Miscellaneous Forum

I have visited Metz 10/12 times from 1986 to 2001 - lovely city, and I'll happily return, time permitting

Rome. About to make my fifth visit. Don't really know why. I have been to other places more than once, but Rome keeps calling. I'm so pleased you are finally going back to Florence. :-)

I've been to several of my favorite cities twice. Rome - the first time, I was an 18-year-old teenager fresh out of high school and had never gone overseas. I returned 7 years later in 2007, and because I had grown up a lot in between those trips, it was completely different to me the second time around. Lisbon - the first time was when I was 20, for a weekend when I was in Salamanca (Spain) to study Spanish. The second time was when I was 26, for Euromeet in 2009. The second time was way more fun! Salamanca - the first time was when I was 19, in 2002, to take Spanish courses at the University of Salamanca. I loved it so much that I had to return. I went back a year later, and the second trip was even better than the first since I knew the city well and spent more time enjoying the things I loved instead of finding my way around. I wanted to return to Salamanca a third time, possibly for a semester at the U of Salamanca, but I found myself more interested in flamenco dance and other aspects of Andalusian culture that aren't common in Salamanca, so I decided to go to Seville instead, in 2007. It's been 5 years since I was in Seville, and I still long to go back. Since I'm turning 30 soon, I want to go on a big trip this year (in autumn), and I'm torn between returning to Seville, or going to Buenos Aires (never been there yet, but I'm intrigued by BA...). Either way, whenever I do return to Seville, I'll probably cry too...

- Porto: 4 times in 27 months - Lisbon: 3 times in 29 months I must say that cheap flights have much to do with it

Crete island, went three times already and going back this August. I just can't have enough of it! well Greece in general actually, was in Peloponnese last summer too. Florence several time in life and Venice several time a year, but for the last one the 40 min train ride is the key :-)

Following Orietta reply, I was about to add that I have a special feeling with Italy in general (again thanks to the cheap flights although a cheap one doesn't mean I have to take it): 9 times in 4,5 years?, maybe. A specail place is San Loreanzo de El Escorial where I go at least twice a year (or more); just 1 hour by car.;

Or maybe just 7 in 4,5 years and counting: New trips on the horizon for sure

Munich for me, lost count of how many visits!

From my opinion it depends how many years pass before you return. In the 80's i visited the villages of Chiang Khong, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Khan on the Mekhong, but i took my wife to these places last year and villages had become towns, a small shop had become a supermarket. I trekked Everest twice but the second time forested hills had disappeared. Lonely beaches have big resorts on them, where there was a bus station there is now an airport. So to put it in a nutshell, never return to the place a second time, it will have changed, but it's up to you whether it has changed for the worse or the better

From my opinion it depends how many years pass before you return. In the 80's i visited the villages of Chiang Khong, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Khan on the Mekhong, but i took my wife to these places last year and villages had become towns, a small shop had become a supermarket. I trekked Everest twice but the second time forested hills had disappeared. Lonely beaches have big resorts on them, where there was a bus station there is now an airport. So to put it in a nutshell, never return to the place a second time, it will have changed, but it's up to you whether it has changed for the worse or the better

my home town of wellington keeps calling to me - i do just want to be to be there - i could go to london or paris or berlin or somewhere else - but an invite from wellington gets me dreaming

From my opinion it depends how many years pass before you return. In the 80's i visited the villages of Chiang Khong, Sangkhom, Sri Chiang Mai, Chiang Saen, Chiang Khan on the Mekhong, but i took my wife to these places last year and villages had become towns, a small shop had become a supermarket. I trekked Everest twice but the second time forested hills had disappeared. Lonely beaches have big resorts on them, where there was a bus station there is now an airport. So to put it in a nutshell, never return to the place a second time, it will have changed, but it's up to you whether it has changed for the worse or the better

Throwing my hat in the ring for Italy: Rome, especially, but I've yet to visit a place there that didn't make me weak in the knees. My big, fat dream would be to spend a year (or more!) in the country to settle in, learn and explore. Paris: MUST go back. Moab, Utah: my favorite little corner of the United States and of my beloved Southwest in general. It feels strangely like 'coming home.'

The West coast of Scotland specifically, but Scotland as a whole. I feel my heart 'lift' as soon as I rooss the border. Rome, and Italy, with Andalucia,Spain as a runner up in Europe. Saqqarah in Egypt. I can't not go there when the opportunity arises.

Egypt gets my vote...I will go back as many times as my money and time allow..especially to Taba...the people are so nice the diving is great the sky is just the right shade of blue... I would move there if I could

Yes, Gubbio :-) Well, the past isn't that long ago. I was there first time in 2008 and since then it is pulling me back and back and back. And anytime I approach it, I have these tears in my eyes :-)

New Orleans. If I don't get there once a year, I start dreaming about Port of Call burgers and red beans and rice.

Toulouse, because I lived there for a year when I was 19-20. Last visit was about 20 years ago. I plan to try harder this winter. Get over to see a Stade Toulousain game. Take my son - my only former home town which he hasn't seen. Vilnius, because I spent to much time there in the 90s. Over 30 trips in 5 years. Work, but enjoyable & rewarding work. Mark has been 3 times, but our last trip was 10 years ago. Maybe next year. Lisbon - it's just so laid back & cool. I could go to a conference there next year. Tax deductible (he he).

Germany, Germany and Germany again! Doesn't matter what part, I'm gradually getting around most of it and will see much more of it if can and while I can. I couldn't imagine a trip to Europe without some part of Germany being on the itinerary. BTW I wouldn't find yet another visit to Vienna excessive either.

see my answer - as Metz is the finish of today's Tour de France, it's Eurosport later for me, for a virtual visit.

Izmir in Turkey,Brazil used to pull me once still does but not as strong as Izmir.

Hmm. Metz was the venue for my first foreign trip. I was 13. Never been back, but maybe I should think of a Vosges/Alsace/Strasbourg/Metz tour.

OF COURSE!! Sri Lanka 13 times; keep going back to Italia and France.......Germany mostly because of good friends there... if I had been to different countries each trip, I would have been to all of them by now, instead of just 46 or so.....

orietta and some others here mentioned the key factor of close proximity or cheap airfares... well, there's nothing really within that "radius" of cost or distance around Dubai that would keep on pulling me back. Unfortunately, for me it's a min. 6 hour flight... Italy.... and Scotland :-)

Having posted about Metz last week, and the Vosges etc, it must have stuck in my subconscious. This week I've booked to go to a seminar in Trier in September. I know it's not in Lorraine or Alsace, but it's in that region. Last time I was there was on a backpacking trip when I was 17. The other quirk to the story is that the nearest airport is Luxembourg - 2 flights from Scotland, and no budget airlines. BUT, Ryanair's "Frankfurt" flights don't go anywhere near Frankfurt - they go to Hahn - a 50 minute bus ride from Trier. So, £35 each way (plus the bus fare).

and Sept in that part of Germany is a pretty stunning time of the year; we alwasy went then.

He He! Timing is everything. The seminar programme includes a vineyard tour & a wine tasting. Not sure if I get CPD points for that part!

oh I don't know; some of my best CPD sessions alvolved incohol, late nights and black coffee.

hmmmm, must be missing something, and may feel like a dunce after being enlightened, but just what does "CPD" mean, por favor??

Sorry - continuous professional development. I have to do a certain number of hours each year to keep my "licence".