One of my main motivations for relocating from Australia to Europe was the opportunity to travel more frequently. Now that I’m settled in London, I can start looking forward to more travel in 2012. With that in mind, below are nine destinations or experiences that I’m eager to tackle in the new year.
Budapest, Hungary
Photo courtesy of Huzhead (via FlickR)
When I travelled to Europe in 2009, my original intent was to travel extensively through Eastern Europe. I’d visited Prague in 2006, loved it and thus was keen to widen my exposure to eastern European cultures. Fate intervened, as it often does and I saw very little of travel to Eastern Europe in 2009! Budapest has received rave reviews from fellow travels, so I figure it’s as good a place as any to revive my Eastern European aspirations.
Dresden, Germany
Photo courtesy of Marco_Broscheit (via Flickr)
I’ve travelled quite a lot throughout Germany but have never really delved into the former East Germany. Dresden has been high on my agenda since 2009 and I’m really looking forward to experiencing any cultural nuances that may remain from the former DDR. I’ve heard the river Elbe is quite a magnificent sight during the Summer months so perhaps a late August trip is on the cards.
Cinque Terre & Amalfi Coast, Italy
Photo courtesy of The Consortium (via FlickR)
I’m not wrapped with Italy to be honest. In 2006 I visited Rome, Florence, Venice, Turin and Milan and with the exception of Venice and Florence I wasn’t overly impressed. I was a different person in 2006 though, so I want to give Italy another chance. With what I’ve heard about the Amalfi Coast and the Cinque Terre, they are brilliant locations to get Italy back into my favourites list!
St.Petersburg, Russia
Photo courtesy of David Gordillo (via FlickR)
I mentioned earlier a fascination with Eastern European culture and you don’t get more East than the source itself, Russia. Whilst Moscow is certainly on my list, I’ve heard some great things about St.Petersburg. Top of the list is the State Hermitage museum which has a reputation of being one of the best art galleries in the world. Pretty decent location to sample Russia for the first time me thinks!
New York City, USA
Photo courtesy of Kyle McCluer (via FlickR)
New York City is the place I dreamt about as a kid. I was fascinated by the concept of a concrete jungle that never slept and have always considered it my favourite city in the world, without ever having visited it! The opportunity to turn the dream into reality is now realistic and I’m generally excited about the experiencing the real New York City in 2012. I’ve always fancied New Years in New York, so if I was a betting man, I’d place money on a late December 2012 trip!
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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In the months leading up to my trip in 2009, I kept on coming across stories about this ‘El Camino De Santiago’. The way it kept on coming up, was quite bizarre. It was appearing in my RSS feeds, it was appearing randomly in books I was reading. I considered it to be an omen that I must walk this famous pilgrimage route. To be honest I’m not sure I’ll manage the walk next year and I wont actually go to Santiago de Compostela unless I’ve left Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port via foot to get there!
Walk the banks of the river Nile in Egypt
Photo courtesy of Michael Gwyther-Jones (via FlickR)
There is something really quite powerful about great rivers. They are entwined with human history, serving as the life force for great cities and civilisations. The Nile is perhaps one of the best examples of this and as the world’s longest river I’ve always had a desire to walk along it’s banks. To walk in the footsteps of so much history would be something truly special and something I’d never forget.
See the Northern Lights in Finland
Photo courtesy of Erik-Jan Vens (via FlickR)
One of the great wonders of the natural world has to be the Northern Lights. Whenever I’ve seen footage of them, I’ve been struck by their pure beauty and natural wonderment. To experience this phenomena in the flesh would be simply amazing. I’m really quite curious as to what it would be like to actually see it. Is there any noise? How long does it last? Can you feel something special in the air? Many questions, only one way to find out the answers!
Trek into the Sahara Desert in Morocco
Photo courtesy of Jimmy Byrum (via FlickR)
Marrakech is arguably my all time favourite travel destination and it would be Marrakech where I’d start this journey. I had five days in Marrakech in 2009 and whilst seeing the Sahara was an option, I chose to hike in the Atlas Mountains instead. This time though I want to take a 3 day, 2 nights trek into the Sahara. Experiencing the Sahara has always appealed due it’s sheer vastness and ‘emptiness’. I really think it will provide an opportunity to get back in touch with not only my introspective self, but the natural world. I’m hoping the experience will allow me to learn more about myself and the world.
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I visited Cinque Terre last summer and definitely recommend it – go for at least a few days to appreciate the surroundings (and the incline!).
If you go to the Amalfi Coast, don’t bother seeing Naples. Horrid place.
Thanks Dave, I’ve heard that Naples is a little bit unfriendly. Most of the unfriendliest places I’ve been to were in Italy, Turin comes to mind…. Awful place.