April 21, 2020

Mosaics from 10 Favorite Cities

Day 35 of the Philippine's Enhanced Community Quarantine and as a home buddy, I don't really mind staying at home that much. But time to time, my mind does wander on its own and just this morning, it went far as the cities I have visited in the past decade. I have been blessed to have traveled to a total of 22 countries and territories since 2011, all of it for vacation and pleasure because I never got the chance to be sent by my company to another country for training or meetings of any kind. With that I believe that anybody can achieve their dreams, it's just a question of how much they wanted and how willing they are to make them a reality.

As a citizen of a developing country, it's quite hard for me to travel a lot not just because of our proximity to the world but also because of certain factors such as visa regulations and the power of my passport which is not so high in the passport rankings. But I really have my eyes and my mind fixed on my dream destinations ever since I was a child so there was no choice but to visit these places, it was just a matter of time. I still have a lot on my list including countries in my dream continent South America, and Africa, and of course who wouldn't want to see Australia and New Zealand? 

I may be locked inside my room right now but can you join me as we travel all the way to my favorite cities in the world that I have been to? All the photographs that you will be seeing are taken by me. I'll take you to a beautiful world where there is no need for passports and visas just us and these mosaic memories. I'll be counting down the top 10 cities in the order leading towards my most favorite! hope you guys enjoy it, the way I enjoyed going back through my old files.

Paris

From top left, clockwise: Seine River Cruise; Hôtel De Ville; Champs-Élysées; Tour Eiffel from Montparnasse; Late Night Wine at Chatelet

10th - I may have visited this city at a wrong time (December Greve happened from start to end of my trip) but the lights and the views of this city never failed. Plus I got to reunite with my two high school friends who are now living their lives in the French Capital.

Beijing

From left, clockwise: Sidewalk to Tianenmen; Mutianyu Great Wall; Temple of Heaven; Cute boy at a local Beijing Restaurant; Forbidden City.

9th - Beijing was my first city in the People's Republic of China. I did this trip last 2013 with my Dad and cousin Judy. It was also my first winter and it was an amazing experience for me. What I love about Beijing aside from its ancient wonders is the delicious food I was able to taste.

Brussels

From Left: Grand Place; Church of Our Lady of Finistère; Place des Martyrs; Manneken Pis

8th - A layover in Brussels for just 6 hours did not stop me from exploring this tiny heart of Europe. I took the bus and went to the city center, had a waffle and a stroll around the beautiful landmarks of old Brussels. The place was packed but it's grandeur was enough for everyone to share.

Seattle

From top, clockwise: Seattle Skyline from Alki; View from Public Library; Dancing Couple at Pike Place Market

7th - There's something about Seattle that no matter how crowded some attractions were that summer of 2015, there's this unexplained peace and quiet that I felt which was something I only feel from home. Seeing Seattle through my friends from school Paula and Kuya Bailey was a big reason why I wanted to see this city again soon!

Rome

From top left, clockwise: Orange Garden; San Giovanni in Laterano; Via dell'Olmata; Piazza del Popollo, Colosseum

6th - Another dream come true which was a leg on my European trip last Winter. What better way to see the glory of Roma than with family. I was blessed to have my cousin Carmina adopt me for a week in Rome where I also spent Christmas for the very first time away from home. It was beautiful, Rome truly is!

Kyoto

From top left, clockwise: Japanese couple at Gion; A young boy alone to school; Soba condiments at Honnke Owariya; Fushimi Inari Taisha; Shiba Inu at Arashiyama

5th - This old capital of the Japanese empire surely will charm you with a dense amount of sights, sounds, and tastes! It's hard to choose these shots because I have a lot more to share about this beautiful city! Another unforgettable trip with my favorite cousins in the whole world!

San Francisco

From top left, clockwise: Transamerica; Golden Gate Bridge; Emporio Armani Building; Westfield

4th - Truly one of the most colorful and cultured cities I have ever been to, San Francisco boasts of its melting pot of cultures not just about different nationalities but on all points of views! My brother lives in the Bay Area so I spent 3 months around this beautiful city. Truly one of my favorites, and the best for for me on cities in the USA so far.

Prague

Form top left, clockwise: Vltava River; Charles Bridge; Astronomical Clock; John the Baptist at Maltézské Square; Tourist at John Nepomocene Marker

3rd - This has been one of the biggest dream come trues for me. Prague was amazing both in my mind and in person. It was a great trip with my cousin Carmina and seeing it in winter gives is a cool and quiet light but my cousin said seeing it in Autumn gives it a golden filter! Someday again, hopefully.

Bangkok

From top left, clockwise: Jim Thompson House; Monk on a Train; High Schooler at Sky Train; Kind Lady and my breakfast at Hua Lamphong; Rama VIII Bridge.

2nd - Yes, Bangkok really did outplace all those grand and beautiful European cities. The main reason why it has a special place in my heart is the Thai people. Thai people have been the kindest and nicest and most polite people I have ever encountered in my travels. I always get mistaken to be Thai but once I speak they always say "Ohhhh! Philippine!". Food is amazing, Transport is a breeze - Oh I love Bangkok, I'll be heading back very soon!

***drumroll please***

Amsterdam

From top left, clockwise: Swans near Centraal; Rozengracht Bridge; Boats at Oosterdok; Hotel Kooyk near Leidesplein

From Paris, I took a long journey to the Flixbus station due to the greve, seated at a very skimpy seat, arrived at a very dark morning, but all of those en route to a city which will become my most favorite of all! I was alone in Amsterdam the whole two full days but never did I felt lonely. The beautiful winter views, the smiles of the locals, their laid-back bike rides to work at 11 am gives this little city its charm for me. Two days was short especially I only got to see one museum (Anne Frank of course) but a big piece of my heart was left there and hopefully I can get reunited with in time.

***
That was a fun 3 hours to prepare all these photos, write this post, and ride on the dream train to memory lane. It's hard to choose just ten out of all those beautiful places that has their own flavor and filter to the views I have in mind. I always feel blessed to have been to all these amazing points on earth and with all my heart, praying to see more of the world and meet many more people.

Blogging has enabled me to know a lot of amazing people around the world and I hope someday aside from the views and landscapes of their cities, I can see them as well in person and greet them with all my happiness and gratefulness. 

How about you? What are your favorite cities that you have been to and why? What places would you recommend me to visit someday? Hope you had fun on my mini tour across 10 cities, I sure did!

Never Stop Travelling!
Stevenson

33 comments:

  1. ...WOW, you certainly are a traveller!

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    1. Oh thank you so much Tom :) Still a lot of cities I hope and pray to visit including your very own New York City!

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  2. Years ago, for various reasons, I decided to become an Armchair Traveler. Now I enjoy seeing the world through the eyes of others, including lots of family who post on Facebook. Thanks for this trip through your favourite cities. We will have to meet up when you find NZ on your list to visit :)

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    1. Hello Maragret! I am very happy to see you again here on my personal Blog. Thank you so much for taking a virtual tour with me to these places. Oh I also love seeing places through the eyes of my family and friends on Facebook. I know we can always do a google search of a place but seeing actually pictures from people I know makes it more special, makes it seem like I was there with them too :)

      Oh it would be an honor to meet you someday when I visit NZ Margaret. I will inform you when I finally have the plans to see one of the world's as they say, most beautiful country!

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  3. Travel is a wonderfully enriching experience. Time to add Canada to your list. Stay well during these difficult times.

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    1. Than kyou very much David and welcome to my blog :) Canada is definitely on my list especially one of my best friends from college now lives in Brampton. Be well and sending you warm greetings from the Philippines!

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  4. Gorgeous selection of photos ~ wonderful work and many of my favorite cities ~ ^_^

    Be Well
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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    1. Thank you very much Carol, that is so nice of you! I am so happy you like them and that your favorite cities made it to my list :)

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  5. Good selection of extraordinary Stevenson cities, I know the European ones, the others do not, how enriching and rewarding it is to travel, how beautiful and how much you learn by sharing that experience and enjoying all gastronomy, peculiarities, history, everything that each one treasures.
    Congratulations.
    Greetings.

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    1. You have said it very well my friend Jose Antonio! Travel is like living in a different person's life even for a short period of time and the world we know suddenly changes to something else, not always more pleasant than our own world but different is always exciting and a learning experience :)

      Big hug and stay safe Jose Antonio!

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  6. I really enjoyed the collages...could not pick a favorite.

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    1. That is so nice of you Rose and I am so happy you like it :)

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  7. Wow how exciting to be able to travel and even live in some of those dream places. You have taken and shown us some wonderful photos. Love 'em. I grew up in Seattle but live north of there now
    MB

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    1. You make me so happy that you love them MB! Thank you so much for your kind words and for visiting my Blog :) Hope to see you here and would love to visit your blog too often! Oh wow! I love Seattle especially when my friend fetched me from the airport, those tall evergreen pines just wowed me the whole journey to their house in Mill Creek!

      Stevenson

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  8. Beautiful night scenes. Black and white photos still look good. It is wonderful to be able to travel and visit so many places.

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    1. Thank you very much Nancy and I really live taking night scenes although it's very hard to take nice ones and I always fail haha

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  9. So many great trips! You take beautiful photos :) You should also visit Poland someday. We have many beautiful places - Krakow, Zakopane, Malbork, Gdansk. I recommend :) Best regards from the country on the Vistula :)

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    1. Oh my friend Rodzina! I almost made it to Poland last December but I had to cut my trip short and go back to Paris after my Prague visit. I will definitely visit your beautiful country someday, especially Krakow because Saint John Paul II lived there :) Thank you so much my friend!

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  10. Your selection of photos is just beautiful. I have been to seven of your destinations, and I agree that they are wonderful places to visit. I would love to see Beijing, Bangkok, and Prague as well.

    be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. I am so happy you like it Mae and I'm glad that you have also shared experiences with me on those 7 cities! Oh you must see those cities especially Bangkok which has a lot of character! Stay Safe!

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  11. Wow, you have a great company there! I only got sent into cities in Germany...
    But I was able to see a lot of countries, too, and Cuba and especially Australia - the West, North and Outback are BEST!

    Thank you for this journey. I love American Football - and we have a #1 team here, but I sadly have never been to the US so far.

    More,please :-)

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    1. Oh my friend Iris, my company did not send me to these trips or anywhere besides our office HAHA

      Oh my! Cuba is such a big dream for me but it's hard to get there with the visa requirements and I am so happy you have been there! I would love to see Australia too especially the Ayer's Rock :)

      Thank you so much Iris!

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    2. I was on a train ride with a Russian woman a couple of years ago. She owns a house in Cuba and has to go there once a year.
      I am happy for the Cuban people getting more freedom, but she said they got so greedy with that. Stealing, and all. Only one voice, certainly! Last time I was there all was fine!

      Stevenson, I wish you the best travelling-wise especially -and uups. Misread that with your company - would´ve been too nice to be true ;-)

      Ayers Rock. It was nice to see morning/evening and we walked around it - that was beautiful. I am glad people are not allowed to stomp on it no more and leave their rubbish there.

      Last time we just sped by and enjoyed the Outback :-)
      The unpolluted air gives away the stars away do beautifully!

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    3. Oh Iris it feels like I was also in the Outback with your story of your memories I love it! I can imagine how big the sky is in the outback especially there are no buildings there and just pure beauty of Nature! It's so cool that you knew the Russian woman and become friends and was able to take you and visit in Cuba! That is just awesome!

      Thank you so much and I hope we can all travel more in the coming years by the time this pandemic is hopefully over, I really pray that it will be done very soon.

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  12. Oh than kyou so much I am very glad that you liked my mini tour around these cities! Oh yes, I would love to! I followed you earlier and would love to have you on my blog often as well :)

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  13. Stevenson que maravilhosas imagens!Abraço.

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    1. Muito Obrigado meu amigo Daniel! A big hug for the new week!

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  14. Beautiful sceneries from around the world! Love black and white photos. Prague is one of the places I've never been and would love to visit one day.

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    1. Oh thank you so much Tamago! You surely would love Prague it's exuding with so much beauty!

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  15. Your photos are so striking. I really love the black and white. There is a vintage magic to them that just works. So easy to notice the details when we aren't confounded by color.

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    1. You said it very perfectly Jeanie! Tat's a big thing I love about Black and White photos and plus, it gives it instant drama to any scene :)

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