At 2018 New Year’s Eve, I made myself a promise of pushing myself forward to visit 12 different new cities for me in the upcoming year, one equivalent to each month of a calendar year. I know it seemed to be almost impossible back then, but here I am, more than a year away from the moment this idea fired up in my mind, ready to share my story.
My travelling journey this Year started with Three Capital Cities in the UK. Cardiff, London and Glascow.
What I liked more about Cardiff was definitely all the history its Castle and passageways had to tell, it was breath taking to walk the halls and tunnels many people had to use in order to keep themselves saved from the bombings of the WWII. Also, if you venture yourself to the top of the Castle, you will get to see a great view of the city.
When talking about London, there is always a lot to say, and of course a lot to see, which I think its my favourite thing of the city. You can go as many times as you want, and you will always find something new to discover, no matter if you are into historic Palaces or Bridges, or into marvellous modern buildings, London has got it all!
From their magic Hills, to their amazing street Graffiti Art, its Gothic Cathedral and Giant Cemeteries. Glasgow the Capital of Scotland is not a place you should miss if visiting the north of the UK.
For Spring, I was lucky enough to fulfil a long-kept dream of mine to visit the Tulip Fields in Keukenhof, just a few minutes outside of Amsterdam, this was part of a little Tour I did between Brussels, Bruges, and Amsterdam. This was one of my favourite experiences ever, if you want to see the incredible and remarkable work humans can achieve whilst working with Nature and not against it, make sure you book your trip to Keukenhof during Spring!
After a Summer with little and no travel, I thought my expectations of visiting 12 cities during the year were not going to be fulfilled. Fortunately for me, I manage to book a trip on mid-September which took me on a 2 week adventure around the North East of the US and Canada.
I started my trip on Toronto, an outstanding and welcoming city, filled with culture and diversity. My favourite part of the city was the Kensington Market, which is filled with bars, restaurants, bakeries, from many countries and different parts of the world. The atmosphere you can get when walking around so many people who enjoy and embrace the diversity in the city combined with many of the street performers and singers really makes you want to go and live in Toronto!
My adventure on Canada didn’t finish in Toronto but in one of Nature’s Greatest Gifts on Earth, the Niagara Falls. If you are lucky enough to go on the Canadian side, make sure you take the Windblower Boat Trip, it is absolutely worth it, if you don’t believe me, watch my face in the next Picture.
My trip around America lead me to visit Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, New York and Boston.
From Pittsburgh, the thing that blew my mind up, was the fact that there is more than 400 Bridges in the city! So, whenever you hear Pittsburgh it’s the city of the Bridges, they mean it!
My favourite part of Philadelphia was the Reading Terminal Market, where I finally got to tried an authentic Philly Cheesesteak, which didn’t disappoint at all. Independence Hall, and the Rocky Statue are also amazing famous sights I got the chance to visit whilst in there.
Washington, surpassed all my expectations, it is filled with historical and beautiful memorials. My highlight of this trip was riding on a Uber Scooter around the Reflective Pool in front of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Washington gave me one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever witnessed.
New York is just somethings that escapes words. But if I had to take one memory out of the days I spent there, would definitely be the Sunset I enjoyed in 230 Fifth Bar Rooftop. Good music, surrounded by a Building Jungle, the Empire State sitting in front of me, life couldn’t get any better than that.
Boston was my last stop in this amazing two-week trip, and without a doubt the part I always like to Highlight the most was how good their New England Cuisine is (New England Chowder and the Lobster Sandwiches are a must!). I end up felling in love of how organise, clean and full of prestige this city is.
If you made it all the way here, you would know my goal of 12 cities was not only achieved but surpassed at this point. However, this didn’t stop me from taking one last short trip to the North of Italy before the end of the Year.
This Trip to Italy lead me to a unique experience of what the north of Italy has to offer, Verona, Venezia and Padova made me close my year in the best possible way, taking even further away my goal of 12 cities in a year.
None of this would have been possible without the help of Google Maps, one tool that became sometimes the only partner who venture with me in all these journeys. The things I was able to see and visit during this year changed my way of thinking, which is why I decided it was time for me to give back. My name is Ricardo Ritrovato and I am a Local (and some times not so Local) Google Guide.