One of the most challenging parts of planning an extended trip is trying to figure out where to go – especially when I haven’t done this sort of thing before! The impulsive part of me wants to see and do as much as possible, but the rational side knows that I have to leave time to explore each place and account for inevitable travel delays.
With that in mind, below is the short list of really-want-to-see places for my upcoming trip. It’s a work in progress, but this gives the general idea!
The Short List
Berlin, Germany: You ever have one of those places you’ve always wanted to go, but don’t really know why? This is Berlin for ya.
Wrocław and Kraków, Poland: I have met some very Polish people in my lifetime, and their rampant enthusiasm for the homeland is hard to shrug off. I’ve been told that Krakow is the crowning glory of modern Poland, and probably for good reason; I’ll just have to go there and see! To round off the country, a visit to the city of Wrocław (pronounced vrOTS-waf, apparently… make note when buying train tickets), and if I have time, the resort town of Zakopane, is also likely in high order.
Vienna and Salzburg, Austria: Vienna to stay with a friend and her family (Danke!), and Salzburg, because we are both Sound of Music fans! Other than viewing the architecture though, I’m not sure what else I’ll end up doing in these two cities.
Sarajevo and Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina: I have always wanted go whitewater rafting, and with five or so stunning rivers cutting through this heart-shaped nation, Bosnia & Hercegovina is the no-brainer place to do it. Also, the history of this country is fascinating, to say the least. Also, my like little blurb about Berlin: there are other places to rafting, or see history… but I just want to go here. So I will.
Sarajevo, in particular, is a city that offers a little bit of everything in terms of European history: it started off as a settlement by the Ottomans, was taken over by Austria-Hungary, became engulfed in the former Yugoslavia, was the site of the assassination that triggered WWI, and, only less than two decades ago, was subject the most gut-wrenching war in Europe since WWII. The end result is a melting pot of architecture, culture, and religion – and I haven’t even started with Mostar yet! And of course, there’s no overlooking the natural beauty of this country.
Dubrovnik, Croatia: Dubrovnik is an ancient Roman city in Croatia surrounded by creamy white walls and the crystal-blue Mediterranean. Lying on the southern end of the country, the lack of railway lines leading to this “Jewel of the Adriatic” doesn’t stop tourists to visit by the masses every year. Add another one to the list! I think a bout of sea kayaking is probably in order, too… I’ve always wanted to kayak…!
Plitvice Lakes, Croatia: On the way between Vienna and Sarajevo lies Plitvice Lakes, a national park located a couple of hundred kilometres south of Zagreb, Croatia. If I have to miss out on the exploring the Dalmatian Coast, then I’m going to try to see as much of the “other” side of Croatia’s natural beauty as possible. I think the photo below says it all:
Kotor and Cetinje, Montenegro: Whether I will make it to this country depends on the time, but it’s hard to resist the dramatic coastlines and unique mish-mash of history in this part of the Balkans. The town of Budva might be a stop as well, except for the likenesses of it being the “Balkan Miami”; that doesn’t really conjure up pleasant images. Still, it’s opportunity that’s off the beaten path, and something to pounce on if I can.
The problem with this list is that the cities aren’t really connected to one another in a coherent way. I will likely have to add Zagreb, Budapest, and/or Prague, as well as other little stops along the way. The hardest part isn’t choosing where to go, but connecting the dots.
Still, being worked up about it won’t be productive to anyone. As one of my favourite songs points out, “And it came to me then: that every plan is a tiny prayer to Father Time.”
If only we had all the time in the world!
Sun, moon, stars, rain.
a certain slant of light 