Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s canal system will amaze you, but it won’t happen right away. You’ll walk along some of the canals and cross over them on little bridges, and you’ll be tempted to think, “Oh, is that all there is to it?” Then, when you least expect it, your mind will have a moment of realization. “Wait! Is this actually real?”
Consider that Amsterdam also features the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank’s house, a world famous red light district, legalized drugs, and a functioning palace with a king, and you’ll realize quickly what a special city it is.
Budapest
Despite seventy years of military occupation by Soviet Communists and their efforts to destroy the city’s historical landmarks, Budapest retains some of the most beautiful architectural treasures in the world. The parallels to Paris are striking. Buda Castle is like a Louvre sitting on a hill. The white marble Fisherman’s Bastion bears a stylistic resemblance to Sacre-Coeur, and the Hungarian Parliament building is one of the grandest and most ornate structures that I have ever seen. Thank goodness for the end of the Cold War.
Dubrovnik
The most spectacular walled city in all of Europe rises prominently from the rocky cliffs of Croatia’s Adriatic coastline.
Stockholm
At a latitude where some winter night last longer than seventeen hours, the Swedes have opted to counter all of that darkness by painting their buildings in bright, spectacular colors. Seeing Stockholm for the first time is like opening up a big box of crayons and marveling at the rainbow of colors and tones contained within.
Venice
Small, crumbling, occasionally smelly, overrun by tourists, and irreversibly sinking, Venice may disappoint some visitors. But for anyone with romance in their heart, the magic of Venice everlasting. Venice is a magical place, a fantasy made real with a delicate, haunting beauty that can be fully appreciated only in person. Let’s just hope that someone figures out how to save this precious wonder of human ingenuity.
Paris
The Grande Dame. The top of the heap. La crème de la crème. The jewel by which all other jewels will be measured. In Paris, the architecture alone will take your breath away. Add in the history, the art, the world famous museums, the perfectly manicured parks, the fabulous food, the modern financial district, the night life, and one extremely romantic river, and it adds up to a city that cannot be described with words. So, I guess this is the point where I should just stop talking.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.