To kick off this new semester of blogs, I thought it would be fitting to return to my roots and do a ranking blog (not because it’s easy), and I thought it would be fun to rank my top choices for places I’d like to visit in the future. For these rankings, I thought it would be important to not only base it off of its tourist appeal, but also its significance within its culture. Additionally, I’m going to leave out place I have already been to try and find new places to visit. Here we go.
#5: Italy
Some people may be surprised to see Italy so low here, and honestly it’s place could be switched with either the fourth or third spot, but I’ve decided to put it here. In terms of tourism, Italy is a goldmine, from its beaches, its beautiful architecture, and its rich sense of family. Additionally, Italy is home to a plethora of fine art to be enjoyed, and I could find myself wandering the halls of a gallery for hours on end. Another huge part of Italy’s appeal is its cuisine: pizza, pasta, and veal, to name a few. I feel like when I talk to people (especially Americans) who traveled to Italy in the past, they always tell me that they could have eaten the entire time, and that they would come home having gained 5-10 lbs. Culturewise, Italy is really into family and family values, a feeling that tourists find homey and inclusive when they go to visit. While I think it could be higher, for these reasons, I’ve decided to put Italy at #5.
#4: Greece
Like Italy, Greece is a tourists’ dream: White sandy beaches as far as the eye can see, and beautiful ancient architecture from, in my opinion, one of the most interesting cultures in human civilization. Greek mythology has always been interesting, and I think it would be amazing to see the ruins from that time period in person, up close and personal. Additionally, Greece has one of my favorite cuisines, from gyros, keftedes, and dolmades, to one of my favorite desserts, baklava. Greek food is another cuisine I could eat for days at a time, and I would always have something new to try. One of my bucket list items is to see white cliffs in Greece, so given the opportunity to visit, I would jump out immediately. For these reasons, the #4 spots goes to Greece.
#3: Japan
Japan is a beautiful country filled with rich history, cultural appeal, and amazing food, perfect for my list. I’d love to visit Kyoto and learn more about the Japanese empire and its culture, walking around the old capital for an entire day. It feels like there are so many incredible places to visit in Japan alone, like Tokyo, Kyoto, Shibuya, Akihabara, Hokkaido, and Sendai to name a few. While not typically as open/inviting to foreigners, I think that if I had a guide who could show me both the touristy things as well as any more underground places, I would have a blast. However, the biggest appeal to me is to food. Sushi and sashimi, ramen and udon, pork or chicken katsu, the flavors seem to be infinite, yet all appealing in their own way. I think that Japan could be higher on this list, but the final two have been on my bucket list for the longest time. For that reason, I’m putting Japan at #3.
#2: Brazil
Brazil has always been on my personal radar, ever since I saw Rio when I was a kid. I remember imagining going to carnival and spending five whole days partying, and that seems so incredible to me. Rio as a city has so much history, and I think that with its clear distinction between the city and pueblo up on the mountain, it’s one of the most visually appealing cities in the world. I’ll admit that I’ve never really tried any Brazilian food, nor have I ever heard of many of their dishes, which in my opinion makes the want to visit even greater. I think that if the World cup ever moves back to Brazil in my lifetime, I would totally make the visit to watch the US compete, because I think that watching a soccer match in Brazil would be an unrivaled event. For those reasons, I feel comfortable putting Brazil in the #2 spot.
#1: Philippines
I know that the Philippines aren’t high at all on other people’s lists, but I’m biased because I’m Filipino. I know the amazing food in the Filipino culture, like Pancit, Lumpia, Chicken Adobo, and Lechon Kawali to name a few. I’d love to trace my ancestry and visit the cities where my grandparents grew up, and learn more about a culture I’m deeply passionate about. My mom has never been to the Philippines either, and I think that a trip with her would not only be amazing for self discovery, but hugely satisfying as well. I’d love to visit the Philippines more than ever, which makes it supremely easy to be #1.
Nice job, I feel like I had both a geography and cultural lesson. I hope you make that trip with your mom to the Philippines. It would be a great memory for both of you. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Hey Gabe! I enjoyed reading the rationale for your ranking; I would definitely place Italy and Japan on my own list for their amazing food, culture, and history. I’d love to visit the Colosseum, or travel on a bullet train! Your placement of Brazil piqued my curiosity, since I always expect European countries to make it to the top, but in your list I was pleasantly surprised. We tend to romanticize the experience of traveling to European countries more than others, but I think it’s important to learn more about the cultures of the world, and not just one specific region. Your personal connection to the Philippines makes it a perfect #1, and traveling there would be a very enriching experience. While I’ve traveled to India several times, I have not seen many places that are essential parts of my cultural ancestry, and hope to go sometime soon. This was a great read, thank you for sharing!
Gabe, I really enjoyed reading this blog post! One of my favorite things to do is travel, and I found it super interesting to see all of the places you hope to visit. You started off strong with your ranking by including Italy on the list. I went in 2022, and it is definitely one of my favorite trips that I’ve taken. As you mentioned, Italy truly is a goldmine; each city is unique in its own way. The food definitely puts Italy at a higher tier; the pasta has a special way of being filling yet light to the point where you’re not feeling stuffed after eating it, while being absolutely delicious. I’ve always wanted to visit Greece; not only is it gorgeous, but the culture is something I would love to experience once in my lifetime. Brazil is also one that has been calling me, especially because I’ve never been to South America but have been yearning to go. Overall I loved reading your blog and learning more about your travel aspirations! If you are able to this summer before college, I hope you get to cross one of these off your list.