It was very difficult to overcome 2018, but faced the new year with great desire. I had a thousand proposals in my head, the holidays did not reach me at all and the budget was much lower than other years. Now that the year has finished, I can say that the summary is quite good.
In January, in order to start the year with enthusiasm I went to Portugal for 4 days. I went to Porto for the first time and I felt in love there. There are two unmissable classics: the Ribera and Barredo neighborhood. The first is probably one of the most photographed places in the world. The second is where you will find me. Both are fantastic. One is full of restaurants and tourists and in the other there is no one. Walking through the narrow streets of Barredo looking at all the details, is priceless. I recommend crossing the Don Luis I bridge to see the perspective of the Ribera from the other side. I was speechless at Livraria Lello. I think it’s the prettiest bookstore I’ve ever been to. Another thing that left me out of play was the Sao Bento Station. The ceramic murals inside are fascinating. Porto is lovely. I will tell the detail of the route when I publish the post of the city. I traveled with public transport to Leiria. There a friend picked me up and took me to Peniche, which fascinated me. On the way to Nazaré, we made a stop in Sao Martinho do Porto. The next day we visited Aveiro and Costa Nova. I finished the route to Lisbon spending a whole day with friends.
In May I went to the USA. In Tenesse, specifically in Harrogate, I had a family event. I wasn’t expecting anything thrilling in the area; so I did not plan any visits. And you don’t know how I regretted it. I was very positively surprised. So much that I want to return. After the event, I went to Washington by road. I had few time and I just saw the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Constitution Gardens, the National Mall and the Capitol. The next stop on my roadtrip was another dream come true: Lancaster. I had always wanted to see the land of the Amish and, if you want me to tell you the truth, I would have stayed a couple of days there. I think it must be cool to live the experience from within. The last visit, how could it be otherwise, was in New York.
In June and, how could it be otherwise, I had my annual date with my little paradise. Menorca was waiting for me like every year. I was in Binibeca; but without being stopped. I did a boat trip from Alcaufar to Cales Coves. I have always said that Menorca is wonderful; but, if you have the opportunity, I recommend you to see it from the sea. It is even prettier. This year I discarded Villacarlos (Es Castell) to have dinner at the port of Ciutadella. The next day I visited Binibeca Beach and Sa Mesquida.
In September I returned to the USA to spend a few days in New York and make a route along the east coast. Long Island is another place I would like to return to. The tranquility and elegance of the Hamptons made me fall in love. There I took a ferry that took me to New London where I headed to Newport (lovely!) through Mystic River. I couldn’t see Cape Cod well. The distances to the United States are so different from those in Europe and that I miscalculated. Boston was the last visit. The truth is that, although the city is beautiful, it has not fascinated me. I went to Harvard and back to New York, I stopped at Yale University in New Heaven. This last university is prettier and more charming. Good route!
To finish the year, after the Christmas holidays and in the middle of winter, I went to spend 4 days to Lanzarote. I love going to warm destinations in winter season. I went with young children and the rhythm of visits was very slow; but still, it gave me time to see many things. It is an island that has quite respected itself. I loved the volcanic landscape, but my two favorite places are El Golfo and La Graciosa. Great!
2019 has been so good related to travelling!
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