With almost ten years of travel experience behind me and a lack of travel at the moment, now is the time to look back and think about where I really want to visit again. Each of these places has provided great memories and holds a special place in my heart, but sometimes you cannot help but want more. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.

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#10 – New York

THE BIG APPLE. They say that if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Well, I made it there for Christmas in 2015 while visiting my girlfriend at the time. It was my first trip to the USA and to date, my only experience there. Having a local show me around, as well as the festive atmosphere made this quite the week, but with a very very tight budget I found myself constrained from doing the best activities – I was constantly worried about how everything would affect my wallet. This permanent worry definitely put a negative block in my mind and stopped me from enjoying the city as much as I could have done.

So why do I want to go back?

Well, simply put I want to see everything that the city has got to offer. Not only that, it would be great to see more of the USA, particularly the stunning landscapes that I’ve only seen pictures of. One day, I’d love to drive across the States and have a truly immersive experience there. Route 66 has been on my list for as long as I can remember.

In our weekly podcast we have spoken to a pair of exciting travellers, Double Dose Travel, who drove across the USA. If you want to know more, you should check it out!

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#9 – Skopje

I ADORE Skopje. From the cutesy old town market to the bustling streets of the new city centre, this is a place that holds a special place in my heart. The last few times I visited I had the pleasure of staying at a friend’s place: having a local friend can make any and all journeys more fulfilling. When I visited last year I had a crazy experience, which I highly recommend you read! Not only that, the views from the top of the hill, Vodno are stunning, as is the incredible Matka Canyon located only a few kilometres outside of the city centre.

So why do I want to go back?

I want to see my friends again! I want to FINALLY go into the archeological museum. I want to have just as much as I did the previous times I visited. Walking through the market town, your nose is filled with the strongest smell of barbecue and the locals are incredibly friendly, offering smiles, playing cards and drinking their favoured poision: coffee, rakia or beer.

With the rocky hills chasing down to the water below, Matka Canyon is easily one of the most surprisingly beautiful places I’ve been to. Trust me when I say that the pictures do not do it justice. Many people canoe down the canyon, though when I went we decided to just do the walk – is this a good enough reason to want to go back? I’d say so.

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#8 – Kraków

For those of you that don’t know, I spent almost a year and a half of my life living in Kraków, the second largest city in Poland. I first lived there in the autumn of 2013 before moving back in 2015 to start teaching English. The city holds such a strong place in my heart. I still remember my first experience of seeing the main square, entering from the north at night time to see the well-lit, alive central hub of my new home. I’ve been back many times since and always get a huge wave of nostalgia for the pierogi, vodka and the trumpeteer playing his hourly tune at the cathedral.

So why do I want to go back?

Isn’t it obvious? I LOVE this city. It’s like the ex who you never really got over and you just want to have back in your life. I went back last summer with some friends from Bulgaria and found great joy in showing them around the places that were important to me. They of course fell in love with the city too.

Having Polish friends in Sofia does help with the ocassional cravings for pierogi, but the city has much more to offer, with the impressive Wawel castle being a particular highlight. The bars of Kazimierz (as well as the many cafes and zapiekanka, a Polish pizza/baguette) provide an exquisite and unforgettable nightlife

Really, the question is why don’t I move back. And the answer is ‘I don’t know…’

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#7 – Scotland

Going away from individual cities now, to focus on an entire country. The last time I went to Scotland I was 17 and looking at potential universities. I took a LONG bus journey up to Edinburgh (the first of many in my life) and with only a few hours sleep explored the university and a little of the city. To describe it as spectacular would be an understatement. I knew, immediately, that this was the place I wanted to come to for my studies. As it turned out, I was not welcomed there and instead went to Sheffield (where I had a wonderful time).

So why do I want to go back?

Well, if you have been observant, you’ll have noticed that so far I have only touched on Edinburgh. I have been to Scotland many times in my life due to family living there and each and every time I felt free and gleeful. To hike in the mountains and camp in the countryside of this vast and rugged land is something that has been on my list for a while.

Though Route 66 in the USA is high on my list, perhaps it would be better to take a road trip through Scotland first. Who knows, perhaps this could be a series of Backpacking Around in the future…

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#6 – Berlin

A long long time ago, back in 2014, I lived in Colombia. My roommate there was a wonderful Germany girl called Kerstin. We have stayed in touch ever since and visited one another in Sofia and her current home, Berlin. Twice I have flown over for a weekend trip, drunk some delicious beers on the rooftops of the city and cycled around the abandoned airport’s runway. What better way to spend a few days with a great friend!

So why do I want to go back?

Well, not only is the city unique in so many ways, so is the friendship Kerstin and I have built. Most people you meet while travelling, unfortunately, fall away. Kerstin and I on the other hand have managed to stay in touch for all these years and I truly cherish this.

As for the city itself, it is filled with history, a vibrant and eclectic culture as well as a wide variety of international food. And I’ve heard that the nightlife is pretty good as well.

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So that’s it for part one of my list of places I want to revisit. Where do you want to go back to?

Make sure you check out part 2, coming next week!