6 places to which I'll not rush back

Ted. As our niece, Dilyana once said, no place is perfect. We don’t typically dwell on the negatives of the places that we visit. However, some places are less perfect than others. Maybe they’re overrated, or simply over crowded. In any event, here is a list, in alphabetical order, of places we have visited over the past three years to which I am in no hurry to return.

·      Asheville, NC

We had fond memories of this little Appalachian town so looked forward to our month there. Alas, it seems to have become the place where wealthy boomers go to die. We met lots of folks rushing from organic markets to yoga classes, all the while busily telling us how relaxing Asheville is. Sure, the town has a beautiful setting, but the wonderful hiking trails were absolutely packed.

·      Barcelona, Spain

I know – it’s everyone’s favorite town in Spain. That’s my problem with it; everyone is there when I go there. It’s a classic example of a town being loved to death. There are so many other wonderful places in Spain to visit that I plan to only return to this town to catch repositioning cruises home.

·      Buenos Aires, Argentina

100 years ago, this must have been a glorious place, but today it is a town in tatters. The strongest memory for me is the constant chirp of the moneychangers saying “Cambio, cambio.” And with a new government, the currency has crashed again. Yes, we had a memorable steak dinner there but I did not like being one of the 1% that could afford it.

·      Jackson, Wyoming

This is another place, for which I had fond memories. But, as we have heard, the billionaires are pushing the millionaires out. The Tetons are majestic and the parents of a friend of ours live here but I still see it as a capital of conspicuous consumption.

·      Nassau, Bahamas

Admittedly, we were only here for 8 hours but that was enough. No, we didn’t visit one of the massive resorts – just the town. To quote Gertrude Stein, “There is no there there!”

·      Prince Edward Island, Canada

“Lovely mussels and Anne of Green Gables;” excuse me while I yawn.  Miles of potato fields and red sand beaches are no longer calling my name.

·      Vancouver, Canada

We loved British Columbia and hope to return soon but we won’t linger in the largest city. It has wonderful museums and a great setting but that’s not worth having to deal with hundreds of homeless Canadians and thousands of millionaire Chinese.

As we plan our travels, we consider two lists; one is of places we wish to visit for the first time, and a second is of places to which we want to return. The first list is getting shorter. For instance, next year we plan to visit Scandinavia and the Baltic countries. Unfortunately, the second list is getting longer which is why we will return to Missoula, Montana next summer. 

Our prayer is that our health remains good so that we can work on both lists. Similarly, our only wish for you, dear readers is the best of health for you and your families in 2020.