Why Do We Return?

I've been over to Europe 4 times (every 2 yrs since 08), and every trip we go back to Venice (well, and London, but we fly in and out of there...and Portsmouth, because my sister lives there).

But Venice...our first visit was a whirlwind 36 hours...and I fell in love. Walking out of the train station and having the canal spread out in front of me...that was it - love at first sight.
The second visit we stayed 3 nights to see what we missed on the first trip.

The third trip we were going to be in Florence (for the 1st time) and I said to hubby - 'We are only a few hours train ride away...we have to go back!' Another 3 nights.

Hubby says - 'no more'.

How did I get away with going back yet again this year for 3 nights? We were taking my mom and I just had to show her my most favourite place ever, and get her to fall in love with it (it didn't work - she liked Amafli Coast best - but what does she know?!).

I think because Venice is like a fairy tale to me - no cars, so beautiful in the early morning and late at night with the daytrippers not around - the bridges, the little alleys, just...wandering with no particular destination. No other place has totally grabbed my like Venice...I could go back to Venice every single year for 3-4 nights and never tire of it.

Hi,

During our 8 trips to Bavaria and Austria, we always need to include a stay in the Berchtesgaden area (either Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden or Schonau am Konigsee) or in Hall in Tirol, or both. The places we stay are quiet, in great locations, run by simply the friendliest people who make you feel at home and make great bases to day trip from. The hardest part of our trip planning is deciding between our favorite place in Ramsau and Konigsee, as they're about 10 min. apart. My wife's suggestion is to stay 2 nights in each :) Sounds good to me.

Paul

Nicole,

LIke you - my husband doesn't share my desire to revisit places we've been in the past -with the exception of the Berner Oberland. Every time we start planning a trip he says "lets go to places we haven't been before", but then he gives exception. This year we're going back to Salzburg for the 4th time and London for (too many to count). Those are definitely my two favorite cities. This will be our first trip to miss the BO. Nicole, I enjoyed your comments about how Venice makes you feel. I think it's interesting to see how different people perceive things.

I don't think I can put in words the reason for my attraction to these cities. Like Nicole I feel very comfortable - almost "at home" in these cities and find them both Magical. I was thinking today I actually feel better when I'm traveling - more alive, energetic.

Every time I go to Europe, I have to go to Paris. It just has a draw for me, when I think about it, it makes me happy and keep me going. I love the history, architecture, culture, and language. I speak French and so I love to get to speak it there!

Hi Zoe, Paris is my "home base" and I just love it there. With one exception, each of my seven trips to Europe started in Paris. I love the architecture, the history, the sights, sounds, and smells of Paris. My dream is to spend a month in Paris, rent an apartment, go to a different museum every day, explore the neighborhoods, and just hang out. Next trip is scheduled for May, beginning in Paris!

Paris, always Paris. I've been to Paris more times than I can remember and never tire of it. I feel at home there, more than in English speaking London. Some times we stay in apartments and other times in (cheap) hotels. Once my husband and I arrived without a hotel booked and we tried for a room at a no-star hotel at Nation (termed a " comfort" hotel , why I do not know). The hotel dog was named Clovis, after an ancient king, and just as imperious. Madame said there was no room available and we were crushed. Then suddenly she decided there was a room "pour les jolies Canadiens". We used that same comfort hotel for years until we got a little richer and took our custom to a 2 star establishment close by. But Madame at the no-star place is one of the many reasons to love Paris.

Jill - I do the travel planning in the house, so I pick the route...next year I think we are going to just visit England and Scotland (or do France), but if I am anywhere close to Venice, we'll be returning. We were watching a video of Greece and saying why don't we go there...and I said - and we can make a stop in Venice on the way...that got me an eye roll. I will say, I was also very taken with Switzerland as a whole when we had 4 whole days there (3 nights in 3 different cities/towns - just a teaser)...I guess living in Nova Scotia surrounded by the ocean, I am always quite taken with 'real' mountains (I love visiting Mt Washington in New Hampshire!)...and...when we go back to Switzerland someday, we can take a trip over to - Venice!! LOL.

Amazing how Venice is "on the way" to so many places!

So far, i go back to London if on my trips i have a day or 2 left over.

I know i can spend those few days in one of the places i visit on my trip, but so far i like to use london as my chilling time on my way back home. For me i know how to get around london and where to stay and i dont have to figure out where things are. So for me its my down time.

now I'm thinking about maybe using Paris as my chill time, but i won't know until later.

happy trails.

I have a revisit list and I do revisit places I like when I'm in the area. Every vacation I plan, however, centers around visiting somewhere I've never been. I also avoid a short first visit or crossing a border just to say I've been somewhere. I'd rather save that "first visit" experience for when I can really enjoy the experience.

Simple answer. I return to London because it makes me happy. Never bored. The city is always changing and yet forever the same. Smiling as I type this, for I know I'll be returning in the new year. Fancy a pint?

Similar to Brad, I try to plan a mix of new and revisited places when I travel. My spiritual home in Europe is Amsterdam, which I haven't been back to since 2010. Now that I think about it, maybe I could go there for a couple days before I meet my friend in Hamburg next year...

My upcoming trip is tough because I want to travel around northern Germany with a friend for about 10 days. I haven't been back to Germany since 2010. And I have a friend in London who I want to visit, and I want to go to Wales for a couple days to see castles. Too much to see, too little money and time, as always.

We always agonize over seeing new places vs revisiting our favourites. Vienna is a favourite and we've been twice; and three times to Liverpool.

It is hard to pinpoint exactly what draws us back to Vienna. I think it is a combination of the history, architecture, culture and food. We just love it.

We feel at home at Liverpool, and return mainly for football but enjoy so many other things about the city. There are great museums, and Albert Dock is nice. The city has been undergoing a lot of regeneration so there is always lots of new things to see, or to see how old faves changed. For instance, back in 2000 we thoroughly enjoyed the Museum of Liverpool Life. Last year we got to visit the new Museum of Liverpool (the "Life" seems to have been dropped) in its new location with more exhibits.

Interesting that so many choose Venice. We've only gone once so far. I was looking at airfares for next year and asked my husband whether we should fly out of Venice or Rome (we've been to both places once each) and without missing a beat he said Venice. We also fell in love with it as soon as we saw it (from the plane window on a spectacular September day).

Why we go back: I call it familiar yet foreign. When I go somewhere I have visited before, I can put away the guidebook and the map and really enjoy the place. I don't have to orient and reorient myself. I know some of the things I will do each time (Frari church in Venice) but also can take time to find new-to-us places.

It is more relaxing to go somewhere you have been before: that "at home" feeling others have mentioned. It's also fun to be a regular at places that only see tourists. We have a restaurant we've been to in the Cinaue Terre 4 of the past 5 years and the owner is floored by our patronage since most guests are once-in-a-lifetime customers. We feel very special walking in and being recognized. The apartment we prefer in Venice is in "our" neighborhood. Talk about traveling like a temporary local!

Maybe I should consider returning to the same place? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Zoe,

That's a good question and one that I haven't thought about much. On each trip to Europe, I like to both visit new locations as well as revisit a few favourites. Some of the reasons I like to return to some places.....

• Especially in larger cities, there's no way I can see all the sites I'm interested in with just one visit, even if I stay for a week. Some places require multiple visits, especially places like London, Paris and Rome.
• With some trips, it's convenient to revisit a city because it's a convenient stop on the way to another (new) location. That was the case this year when I returned yet again to Munich, as it worked well with my transportation link to Slovenia.
• There are a few places that I've really enjoyed, and those have become "special" so I try to get back to them every year or two. One such place is Monterosso, and I'm already planning to fit it into my Itinerary next year. Even though there are few sightseeing attractions there, it's a place that for me has the "at home" feeling that Laurel mentioned. Even if I do nothing but sit on the balcony of the hotel with a good book and a cup of coffee or glass of Prosecco, I'm happy. I also know the owners of a few of the restaurants, and I agree with Laurel that they seem to appreciate return customers.
• In larger cities, I like to return to some of the sights that I've already visited, as they always change a bit with each visit. For example, one of my favourites in Paris is the Musee d'Orsay so I try to spend at least a few hours there on each visit to the city (although I didn't make it there when I was in Paris last June). I'm looking forward to re-visiting the Imperial War Museum in London, as I believe they've just finished a huge overhaul.

Great thread, Zoe.

I have rarely left a place without feeling that there was much more to see, and things to see again. I enjoy returning to places because it's "comfortable" - no stress or time lost in orientation. So now I find that I most enjoy a trip that includes both new places and revisits. Even visiting a different part of the same country is somewhat familiar. This year I was in Italy for 24 days, only 2 of which were a repeat (Florence), but the language, the trains, the signs, the food, was familiar enough to be comfortable from day one.

I'm returning to Italy and Spain in February. The idea started with a hotel reservation for the first weekend of Carnivale in Venice as an opportunistic appendage to long trip to a faraway place. When that did not work out, I couldn't bring myself to pass up going back to Venice and back to Carnivale! Venice is my 3rd favorite city and I get excited every time I think "I'm going to be there in xxx months." I'm taking the opportunity to spend time in new-to-me Padua and Ferrara before returning to Spain. I was there nearly 2 years ago for the first time and fell in love with Andalusia. So it seemed like a good destination after Venice. Mostly I'll be returning to the same cities, to see some of the places I missed on the first go-round and staying in a few of the small family-run hotels that I was in last time.

Paris, my favorite city, has my heart, I can't explain it. I just feel happy being there. I've stopped counting the number of times I've been there. Each has been more than a week and every one had delightful surprises. There are still places on my list that I haven't been to, day trips I haven't taken. So I'm hoping to be back next year.

My second favorite city is Jerusalem. It's the one that really feels like home and I am so fortunate to live only an hour's drive away. I hope to show you some of my favorite places there someday.

Chani, I look forward to seeing those places. Ken, thanks for thinking.g about this, your posts are always so thoughtful and helpful.

Like both of you and many others, I like to mix in new places with the old favorites. Even the most familiar place changes from visit to visit (or perhaps I change).

Umbria, particularly around Assisi. I love Italy, but Umbria is just in my blood. Mostly because I have friends there (from the 70s) and I have spent so much time on their farm. I have watched the local farm kids grow into adults and take over the farms themselves. Two years ago, while there, I had printed photos from the digital versions of the black and white photos I took in the 70's and I gave them out to two of the families who were young kids when i was there in the 70s - pictures of their parents and grandparents and neighbors. They had so few, if any, as their farms were all poor mezzadria at the time. It was wonderful, and damn did I eat well. Umbria always pulls me back.

I have yet to visit the village where my grandparents emigrated from. Someday soon I hope.

I generally don't like to go back to somewhere I've been before. However, sometimes you make a special connection with a place and it is a great feeling of comfort to revisit, like looking up an old friend. But also, its fun to revisit somewhere you have been with a person or persons who haven't been there.

I'm hooked, plain and simple. Going to Europe, ie, specifically France, Germany, England, Austria, etc. is it, the focus of my traveling over and over. I got hooked on this since my first long trip of three months as a student backpacker at 21. Going to Japan, China, or traveling in the US is peripheral but they are on the travel list too.

"what is it that draws you back?" The cities, people, cuisine, geography, (see the Thames, Seine, Rhine, Meuse, Vistula, Oder, Danube, Weser, Elbe, Somme, Aisne, Marne, etc.) museums, history, culture, linguistic reasons, landscape, and on and on.

Travelling is in my blood. I am also addicited to learning so I like seeing new places and getting a context to why/how other nations make the decisions about their society and its inner workings.
I work so I can afford to travel and I plan my budgets around my next trip.
J

Easily, Scotland is my favorite place. I go back over and over and for a range of reasons. First, of all, I now have friends there and nothing pulls you to a place like friendship. Second, I love the music and the single malts! Third, I love the history. It can be so sad and frustrating, and powerful. The recent news about the archaeological digs on Orkney are amazing and I can hardly wait to go back and see them. I also love the countryside. I love my photos from Scotland and have them on my walls in my NYC apartment.

Every now and then, I do break my Scotland habit, but I know that I could keep going back forever.

Pam

I love reading this thread! I know that returning to a favorite place is still exciting and also comforting. Echo the fact of knowing which metro line to take, where to stay and eat, etc. Paris has been my favorite city since my first visit many years ago - a must stop on every trip. Last year when we were in Rome - my 6th time - I was feeling that maybe it was edging into 1st place. We'll see next summer!

The other thing that draws me back is showing favorite places to others - friends, family etc. I have acted as "tour guide" and planner for the last 13 trips. I just love seeing it through their eyes. I took 2 of my 16 year old grand kids on the Grand Tour in 2011 and plan to take another grand daughter and her girl friend in 2015 when she graduates from high school. We are having a ball planning together which makes it even more fun!! Sharing memories of past trips is great too.

Barb

I love reading this thread, too. I find myself remembering, even more than the sights, the people that I met, and wish I had photographed.

My husband and I are going to Europe for the first time at Christmas and all of your posts make me so heart-happy. I can't wait to see what city will enchant and embrace my heart and mind so much that it is the one that I'll be mooning over for years to come.

I've been all over the U.S. and relate your stories to how I feel about NYC. Can't count how many times I've been but never tire of going. So much so that I'm excited to have a 5 hour layover there on our way out to Europe and even more so that we arrive back in NYC on New Years eve in time to check into our hotel and watch the ball drop in Times Square before heading home the next day.

Oh boy - need to get back to reading and dreaming about Paris Vienna Madrid before I get thrown out of this post! ;)

Hey Zoe! This is the question of the month in Rick's Travel News!

Why do we return?
Each traveler will have her/his own answer.
I think for some of us, it's because Europe gives us a clue to where we came from and who we are.
And there's also the wine and gelato.

For me it is Berlin. In 2005 I spent a month there as a student in the Goethe Institut. And I fell in love there. In the meantime I have returned to Berlin 4 times. Why? Well first is that I have a brother who lives in Germany, in Hamburg, so I find myself in the country often. But for me Berlin is like my "European home." I love the way it adapts and changes, and always has a feel of Berlin. I love that people there don't respond in English when I speak in German. I love that I can find my way around, and find my favorite restaurants and neighborhoods, and go hang out in places I've been before. I feel, just a little, like I am invited to be a Berliner myself, and to live a little bit as a European. Down to walking to the grocery for broetchen for breakfast, and running to catch the U-bahn, and everything.

I may live there for a few years when I retire.

Basically "a comfort level". We love Italy and have learned over the years and many visits the cultural mores of the country and feel so familiar and at ease with their customs.......this spring we return to the same two apartments we had last year in Lucca and Ischia staying over a month in each place.......almost like going home!!!!!

Great question, Zoe. When we first started traveling we had a priority list but once we finished that list we started combining somewhere new with a favorite. France is definitely our favorite. All total we've probably spent over four months in France spread over a number of trips. This spring we are headed for India and when we saw that our flight would change planes in Paris we decided we'd just add a few days in Paris to the India trip. My husband makes sure he needs a haircut in Rome and returns to the same barber who doesn't speak English and we don't speak Italian.

Combining new experiences with favorites adds a lot to our trips especially as we age. We still have the excitement and "challenge" of learning our way around a new country but then have the comfort of getting off the plane and knowing how to get into the city and how to get to our favorite museums, cafes etc.

We fell in love with Spain during our first visit in 2001. We felt an immediate connection to the country and that feeling has never diminished during our 3 subsequent trips. We now have wonderful friends there and have been guests of honor at the wedding of one the two foreign exchange students that we hosted in the late 90s. On our last trip, in 2014, we broadened our horizons a bit by visiting France and Italy. We both love Paris and plan to return, but Spain will always be that special place for us. As other responders have noted, we felt at home here and will return as often as we can for as long as we can.

Its Paris for me too. I went two years ago with my daughter & her French class for 5 nights and just fell in love with its beauty, food, culture, just everything about it draws me in. Last year I went with my husband to celebrate our 40th anniversary, first to London then to Paris, and this year we will be starting in Rome & Venice but end up with another week in Paris! I'm excited to discover new things and revisit some favorites. I don't think I would ever tire of visiting beautiful Paris. After all, Paris is always a good idea!

I have visited Amsterdam perhaps fifth-teen times in the last twenty five years. My stays there have varied from overnight to ten days or so. Amsterdam has never let me down. It is always, and I have visited there in every season of year, a thoroughly enjoyable experience: the brown cafes, the art galleries and museums, the Canal Zone, and yes, even the coffee shops are a unique experience. I haven't been there for two years or so now, so perhaps this spring ...

As my husband and I grow older, our tastes change, as do the cities we love. we went to Vienna when we were first married and fell in love with the city. It was 1981. when Czech Republic and Hungary opened up, we took our daughters there and stopped in Vienna. It was 2002. I fell in love with Budapest. We went this past summer to the same 3 cities with my sister and her husband. Prague was my favorite this trip. There are very few places I wouldn't revisit, but there are so many places we haven't been to yet. this summer is Scotland, Ireland, and Amsterdam (was there in 1977). maybe one of those cities will become our new favorite!

I have a return list but would like to see places on my bucket list first. Have been to London twice and love it. Been to Italy twice also love florence the best. But I got a chance to go on best of ireland in august. By far it is my favorite country out of the tweve I have been to. I felt very safe and very welcoming. Friendly people. I would go back in a minute if I could or even pack up and live in dingle :)

For me it would have to be Ireland. In 2004 I did a one-week hiking trip followed by one of Rick's two week tours around the entire island. Two years later I went back and took my husband. Two years after that I took my daughter. When I was heading for the airport after the first trip, I had tears in my eyes. I didn't feel like I was "going" home, I felt like I was "leaving" my home. It has been a while since I've been there now, but I know I will return. My goal is to someday spend at least six months living there and seeing every bit of the country.

Because if I don't return to those places I love it hurts my heart....

I like to combine a return to a familiar place with a visit to a new place or places. Too many new places can be just a little bit stressful - finding my way around, trying to find good new places to eat, staying in unknown hotels, etc. Going back to a familiar place along with the new ones eases the stress of the trip a bit - no need to learn a new transport system, having fav restaurants and hotels to go back to, etc. I think of the places (both cities and countryside locales) I have traveled to as friends; just because we make new friends doesn't mean we give up the old 'forever' friends. Whenever the opportunity presents itself I'm happy to return to an old favorite.

Wonderful topic. I have fallen in love with Paris & Villefranche-sur-mer, thanks to a RS tour that introduced me to oth, gave me a super orientation and the tools to be independent in those paces. That is what makes the difference to me with Rs tours and resources. That is the biggest gift I could have been given. I now have skills to apply to new places I have yet to explore.

My first RS tour was Paris & Provence with 3 freinds. I did little research before the trip, but did scour the RS book we were provided. Doing research is the biggest lesson I learned; how to effectively spend my free time on an organized tour or figure out where to have a great meal for a little money, where do I find the best gelato (that is gluten free!).

Now I am obsessed with planning, which helps me keep happy, as I look forward to my trip, more than 9 months away, as I am reading all I can about my destination; the history, which is one of my favorite things, what side trips to take, how mnay days before the tour will I arrive and what do I need to do, etc....

I am not sure why I love Paris & Villefranche, it is a feeling I get when there. I feel so relaxed, yet curious to explore, walk my feet off, eat til I am bursting king of thing. Will I find other places that make me feel that way, maybe?!?

This is my first post on this website!

The previous posters have reflected most of my thoughts but I can add my bit from an Australian's viewpoint. Being a longer journey (24 hours) to Europe, stopovers are tempting in order to lessen the jet lag. My favourite Asian stopover point is Hong Kong which we have spent a few days at on 3 occasions. There is plenty to see, shopping and eating is fun, and revisiting The Peak via a star ferry is a favourite experience. Just 1-2 days each way is enough time to recharge on our way to and from Europe.

London and Paris are our European favourites which I have visited 3 times. Familiarity with a city makes orientation easy but we like to mainly visit new destinations every holiday.

It was also fun returning to Turkey and showing my wife (who hasn't been there before) around. I almost felt like a local. BTW, the most beautiful view in the world IMO is looking across the shimmering blue Aegean Sea towards the island of Lesvos from the Temple of Athena ruins on the Behremkale mountaintop.

I have been coming back to Europe annually for almost 20 years. Some cities are gateways such as London, Paris and Amsterdam so I visit them often (always extending a day or two on my return) to limit connections from places further out. I have worked my way through all of Western and most of Eastern Europe and am starting to re-visit or more deeply explore regions I have enjoyed.
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I tend to go back to France, Germany, Austria and Italy as they all have pockets I have not seen. My most recent adventure was a wine themed river cruise through Provence with AMAwaterways. It was magical with small ancient towns and beautiful architecture and history. And did I say FOOD??? A cooking class was a highlight. I was back on an AMA ship 6 months later for a Christmas Market tour - something different, yet some of the places were the same.

I try to rent an apartment whenever possible to immerse myself in the locale. It is also cheaper than a hotel. I can shop in the local market and hang out at the local watering hole.

People often ask me which place is my favorite. They all have their moments. The most friendly was by far Belfast, the most beautiful scenery is in the Alps of Austria, Switzerland and Italy and the culture of Vienna (and cakes) is sublime. I did not care for the Scandinavian countries so much and found Spain and Portugal less interesting (except Barcelona). I also found countries like Slovakia depressing and difficult to navigate, although I adored St. Petersburg.

After being in Paris, London and Amsterdam a dozen times each, there are still new things to see for a day or two.

I don't think of it as returning so much as continuing an unfinished adventure.

Some cities just resonate with you for whatever reason. Oxford and Rome are two of those places for me. Despite being in a foreign country it feels like "home." On a second tier are places that I never was quite able to do all that I wanted to do in the time I had- Vienna and London are two of those places for me.

I think combining "old friends" with new places makes for a much more special trip because it not only starts new adventures/experiences it celebrates past explorations too.

I am with you, Terry Kathryn. If I don't get to Napoli and Sicily at least every other year, I am heartbroken. Matera, Rieti, and Orvieto are annual return destinations. Rome, absolutely. I once neglected to throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain and was not able to return for twelve years! Never made that mistake again.

For me it's Brugge. It is so walkable and friendly-sort of a Venice without the tourist atmosphere. This is a great place to rent a bike and strike out on your own or join a tour. Sit by the lake and watch the swans while gorging on mussels, french fries and a great dark Belgian beer. Then find a chocolate shop and take a canal ride. Brugge has all the feel of a small town with beautiful squares and architecture. Die Garre is my favorite place in all the world to savor a great beer with the locals or your fellow tourists-go if you can find it!

Our first view of Venice was from the Orient Express train as we approached the end of our train trip. So there is a certain sentimental reason. But then wandering around Venice and getting the courage to put the map away even though we were going to parts we hadn't been to. And then "discovering" something interesting and digging the map out to figure out where we were so we could get back there again. There are not many places that one can have a relationship like that with.
We went back to Italy this past summer and there was no question about flying in to Venice for a few days before taking a train to Padova for the Village Italy tour. And those days were all too short.
Our next Rick Steves' trip will probably be to Spain, and we are starting to look into the logistics of again flying in to Venice for a few days, and then train plus ferry to Barcelona for the Spain tour. Any excuse to explore Venice some more!

I spent the entire month of July 2010 in Europe with my 68 yr. old sister. It was my 3rd time back & my sister's 1st time back after having lived in Germany in the late 60s with her Army husband. We traveled everywhere with EuraillPass, arriving in London & departing from Paris--so wise, Mr. Steves! I planned our trip around the 2010 Oberammergau & a long weekend at a former home of Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi-- Hotel Locanda Vivaldi--luxurious! As such-inadvertantly-we rode into Innsbruck several times. On one of our jaunts, we met a couple from there who offered to show us around should we travel there again. We actually did & called them. They met us at our hotel & gave us such an intimate tour of Innsbruck for which we are ever grateful! When I return for Oberammerau 2020 with my youngest daughter, my hope is that we have just as wonderful a visit! We will be meeting my sister in Vienna & train-travel again for an entire month! I can't wait!

I love Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Been there several times. Salzburg is my favorite and always try to go when I can. Next trip will be to Paris, Munich, Switzerland, and Italy and may even try to get back to Salzburg, even if just for a day or so. With the upcoming trip, imagine they will be more places I hope to revisit. What's funny is that I have travelled to many states in the U.S. but have only a couple places I revisit. Europe has many places on my revisit list.

"Europe has many places on my revisit list." Yes, exactly, well put....Paris, London, Amiens, Fontainebleau, Potsdam, Berlin, Munich, Lüneburg, Vienna, etc. Why go back? I go back because it's like a pilgrimage, an attraction, a fascination in addition to seeing the new places.

Fred, it is like a pilgrimage. L'Aquila is on my return list to see the ongoing recovery from the 2009 earthquake.

After reading this topic, I decided to add one of my fave French towns, Villefranche-sur -Mer to my pre-tour travel. Then go by train to Barcelona hopefully seeing a lot of coastline on that trip. The RS Best of Spain tour started in Barclona, and ends in Sevilla. Then I have a few days at the end of the tour and fly home from Madrid.

I took advantage of KLM starting direct flights to Europe from YEG, but splurged on business class TO Europe.

I look forward to my trip beginning in a town I love and have familiarity with, then gaining in adventure as I head to Spain for the first time ever!

@ Zoe....Glad to see you share the same view. I'm sure that for those who have special places in Europe fitting that description see such places in Italy, Germany, England, France, etc ,etc in the same light, not only as a pilgrimage but also as a tradition.

June, glad to see that this thread has impacted your plans!

Fred, yes, tradition and pilgrimage. I love history and in some way I find that returning to places I love makes the history of those places something even more alive for me.

On half of my ten tours of Europe in the last 15 years, I've spent a week in a little villiage (Fischen) in the Illertal of the Oberallgäu, because I love the quiet and the scenery. There are lot of things to do in the valley - visiting Oberstdorf, riding any of the many ski lifts in the valley up into the mountains to hike, visiting the Austrian Kleinwalsertal), but Bodensee (Lindau, Friedrichshafen) is easily accessible, as are Oberstaufen and Füssen.

Keep going back to Paris. I think some of the reason we feel so grounded there is that it was the first place in Europe that we went. We decided to go there at the turn of the century back in 2000. The glorious fireworks display at Eiffel Tower were just magical and we thought, " Hey, let's go,there! " Getting off the airport bus in the center of Paris was terrifying and so exciting, but thanks to Rick I knew we could take on the city. Since then we have gone on to Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels and most of Italy. Now 15 years later, planning a trip for the Fall, of course, starting in Paris!

Such a wonderful, thoughtful thread. It warms my heart to read all of the responses. Now I don't feel unusual in that I love returning to familiar places I have enjoyed on previous trips. There's a level of comfort when I return to Germany, especially the Black Forest or Bavaria. The wine, schnitzel, Schwarzwalden kuchen, warm & friendly people and, most of all, the sites (rolling hills & mountains) sounds (cow bells) and smells (clean air). Better book my next trip.

"There is a level of comfort when I return to Germany...." You got it, so true. As they say over there, das trifft sich gut! Apart from the cuisine and drink you listed, the level of air quality, public transportation system, etc., I would say also the professionalism I encountered in making a police report in a small town in Germany in 2012 because of a theft, presumably, on the train I was on. The loss itself was no big deal, but I thought it had better be reported in the next town I got to.

Wow! This thread is a fantastic read! Along with Rick's style of travel, it was the kind of travel spirit exhibited in this thread, and numerous others, that helped to feed our desire to finally, finally take our first trip to Europe this past November. And about two months on, the experience still consumes my thoughts and fuels my dreams for a return trip sometime in late 2015.

I consider it a privilege to be able to read about all of your travel experiences. The tips and insights gleaned while planning our trip were/are invaluable.

Thank you all!

My wife and I keep going back because the places that we like to visit belong to us, and we belong to them. It's like seeing an old friend who looks just the same, even after several or many years. Experienced this on the front end of a river cruise this past April-May, which started in Budapest. Just love that town, which we previously visited on our own land based trip in 2011. I also have a strong emotional connection to Lisbon (2 visits), Madrid (2), Venice (3), Rome (3). Even though the last two are a big pain in the neck on many levels. Can't believe it's been 13 years since we have been to Ireland, another favorite. It makes me sad that there are some places that I'll never see again, probably. Sigh.

VS, I was so happy to see your comment about mutual belonging. I can see subtle changes from year to year, but I know that my landscape has changed, too. I remember the first Japanese restaurant that I saw in Rome. And when the centro storico of most cities became "pedestrian only", and when there were no ZTLs.

Zoe, that made me think of my first time in Jerusalem, when there were sheep and goats grazing regularly in a huge empty lot 1/2 km from the town center and almost as many donkeys as cars on the road. Now it's half park and half parking lot for a city crowded with cars. The only asses left on the street are the ones behind the wheel.