Monday, July 2, 2007

Where shall I spend my next vacation? (Poll)

I frequently used to go on vacation by myself until I met my husband, married and had kids. Last year I went on vacation alone, for the first time after 7 years and I enjoyed that so much. It is wonderful to have the power of decision for a few days.
So I decided that I will get myself some time off the family once a year on a regular basis.

This year I´m not sure where I should go to. If you have any recommendations let me know and take a second to vote at the poll on the right side please.
These are a few cities I would like to visit:
  • Amsterdam (I love the city and the grachts, and so far I have been there 3 times, but always only for a day or two. I remember one time when all of us slept in one Fiat Punto throughout our visit. That´s pretty small room for 5 persons!)
  • Madrid (There are still a lot of (Picasso related ) places I still haven´t seen there)
  • Paris (I love the city, the food, the wine, the cafés, ...)
  • Zurich (I would love to visit the Giger Museum in Gruyère)
  • Valencia (Another beautiful Spanish city - not that I want to visit the food fight festival La Tomatina).
  • Kassel ( I want to visit the Documenta - no chance to do that with the kids, but spending 7 or 8 days in Kassel??)
  • Los Angeles (My favorite city originally named "El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula" - "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels on the River Porciúncula" - but I guess way too expensive for this short trip)
  • Other city (Any ideas? I love to visit new places)
So far I think Amsterdam is on my plan.

Last year I spent 9 days in Madrid, Spain and it was beautiful. I was specially lucky as Spain commemorated an overlap of Picasso-related anniversaries — from that of his birth 125 years ago to the 25th anniversary of the arrival of "Guernica" in a democratic Spain as stipulated in the artist's will. I couldn´t even have a look at all the Picasso events and exhibitions during my stay, but I enjoyed the larger ones.

19 comments:

Andrew Shields said...

I'd like to put in a word for Kassel, which is a great place to be during documenta, and a much nicer city than the art critics think (who always say things like "documenta, in the gray city of Kassel).

And then of course there's Basel, with its wonderful museums, too!

But I'm biased: I live in Basel, and my wife is from Kassel.

Mim said...

I suggest Boise, Idaho - for a starchy good time.
Seriously, I love my own vacations - sanity time!

Kerstin Klein said...

Hi Andrew and Mim, thanks for voting.
I added Basel and Boise to the list and gave your votes to the cities.

Mim, honestly, I hadn´t heard of Boise before. I looked it up and it even has it´s own airport! ;) The city´s website states: "Boise is the perfect city for a memorable visit". Sounds great, but too far away.

Andrew, I don´t mind grey cities, but Basel? Watches, jewelry, chemicals? Doesn´t sound too interesting. ;) Any insider tips?

Nancy Bea Miller said...

Probably anywhere by yourself for a few days will be heaven. Just pack some good bath salts and a pile of books. Your husband and kids are really great to let you go off and recharge!

NIÑA AGRIDULCE said...

i just voted Paris... what can i say...
Eiffel Tower, Paris iluminations, Giverny(you can visited the house and gardens beloved by Monet),
Moulin Rouge, Auvers Sur Oise(a tour of the village where Van Gogh spent his last days painting), Louvre Museum(with out words)...
i think it's has some kind of special charming...
The City of The Lights... i wish to go some day...

Andrew Shields said...

Basel: Fondation Beyeler in Riehen (Munch exhibition right now). Art Museum (Jasper Johns right now). The Rhine. Roman ruins nearby (in Kaiseraugst). Wonderful old buildings going back to the 13th century. Current-powered ferries across the river. Me. :-)

Kerstin Klein said...

@Nancy: you are so right... anywhere by myself for a few days will be heaven. I´m glad that my mom takes the kids for a few days each year.

@NIÑA: paris is lovely indeed. I have been there many times and still like it very much

@Andrew: The museums sound great, but Basel sounds more like a city I would visit in maybe 10 years! But maybe it was only the facts which you states. ;) When I´m alone I love going out in the evening and during daytime I usually walk around the whole day... not sight seeing but people watching.

soulbrush said...

i went on holiday by myself three times when I was young, and left my hubby with the kids.

went to Hong Kong, then to Greece, then up the road to a 'health farm'.

all good, so you go girl!

biteyourowntail said...

You're tagged!

http://biteyourowntail.blogspot.com/2007/07/tagged.html

Andrew Shields said...

Basel is a wonderful city to walk around in, and when you get tired, there's always a tram or a bus nearby.

I'll stop now! :-)

Mim said...

Okay - I'll give up on Boise - how about Rome. There ain't nothin' bad about Rome...

Kerstin Klein said...

I just narrowed the list of coices. Rome sound great too, but I´m trying to find something less expensive. I just checked the rates for Amsterdam, and boy that is expensive.
If I can´t find a good deal, I´ll have to make other plans. A week at a Spanish beach is way cheaper.

Ces Adorio said...

Your list is fine except I would not go to LA. New York maybe, but not LA.

Mim said...

Boise is probably cheap and certainly a different experience

Kerstin Klein said...

@Ces: most people I know don´t like LA. But I really, really love it. :)

@Auntie Mim: Boise and a different experience sound good. But I guess the price of the airport tickets are too expensive.

Kerstin Klein said...

Seems we are having a little tie between Zurich and Amsterdam.

Kerstin Klein said...

Paris?

Kerstin Klein said...

Amsterdam has been booked! :)

Unknown said...

Life does seem to change a lot once you get married, even I had to remain confined indoors for so long and always wishing to travel to my favorite destinations. I just want to relax with my family in a Holiday home and do not want any disturbance, with mother nature in its full vigor this is where I intend to go.