Travel Priorities

There’s limited time when you travel.  Priorities become important.  We asked ourselves on this trip (over several glasses of wine) what were our priorities in choosing where we traveled.  In order with some rationale here are our priorities:

1. Destination.  We like small, quaint towns.  And large cities.  Basically places we haven’t been but that retain some local flavor (this is getting harder and harder – you can find a McDonalds almost anywhere). 
2. Food.  Basically both Fran and I travel so we can eat new and different things (in that regard this trip is a flying success).  I can’t tell you how high this is on our list – it’s the first thing we research (what is the local cuisine, what are the specialties, what are the best restaurants, etc).  We put as much work into this as the destination.  And for those of you wondering wine=food.
3. Architecture.  We like old towns that are mostly intact architecturally (or have been restored).  Thanks to WWII this isn’t easy to find here in Europe.  I think this is one of the reasons we’re so fond of the Umbrian and Tuscan hill towns – they look mostly the same as they did a thousand years ago.
4. People.  We like people,   We both like trying to communicate and having a conversation with someone who has a different perspective on things and may even speak a different language.  It can be trying but it is immensely satisfying when you do make a new friend or even an acquaintance for an evening at a restaurant.
5. Opportunities for Outdoor Activities.  Hiking, Biking or even walking the town ramparts or a part – some opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors in a different area than ours.
6. History.  It’s fun exploring a town and realizing the Romans settled it 2000 years ago.  I like having a beer in a tavern that is a thousand years old.  It just gives you a sense of perspective on your problems.
7. Art – sort of.  I don’t pick trips for the Art.  I’ve got to admit I’m a bit of an idiot where visual art is concerned.  I have about an 2 hour limit in a museum and then I’m bored – I appreciate the work that goes into a painting or sculpture I just don’t get the messages behind it.  That said I love the live music we’re finding in France – blues, jazz, and rock – it’s a load of fun.