Part 2 of my post about ten of my favorite places . . .

 

#6 – Guilin, China –

This is the China of your dreams. The place in the paintings: fishermen in conical hats on bamboo rafts with trained Cormorant birds diving for fish. Pinnacle karst peaks shrouded in mist on the Li River. Magnificent rice terraces at Longji, where women from the Yao ethnic villages show you their 4-foot long, glossy black hair – longest in the world according to the Guinness Book.  Don’t miss the night-time performance, Impressions of Sanjie Liu, directed by Yimou Zhang who directed the 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony. The Li River is the natural stage for 600+ actors. It’s an amazing spectacle! Located in southeastern China, Guilin is about a 2-hour flight from Shanghai, or 90 minutes from Hong Kong.

#7 – Rio de Janeiro –

There’s something about this place that has never disappointed. Could be the “Carioca” spirit – a laid-back, infectious “joie de vie.” Could be the spectacular natural beauty of white sand, blue ocean, lush mountains, Sugar Loaf and the welcoming arms of the Corcovado Statue overlooking it all. Could be the caiprinihas – the tasty national cocktail made with cachaca (sugar cane liquor), muddled lime and sugar. Could be the dancing and drumming. Could be the beautiful bodies in thong bikinis and Speedos playing volleyball on the beach at all hours of the day and night. Could be the iconic mosaic sidewalks fronting the beaches of Copacabana, Leblon and Ipanema. Surprisingly, the hotels are not that great in Rio, but I love, love, love everything else about Rio!

#8 – Queenstown, New Zealand –

The energy of this town is infectious. Vibrant, fun and youthful, the town is teeming with adrenaline-seekers. Surrounded by a mountain range called The Remarkables and fronted by Lake Wakatipu, the adventure options are legendary. A jetboat ride through the Shotover Gorge is thrilling. Soar like an eagle on a tandem paraglider from the top of the Skyline Gondola. Take a river rafting trip. Zipline or take a 4-wheel-drive adventure or jump out of an airplane. Plan to take a flightseeing trip to Milford Sound – one of the most gorgeous scenes in the world. Wine tasting abounds. Historic Arrowtown is a great place to explore, shop and dine.

Oh, and one more thing … most visitors swear that they would never, ever bungy jump! (Or bungee jump as we Americans call it.) But once you’ve caught the Queenstown buzz, don’t be too surprised if the idea seems a little less crazy and your resistance melts away. That’s what happened for me. Probably one of my scariest moments ever – standing at the edge of the Kawarau Bridge, 143 feet above the river, with a giant rubber band wrapped around my ankles . . . wondering, “WHY DID I DECIDE TO DO THIS?” as the rock music blared and the wise-cracking Jump Master vainly attempted to calm me as he counted down, “Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . JUUUUUMP . . . . . . . . . . . .!”

And so I jumped. That was my first. I jumped again on my second visit, too. And again, on my third visit to Queenstown. A.J. Hackett, the company that started it all back in 1988, has a slogan, “Everyday – do something that reminds you that you’re alive!” Bungy jumping will do that – for sure!

#9 – San Sebastian, Spain –

With so many better-known places in Spain, this treasure in the Basque region is often overlooked. San Sebastian is nestled between dramatic landscapes of the Pyrenees Mountains and golden beaches of the Bay of Biscay in the northeast corner of Spain. A large number of the world’s best chefs come from this area, which boasts 13 Michelin stars among its superb restaurants. Most famous is Arzak, with 3 Michelin stars. Another unique tradition are the “cideria” restaurants, featuring huge barrels of mildly alcoholic cider from which the waiters fill your glass with a flourish of showmanship.  Atmospheric Old Town is reputed to have more bars than anywhere in the world and where you’ll find bar tops laden with colorful plates of of pintxos (tapas). You’re welcome to spend an entire evening grazing, helping yourself as your appetite permits. The pedestrian center is lined with Art Nouveau buildings and great window shopping. Best hotel is the historic Maria Christina. There’s a fabulous aquarium here. Great people-watching. Day trips can be made to Bilbao, with its famous Guggenheim Museum or to Biarritz, just over the border in France. Surf, swim, hike, bike . . . and eat!

#10 – Prague, Czech Republic –

I first visited Prague in the dead of winter about 25 years ago. I was there for a trade show, and I was disappointed to find that my hotel was a 10-minute trolley ride from the city center. On our first night, a friend and I set off in search of the famous Old Town Square. It was dark. Well below freezing. Empty streets were dusted with fresh powder. Our map wasn’t of much use in the dark, but we followed our intuition toward the logical center. Walking down a narrow street, it finally opened onto a large square.

I will never forget that moment. I looked to my right, stopped dead in my tracks and gasped at the sight of the most beautiful church I had ever seen. The church itself isn’t visible because it’s tucked behind some buildings, but the black spires of the Tyne Church are topped with golden balls which were beautifully illuminated. Breathtaking!

Breathtaking is an apt description for much of the city’s sights. The Charles Bridge, the Castle, City Hall, Astronomical Clock, Powder Gate and the magnificent facades in the Old Town Square. Beautiful in the daytime – even with the tourist crowds. But at night . . . oh, what a sight!

 

Click Here to see the first five of the Ten Travel Treasures List.