Top 6 Places Not In British Columbia

As promised, here is the sequel. I hope this one isn't a disappointment.

6. The House of the Ninja Turtles - I saw a lot of touristy things when I backpacked around Europe. In fact, I saw so many touristy things that by the time I got to Paris, I refused to go up the Eiffel Tower and enter the Louvre. A lot of people would think me dumb for it, but you don't know how boring even the most historically rich artifacts can get after a while.

But the Vatican museum could never get boring to me. I could spend months with a tour guide, asking more and more questions about all the artifacts that are in there. The trip through the museum also ends with the Sistine Chapel, which is probably the single greatest work of art not in British Columbia.

5. Infinity Beach of Eternity - I grew up in Brazil for almost four years. I also almost drowned twice while I was there. Those strong Brazilian currents were too much for my seven-year-old self. Fortunately I was saved by my parents both times.

But that's not why this beach, or the beaches in Brazil in general, are one of the greatest places not in British Columbia. Aside from almost taking my life, I owe a lot to the Brazilian beaches. There were so many of them that taking a trip to the beach did not constitute fighting with crowds all day. They are endless sand, and as serene as those screen savers you can get. Those were beaches. And those are the reason I can never enjoy the British Columbian beach.

4. The Room of Darkness - I went to Africa with a good friend of mine. The trip was all filled with drama and I was very incapable at dealing with it. One of the ways I managed, however, was to sit in the living room of the place we were staying and listen to music with my friend. We were the only two in that house, so we could get away with it. The generator of the complex we stayed at went out in the early evening, so we would sit in the perfect darkness to listen, talk and ponder our lives. The place I was in at the time and stage of life made it all the more better.

3. The Germanic Village - Also on my trip to Europe, I was privileged to stay with my uncle, and later a friend's cousin, in tiny villages in Germany. It wasn't the boonies like we would understand in North America. In Europe, many places have the population of one of our cities spread out in tiny villages, all just over the next hill from each other.

The time I spent at these places was peaceful and rejuvenating. Both were especially needed as I was on a very hectic trip.

2. The Jesus Circle - My aunt lives in the Cayman Islands. We went to visit her once. As we were exploring the island, we came to this one cul-de-sac. The road leading into the cul-de-sac led out onto a peninsula and was straddled by palm trees. The cul-de-sac featured a statue of Jesus in the middle. It wasn't the statue, so much as the pristine peninsula that ended perfectly at the edge of the dynamic Cayman ocean that made it the one place I hope to have a house someday. Maybe.

1. Space - I've never been to space. I probably never will be. But there is no place that is cooler and that I would love to go more. That's sort of sad, but at the same time, it's probably good. I know that if I had a chance to go to whenever I wanted, I would soon become underwhelmed by it.