Let me take a crack at this list. My last two “Top 5” lists remain unpublished to my blog because I finished and decided they were, for lack of a better word, dumb. My first attempt was to list off my Top 5 Future Travel Destinations, but apparently the best reason I could come up with for Australia was “Um, kangaroos and shit,” so I trashed it. Next on the docket was going to be a follow up to “Couch Season is Open!” about my Top 5 Favorite Couchsurfing Nationalities. This post was stupid and had the added benefit of being mildly offensive.
So I’m taking a safe, easy route with this one. The idea came about whilst having a facebook chat with Lena, I hope you enjoy it.
The Qualifications:
- I must have already traveled to the city in question.
- Cities where I have resided are excluded from this list.
The List:
- Edinburgh: When people ask me why I love Edinburgh so much, I really have no rational explanation, which makes me love it even more. As cheesy as it sounds, “It’s magical” seems to be a perfectly logical answer after having visited this city. The winding, hilly, ancient streets made me feel like I was walking through time. Edinburgh Castle rises majestically in the center of town atop an extinct volcano; it is visible from most corners of the city, and served as a constant reminder that I was traversing through such a great place. When I came across a small pub where J.K. Rowling had allegedly began penning the Harry Potter series, it just made sense.
- Beijing: Much like Edinburgh, this was love at first sight. I first went to Beijing in 2004 with about 20 UT students, and our first stop was Tienanmen Square. We all know the horror that unfolded in the summer of 1989, but when I stood there in the center of Beijing, just outside of the Forbidden City, at dusk with the kites flying in the thick air, all of those images melted away. After that initial visit, I returned the following summer for a month and a half, and spent nearly every free second visiting the numerous historic temples and palaces.
- Prague: Prague was as fascinating as it was beautiful. I didn’t think that seeing the Jewish Quarter would have the impact on me that it did; I have long ago given up any pretense of religious belief. However, I felt a profound connection when I strolled through the Jewish Cemetery and glimpsed my family’s Czech name among those other Czechoslovakian Holocaust victims.
- Nashville: While growing up in Knoxville, all of the “big events” (mostly concerts) would take place in either Nashville or Atlanta. Nashville was, without exception, the better option. And as I’ve grown, Nashville has grown on me. You can’t spit without hitting a musician, and just about every bar has live music. In a better economy, I could easily see myself living in Nashville.
- St. Petersburg: I was fortunate to be able to explore this Russian city on the top of the world with one of my best friends, Rhett. Between fighting off jet-lag and insomnia (St. Petersburg was only getting about 3 hours of “night” at this point in the year, although it was never really 100% dark), we took in some amazing scenery. The awe-inspiring sights of St. Issac’s Cathedral were only to be out-done by the Hermitage Museum, where the beautiful works of art paled in comparison to the former palace’s decor.