In July of 2012, K and I spent a month in Europe on what we called our “B-Trip.” B because the tour consisted of stays in three cities: Brussels, Barcelona, and Berlin.

We had been to Barcelona many times and expected much from it. We were not disappointed. We had never been to Berlin, but were excited to get to know it. That, too, met and even exceeded our expectations. For Brussels, however, I had modest hopes. All I knew about it was that it was the capital of the European Union. So, I expected it to be like diplomacy and bureaucracy: a mixture of bullshit and boring.

Instead, we had a very pleasant time there. Some recommendations:

* Grote Markt (Grand Place) – the central square of the city

* “Manneken Pis” and “Jeanneke Pis” – the city’s two famous “pissing” statues

* Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts (Royal Museums of Fine Arts)

* Musée du Costume et da la Dentelle (Costume and Lace Museum)

* Le Botanique (“the herb garden”) – a cultural center dedicated to live music and art exhibitions

* Café Belga – for great ambiance and good food.

Facts about Brussels: 

* Brussels is the largest municipality and historical center of the Brussels-Capital Region, as well as the capital of Belgium. It is also the administrative center of the European Union, and is thus often dubbed, along with the region, the EU’s capital city.

* Brussels operates as a bilingual city where both French (85%) and Dutch (15%) are official languages. Thus, all the streets have two names, which can sound totally different. For example, the Main Square is called both la Grand Place and de Grote Markt.

I’ve never been there. But, as a big fan of cemeteries, I will go the next time I’m visiting the grandkids in LA.

Hollywood Memorial Cemetery is the final resting place for such luminaries as The African Queen director John Huston, punk icons Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone, and Academy Award-winner Hattie McDaniel. Plus, Number Two Son tells me that the cemetery hosts concerts, films, and other cultural events.

Tallinn, Estonia

K and I spent almost a week in Tallinn years ago, visiting a friend who worked for USAID. It was (still is) a beautiful, interesting, and culturally rich city. It offers the visitor well-preserved medieval architecture, along with vintage (Cold War) Eastern European buildings and monuments, plus chic neighborhoods that feel contemporary and Western European.

Six things to do in Tallinn:

1. Visit the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
2. Spend an afternoon at the Kadriorg Art Museum.
3. Check out Toompea Castle.
4. Walk through the Danish King’s Garden.
5. Window shop along St. Catherine’s Passage.
6. Dine at Olde Hansa Restaurant in Old Town.

Dubrovnik, Croatia 

In 2019, K and I held our biennial “cousin camp” (extended family reunion) in Croatia.

Croatia has an amazing coast. And one of the most beautiful seaside cities, Dubrovnik, is on it.

The city’s old town is surrounded by a wall that is 1.2 miles in length and 82 feet at its maximum height. Built during the Middle Ages to prevent attacks along the Adriatic Sea, this fortress has protected the Croatian capital for centuries.

What We Liked About Dubrovnik 

* Walking the Stradun, a pretty pedestrian street

* Window shopping and restaurants in the Old Town

* Walking the wall that surrounds the city

* Strolling around Loggia Square

* Taking a boat ride to the Blue Cave

* The Dubrovnik Cathedral and Treasury

* The Game of Thrones tour – silly, but fun

* Sea kayaking and snorkeling in the crystal blue waters

Other than passing through on my way to Nicaragua, I’ve been to San José only once – on a short business trip. My impression was, “Boy, this is an interesting city. I’ve got to get back here with K one day.” I’ve read a bit about it since and talked to people that have lived there. Here are some of the sites we’ll be checking out when we go:

* Avenida Central, a walking street that goes right through the core of the downtown

* Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica

* The mysterious stone spheres, dating back to 200 BC

* The Pre-Columbian Gold Museum and the Jade Museum

* The view from the bar at Gran Hotel

Assisi, Italy

Some years ago, K and I spent several very pleasant days in Assisi. It is the birthplace and burial site of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals and the environment. But you don’t have to be into St. Francis to appreciate:

* The beautiful Umbrian landscapes

* The Via San Francecso for an introductory walk

* The massive 13th century San Francesco Basilica

* The Basilica Santa Chiara

* Santa Maria degli Angeli

* The Carceri and Monte Subasio

* La Teraze di Properzio (for lunch or dinner)

* The Carceri monastery

* The Rocca Maggiore

* The Piazza del Comune

There are some international cities I can’t get enough of. Rome is at the top of the list. And then there’s Paris, Barcelona, Mumbai, and Madrid. In the US, New York and Chicago used to be my favorites. But recently, they’ve fallen off the list. Three of my current favorites are in Florida: Miami, Key West, and St. Augustine.

St. Augustine is America’s oldest city. It was established by the Spanish in 1565. The city offers most of what you’d want from an old Florida city: a well-preserved “old town” featuring colonial architecture, galleries, gardens, gift shops, and plenty of good restaurants. It also has something you wouldn’t expect: 43 miles of beautiful white-sand beaches.

My favorite place to stay in St. Augustine is the Casa Monica Resort and Spa (pictured above).

Kathy and I traveled first to Europe for several weeks after completing my two-year, Peace Corps stint in Africa. One of our favorite cities was Athens. We’ve been back only once since then, and it was terrific. It’s a city we will travel to again.

What I Like About Athens 

All 10 of the following must-see tourist sites:

* Acropolis

* Acropolis Museum

* Parthenon

* Ancient Agora and Temple of Hephaestus

* Theatre of Dionysus

* Tower of the Winds in the Roman Agora

* views from Mount Lycabettus

* Panathenaic Stadium

* Church of Panagia Kapnikarea

* Philopappos Hill

Plus…

* Plaka (a very cool neighborhood)

* drinks at a rooftop bar at the end of the day

* Kerameikos (if you like cemeteries)

* National Archaeological Museum (if you like ancient architecture)

La Casa Azul: The Frida Kahlo Museum

Mexico City is a wonderful place to visit. It’s replete with beautiful parks, colorful neighborhoods, great shopping, and lots of art and culture.

A must-see for anyone interested in art is La Casa Azul (The Blue House), the home that Frida Kahlo lived in for most of her life, including several years with Diego Rivera. Like Hemingway’s house in Key West, La Casa Azul will give you a chance to imagine the life of this amazing artist as you walk through the rooms she (and Rivera) inhabited.

The museum exhibits paintings by both Kahlo and Rivera, as well as many of her personal belongings, including photographs, books, furniture, and clothing.