Some places you leave knowing you’ll never return (at least voluntarily). Other places just keep calling you back again and again.
There seem to be two major schools of thought vis-à-vis revisiting places you’ve been before. They are:
- The “Life’s too Short” People– There are so many interesting things in the world to see that you can’t possibly get around to them all. There’s no point dwelling on ground you’ve already covered when you could be exploring brave new worlds.
- The “Quality over Quantity” People– Why mess with what you already know you enjoy? Sure it’s good to branch out a little, but if Spain is what you love, stick to Spain.
I, of course, am conflicted. I’ve been visiting London over and over for years now and I can’t seem to get enough of it. Seeing Big Ben and the gherkin is like visiting old friends and yet I still feel different and learn something new every single time I walk along the Thames. I adore that city and will never, ever pass up an opportunity to visit.
On the other hand, outside of England there aren’t very many places I’ve been more than once. At this point in my life I’m far more focused on seeing new parts of the world than returning to the ones I already know.
Still, in the back of my head, there is a list of places I need to get back to. These places are all very different, and my reasons for needing a second encounter vary. Among them:
- The place I didn’t give enough time: Zagreb
That one hurried evening in Croatia’s beautiful capital before I rushed to catch a bus left me intrigued and wholly unsatisfied.
- The place I may have misjudged: Prague
The rainy November weather and bickering travel companions may have clouded my judgment on this city that everyone but me seems to love.
- The place where I felt a connection: Rome
If London is my favorite European city, Rome is a close second. Even though it was late December, my time in Rome felt like constant sunshine. I’d love to go back and soak up some more.
Other places I’d add to the list: Amsterdam (never did see the red light district- that’s a story for another time), Puerto Rico, and Edinburgh. I’m sure that as I continue to travel this list will only grow, until one day I get around to making a second round.
What places would you most like to revisit?
( Post your answers in the comments and I’ll make a post of the best ones next week.)
I was in Spain 3 months and that was not nearly enough. I would need at least six months there to be close to satisfied. I definitely need to give Madrid a take 2. But then again it is Spain, obviously so much to see.
I definitely long to go back to Spain- I’ve only been to Madrid!
I would give Paris a second chance. I was sick when I visited, and I didn’t have as good of a time as I expected.
I love Amsterdam! I’ve visited it 3 times, and I loved it every time! So much art and culture.
I would revisit New York. There was so much to do, and I was only there for three days. I didn’t get to see a broadway and I didn’t get to the top of the Empire State. I would also love to see this place in the summer and fall. I went during winter and the trees on central park were bald. They were still pretty though.
I’m on of those “life is too short” types. There are so many places to see, it’s hard for me to double up on a particular city.
That said, I absolutely loved Prague. 5 days wasn’t enough. I would like to go back for a longer amount of time (maybe live there for a bit?) There’s even a famous stature on the bridge…it is said that if you rub the image of the dog, you are destined to return to the city. I didn’t hesitate to rub it.
Still waiting for fate to send me back.
I’m probably more prone to head somewhere new as well, but there are definitely places that deserve a couple of thorough visits.
I definitely want to revisit San Francisco, over and over again (I’ve been there twice and always feel there isn’t enough time to do what I want to do)…and London for sure!
I definitely want to get back to Mali. We spent a month there and didn’t get to see it all. It was surprising how much there was to see and do. The people are friendly, the landscape is diverse and beautiful, the culture and history is amazing, the food is great, the prices are cheap, and…I could go on and on.
Fes, Morocco is a choice favorite I’d like to revisit.
Before heading to this landed inhabited by Muslims, my parents and friends were telling me not to go. They said it was dangerous.
Regardless of the outcome, my girlfriend and two guy friends were determined to go; we knew it would be an experience (good or bad) either way. In fact, my girlfriend and I were prepared to wear long sleeve shirts and pants (exposing as little skin as possible), avoiding eye contact with men and only speaking when spoken to.
The trip itself was short lived , only a long weekend, but it was the best travel experience I encountered during my semester abroad in 2006. The Muslims were the most hospitable people I had encountered, the food was amazing, the culture was peaceful, La Medina was mysteriously beautiful. It was a world completely opposite from what our family and friends warned us about – it was perfect.
Although we were invited to dinner with a variety of Muslim people (even though they were in the middle of their traditional Ramadan), we declined – the one thing I regret from the trip. I’d love to return to Fes, Morocco and really dive into the culture. See where these people live and how they live and create a cultural exchange via dialogue.
Hopefully, someday, I will return. I’m still torn, too – having a list of places I’d like to go before I return to places I have been…but, it’s still on my list!
Pretty much need to do all the cities I visited again, I wouldn’t take anything back but spent most of time visiting the inside of bars with my friend. I’m returning 4 years later with my girlfriend to experience it all again…and more!
Flying out in 6 weeks so check out my site soon…
.-= Steven Roennfeldt´s last blog ..Hostelbookers.com averages 8% cheaper than Hostelworld.com =-.
Oh, where to start? There are very few places I wouldn’t like to revisit. The one that stands out is Jakarta.
Some places on the top of my revisit list are Japan, Rome & Florence, Paris (was there last when I was 16), and Croatia. Prague is always on there because I have loved it for 14 years, yet there are still plenty of things I haven’t done there. As others have said, I think if you go back and have a few days there, you will love it, too. Then again, everyone is different! 🙂
.-= Jenna´s last blog ..Do you know #10 Answer: Hawaii =-.
I’m just about convinced on the Prague thing- you guys win!
I know what you mean about London. I feel that way with Italy. Despite revisiting countless times, I am still not finished with the country. I would love to revisit Luxembourg. I spent just one night in Vianden, right near the German border. The lush green hills and castles atop them intrigued me, instilling that notion that I had to spend more time exploring the country. Many places in Europe I visited as a kid, from 8 to 14 years old. While I remember the experiences, I was young and now crave to return with my older eyes.
.-= Suzy´s last blog ..Looking Down On The World =-.
As a kid my family did a lot of domestic travel and over the last few years I’ve had a chance to revisit a lot of the places we went like Yellowstone, San Francisco and Mesa Verde. You get such a different perspective going back as a grownup.