks (sadly..)
* Favourite driving road: Juliana Pass Italy/Swiss boarder
* Most amazing surprise : Roman ruins in Arles, France
* Favourite place of the trip : Swiss Alps
* Place to avoid: South of France.
* Best bike ride: 2 hour tour of Barcelona
* Biggest mistake: booking flight out of remote airport of Barcelona, going to the wrong one, missing the flight and having to pay tons of money to get on a plane...
* Best flight story: See above
* Best cheesy tourist experience: The Big Red Bus in Bath. Fist time I did one of those and it was just great.
* Most amazing person I met: A pilgrim from Shepparton (Victoria, Australia) at Chartres Cathedral, there to do a 2 week course on the iconography and meditation of the cathedral labyrinth.
* Most touching experience: Reading my great grandfathers memoirs of The Great War at Villers Breteneaux. (He returned and I knew him well).
* Longest time spent in one room: 5 hours in the University of Cambridge Bookshop (came out broke).
* Best coffee: Yr kidding... when I got back home actually. Coffee in italy is good but UHT milk spoils it. Though it was probably good at the Jane Austen Centre.
* Home away from home: London.
* Best thing I brought back: My new lute.
Where to next? Berlin. And yes. There's a list.
1 comment:
Great list and what a wonderful gift to have your grandfather's memoirs. I imagine it would be quite a fascinating read, especially since you knew him too.
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