My favourite place in the world!

I have stated this many times before and I have to remind myself again. I am very fortunate with my life, I have a lovely and wonderful wife, I have 2 healthy children, I have everything I want and I have seen fantastic parts of the world.

So this post I want to dedicate to my favourite place in the world:

#10 - Rotterdam

_{the Skyline of Rotterdam, taken with my iPhone 4, 6 years ago}

I always hated this town as I grew up (I was raised in Amsterdam), but over the years I got to dislike people from Amsterdam more, but I still had this 'old' hatred for Rotterdam. Then fate got me a job there and I had to spend 4 nights a week over there and I got to know the town on a different level. Also my grandfather was from there, before he was taken away by the nazi's, so I have a lot of family history there.

#9 - Jerusalem

_{Jerusalem's Old Town}

A fantastic city, so much culture and history. So much to see and do. The reason why it's not higher on my list is that there's too much controversy about the city. Anyone who's been there is amazed how all monotaisic world religions live there in relative harmony with one another, but the feelings it awakens and the fact that no one can respect one another because of what they believe in, leave me to downgrade this stunning city.

#8 - Lisbon

_{2 Trams passing one another in Lisbon}

Great food, friendly people, relaxed atmosphere. The complete package for a nice short break, which we did just before our son was born. The city was easy to discover and get around and everywhere were friendly and helpful people. A town you just lock in your heart.

#7 - Tel-Aviv

_{Dizengoff Square with the iconic Bauhaus-style houses on the background}

Tel- Aviv is everything you would not expect in the Middle-East! In an environment where there are lots of conflicts and intolerances, Tel-Aviv is the opposite of all of that. It is tolerant and everyone is welcome, it's open to everyone regardless of religion, sexual preference, background, etc It is innovative and young, lots of start ups and great ideas. Fantastic food and new concepts, modern and traditional and in itself with plenty of history and memories. Ideal for a short break or a breakout base for a longer holiday to discover the country.

#6 - Londolozi

_{a Lion in its natural habitat, feeling completely at home.}

This place made us feel like royalty. The nature, the absence of day-to-day life, the people, the animals ... it all helped to create the perfect start of our honeymoon. After this experience we never wanted to set foot in another zoo in our lives, unfortunately with kids, this is something you can't do. This place was heaven on earth ... perfect!

#5 - Oberwil-Lieli

_{the highest peak on the right of the picture is the Jungfrau. This is the view from my kitchen window.}

This village made me feel at home, before I lived there. Coming home after a days work feels like coming to a holiday resort, especially when you see the Alps, the moment I get over the mountain. The people are fantastic and we've met some great friends over here.

#4 - Prague

_{the Charles' Bridge, taken with my iPhone from the riverbank with a filter.}

Anyone who's been to Prague knows what I mean when I say that this place is one of a kind. It is historical, picturesque and trendy, warm, medieval and very easy to manoever. I straight away fell in love with this town and any chance I get to go back I'll grasp with both hands.

#3 - Rome

_{All that's left of this ancient empire, that gave us so much!}

As a kid I was not very fortunate to be able to travel a lot. My father was a baker and my mother didn't work, so going on holidays was a luxury we couldn't always afford. When we would go on holiday, it would be by car to a holiday-home either in the Netherlands, Belgium or Luxemburg. I always caught classmates talking about Rome and for me it became THE place I wanted to visit, also because of my fascination with the ancient Romans.

In 2012 this dream became reality as my wife (then girlfriend) wanted to surprise me for my birthday with a trip to Rome. I found out, as she can't keep a secret and I turned the table on her and used the occasion to ask her there to marry me. So a city that was already special, became a huge reason to be even more fantastic.

#2 - Caesarea

_{This picture was taken just before the wedding started, this was the background for where the ceremony took place and what our guests saw.}

Caesarea is a place in Israel on the Mediterranean Coast. In the times when the Romans ruled this part of the world Caesarea was an important harbor and this is still visible in the ruins and archeological sites over there.

We visited this place on our first holiday together and we were straight away fascinated by the site. The ruins are well maintained and the amphitheatre and colosseum are still very visible. The colosseum is still being used to host concerts. The site is extensive and full of ancient relics and treasures. When we got engaged in Rome, this was our obvious choice to get married. This May it will be 5 years that we are married and it happened in Caesarea at sunset.

What can top that as my favourite place in the world?

#1 - In the arms of the ones I love!!!

_{a rare moment where my daughter feel asleep on me}

This is Valentine's Day after all and although I don't value this day or celebrate it. There is no other place I'd rather be than in the arms of the people I love. There is no better feeling in the world, so there's no better place in the world!

Happy Valentine's Day and I hope you have been spoiled by your loved ones.

Doron