Tom's burger and fries at Donde Bocha Antogeria in Atenas. I ate the little side cup of guacamole. |
This morning's visitor, a large centipede. It doesn't appear to be venomous. Tom scooped it up and put it outdoors in the garden. |
Such an article was recently posted online by US News & World Report listing the following 30 best places in the world to visit. They used the following to compile this list: "...U.S. News (click here for their article) used expert opinions, user votes, and current trends to compile this list." Their list follows below (those marked in red indicate those we've visited and/or lived in these locations during our past almost five years of world travels):
- Rome
- Sydney
- Porto (Portugal)
- London
- Paris
- New York City
- Florence
- Prague
- Barcelona
- Dubai
- Amalfi Coast
- Santorini
- Oahu, Hawaii
- Grand Canyon
- Bali
- Serengeti National Park
- Vancouver
- Breckenridge
- Phuket
- San Sebastian
- Tahiti
- Yosemite
- Costa Rica
- The British Virgin Islands
- Park City, Utah
- Great Barrier Reef
- Machu Picchu
- Banff
- Jackson Hole
- St. Lucia
This is a tough question to answer. It's comparable to asking a person what books they prefer to read, their favorite movies and which foods they prefer to eat. It's highly subjective.
Our personal preferences for choosing travel locations and bookings are varied based on affordability, personal interests, and long-held beliefs and desires to see certain parts of the world.
This is the outdoor restaurant, Donde Bocha Antogeria, we visited with neighbor Charlie for lunch. |
We're basically "on our own," fending for ourselves for transportation, meals, and entertainment. In a resort or hotel, a typically readily available concierge or front desk staff usually takes care of everything, if one so chooses.
Tom liked Imperial beer made in Costa Rica. |
Often tourists bring along an extra empty piece of luggage to contain their purchases. We often see this on cruises where many focus their attention on shopping and dining at each port of call. This surely must be fun for those who find it enhances their experiences.
For us, such an objective is far removed from our reality. We rarely make any purchases, although we may wander through shopping areas in certain ports of call, more for photo ops and sharing the experience with our readers than to purchase anything.
After lunch, when Charlie took off to shop, we visited the Central Market in downtown Atenas. |
People often ask how we can possibly enjoy ourselves without dining and shopping in many countries. Here again, our objectives simply aren't the same as most travelers.
One of our major interests is in shopping for quality food to create healthful and suitable homemade meals at our temporary home utilizing the flavor and availability of locally grown produce and sources of protein. In essence, this has become a hobby for us as we've traveled the world.
Inside the Central Market, there are many casual dining spots. |
Here in Costa Rica, dining out isn't a priority when most meals include tremendous amounts of starch. Believe me, if I didn't have to eat as I do for health, I'd be all over the tortillas and flour/corn-based products. Tom, a picky eater, doesn't care much for ethnic foods, tortillas or even guacamole.
Recently as shown in today's photos, we went to lunch with our neighbor Charlie who lives a few doors from us. We visited a traditional Costa Rica restaurant in Atenas. After carefully perusing the menu, the only items I could eat was the guacamole with nothing to dip into it and the pico de gallo, not necessarily meal worthy.
Produce is for sale all week in this market as opposed to the Friday Feria Market where we prefer to make our selections. It appeared many items were imported. |
Surely in San Jose, a 40-minute drive, there are possibilities but it just hasn't been worth making the long drive to eat an overpriced meal. When we head to Managua, Nicaragua in 28 days, we'll dine in upscale restaurants and hotels which can usually accommodate my requirements.
Thus, it's easy to see how our preferences for "where are the best places in the world to travel," are considerably different from that which the average traveler may find appealing. None the less, it's fascinating to hear about the preferences of others.
A larger produce seller in the Central Market. |
Most of us prefer a location of beauty, great scenery, good weather and reasonable prices with interesting culture and possibly wildlife. Many have virtually no interest in wildlife which has greatly influenced our choices.
That's it for today, folks! Have a fabulous weekend wherever you may be!
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Photo from one year ago today, September 30, 2016:
Tom spotted this local woman carrying straw on her head moments after we returned to Sumbersari after the five-day visa extension process in Lovina Bali. It felt good to be back "home" for the final leg of our stay in Indonesia. Click here for more details. |