T. Wine. South Africa. These are a few of my favorite things.
IT’S HERE! The best of the best. The crème de la crème. THE TOP OF THE TOP!
On top of the world at Machu Picchu
While the four previous posts of this best of series were challenging to narrow down and rank, I knew from the minute I decided to write this series what my top ten travel experiences of all time would consist of. The entries below have been the most awe-inspiring, impressionable, and unforgettable travel experiences of our lives.
Satisfying our coffee fix in Colombia’s verdant and lush coffee region, nestled in the majestic Andes Mountains
It’s difficult to say if any of these experiences have really changed our lives [those life-changing moments have become a bit ubiquitous, don’t you think?].
Riding across the Sahara Desert to the almighty Pyramids
What I can unequivocally declare is this: our roles as lifelong travelers have undoubtedly enhanced our lives and have made us better humans. I truly believe that because of our travels, we view and interact with the world differently and more acutely. We have learned about deeply-rooted cultural rituals, customs, and beliefs through a wide array of encounters. We have shared abundant conversations and meals with strangers around the world who don’t always look like us, talk like us, think like us, or live their day-to-day lives like us.
Marrakech, Morocco
And yet, despite all of these differences, we have learned and gained so much, more than we could have ever imagined.
Of course, we have visited countless natural and man-made wonders around the globe that have left us speechless, leaving indelible imprints on our traveling hearts while simultaneously fueling the incessant fire that burns in our traveling souls.
The incomparable Iguazu Falls [Argentina Side]
But alas, perhaps what’s been the most life-altering of all of these extraordinary travel experiences is this: T and I exploring, experiencing, getting lost, feeling uncomfortable and stepping out of our comfort zones, and marveling at this wondrous world together.
Wedding bliss in India
Pursuing our insatiable passion for exploring the world together, is without question, one of the greatest pleasures and privileges of my entire life.
Wine Tasting in South Africa’s Stellenbosch region
White-hot in stunning Santorini
Smokeshow in Morocco: Traveling is so much better with him
Without further ado, here it is: My top ten all-time favorite travel experiences.
At least for now, that is.
Heaven is a place on Earth: Falling under the Northern Lights spell in Iceland
It doesn’t get any better than this: South African safari
#10: Iguazu Falls: Argentina
Easily one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders that we’ve ever seen, Iguazu Falls are simply astounding. Taller than Niagara and wider than Victoria, the staggering waterfalls are truly jaw-dropping and the thunderous cascades guarantee to have a visceral effect on anyone who is fortunate to come up-close and personal with them.
During the course of writing this section, we’ve had dinner with friends who recently returned from visiting Iguazu. Because we traveled to Argentina in 2006 and this was our first time experiencing waterfalls of this magnitude, I wondered if our impression was a bit skewed. Were they really that spectacular or did we completely inflate their extraordinariness as a result of being young and unseasoned travelers?
Well, I’m happy to report that our friends confirmed our beliefs. They were and still are that amazing. The most impressive feature is how the falls and surrounding national park have managed to stay underdeveloped and unspoiled by commercialism. No matter how many waterfalls we visit on this glorious planet, I have a feeling that Iguazu will remain as the most impressive and astounding of them all. Highly recommend taking a boat ride through and under the falls for a unparalleled exhilarating experience!
To read a related Argentina blog post about our obsession with tango, read here.
#9: Satisfying Our Coffee Addiction in Colombia’s Coffee Region
Over the past several years, the lush, verdant, and mountainous Coffee Triangle, known as Eje Cafetero to Colombians and coffee aficionados around the world, has gradually become a must-visit tourist destination. Nestled in the remote Colombian foothills with the towering Andes as a dramatic backdrop, the region has been blessed with picturesque landscapes and fertile land, resulting in the production of some of the best damn coffee in the entire world.
Many of the region’s coffee plantations are family-owned and run. Most fincas, or farms, don’t solely grow and produce coffee. They also grow lemons, bananas, plantains, lulo, guanaba (both delicious fruit native to Colombia) and bamboo, just to name a few. We learned that coffee farms in Colombia only sell and export coffee beans, not their other crops. Instead, these additional crops are grown to help provide balance and natural shade for the farms’ star crop, as well as feed the farms’ workers. We loved everything about touring various plantations and learning about the long and arduous process of growing, harvesting, milling, and roasting the coffee beans.
Colombia’s coffee region is as breathtaking as any wine region we’ve visited. If you love coffee and equally love touring wine vineyards, I promise you will fall in love with Eje Cafetero. Add the imposing Andes Mountains that envelope the region, nearby hot springs and unspoiled ecotourism that Colombia is diligently preserving, and you have one magical destination.
To read more about our lovely time in Colombia’s coffee region, click here.
#8: Drunk in Love in the South African Winelands
Living our best life at Delaire Graff Estate, probably my favorite wine estate in the entire world
Speaking of loving to visit wine vineyards…
Easily our favorite wine region on the planet is the Cape Winelands of South Africa. Only forty-five minutes from Cape Town, which is also one of our favorite all-time cities, this region offers one of the most picturesque and stunning landscapes we have ever seen. The luxuriant and mountainous surroundings provide the perfect setting for savoring delicious wines and their accompaniments. Some of the best wines we have ever had.
Stark-Conde Wines’ outdoor tasting room and surroundings were unbelievably gorgeous
The majority of the vineyards are found in Stellenbosch, Franshhoek, and Paarl and produce grape varietals including (but certainly not limited to) Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and the star and “son” of South Africa, Pinotage. All of the wine, estates, tours, and viticologists we encountered were first-rate.
Wine and chocolate pairings at Lanzerac Wine Estate
Stellenbosch left us drunk, happy, and absolutely smitten. They certainly know how to put the stellar in Stellenbosch.
Click here to read more about our wonderful time winery-hopping in South Africa.
Stay tuned for a future Franshhoek blog post [hopefully!] soon!
#7: Chasing & Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland
The euphoria surrounding the spectacular Northern Lights lies in as much as the chase to see them as the actual experience of witnessing them. There are few things in this world that can rival the astonishing light show that is the Northern Lights. Seeing these mesmerizing lights dance across the sky, not once but twice, was pure magic.
What I’ll remember most about that night is driving feverishly with T and our friends Bryan and Brent in hopes of catching them, pulling over on the side of the road just after midnight once we finally spotted them, blasting Ice Cube’s Today is a Good Day while passing around a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue all while freezing in what felt like sub-zero temperatures. One of my all-time favorite nights ever.
To read more about how to increase your chances of seeing the lights, read here.
#6: Attending a Wedding in India
Celebrating Susie and Shanup, the fabulous bride and groom
With our friends Dhara and Kimit
There are two levels of celebrating a wedding; one is how the whole world celebrates it and the other is how Indians do. And trust me, an Indian wedding is at a whole other level. A multi-day event, an Indian wedding embodies all of the aspects that are typically associated with an extraordinary celebration: a beautiful gathering of loved ones, dazzling and flamboyant colors, brilliant textures and patterns, mouth-watering cuisine, and rich customs and culturally-rooted rituals.
The other aspect of attending a wedding in India that struck us is the heightened level of hospitality. The bride’s family were incredibly gracious hosts and we were blown away by their level of inclusion, hospitality, and generosity. Such an amazing few days of celebrating love, family and friends from near and far, and cultural traditions.
Have you ever seen a more stunning bride?
The elaborate and festive procession through town leading to the wedding
We felt so fortunate to be a part of our friends Susie and Shanup’s special day. A wedding and experience that we will forever cherish.
Click here to read a related blog post about our visit to Delhi.
Click here to read about our incredible visit to the Taj Mahal, notably #14 of my top 50 travel experiences of all time.
#5: Stunning Santorini
If there were a contest for the world’s most photogenic location, Santorini would win that crown in a landslide. With 360 degree views of the Aegean Sea, a striking harmony between white-washed structures and accompanying blue doors and windows, and staggering cliffs plunging into clear blue waters, it’s hard, if not damn impossible, to not fall under Santorini’s mesmerizing spell. Easily one of the most gorgeous destinations we’ve ever visited.
There are many places that claim to be the most beautiful place in the world, and we’ve been fortunate to have been to a handful of them, but if we’re being honest, few really, are actually in the running for the title. While I’m not entirely ready to proclaim Santorini as the ultimate winner, it certainly is a viable competitor. While beauty of course is in the eye of the beholder, the only other place that we’ve been to that we feel could give Santorini a run for its money is Bora Bora. These two islands couldn’t be more different, but they’re every bit as gorgeous in their own right.
Ammoudi Bay with our friends Tim and Meg
Sunset sailing
Wine Tasting at sunset
To read more about our time in stunning Santorini, click here.
#4: Marrakech: A Feast For the Senses
Marrakech is a dynamic city of sights, sounds, tastes, smells and touches that is an idyllic feast for the senses. I fell head over heels for this fascinating metropolis. The amalgamation of Arabic culture, French influences, and North African traditions make Marrakech the ultimate destination. There is so much richness here: brilliant colors and striking textiles, bold flavors and aromatic spices, opulent palaces, iconic mosques and luxurious gardens, and bustling souks characterized by intricate mazes of alleyways. Marrakech is an intoxicating city brimming with enchantment, vibrancy, and mystique.
Saadian Tombs
The world-renowned souks in Marrakech
I’m hesitant to write too much about Marrakech as I plan on writing a comprehensive post about this fascinating city, one of my favorite metropolises on the planet, very soon. So let’s just stop here, shall we?
The intricate art of tea
Stay tuned for a Marrakech blog post!
Click here to read a related blog post on glorious Fez.
#3: Riding Camels Across the Sahara to the Pyramids
For as long as we continue to travel this wondrous world of ours, few experiences will be able to rival riding across the desert sands of the Sahara on the back of a camel with the pyramids as our destination. Yes, the ride was bumpy and our camels spit constantly, but this excursion remains one of my all-time favorite travel moments.
The majestic Pyramids of Giza overlook the sprawling city of Cairo and the view from the city of the Pyramids off in the distance is nothing short of spectacular. Of course, any iconic site that is revered and renowned around the world like the Pyramids runs the risk of not living up to the hype and being a disappointment. But in our opinion, this couldn’t have been further from the case. We were in awe of these spectacular structures from the moment we arrived to the second we left.
The sheer size of these monuments is impressive: the Great Pyramid alone is comprised of more than 2.5 million individual stones, each weighing over 6,000 pounds. As if that wasn’t incredible enough, each stone was individually crafted to perfectly fit into the overall structure, all without machinery and modern technology. I know. Our minds are blown, too. This ancient complex includes the three pyramids known as the “Great Pyramids”, the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, and an industrial area. It is believed that the Great Pyramids were built by tens of thousands of people spanning over multiple decades.
We’re by no means perfect and make mistakes [both while traveling and while not]. Here we are climbing on the Pyramids. Be better than us and don’t do that.
To read more about this once-in-a-lifetime experience, click here.
#2: Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is simply the most incredible man-made site we have ever visited. Period. The Incas have left their mark on this glorious world of ours and our traveling hearts and minds have never been the same.
An Incan citadel set high in the Andes, Machu Picchu is a mysterious masterpiece. Its setting is so isolated and strategic that it remained hidden from the outside world until 1911. Isn’t that absolutely crazy?
The infamous Inca Trail, which we walked along for probably a solid ten minutes [um, we opted for the train ride up]
Did the Inca empire design this marvel as a ceremonial site? An estate for the elite? A sacred religious site? So many theories and not nearly as many answers. The remarkable complex is comprised of plazas, palaces, temples, warehouses, irrigation terraces, and homes. The intricate stonework of Machu Picchu is extraordinary; the cut stone fits together so perfectly that its cracks still can’t be penetrated by a blade of a knife. Similar to the astounding masonry of the Pyramids, you can’t help but repeatedly ask, How on Earth did they manage to build this without any modern-day technology when I can barely figure out how to assemble a piece of IKEA furniture? Seriously. HOW?
To read more about our incredible time visiting Machu Picchu, click here.
#1: Safari in South Africa
Two of my top 10 are in South Africa? Indeed! I have said time and time again that South Africa is my all-time favorite country.
This giraffe was pregnant! Look at her belly!
Hands-down my all-time favorite travel experience. I haven’t blogged about our safari experience yet, because subconsciously I wonder if it’s because I’m unsure how to adequately put into words just how extraordinary being on a safari is?! I plan on writing about our safari adventure sooner than later, but for now I’ll say this: for me, no other travel experience holds a candle to our safari experience. Observing rare and mysterious animals in the wild roaming freely in the bush whilst immersing ourselves in the wilderness was an absolute dream come true.
Tracking the animals and waiting for them to emerge is as thrilling as actually witnessing them. It’s almost like chasing the Northern Lights, but instead you’re chasing animals. In a jeep, that is. No animal cruelty, stalking, or creepiness of any sorts, I promise. Just pure sublime bliss.
Truly an adventure of a lifetime.
Stay tuned for a South African safari blog post soon!
Click here to read a related blog post on one of our favorite cities, Cape Town.
Phewwww! There you have it. The top ten of a pretty damn impressive list.
So what’s next? Well, quite possibly the most ambitious traveling year of our lives is upon us. And I can hardly wait!
We’re looking forward to Denmark [my 50th country!] in December, Tanzania in February [and yes, we will be going on another –but just one day this time–safari], Dubai and Oman in April, and Croatia and back to my motherland Italy in summer of 2020.
A lot to look forward to and a lot to be appreciate of.
Thanks for following along on this somewhat drawn-out [but totally gripping and enamoring] blog series.
Next blog post up is Maui…stay tuned!
Happy Traveling, All!
To read about my selections #11-20 of the list, click here.
To read about my selections #21-30 of the list, click here.
To read about my selections #31-40 of the list, click here.
To read about my selections #41-50 of the list, click here.