Ten beautiful places

So I was on BBC Mundo today when I stumbled across this forum. Basically they are asking people what their 10 favorite places are - either in actuality or in their dreams. And it got me thinking, although I didn't have time to respond to the question this morning. Besides, blogging is the extent of my Internet exhibitionism. So as I've been considering this idea, here's the list I've come up with.

1. San Juan, Puerto Rico - especially el Viejo San Juan. It's a dream: Spanish colonial architecture, forts, and plazas in the old section; skyscrapers, hotels, and stores in the new section; and all around it, beautiful stretches of beach with the clearest water you can imagine. It makes me feel like home. :)
2. Cayey, Puerto Rico - I love the cool air, the green mountains, and the small town feel of it. It's my dad's hometown, so I'm partial to the town, but it really is pretty. The plaza is classic Latin America and I have great memories of walking downtown with my grandma.
3. Heidelberg, Germany - I was blessed enough to live here for three years. So much history, so much beauty. My Junior prom was held in that castle in the mountains, and I spent so many days walking along the main street shopping and hanging out. It was the best place to be a teenager, because I had the freedom to hang out and explore.
4. Antigua, Guatemala - I hate how cheesy it sounds, but being there was breathtaking; the history gets me everytime.
5. Panajachel, Guatemala - Imagine driving for hours along a pot-holed mountain road. You're winding your way up through the Guatemalan countryside, certain that you will be run off the road - and right down the mountain - by a speeding chicken bus. All of a sudden you crest the mountain and you see this sparkling blue surrounded by volcanos. And when you get there, it's even more beautiful: sun glinting on the water, that perfect volcano, and little towns dotting the shore. They told me it was the most beautiful lake in the world, and I think they might be right.
6. Prague, Czech Republic - When I was here, the city was covered with a layer of snow and ice; I hate winter, and I did not care. I was so distracted by the beauty that the bitter cold didn't faze me. Seriously beautiful.
7. Venice, Italy - Cliché. I don't care. We couldn't get enough of Italy when we were living in Europe, and Venice was the top of the list.
8. New York - 'Nuff said.
9. Granada, Nicaragua - Maybe it was because it was what followed the craziest ferry ride ever, maybe it was because we had some good times there, maybe it was the magic of Spring Break, but there is something about Granada that I still can't shake. The architecture is breathtaking, the food was amazing, and the people are beautiful.
10. Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica - Pristine beaches, hiking trails, amazing views, and monkeys. What more could you possibly ask for? Seriously: MONKEYS!


And for five of the places I dream of visiting:

1. Belem, Brazil
2. Porto Alegre, Brazil
3. Cartagena, Colombia
4. Cape Town, South Africa
5. Mumbai, India

As I started my list, I kept thinking of more and more places that I wanted to mention. Between my Daddy's Army career and my own wanderlust, I've seen more places than most people my age. But my love is definitely for Latin America. Hands down. Give me dust and sprawl and mountains and beaches. I like that laid back feeling and the unlikely beauty of the developing world. And I know not everyone can see that beauty, but it's what I love. And someday I'll have the time and money to see the world, put my feet on every continent (Africa, Asia, and Australia, here I come!), eat food I've never tried, dance to songs I've never heard, and discover beauty in every corner of the world.