Linda’s Top 5 Places to Visit #MFRWAuthors Blog Challenge #travel

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This week’s prompt for the #MFRWAuthors Blog Challenge is Top 5 Places I’d Like to Visit. I seem to talk about travel a lot these days. So here’s my list:

1. The British Isles, ever and always on the top of my list. Yes, I’ve been there before, but I only saw a little bit of what is to offer on those little islands. I’d like to spend more time in the Scottish Highlands, see more of Ireland, the northern part of England, and I’d like to visit Wales, the only place I haven’t been to at all. I have roots in the British Isles and I feel sort of home there. Well, not at Urquart Castle, which is a picturesque ruin.

Urquart Castle, Loch Ness

Urquart Castle, Loch Ness

2. Germany, where the rest of my roots are. On my trip last fall, I got to see a bit of the Bavarian countryside as we drove from Prague to Regensburg to board out river boat. The next morning we had a short walking tour of this charming little city. The picture below doesn’t do it justice. I’d like to see a lot more of Germany, with at least a day cruise on the Rhine. Gotta see that Lorelei Rock before I push off into the great unknown.

Regensburg

Regensburg on the Danube with old stone bridge, Oct. 2016

3. Croatia. I’ve been dying to see Dubrovnik ever since I heard of it, and the Plitvice Lakes National Park looks absolutely stunning. I’d also like to continue to Slovenia to see Lake Bled and the capital city, Ljubljana.

Plitvice

Breathtaking sunset view in the Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)–© mpaniti

4. New Zealand. I went to Australia in my twenties, but missed New Zealand, which must have some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. I’m thinking cruise.

Mt. Cook, New Zealand

Amazing Pukaki lake and Mt. Cook, New Zealand–© OlyPhotoStories

5. Iceland. I think it would be fascinating to visit such a remote, unique place. Maybe in the fall (if I think I can stand the temperature) because I’m dying to see the Aurora Borealis, and it will never be visible in Southern California. My friend Rebecca wants to go to Finland and spend a night in a glass igloo, and maybe we’ll get there some day.

 Kirkjufell Mountain

The landscape Kirkjufell Mountain on west of Iceland–© shirophoto

And of course there are loads of places in the US and Canada I’d like to see, for instance Glacier National Park. But I’m dreaming big today.

What five places would you like to visit?

Linda

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Cruise Blues #TuesdayTravels

Royal Princess

Princess Cruises Royal Princess, my home-away-from-home for 13 days.

In July, I went on a 13-day cruise of the British Isles with Princess Cruises, and now I’m suffering from the Cruise Blues.

I heard people talking about the cruise blues in the elevator on the last day of the trip. It kind of boils down to things like:

Oh, no, I have to make my own bed. What happened to the cabin steward?

What do you mean I have to fix my own breakfast? I’d rather go to the buffet.

Where am I going on today’s shore excursion? Oh, yeah, the grocery store. 🙁

In other words, getting back to real life can be a drag. I’m mostly joking–I really was happy to get home–but I will admit it was nice to be spoiled for a couple of weeks. In the next weeks I’m going to do some blogs about the trip so I can re-live the fun of being on the Royal Princess.

First stop: London!

Linda