Our Top 10 Places to See This Year
Growing up in different parts of the world, we are comfortable moving in and out of different cultures, and it becomes easy to fall in love with every place we visit. The world is beautiful and fascinating. Lately, home for us has been the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Before that, it was the Philippines for me, and Santa Barbara for John.
The longer we stay home though, the more we yearn to hop on a plane or get in the car for a refresher on the wonders of the world.
This list is our personal list of places we’ve loved, in no particular order, and would return to in a heartbeat.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Barcelona, Spain
Florence, Italy
The most widely reported version of the Negroni's origin is that it was invented at Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy in 1919.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina, also known as Florentine Steak, is a generous cut of beef from veal or a young heifer.
Istanbul, Turkey
The Grand Bazaar (Turkish: Kapalıçarşı, meaning ‘Covered Market’; also Büyük Çarşı, meaning ‘Grand Market’) in Istanbul is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world
What is a Hammam? (hint: really nice self-care) A traditional Turkish Hammam is defined as the place that helps muscles to relax, the body to rest, and where the spiritual and physical body is purified.
The Bosphorus or Bosphorus is a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey.
Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, or Aya Sofya (Turkish), is the former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial mosque and now a museum (Ayasofya Müzesi) in Istanbul, Turkey.
5. Lisbon, Portugal
The best seafood restaurant in Lisbon, if not the world, is casual, at Cervejaria Ramiro with a roll your sleeves up vibe and plenty of delicious cold beer for those hot summer days.
6. Marrakesh, Morocco
7. Paris, France
8. Havana, Cuba
9. Tokyo, Japan
10. Vienna, Austria
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed us down this year, so we are suggesting these cities based on our absolute favorites (for now)! Enjoy your travels, whether from your armchair or in actual adventure mode and let us hear from you!
Qasr Al Sarab