Collegeville Kids: Best of the Best (Longest Post Ever)

January 2009 has cme and gone, nobody really misses it. February has came and is here. Last week saw the first snow in Dublin that has stuck since 1999 (or 1984 according to other sources) . As such, we've spent lots of time indoors, more time at work as it is my busy season, more time daydreaming, and no time traveling. For that we apologize to our dedicated viewers who haven't gotten their fix of the old world in the past month.

During the past several weeks, Erin and I have been debating about the best memories from the past 15 months living in Europe and have decided that it is best to share the times with you through this post.

We had lots of amazing places to choose from and we thank our hosts from the countless places we have stayed and sights we have seen! Beginning with Dublin in October 07, to Riga, York, Dingle and Galway, Brussels, Kao Yao Noi Thailand, Bangkok, Krakow, Marrakech and Essouria, Venice, Tuscany, Florence, the Cotswolds, Copenhagen, Malmo, Locarno, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Malaga (and in between), Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar and the rest of the beautiful Dalmatian islands, London, Windsor, Budapest, Prague, Munich, Regensburg, Salzburg, and Kitzbuhel.....phew.....what times we have had with more to come.....and now our favorites with a one-liner attached....

Best City

Erin - Marrakech - a confluence of funky smells, bright colors, donkeys and skewered meats in an ageless medina.

Lou: Seville - more history, better food, bluer skies, and more relaxing than any other European city.

Best Meal

Erin: Roki's, Vis Island, Croatia - impossible to get to on your own, the owner picks you up in his mystery mobile and let's you feast on your own peka, a traditional croatian dish of slow-cooked fish over hot coals. Perfect paired with a glass of Bulgava from the vineyard.

Lou: TIE: Badia de Coltibuono (Radda in Chianti, Italy) and Vieux aux Brussels, Ixelles Neighborhood, Brussels - not sure if it was the handful of belgian beers during the day, but the escargot followed by the amazing rabbit in a perfect bistro setting will be remembered forever. The steak florentine was delightful, you could drink its juices like a glass of cold milk.

Top Day

Erin - Koh Yao Noi - We ate exotic fruits, drank champagne and enjoyed the most mesmorizing setting of the sunset on the hongs.

Lou - Vis Island - Anchoring the boat in the bay, arriving in Vis, going to Roki's all together made the most amazing day of our stint!

Top Church

Erin: St. Mark's - This church, led by John Paul the II, before his 'promotion', is a colourful surprise for formerly communist Krakow.

Lou: Siena's Duomo - Everything to love about the unoffical hall of fame of renaissance artists, I think all 4 ninja turtles have an alter here.

Top Drive

Erin - Dubrovnik to Split: Sweet views, see-through water, sixteenth century villages, singing to the radio and single best olive oil ever tasted off a road side stand. If we could've only figured out a way to import this stuff, we would have retired in November. Literally, we were all licking the bottle to the last drop.

Lou - Longtail ride from Phuket to Kao Yao Noi: We didn't think places like this existed. The old-school longtail, combined with hundreds of hongs, fisherman earning a day's wage, and nomads living in the cliffside make it a beautiful yet surreal ride.

Top Old Town

Erin - Girona: The start of the ancient road to Rome, Girona's old jewish quarter has more character than Ocean's 11.

Lou - Venice: The entire city is an old town and probably the most unique city in the world.

Top Drink

Erin - Raganas in Riga, Latvia - Raganas is an eastern European version of holiday egg nog, but spicier and stronger given its addition of blasam, a local anise liquor. I have spent countless hours online trying to find a recipe without any luck. Anyone know any Latvians?

Lou - Lime Soda at the Paradise Bar - Those who know me assume it would be a belgian trappist or a smooth guinness, however, nothing is more refreshing than the lime soda at the Paradise Bar on Kao Yao Noi, Thailand - and its non-alcoholic!!!

Top Village

Erin - Cadaques, Spain - The sun rising on the Mediterranean and lighting up the white washed village is breathtaking.

Lou - Stari Grad (Hvar Island), Croatia - its almost a toss-up between here and Jelsa, just down the island, but the ageless seaside cottages combined with streets so narrow you could barely fit a donkey, let along a car, make the atmosphere here more of a brothers grimm tale than reality.

Top Bar

Erin - Novak, Pakleni Islands off Hvar, Croatia - Shipwreck me anytime right up against the rocky island coast and I'll find a cool spot in the shade (trees) to spend my days.

Lou - Novak - gotta go with Erin, I am even surpised I would choose this over the beer halls of Munich or the Delirium Bar with its 2000 strong beer menu, but this may be the most relaxing place I have ever been. 'Should I fall asleep with a Lasko or a Karlovako in the tree or resting against the log?'

Top Square

Erin - Prague - Prague's old town is straight out of a movie, filled with turrets, towers and a medieval clock tower.

Lou - Siena, Italy - A plate of cheese and a bottle of Chianti goes perfect with grown men in red and white tights dancing around the square dating to the middle ages.

Top Vista

Erin - Vis Island, Croatia - with one hand on the throttle, scottering high above the sparkeling clear blue waters and untamed vineyards, anyone would be tempted to run out of gas permantely.

Lou - Erin, Hvar, Croatia - This picture embodies this entire holiday in Croatia; complete relaxation on the boat while moored up in a 16th centry harbour. We didn't want this week to end! Its also my fav vista b/c of my cute wife!

Top Street

Erin - Venice Grand Canal - One of the world's most unique and mesmorizing journeys - the same as if you took the ride 500 years ago - except for the tourists.

Lou - Dubrovnik's Stradun, Croatia - If you are lucky enough to get a cruise ship free day, the marble streets take you to another era, perhaps another world.