Posts
Another list of cities you should visit just swam into my ken.
Making lists is a sublimation of the instinct to be a womaniser. Or maniser. I've been to 25 of these and shall be in two more just after Christmas. But the most fascinating city I ever visited was Bucharest in 1990. Then Rome, then Oxford and Cambridge. Or perhaps Havana should be in the top two (but too many tourists). Tbilisi is unaccountably omitted from the list.
I love cities. As Sydney Smith said, the countryside is a healthy grave.
And here is yet another one of these infernally compulsive lists: 40 Lesser Known Travel Destinations You Should Seek In This Lifetime.
I have been to seven. The one I very highly recommend is Procida, which I thought was my secret. Dr Johnson said the Giants' Causeway was worth seeing but not worth going to see and I perfectly understand why - though unlike him I went by motor-car. It's much smaller than one expects.
From Romania they might have included the Danube delta, Timisoara, the painted monasteries of the Bucovina or the fortified churches of Transylvania. From outside Romania I'd nominate Barfleur in Normandy, the Greek island of Hydra where cars are banned, Acre in the Holy Land, the Island of Mozambique and Wivenhoe in Essex. The most interesting place I ever visited, without a doubt, is Lalish, the Yezidi holy place. I would hate it to get tourists after the war is over, but inevitably it will.
Making lists is a sublimation of the instinct to be a womaniser. Or maniser. I've been to 25 of these and shall be in two more just after Christmas. But the most fascinating city I ever visited was Bucharest in 1990. Then Rome, then Oxford and Cambridge. Or perhaps Havana should be in the top two (but too many tourists). Tbilisi is unaccountably omitted from the list.
I love cities. As Sydney Smith said, the countryside is a healthy grave.
And here is yet another one of these infernally compulsive lists: 40 Lesser Known Travel Destinations You Should Seek In This Lifetime.
I have been to seven. The one I very highly recommend is Procida, which I thought was my secret. Dr Johnson said the Giants' Causeway was worth seeing but not worth going to see and I perfectly understand why - though unlike him I went by motor-car. It's much smaller than one expects.
From Romania they might have included the Danube delta, Timisoara, the painted monasteries of the Bucovina or the fortified churches of Transylvania. From outside Romania I'd nominate Barfleur in Normandy, the Greek island of Hydra where cars are banned, Acre in the Holy Land, the Island of Mozambique and Wivenhoe in Essex. The most interesting place I ever visited, without a doubt, is Lalish, the Yezidi holy place. I would hate it to get tourists after the war is over, but inevitably it will.
I've only been to 4, and the only new one on the horizon is Lyon. t would help if I liked cities
ReplyDeleteDominic Johnson
BRUGES???? I HATE Bruges. Went there aged 11 and will never return despite countless trips to Belgium. Dublin? Dreary provincial town. You're right, you don't like cities.You might as well add Clovelly while you're at it.
DeleteAnd you mean Lyons.
Ah that made me laugh. You're quite right though, having me comment on cities makes as much sense as when New Labour made a vegetarian Welsh minister of agriculture, farming etc.
DeletePaul, why don't you like Bruges?? I've heard a lot of people say that they hated it and I can't for the life of me understand why.
DeletePretty pretty does not begin to describe it. I had good taste aged 11.
DeleteI used to make lists of horses. Does that count? I always thought it was more like substitute children. Rebecca
ReplyDeleteNo WAY! I travelled from Australia; the Giants' Causeway was the main thing I wanted to see in Ireland. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteJane W
Why Timisoara?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think of Durham?
ReplyDeleteDurham is the only great cathedral city in England that I never visited. I should love to do so.
Delete