Falling in love with a new place

While I’m busy falling in love with Ireland this week, I asked some fellow bloggers to share their stories of visiting a new place for the first time – & instantly falling in love. 

Falling in love with… Bruges, Belgium
Lauren from Wanderlust
Bruges, Belgium is definitely one of my favourite places. I only had the chance to visit there on a day trip from Amsterdam, but I unexpectedly fell in love with it. To be honest, I didn’t know much about Bruges beforehand & I think sometimes that is the best way to go into a destination, as you’ll have minimal expectations. Bruges seriously looked like it had been plucked out of a Disney movie. Everything from the medieval architecture, cobblestone roads, & canals that were filled with swans, made this picturesque town one that tops my list of favourite places I’ve visited.

 

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Falling in love with… Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jessi from Outbound Adventurer
It’s always a risk, going somewhere new. It’s even more of a risk when it’s a city you’ve never heard of, within a country you almost forgot existed. As an American, Slovenia was never high on my list for the simple reason that I never heard about it. Yet somehow I ended up there in the same way people have for centuries, using it as a crossroad between my two destinations. The quaint, car-free city centre, the live music, the stone dragons that stood silent guard — all of it spoke to me. In Ljubljana a friendly, off-beat culture collides easily with stunning architecture, medieval lore and fresh markets. Artists, musicians, students, & wayward travelers all unite here, in a city nestled at the base of the Julian Alps. I had unwittingly stumbled upon an unexpected wonderland, & every moment I spent there it revealed a new piece of its magic. I went there looking for a place to sleep. I didn’t expect to fall in love — but who ever does?

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Falling in love with… Cape Town, South Africa
Lance and Laura Longwell from Travel Addicts
Cape Town, South Africa is our new favorite city in the world. It’s one of the most beautiful & most romantic cities we’ve ever visited.  Cape Town just feels special. From stunning mountain views to rich cultural activities, Cape Town has much to offer visitors. During our Cape Town getaway, we toured wineries & drank world-class vintages, dined at the best restaurants & relaxed in five-star luxury. But we also sought to understand the challenging history & rich cultural tapestry that is the Rainbow Nation. Cape Town may well be the most cosmopolitan city in all of Africa (& certainly in South Africa), but it is also one of the most rewarding to visit.  It’s our new favorite place!

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Falling in love with… Berlin, Germany
Francesca from Working Mom’s Travels
What made me fall so hard for Berlin was the fact that I wasn’t expecting to love it at all. When my husband and I were planning a family trip to Europe last year, it took a compromise for me to agree to include Berlin on our itinerary (in return, he agreed to go to Vienna). As much as I hate to admit he was right & to see him gloat, I can’t help but rave about the city of Berlin. From the moment we arrived, I felt relaxed & saw no signs of chaos that are typical of other large European cities (Rome & Istanbul come to mind). As we spent time in Berlin, I eased right into the laid-back vibe of the city. Berlin isn’t exactly glamorous, but it is full of art & diversity. The city respectfully pays homage to its troubled past while rebuilding with class & innovation. Exciting things are happening in Berlin, & that’s just one reason its become my new favorite place.

Falling in love with… Newburyport, Massachusetts
Bharat & Supriya of Fun Travelog
As the snow cleared from New England, we spontaneously drove up to Newburyport, a coastal town on the north-east end of Massachusetts. We were immediately charmed by the place just an hour from Boston, with its narrow streets & friendly locals. Newburyport is on the banks of River Merrimack & is also close to Plum Island Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. It is fairly easy to maneuver your way around the city. We started by taking a walk along the waterfront, which was a delightful experience with the sun shining bright. Having a local suggest places to visit can be a quick way to discover a new town or a city, so that’s what we did & started by visiting the downtown area which was abuzz with cafes, gelato shops & boutiques. We then headed to Plum Island Beach, a short drive away. During this short ride, we were by the river & it was a beautiful serene blue sight throughout. It was windy so we took a walk on the beach & also explored some of the refugee areas which open up during summers for bird watching. Looking at all the sail boats & how clean the beach was, we’d love to return in the summers!
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Comments

5 responses to “Falling in love with a new place”

  1. Hi Christina

    Thanks for listing us and including Newburyport in your list!

    And now we have some more places to fall in love with :)

    1. christina Avatar
      christina

      I now can add Newburyport to my places in New England to try!

  2. Actually we have a planning tour with my family.need a rest for some vacation to relief their own problem and yes relaxing with a some part of family bonding..
    Thanks for sharing ideas for the places but i think we will go to cape town in south africa. :)
    Anyway thanks a lot for this informative post. i love it. i’ll keep in touch just keep it great !

  3. Thanks for allowing me to take part in this! It was fun and I love talking about Berlin every chance I get. I hope you’re loving Ireland!

    1. christina Avatar
      christina

      Ireland was fantastic! And I’m now also adding Berlin to my list :)

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