Zig

but you can never leave. ;o)

but I found it kind of blah and predictable, actually.

Koln cathedral is stunning, as is the architecture in Munich, but I didn’t care for Frankfurt and dare I say it… the people were kinda rude, although I’ve met many Germans outside of Germany before and since who were really cool.

I got the chance to go back last year, but I passed. :(

I should really go back and find out what I missed about it the first time, so I’ll say it’s ‘worth visiting’ for that reason.

and it poured with rain the whole time!

I still loved it though. It’s a truly intriguing place.

I’d just love to go back when it’s sunny…

One thing about Parisians: Treat them with respect and courtesy and they’re quick to turn on the Gallic charm…. even in the rain. :)

but the warmth of the people more than made up for the temperature outside. (I went in January – what was I thinking??!)

The scenery was outstanding, too.

and I’d go back in a heartbeat.

It was brilliant.

The people, the places, the language, the food, the stylishness, everything except driving in that traffic. THAT sucked!

Everything else was ‘molto bello’, but I’d love it even more if the Italians cared even half as much about stray animals as they do about their kids.

just to the border towns next to Texas.

Every time we went I was appalled by the poverty, though. :(

The contrasts which exist on either side of the river are completely crazy, bordering on the obscene.

No doubt I’d have seen it differently if I’d gone to a tourist resort, or far away from the cities, so I’ll say it’s worth visiting, because obviously there’s a whole lot more to Mexico than I saw.

are super-friendly and very kind.

The scenery’s beautiful, too.

So beautiful and so pristine still, in places.

We spent the Millennium New Year here in 2000, and the sky went blood red on the last evening of the century. I’ll never forget how it looked.

On New Year’s Day we drove to Hana on the craziest road EVER, stopping off to gaze at waterfalls and venturing into the rainforest.

I’ll never forget the sound of those birds… endangered, all of them, but still clinging precariously to existence and singing their hearts out in one of the most mystical, beautiful, fragile places on earth.

I must go back there soon.

Go!

Each island has its own brand of charm, but I like the more remote/less touristy islands best.