After much (OK, not that much) debate we have come up with our  stack-ranking of the places visited on this trip.  The purpose is to prompt thoughtful conversation, spirited debate and a slew of hurtful rebukes of our choices.

Note that our ranking was based on our specific experiences, on this specific trip, in each place.  If we messed up a city by seeing or doing the wrong thing, then that city’s standing will suffer accordingly. 

With that out of the way, here’s the list – from worst to first:

20.  Cartagena, Spain – other than the remains of the Roman amphitheater, nothing special here.  Plus, don’t forget the flies!

19.  Melilla, Spain – like Cartagena, with fewer flies.

18.  Positano, Italy – let the vitriol fly!  We know this will be an unpopular ranking, but too many hills, too many tourists, and too few cool shops.  Our hillside dinner at La Tagliata, overlooking the town, was fabulous.  Otherwise, this might have been even lower.

17.  Sete, France – its few Venice-like canals were a nice feature, but this is a town for locals.

16.  Palamos, Spain – had we not hit the town in the heart of siesta time, this might have fared much better.  Maybe reconsider your afternoon naps when the cruise ship’s in town.

15.  Casablanca, Morocco –  owes its ranking almost exclusively to the Hassan II mosque.

14.  Tangier, Morocca – would have been a little higher if not for the relentless hawking of merchants and aggressively pushy  tour “guides.”  Great market, many kind people, mint tea and honey crepes all big plusses.

13. Mallorca, Spain – tourist haven with huge bustling marina, bike/walking paths, shopping, dining and cultural attractions.

12.  Corsica, France – we saw little more of the island than the tourist shops and restaurants along the port and marina, but it felt authentic – with a good vibe.  Likely rated higher than deserved, but left us wanting to come back and explore more.

11. Valencia, Spain – bustling, vibrant town with a great mix of old and new.  Seemed very liveable!

10. Ravello, Italy – charming and warm mountaintop town with amazing views. If it didn’t require a death-defying terror-trip on narrow winding roads with plunging cliffs on either side to access it, Ravello would have moved up the rankings.

9. Barcelona – without Gaudi, this town drops precipitously on the scorecard. But with him, and the spectacular Sagrada Familia, it easily made the Top 10.

8. Capri/Anacapri – soaring splendor on an island with both Rodeo Drive-quality stores and people watching, PLUS a quaint, mountaintop artisan village. Oh, and did I mention the unbelievable views?

7. Florence – had our visit with The David not been cancelled, would likely have ranked higher. Florence birthed the Renaissance, and is littered with glorious structures – themselves a work of art.

6. Amalfi – the sheer natural beauty of the coast elevates the town of Amalfi above where it likely should be, but awesome shops, great restaurants and relatively easy walk-ability vaults it up the rankings.

5. Aix-en-Provence, France – an upscale Provencal village surrounded by a clean, modern city. What’s not to love?

4. Herculaneum/Pompei – perspective-changing, awe-inspiring glimpse of authentic history, wrapped up in human tragedy. Neither town is better than the other. Both are must-sees.

3. Lisbon, Portugal – what a European city should be. We’ll be back!

2. Rome, Italy – western history oozes from its pores, and brand-name tourist attractions of highest quality abound in every direction. Just when you think it can’t get any better, you see the Sistine Chapel and the Trevi Fountain. Any questions?

1. Venice – there is nothing like it. A completely unique experience, and the clear winner!

Thus concludes our odyssey. While I did this blog to document the trip for ourselves, I valued having so many of you along for the ride, and also your comments.

Get out and see the world! You might just learn something about it … and about yourself.

Till next time, Peace.