Alphabet Adventures– Journeys Around The World From A-Z

Over a month ago, Clazz from An Orcadian Abroad wrote this tag post about her adventures around the world… ABC style! It originated on Twitter from other travelers– essentially, the name of the game is to post photos of a place one’s been to for each letter of the alphabet, whether it’s a country, state/region, or city. I’ve since been inspired to try my hand at this: I might not be able to get photos for each letter, but I’ll do my best! Let’s get started.

PS I recently discovered that one can change font size and colors for text on WordPress. No idea how I’ve never found out all of these years! Will be playing around with the titles in this post, so please be patient with my excitement of doing so. 😉

A is for Albuquerque, New Mexico

I had a three-day stay in Albuquerque while attending a conference during university. I didn’t expect much, but I was pleasantly-surprised at how lovely it was. A charming Old Town and an amazing food scene (try the green chiles!), this New Mexican city is worth a stop while in the southwest US.

B is for Bosnia & Herzegovina

Going to agree with Clazz on this, but I absolutely fell in love with the country after a day trip from Croatia. I only spent time in Mostar and Kravica Waterfalls, but I found the scenes (architecture and nature) mind-blowing and the history tragic, but hopeful. I would love to return to see more of this Balkan country.

C is for Chefchaouen, Morocco

Blue, blue, blue– that’s all I can say about this small city in northern Morocco. Every street, every corner, is filled with shades of cerulean and periwinkle…all perfect for a photo (or 100). Granted, it was a very long day trip from Fez, but it was entirely worth it for the views.

D is for Denmark

Denmark was my first dip into the Scandinavian region of Europe. Although most of the time was focused on Copenhagen, I found the harbor incredibly charming, the pastries rich, and the overall atmosphere calming (even if it’s a major city). I’d love to return to explore more of Denmark besides its capital!

E is for Easter Island, Chile

One of the world’s most-isolated civilizations, Easter Island is filled with culture in its idyllic paradise. After all, it’s home to the gigantic moai, whose origins remain a mystery even centuries later. I really appreciated my three-night stay, as Easter Island has both history and nature to experience– definitely worth the long flight over!

F is for France

Ah, France…I spent a notable chunk of my twenties living and working here, and I have complicated feelings about it. I love and hate aspects of it, which would take dozens of posts to rant about unpack. But at the end of the day, it has left a notable impression on me, and I’ll remember it fondly years down the line. Elle me manque toujours! ❤

G is for Guatemala

This was the first Central American country I visited, and it remains my favorite one to date. I only had a brief afternoon in Antigua, but I was blown away by its geography– the town is literally situated at the base of three volcanoes! Antigua’s Old Town was charming, and I’d love to return to take my time and explore more of it.

H is for Hualien, Taiwan

Hualien refers to both the county and the city in which its in, located in east Taiwan. Large in area, but sparse in population, Hualien is home to the Taroko Gorge and plenty of natural wonders. I went in the summer, and it was absolutely beautiful. Lots of driving, but so rewarding– if anything, Hualien is the “true Taiwan” of the country.

I is for Istanbul, Turkey

The Turkish capital was my introduction to the Middle East (at least, Eurasia…), and I had a whirlwind of a time. Every day was an adventure exploring the chaotic Old Town, eating copious kebabs and baklava, and being dazzled by the grand, colorful architecture of its mosques all over town. Istanbul is one city you shouldn’t miss in your lifetime.

J is for Japan

What I really miss about Japan is the food. It’s not just your typical sushi, but also tonkatsu ramen, omurice, and teppanyaki. And of course, the desserts: I still dream about the uber matcha-y soft serve I got in Tokyo, as well as the creamy mess of the taiyaki in Kyoto. Can I please go back?

K is for Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor was a two-hour tornado of a visit: I took no heed of my tour guide’s advice not to hike St. John’s Fortress (as that alone would take two hours and leave no time to explore the center) and went ahead: it was an intense climb up, but I powered through in 70 minutes and still had time left over to see the Old Town– crushed it!

L is for Los Angeles, California

LA born and raised…it’s a massive sprawl of metropolitan paradise that doesn’t seem to end. One could spend an entire lifetime here, and still not even scratch the surface of this city. I acknowledge that it’s far from being a perfect place to live (e.g. high rent, insane traffic, long distances), but it’s still home to me and it will be for a long time.

M is for Multnomah Falls, Oregon

I went at a busy, yet ideal time to Multnomah Falls a few summers ago. Despite plenty of tourists there, the double falls was absolutely glowing and with a double rainbow to boot! Multnomah Falls made me fall in love with the Pacific Northwest, along with the desire to explore more of it.

N is for Nara Park, Japan

Deer, deer everywhere…these elegant, four-legged creatures are the highlight of Nara Park, and it’s no wonder that over 16 million people visit each year. The deer are considered sacred, as the park contains a temple– I’ll say, though, the deer are far from being docile when it comes to offering them food. Be careful!

O is for Oberammergau, Germany

Try saying that five times fast. Aside from its tongue twister of a name, Oberammergau is what you would consider a “very German” village, with its colorful frescoes on half-timbered homes. I only had a brief stop in this village on the way to Neuschwanstein Castle, but perhaps I’ll return for its next Passion Play!

P is for Peru

I had a packed week in Peru, from Lima to Machu Picchu to Cuzco. Lots of colonial plazas were seen, a half-hidden citadel was hiked, and plenty of Pisco Sours were consumed. I enjoyed learning about the colonial and indigenous histories of Peru, all the while returning home with a second-degree sunburn (thanks, Machu Picchu!).

Q is for Qbajjar Bay Beach, Malta

To this day, I don’t know how to pronounce this place. Situated north on the island of Gozo, it’s home to clusters of resort towns and a couple of stunning salt flats. The salt flats might not seem like anything unique, but the fact that its man-made structure co-exists with the nature of the ocean is quite the incredible feat in itself.

R is for Romania

My #1 favorite country in Europe that I’ve visited. Home to austere Transylvanian castles, cheap and hearty food, and friendly locals, Romania was as close to the perfect trip as I got! It was a solid week going from north to south of the country, and it remains my underrated gem that I highly encourage anyone to check out.

S is for Seattle, Washington

If I didn’t live and work in Los Angeles, I would definitely consider moving to Seattle. There’s something about the Pacific Northwest/Puget Sound that really touched me– perhaps it was the cool weather or the nature (i.e. lots of forests nearby) which made the city feel calm and livable. Guess I need to live there to really find out!

T is for Tbilisi, Georgia

I had two (non-consecutive) days in the Georgian capital, and I really wish that I’d given myself at least two to three more days to explore more of it. I would’ve liked to take my time checking out the modern side of town with its futuristic structures and dive deeper into the food scene– because after all, Georgian food is out of this world!

U is for Uzès, France

For a tranquil afternoon, Uzès is the ideal spot. Pretty much its entire town is the Old Town, with its sandy-clay architecture in uniform throughout. Besides its distinctive cathedral and château remnants, there isn’t much to see, but afterwards I’d say enjoy yourself with a cool drink at place aux Herbes for the rest of your visit.

V is for Vatican City

The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, yet it’s chock-full of history, religion, and antiques. You could spend years viewing its museums full of artifacts, as well as take in each piece of architecture inside and out. I’m not a huge museum-goer myself, but I would make the exception for Vatican City’s.

W is for Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw was my introduction to Poland, being that it was my first stop. It took a second visit to really appreciate this large, industrial capital, and I’m glad I did. Delicious food is abundant here (and for cheap), and the reconstruction of the Old Town makes for a fascinating look into what’s authentic and what’s fabricated. Overall, well-worth a visit.

X is for Xi’an, China

This is the only “X” city I’ve been to (at least, I can recall). In general, China is one big historical site, and Xi’an happens to contain a concentrated amount of it. From the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an is beautiful in its history. Makes me proud to be of Chinese heritage!

Y is for Yosemite National Park, California

It’s been ages since I went to Yosemite– I was still in elementary school, and I vaguely remember it being really hot (as I went in the summer). All the same, I look back on the photos taken, and I remain amazed at just how sublime my home state can be with nature. I can see why people– domestic and international– come for a piece of it!

Z is for Zagreb, Croatia

I didn’t have high expectations, but I ended up enjoying Zagreb more than expected. The atmosphere is different from other Croatian cities visited, but it was refreshing. I remember getting decent Mexican food (yes, really!) and exploring some quirky spots. I can see Zagreb becoming a “hipster” kind of city to visit in the distant future.

…whew, that’s it! That’s my take on Alphabet Adventures. Hopefully with time, I can continue to modify this list should I visit more places in the world. We will have to see!

I encourage anyone to partake in this tag post– I look forward to reading them if you do!

— Rebecca