What else can you do right now but dream and travel in your mind? Today we present 15 places and experiences in Europe we dream of. In a post-pandemic Europe, we hope to travel again, and these are some of the places and events we hope to experience.
Table of contents
Places and experiences in Europe we dream of
There are really so many places and experiences in Europe to dream about. We could probably make a list of 100 or 200 points, but that would probably be a bit tedious. Here is a list of 15 points, which emerged during yesterday's walk chat.
1. Colmar, France
Colmar is a town in north-eastern France, relatively close to the border with Germany. During one of our recent summer trips, we thought about going here, but then realised we didn't have the time. So now we have this left. Wow, how charming this town looks!
2. Palermo, Sicily
We arrived by ferry to Palermo in Sicily one morning in July 2015, after sleeping a whole night on a bench on deck. In Palermo, we bought swordfish and then headed further west. Perhaps because the city's undischarged rubbish actually smelled bad in the heat, or because we hadn't done our homework? Now we know that there is a lot to see, and we want to go back!
3. World Oyster Shucking Championship in Galway, Ireland
The first oyster shucking competition was organised in Galway in September 1954. Since then, the tradition has continued, with the Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival held annually. Peter has almost been on the road and is very keen. The next time is 24-26 September 2021.
4th Caminito del Rey, Spain
When we passed Caminito del Rey, the King's Trail, in Spain in 2015, they were renovating it. Therefore, there was no visit and I (Helena, afraid of heights) was not particularly sad about it. Peter, however, is still keen on a visit and a hike along this steep trail.
5. Road trip in North Macedonia
In 2015 we travelled with the campervan around Lake Ohrid and Ohrid in Macedonia. Amazingly beautiful and nice, relaxed atmosphere! There is also a lot of history to discover here. Now that Peter has done even more research, we're keen to go back and see everything we missed.
6th Pompeii, Italy
Pompeii is the place where time suddenly stopped. From being a living city, everything died after the devastating eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Here you can see residential buildings, shops, baths, brothels and 'ordinary' graffiti. I think the hair on your skin stands up when you come here!
7. St Petersburg, Russia
Oh how long we have dreamed of visiting St Petersburg! We both read a biography of Peter the Great many years ago. Maybe it was when we were travelling with the Trans-Siberian railway and visited Moscow? We only have to come here one day!
8. Scotland
Peter has never been to Scotland, and my (Helena's) only visit is limited to a short one. working trip to Glasgow. It is possible that we have a slightly romanticised view of Scotland, but regardless, we want to explore!
9. Belgian Beer Festival in Brussels, Belgium
Now in corona times, a beer festival sounds almost completely fantastic ... wonderful! Imagine just meeting a bunch of people, without worrying about distance, and tasting beers from big and small breweries. The festival is usually held in September in the beautiful Grote Markt square in Brussels. Brussels.
10. Transylvania, Romania
Transylvania, how magical and exciting does that sound? We have never visited Romania and would love to do so. We are most curious to visit Transylvania with all its castles, fortresses and spooky places.
11th Light Move Festival in Łódź, Poland
We recently visited Łódź in Polandand this was a city that really surprised us. We immediately said we would like to go back! Maybe we should take advantage of the Light Move Festival, which is usually organised in September? During this festival, the city is lit up with lights, music and cultural events.
12. The islands of Föhr and Sylt in Germany
The North Frisian islands of Föhr and Sylt are located on the island of the German North Sea coast. If you want to take your car to Sylt, a car train runs regularly during the summer months. This is where beaches, hotels and some jet-set life meet. Sylt has even been called 'Germany's Majorca'. If we're curious? You can write that down!
13th Porto, Portugal
Oporto is a city that we actually "missed" when we travelled through Portugal 2015. The town looks amazing in pictures, and apparently there are some old and beautiful bookshops or libraries here too. And there are wind whales nearby!
14. Road trip in Hungary
We have travelled several times in Hungary, particularly in the Budapest, but also in, for example Pecs. However, we have never travelled in Hungary by motorhome, and we would really like to do so. We would like to discover the countryside, the smaller towns and the wine regions.
15. The Bocuse d'Or cookery competition
Finally, a bubbler without a destination! We were supposed to visit (and write a report on) the Bocuse d'Or cookery competition in Tallinn in the spring, but this did not happen for obvious reasons. We are still curious to write about the competition on occasion, regardless of the destination.
What places and experiences in Europe do you dream of?
Lisa says:
Dreaming of new trips is what we are also doing right now. Hungary is high on the list and also southern Germany with Lake Constance. Cornwall which was cancelled this year, is also still waiting. Regarding St. Petersburg, I hope you will come there because it is a wonderful city. Have been there only once in the winter and then we thought to return sometime in the spring or summer when there is more greenery.
17 November 2020 - 7:34
Helena says:
Yes, dreaming is what you can do right now! Cornwall sounds interesting! Glad to hear that you liked St Petersburg! It has long been a dream for us to go there.
17 November 2020 - 16:38
4000mil says:
I have visited Pompeii, Transylvania and Caminito del Rey. Of which Caminito del Rey will be on my list soon. 🙂
I agree that Alsace and St Petersburg are at the top of my list too.
17 November 2020 - 9:16
Helena says:
Exciting places! And exciting to see what the list will be! 🙂
17 November 2020 - 16:39
Elisabeth åslin says:
Porto is a great city. Highly recommended. Me and my husband lived there for 4 years.
Have gone back several times since we moved back home. Can't wait to go there again.
17 November 2020 - 9:18
Helena says:
Glad to hear that you have a positive experience from Porto, especially since you also stayed there! We hope to get there on occasion! 🙂
17 November 2020 - 16:40
Helena+from+Finland says:
We have walked Caminito del Rey and I am also afraid of heights. Didn't sleep much the night before but it wasn't nearly as dangerous as I thought. Felt safe with wooden walkways and fences. Thought maybe the suspension bridge was the worst but it went well too. Recommend!
17 November 2020 - 17:30
Helena says:
Good job! Ok, let's see if I (Helena) might dare to give it a go on occasion then 😉
21 November 2020 - 10:38
Ama de casa says:
There is so much to see here in Europe, I think your list looks very exciting 🙂 Some places we have visited, but far from all.
Yes, we do long to do more than just dream...
17 November 2020 - 10:00
Helena says:
Yes, it does. There really are so many exciting and interesting things! 🙂
17 November 2020 - 16:40
bmlarstravellingblog says:
We are also dreaming of travelling right now and will probably have to sit down and put together our own list. We hope to walk Caminito del Rey the third time around. In March we had tickets but for known reasons we had to go home instead and last year we were there but had not understood that we should book tickets several weeks in advance. Many wonderful travel destinations on your list that we can also imagine....
17 November 2020 - 10:56
Helena says:
Too bad you missed Caminito del Rey, but hope there will be another chance at some point! Funny if you make a list! 🙂
17 November 2020 - 16:41
Christian says:
Yes, so many wonderful places to look forward to travelling to in the future! I am so eager to see more of Portugal, a trip to Porto this spring with a surfing course is what I am most eager for!
17 November 2020 - 11:45
Helena says:
Porto with surfing course sounds lovely! 🙂
17 November 2020 - 16:42
Veiken says:
We dream of travelling all the time. Hopefully it will soon be possible for us to get away. Against our better judgement, we have booked a cruise at the end of July to see much of the British Isles.
When it comes to your bucket list, we have done Ireland by land and rented a boat and drove on the Shannon. Recommended. Scotland - do it! If you're lucky with the weather, it's magical.
Pompeii is also incredible. You have a lot to do when everything opens up again! 🙂
17 November 2020 - 13:56
Helena says:
That cruise sounds exciting! Yes, of course you have a lot left when it opens up 🙂
21 November 2020 - 10:39
BP says:
It is fortunate that all these beautiful places are still available to visit after the end of the pandemic. Then you can dream and set goals for the new normal that will hopefully come sometime next year.
17 November 2020 - 17:24
Helena says:
Yes, it is lucky that the places are still available! And to dream goes well 🙂
21 November 2020 - 10:40
Mari+and+Lars-Erik says:
We have a list that is long, very long because the idea was to travel around Europe for a few years. Last summer we had hoped to hike in the Dolomites, but for reasons best known to us, we ended up travelling to some national parks in Sweden instead. This summer we hope to spend a few months in the British Isles including Scotland and Ireland. Greek Islands, Sicily, Spanish Atlantic coast, Tour de France live, Douro Valley (Portugal) are some of our other plans for the future. Right now we are sitting in the motorhome on our way through Europe from Spain to Sweden.
Greetings Mari and Lars-Erik
18 November 2020 - 12:45
Helena says:
Good option anyway that you took national parks in Sweden this summer! Wonderful plans you have in the future!!! Hope the journey home goes well!
21 November 2020 - 10:41
Mia says:
Right now I feel that a trip almost anywhere would be great fun - throughout the autumn I have not been further from home than a maximum of half an hour's drive. 😉 But some places I've been dreaming about a little extra much in the last year are Cornwall and Northern Ireland. It would also be fantastic to travel back to beautiful Madeira, where I went for the first time just over a year ago, or to finally get to Poland, which was in the plans last spring.
19 November 2020 - 20:30
Helena says:
Yes, an advantage is that you suddenly think that all trips are infinitely exciting 🙂 Northern Ireland is fantastic! Madeira seems nice!
21 November 2020 - 10:42
Lena - good for the soul says:
So, the Winter Palace in St Petersburg is unbelievable! It's so rich and beautiful. And our road trip in Scotland last summer is definitely one of our top three trips, we both think. We were completely blown away. We don't dare go back because we don't want to be disappointed.
Several of your dream trips are appealing. Pompeii, beer festival and Porto, among others.
Hug Lena
20 November 2020 - 21:04
Helena says:
Oh, we really have to go to St Petersburg on occasion!!!! And to Scotland!!! Luckily it's free to dream for so long 🙂 !
21 November 2020 - 10:43