Day #279 - Baden-Baden

A nice place to run

OK scenery

Downtown Baden-Baden

Holiday markets - the Saturday before Christmas

Interesting walking paths

Central water fountain

Saturday, December 18th

Back to back great days in Baden-Baden. I pretty much had a similar day as yesterday. I included an hour run in the middle - all good stuff.

Honestly, I don't have much else to say. This place is exceptional. Period. (It's like when they were watching the sunset on the movie 'Crimson Tide' -- sometimes, you don't need to say anything at all)

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OK - another big one comes off the board tonight. A country that everyone knows, everyone likes in some way or another. A country famous for it's wine. Coming in at #6 on the list of my most favorite countries on my Gap Year 2010 ---------------------- ITALY

Israel (#12)

Iceland (#11)

Norway (#10)
Greece (#9)
Austria (#8)

Spain (#7)

Italy (#6)

ITALY (#6)

I just spent about 3 weeks here - so, I remember it well. My favorite city - Rome. This place was special. I truly enjoyed Vatican City - the day tour of the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica, and the morning with the Pope. Then, there's the Colisseum, the Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain. How about Florence - the Uffizzi Galleries and the Statue of David. Tuscany - wine country and great food. Then you have the uniqueness of Venice -- the city on the water. You don't drive - you take a boat. Milan - the city of shopping. What about the scenic Amalfi Coast. Walking around Sorrento at Christmas time. Hiking the Cinque Terre. Posing in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. St. Francis Basilica in Assisi. What about Romeo & Juliet in Verona. Bottom line ------ Italy is awesome. It is with great respect, that my #6 most favoritie country is Italy.