Unseen Cities that you Must See

(photo taken by Ali) Koyasan, JapanHappy Birthday to Ali, one of my best friends in the world, one of the most adventurous and free-spirited women I’ve ever met. There are only a handful of friends I think I would compatibly travel with, and she’s one of those at the top of list.

Arashiyama, Japan I’m in Hiroshima now, just for the weekend. The plans include Peace Park, the Memorial Museum, a trip to Miyajima, and some local okonomiyaki. This is a trip I’ve been meaning to make since I arrived in Japan.

Osaka, Japan Osaka in the summertime: cold beer, fireworks, walking all the way home, rainstorms, yukata, department store sales, toy cameras, cutting your fringe extra short, festivals, pasta salad, parties on the riverbank, okonomiyaki, learning useless (but hilarious) Japanese phrases, bike rides, gathering memories of the place you love but the place you have to leave. By the way, I’m the one in the middle.

Brussels, Belgium There are few weekends better than those that include smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels in bed, B-movies, red wine in the park, Sam Cooke records, and (of course) the ones you love.