Favorite Place in the World?

[Lord of the Dance]

Spending the Thanksgiving holiday down at our cottage in Islamorada, FL. Plenty of sailing and diving to do, but cards on the table: my favorite place in the world is my hammock! Mid-eighties here, but in the shade and with a decent on-shore breeze it’s just perfect. Always some girlies walking by down on the beach and occasionally they’ll be showing their golden globes (no such luck on this trip yet, but my eyes are always peeled). 

I’m incredibly grateful to have such a warm, peaceful place to relax. My heart goes out to all the people in our troubled world who don’t have the peace I enjoy on a daily basis.

So where is your favorite place in the world?

 

[Markje]

I don't really have a favorite place in the world.

I guess I do have places where I like to be, places I haven't been but I'd like to go.

But a solid "lets go there" whenever I need some pickmeup , nope.

[Manny]

I like FL, although it's a few years since I have been.

I used to love Estonia, why I bought a place there. But it's changed beyond recognition now, and is far less appealing.

I always enjoy China.



Old pic from my topic here.

I haven't got a firm favourite place yet. We've been talking about where we might spend the winter when I semi-retire in maybe 10 years. FL is one, Croatia is another place I like. We're going to visit Thailand and Vietnam to see if they are in the running. Canada/NZ/Oz have always been favourites of Brits, but I don't like the politics there since Covid.

[Steveboy]

I like FL, although it's a few years since I have been.

I used to love Estonia, why I bought a place there. But it's changed beyond recognition now, and is far less appealing.

I always enjoy China.



Old pic from my topic here.

I haven't got a firm favourite place yet. We've been talking about where we might spend the winter when I semi-retire in maybe 10 years. FL is one, Croatia is another place I like. We're going to visit Thailand and Vietnam to see if they are in the running. Canada/NZ/Oz have always been favourites of Brits, but I don't like the politics there since Covid.

You need to give the fags up or you might not make another 10 years .. 

[Lord of the Dance]

I don't really have a favorite place in the world.

I guess I do have places where I like to be, places I haven't been but I'd like to go.

But a solid "lets go there" whenever I need some pickmeup , nope.

A wise response, really. The world is a huge place and many locations around this planet could become a 'favorite.' Best to keep an open mind I suppose.

[Lord of the Dance]

I like FL, although it's a few years since I have been.

I used to love Estonia, why I bought a place there. But it's changed beyond recognition now, and is far less appealing.

I always enjoy China.



Old pic from my topic here.

I haven't got a firm favourite place yet. We've been talking about where we might spend the winter when I semi-retire in maybe 10 years. FL is one, Croatia is another place I like. We're going to visit Thailand and Vietnam to see if they are in the running. Canada/NZ/Oz have always been favourites of Brits, but I don't like the politics there since Covid.

Florida is a pretty cool place and certainly a unique state within our country, but as fellow USAians have pointed out on this forum, FL is also home to some of the nuttiest humans the US has to offer. This is mostly the mainland though. Islamorada is a nice place, despite the overall degradation that the state has experienced in the last few decades. Our island of lower Matecumbe is home to all sorts of different people, some famous, some just business folks, but what's beautiful is that everyone just minds their own business and enjoys the laid-back pace of the island.

I'm creating a travel 'hit-list' and while Estonia is not currently on it, it could be in the future. Croatia makes the list because of a young lady I met at my local Verizon store. She helped me to set up my new phone (which took a while) and we got to talking. I asked about her accent and it turns out she is from Croatia. Such a little sweet pea. She moved here to Venango County in Pennsylvania a few years ago to marry a young guy that ended up being the son of a friend of my dad's. They travel frequently to Croatia to visit her family and I mentioned that I'd pay to travel with them sometime... I've been texting with them a bit lately and they seem very open to the idea so I'm going to take them up on my offer.

BTW, thanks Manny for your travel reports - they always make for interesting reading.

[Contrarian]

I like FL, although it's a few years since I have been.

I used to love Estonia, why I bought a place there. But it's changed beyond recognition now, and is far less appealing.

I always enjoy China.

Old pic from my topic here.

I haven't got a firm favourite place yet. We've been talking about where we might spend the winter when I semi-retire in maybe 10 years. FL is one, Croatia is another place I like. We're going to visit Thailand and Vietnam to see if they are in the running. Canada/NZ/Oz have always been favourites of Brits, but I don't like the politics there since Covid.

Florida is a pretty cool place and certainly a unique state within our country, but as fellow USAians have pointed out on this forum, FL is also home to some of the nuttiest humans the US has to offer. This is mostly the mainland though. Islamorada is a nice place, despite the overall degradation that the state has experienced in the last few decades. Our island of lower Matecumbe is home to all sorts of different people, some famous, some just business folks, but what's beautiful is that everyone just minds their own business and enjoys the laid-back pace of the island.

I'm creating a travel 'hit-list' and while Estonia is not currently on it, it could be in the future. Croatia makes the list because of a young lady I met at my local Verizon store. She helped me to set up my new phone (which took a while) and we got to talking. I asked about her accent and it turns out she is from Croatia. Such a little sweet pea. She moved here to Venango County in Pennsylvania a few years ago to marry a young guy that ended up being the son of a friend of my dad's. They travel frequently to Croatia to visit her family and I mentioned that I'd pay to travel with them sometime... I've been texting with them a bit lately and they seem very open to the idea so I'm going to take them up on my offer.

BTW, thanks Manny for your travel reports - they always make for interesting reading.

Poland should be your first choice of future travel, it's chock full of Ukrainian single women and a few Russians as well and it's perfectly safe. Many cities in West Ukraine such as L'viv are also quite safe.

For a guy who has been claiming to want to get hitched to a Russian or Ukrainian for going on a decade you continue to find ways to avoid that which you claim you endeavor to.

[AJ]

There are just way  too many to.pick one favorite place.

I'd list Isla morada or pine key in my top ten though .

Plus a  favorite, and living in a given location  no matter how nice permanently, is two very very different things,although I know you dint mention that aspect.

In no particular order of preference here's my list of where  I  seem to enjoy returning to and always puts a huge relaxed smile on my face  (versus just really cool to go once ):
Keep in mind I do enjoy the outdoors, a big city can be very interesting and  cool,but it's absolutely not my happy place.

Riviera maya Mexico region
I basically live in the water when down there,its likely my #1)
Glacier national.park.montana
Upper peninsula of michigan -copper harbor/Houghton- tahquamenon falls-mac island- etc
Yellowstone national park,wyoming
Grand teton national.park,wyoming
(Cascade creek trail.up to  glacial lake solitude,if that overnight  hike up and back wont reset you,remind you of your insignifucance in the universe,and to take each moment as your last,  nothing will  )
Yosemite national park,California
Telluride,  colorado
Florida keys( or sanibel island)
Olympic national park,washington
(Mt. hurricane trail)
The little pond by my home
(Lake michigan indiana shoreline)
Vienna ,Austria (I'll include one city)
Alupka ,Crimea
South of greece coastline

So may more I truly like but those are ones I've revisted several.times or many many times and it's always awesome.

There are so many more though.
Madeline island wisc.
Isla mujeres,Mexico
Baja,Mexico
Newport ,Oregon
Dinosaur national.monument colorado/utah

[Contrarian]

Waikiki, Hawaii is in the top three. Make sure to drive around the island, stop at the north shore to watch the surfers. Hike up to a Hawaiian waterfall on the other side of the island. Fish is excellent there to eat and very nice to look at while underwater when snorkeling.

Huntington Beach, California is a nice place to boogie board and other board sports. Dukes is a great place for lunch and a beer or drink. Fish & chips is great there.

Haven't been there in decades and concur with AJ, Olympic National Park, Washington. 

[cufflinks]

I like FL, although it's a few years since I have been.

I used to love Estonia, why I bought a place there. But it's changed beyond recognition now, and is far less appealing.

I always enjoy China.



Old pic from my topic here.

I haven't got a firm favourite place yet. We've been talking about where we might spend the winter when I semi-retire in maybe 10 years. FL is one, Croatia is another place I like. We're going to visit Thailand and Vietnam to see if they are in the running. Canada/NZ/Oz have always been favourites of Brits, but I don't like the politics there since Covid.

Manny just curious what went wrong with Estonia?


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[Lord of the Dance]

The illegal immigration that's taking place here in the US is getting completely out-of-hand. I can appreciate how awful the conditions are in countries like Cuba and Haiti, but this is ridiculous and it must be stopped at once. My family has had holdings in the Keys since the mid-1980s and my father confirmed to me that this craziness is unprecedented.

https://lasvegassun.com/news/2023/jan/04/cuban-migrants-flow-into-florida-keys-overwhelm-of/

[BC]

Too many places in Italy, followed by Jerez/Cádiz area in Spain, Istanbul, and Malta.

[rosco]

There are indeed too many beautiful places in this world, to call one out as a go to destination. I've never quite got the holidaying in the same resort for 2 weeks each year.

We've been lucky to travel extensively but we do tend to visit Italy fairly regularly. I love Como, even for a long weekend. We stayed at the Royal Hotel in San Remo for my wife's birthday last year and it was lovely and visited Sicily in April. A bit rough and ready but lots to do and see. Genoa and Portifino was great, Rome & Naples a must and Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Puglia superb to explore.

I think the people are interesting, the food and wine is lovely, the history is fantastic and the slight chaotic nature of the country is quirky. Lots to do and see in Turin and Milan but a bit too organised and boring for my liking.

[rosco]

Too many places in Italy, followed by Jerez/Cádiz area in Spain, Istanbul, and Malta.

We hired a car a few years back and did Seville, Cadiz, Marbella, Mijas, Granada & Cordoba. Avoided the Brit pack as much as possible and had a great time. We found lots of little hidden gems like Ronda and Bodegas Setenil by pure chance which made the trip all the better.

Cala d'Or in Majorca and Sitges in Catalonia are also fantastic little places. Only ever passed through a bit of the Basque Country but we plan to visit properly one day.

[cufflinks]

I like FL, although it's a few years since I have been.

I used to love Estonia, why I bought a place there. But it's changed beyond recognition now, and is far less appealing.

I always enjoy China.



Old pic from my topic here.

I haven't got a firm favourite place yet. We've been talking about where we might spend the winter when I semi-retire in maybe 10 years. FL is one, Croatia is another place I like. We're going to visit Thailand and Vietnam to see if they are in the running. Canada/NZ/Oz have always been favourites of Brits, but I don't like the politics there since Covid.

Manny just curious what went wrong with Estonia?


###

2ND Request - Manny Pls Advize What went wrong with Estonia...

It is being touted as a Crypto, Online and E-Banking center for LLCs and young tech Entrepreneurs.

[Manny]

Manny just curious what went wrong with Estonia?

It became a proxy state of the US, even hosting US troops, and that, together with increased influence from the EU, they have instigated many anti-Russian policies (daft when a third of them are Russian anyway). It's worse since the Ukraine malarkey kicked off. It used to be a quaint little place, that was nice and cheap, with more than a bit of Russian influence. "Russia lite" as Andrew used to call it. Now it is mostly pretending to be part of Scandinavia and it just doesn't feel the same. Imagine your favourite old store got turned into a Walmart, like that. It's become a bit soulless and generally "European". My raison d'etre to go there has gone.

It is being touted as a Crypto, Online and E-Banking center for LLCs and young tech Entrepreneurs.

I'm aware of that, and I'm sure it's fine for those things.