OUR BIG TRIP
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SMALL CITIESBackpacking through Europe, Asia and America was a once in a lifetime experience and along the way we saw some amazing sights that will stay with us for the rest of our days.
We keep being asked what destinations we enjoyed visiting the most on our big trip. It is very difficult to choose but we have had a think and drawn up a list of our top 10 favourite small cities. To read a full account about our experiences in each destination please click on the title. With fairy tale sights and a lively, young, cosmopolitan feel Salamanca proved to be one of the best small cities we visited. A place of awe inspiring architecture, dominated by the magnificent Plaza Mayor, the city resonates an intoxicating blend of culture, sophistication and old world charm that is as infectious as it is alluring. The kind of place where you can happily lose yourself for days in its ambience, we had a fantastic time in Salamanca. So much so that if we were a few years younger we would have definitely considered living here for a while. Not least because of the ready availability of that delicious snack Chocolate Con Churros. Having never previously heard of Cefalu we only decided to visit this part of Sicily on the recommendation of an Irish couple we met on the train. As it turned out we are very glad we did for what we found was both a surprise and a delight. With its fantastic coastline location, tangle of narrow winding lanes and small town 'suspended in time' ambience Cefalu turned out to be an amazing find. Surprisingly, in view of its absence from our guidebook, there were plenty of activities to keep us occupied and whether it be hiking to the summit of La Rocca to enjoy wonderful panoramic views of the sea, the town and rolling hillsides, walking along a beautiful 2km stretch of beach carpeted with soft white sand or exploring the charming backstreets of the old town we found ourselves enjoying every minute of our time here. Furthermore with few tourists around to dilute its atmosphere we felt like we were experiencing an authentic and largely untouched part of Sicily. Dotted around 3 hills within the rich Tuscan countryside, Siena combines a captivating mix of gothic buildings and narrow cobbled streets with a decidedly medieval flavour to produce a destination of substantial character and charm. Heightened by its striking architecture which is distinctly decorated in various shades of a reddish, earth tone colour known as burnt Siena, the city is a very romantic place. Indeed its landscape is so alluring that it would stir the embers of passion within the coldest of hearts. Despite being inundated with tourists their presence failed to dilute Siena's magical ambience. All in all, although an expensive destination, it proved the perfect place for us spend Valentine's Day together. Nestled about 15 miles inland from Belgium's northwestern tip, Bruges is an incredibly beautiful destination. Suspended in time 500 years ago by the silting of its river the whole historic centre of this 13th-century city is listed as a World Heritage Site. Centred around the delightful medieval cores of the Markt and the Burg the city possesses a magnificent assortment of narrow, cobblestone alleys, medieval architecture and picturesque canals which radiate a magnificent sense of timelessness and charm. Undoubtedly Europe's best maintained city Bruges also has to be one of its most romantic destinations. Although we only spent a few hours here the city made a really big impression on us. Whatsmore as we came here in January we were able to enjoy the place in peace without the distraction of hoardes of summer visitors. Nestled in the foothills of the Sumava Mountains and split by the glowing emerald water of the Vltava River, Ceske Krumluv's proudly preserved historical centre must be one of the most arresting towns in Europe. Affectionately known as the 'pearl of South Bohemia' the town, a World Heritage Site, is a wonderful tapestry of paved streets, graceful monuments and colourful stone built architecture whose facades have remained virtually unchanged since the 18th century. Although the town itself offers little in the way of sightseeing, aside from the magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding countryside that can be gained from its imposing hilltop renaissance chateau, Ceske Krumluv's main draw is the town itself. For 3 whole days we threw ourselves mercifully into its romantically entrancing atmosphere, whiling away hours exploring the narrow streets that snaked off from the old town square, whilst struggling to remember that we were in the 21st century. After Prague's modern day commercial hustle and bustle, Ceske Krumluv's tranquil lost-in-time setting was a joy to experience and in many ways was exactly how I had imagined the Czech Republic to be. Located near the France-Spain border San Sebastian is a dazzling city whose cleanliness, beauty and warmth come straight from of a holiday brochure. Framed by 2 gorgeous beaches which form a huge cove around the sapphire waters of the Bahia de la Concha the city enjoys a breathtaking setting. But it is the old town of this strong Basque community that really catches the eye. Consisting of a grid of narrow streets framed around the magnificent Plaza de la Constitucion, the Old Town is essentially a lively social playground of coffee shops, bakeries and bars contained within a parade of tall elegant buildings. It is a captivating environment in which to watch the locals go about their daily life whilst gorging on some of the best tapas in the whole of Spain. A real gem of a place and one we can not wait to visit again. A mecca for cyclists, joggers and hikers looking to explore the nearby Rock Mountains, Boulder is a lively congenial place whose student population of over 20,000 supports laid back alternative lifestyles and social attitudes. With its fresh clean air, jagged mountain rocks and staggering alpine view towering around us Boulder's landscape is both dramatic and beautiful and there are plenty of hiking trails that allow you to explore this in more detail. Furthermore its pedestrianized downtown area, which houses a parade of quaint shops, noisy bars, art galleries, restaurants and a variety of quirky street entertainers and artists, is a great place to wile away a leisurely afternoon. A very comely place, our time in Boulder will always be remembered for 2 things. The diner where we enjoyed numerous 'bottomless' bowls of fries and the awe-inspiring sight of the cloudless sky, a vast ocean of pale blue, stretching off as far as the eye can see. Something which I had not seen in a very, very long time. Located some 250 miles north of Los Angeles on the west coast of California, San Luis Obispo is an attractive college town with a population of around 43,000 people. Its genteel surroundings have a real hometown feel about it and immediately on arrival we were taken in by its congeniality and relaxed pace of life. Possessing an overwhelming sense of community spirit almost all of the shops, bars and restaurants in the downtown epicenter are locally owned businesses and the immaculately clean streets, manicured lawns and lovingly cultivated floral arrangements are testament to a concerted effort to keep the town authentic. The kind of place where the progress of the college football team and the weekly farmers market are the central focuses of life, Touted as 'the islands you can drive to', the Florida Keys, located at the southernmost tip of the state, is a 126 mile string of islands connected to the mainland by over 40 bridges. Once underwater coral reefs the keys are divided into 3 main areas, upper, middle and lower keys, and collectively host a range of great beaches, stunning houses, aquatic activities and extraordinary natural beauty. At the end of the highway lies Key West, the former stomping ground of Hemingway and the undeniable home of Key Lime Pie. With a reputation of being a funky and free spirited town Key West exudes an alluring charm, no more so than the enchanting gingerbread houses that line the old town. A fascinating place to stroll around, especially along Duval Street and the cobblestoned Mallory Square, where there are plenty of places to eat and interesting shops to visit, Key West and in particular the drive there, is an activity that should be near the top of every Florida visitor's to do list. Whitefish is a charming laid back town that lives shyly in the shadow of Big Mountain, Montana's premier year round ski resort. With a Wild West facade of wooden buildings and elongated porches the downtown area is a pleasant, if rather compact place to stroll. Yet with a variety of interesting locally owned shops, restaurants and bars there is enough to keep you occupied for an afternoon. However despite its proximity to Big Mountain and Glacier National Park, Whitefish's biggest draw is arguably its congeniality. As the kind of homely place where everyone knows each other, Whitefish radiates a warmth that goes way beyond the polite courtesy that is generally extended to visitors in this country. Indeed the locals seem to possess a genuineness that runs very deep, one that appears ingrained in every fibre of their being. There is no big city impersonality here and everyone we met, from the guys in the coffee shop and at Budget rental cars, to the women in Safeway and our hotel staff were really friendly. After a couple of days we even found ourselves being recognised in the street. During our 4 days here we developed such an affectionate bond with the place that we both decided that it was exactly the kind of congenial town we would one day like to settle in.
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