#235: Valencia (2nd Ed pg 271)

Well, this is my first entry of something that it's the 2nd Edition book that is not in the 1st Edition.  There are 8 years between the 1st and 2nd Edition and it has now been 8 years since the 2nd edition was published.  So, now I'm scared that when I finally get all caught up with this a 3rd Edition will come out!  So much world to see!

In September 2009, my husband Dave and I set out for Spain.  We spent time in Barcelona, then Valencia, then Alicante and finished up in Madrid.

Here we are in Valencia. 

We went to check out the 86-acre City of Arts and Sciences center.  All of this was new when we visited.  The Palace of Arts opened in 2005 and the L'Oceanografic Aquarium open-end in 2002.

We also went to the bull fight arenas.

Inside the bull ring

I love how every European city has a Piazza

And I was very excited to check out the Lladro factory

Another claim to fame for Venice - home of the world famous Lladro!

I never noticed this before, but I think that wedding couple in the bottom right is the lladro that Dave and I used on the top of our wedding cake.  We used a Lladro because we met in Spain, so we wanted to incorporate that into our cake. 

Verdict:  I discussed this with my husband before posting because I'm kind of torn on this one.  I loved my time in Valencia, but at the same time, it's not my favorite Spanish city.  It really doesn't have anything on Barcelona or Madrid.  So, here's what I think.  No, it's not a must do before you die.  If you only have a week in Spain,  I would spend your time elsewhere.  But if you live in/around Spain and/or you have more than a week to spend in Spain (a minimum of 1.5-2 weeks), then it's absolutely worth spending a couple of those days here!

#234: The Rhine Valley (pg 164; 2nd Ed pg 151)

I'm in the midst of going through the 1st edition (copyright 2003) and 2nd Edition (copyright 2011) of the 1000 Places book and comparing all the entries.  In so doing, I realized that I missed recording something that I did!  Yay for getting another checkmark that I didn't realize I had!

In August 1997, I toured Europe with two college friends.  We visited 8 countries during our two week trip, one of which was Germany.

And while in Germany, we hopped on a boat and sailed down the Rhine.

I noted in my scrapbook that I found the place humorous.  The left side is a church.  The right side is a bar.  There is no door on the bar portion of the building, so you have to go to church before and after going to the bar!

Obviously this was years before owning a digital camera, so pictures don't do any of the scenery justice, but....

I wrote in my journal that sailing the Rhine and our drive afterward through Bavaria "was gorgeous." And that it was "the most beautiful place I've ever seen."

Verdict:  If my journal is any indication, Yes!  I was 23 when I took this trip, so it was the most beautiful place I'd seen in over two decades of life.  And now, at Age 42, I want to go back!

1000 Places To See Before You Die: Second Edition

"The New" 1000 places book isn't all that new anymore.  The copyright is 2011.  It's taken me 8 years to accept this book and not be in complete denial that it exists because it just totally threw me off of my original quest of working my way through the original book!  But alas, I have realized that I need to figure out a way to incorporate this into my travel goals and use it as an accompaniment to the original list on this blog.  And I know Patricia Schultz feels my pain because she even said in the beginning of this revised edition, "I'm sure I'll upset a lot of people who found the first list overwhelming.  Now here I am, with a revision that I consider an entirely new book.....I thoroughly deconstructed and then rewrote the wealth of information from the first 1,000 Places, creating a whole new tantalizing homage to the world's bounty."  

So, with that said, my plan is to go back and add the label of "1000 Places 2nd Edition" to places that appear in both books (which applies to most of the places in the book, roughly 800) and then will add the others as I go.  And of course now I'm kicking myself that I waited 8 years to get on board with this book because I freaking just went to Oklahoma and just saw that they added a new place to see in Oklahoma City! Rats.  Oh well.....

This is my original, dearly beloved book.  229 places etched in my soul.  I've told my kids that I'm going to do my best to see the world before I leave it, but whatever I left unseen, they need to see for me and finish my list.

I haven't been everywhere..... but it's on my list!

#233: Rawlins Plantation (pg 888; 2nd Ed pg 1100)

My dad and I in St. Kitts Nov 29, 2018

Overlooking where the Atlantic and the Caribbean come together.

This is NOT Rawlins Plantation.  Why?  Because it no longer exists.  When I arrived in Basseterre, I hired a driver to take me to Rawlins Plantation.  She told me that it no longer exists.  I started asking her questions.  She started telling me all about it, but ultimately told me to "go home and look it up."  So I did and this is what I found.... (written by the daughter of the owner)

....Years later my Father retired from the Army and went back there to run the Estate. I went out there for holidays and we swam in the huge water cistern with the wonderful Lilies growing round it. Every morning we had early morning tea on the virandah watching the sun rise, before walking the dogs up the mountain track and round the cane fields, where my Father would tell me all about growing the sugar cane. The dogs would sometimes chase the Vervet monkeys but they escaped up a tree. But all good things come to an end. Following the Nationalization of the Sugar Plantations by the Government, lands were compulsory taken over initially without any recompense to the owners, who had subsequently lost their Plantations overnight which had been in their ownership for centuries and in some cases for 300 years following which many Plantations were abandoned.

My parents were offered a job by a hotel owner on Nevis to manage their Nisbet Plantation Hotel. It was a famous coconut plantation. On one holiday my Father made a raft for my children, his grandchildren to play pirates upon in the shallows. Members of the Rockerfeller family who were staying at Nisbet, took a day trip to neighbouring St.Kitts and visited my parent’s family home to enjoy the superb views over the Statia channel and St. Barts.  Upon their return they were so spellbound by the location of Rawlins (family home) that they encouraged my parents to turn it into a Plantation Inn, instead of working for others. Saying they would bring their friends from America to stay once it was opened, which they did. They so enjoyed their experience that many of their friends followed in their footsteps.  My parents & brother worked very hard over the years to turn the old sugar buildings into stunning Caribbean style accommodations which gained international following with many guests returning year after year including the legendary Baron Edmund de Rothschild.

My mother worked hard in the hot kitchen to produce delicious meals for the guests and her remarkable homemade soups using local ingredients  became famous! My Mother & Brother created Botanical gardens for the guests to walk around & enjoy. The magnificent Royal Palms, The African Tulip trees, Flamboyants, Hibiscus, Bougainvillea and many others. A virtual garden of Eden together with a mountain spring fed swimming pool and grass tennis courts.  My Father was front man, making guests his famous Rum Punches and telling stories of the history of the island and sugar in the Caribbean.

My brother sold the hotel after 20 years in the business to devote himself to other business interests. Thus the demise of Rawlins Plantation began, with it changing hands and a dramatic murder of one of the staff and the alleged perpetrator, the hotel’s General Manager is currently still in jail on St.Kitts awaiting trial. Following the murder Rawlins closed it’s doors followed by the recent inferno (May 9 2015). A tragic ending to a once loved family home. Doubtless Rawlins Plantation will arise again from the ashes and once again give pleasure to those who seek to enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean.

Written by : Susie Groom

Needless to say.... Verdict: No

Note:  I am writing this on 2/24/19 after reading the 2nd Edition, where the book simply lists "St Kitts" (for obvious reasons as per the above!)  So, now the verdict is not so obvious.  But I think in the end, for me it stays the same.  We had a great day in St. Kitts just a few months ago.  We swam with dolphins, we toured the island, we held monkeys, we had a great time!  But there still wasn't anything that necessarily stood out about this island that you can't see or do on most other caribbean islands. 

#232: The Golden Lemon (pg 887)

This is not the Golden Lemon.  I am at the Oti hotel (which is in a great location and has beautiful views!).  Why am I posting a picture of me in front of the Disney Magic Cruise at the Oti hotel in a blog post about the Golden Lemon?  Well, because, I hopped in a cab in Basseterre and asked to be taken to the Golden Lemon Inn.  I was promptly told that it no longer existed.  Or was at least no longer open.  I told her about my 1000 Places book and trying to get to as many places as possible and she said "your book is old!" (Admittedly, I'm still using the original 2003 edition). So, she took me here instead ;)

When, I got home, I looked online and sure enough, I found various comments stating that it closed in 2011 and someone who stayed there around that time (guessing shortly before it was closed/purchased) said "it has been completely neglected and is just in shambles."

So there you have it...... Verdict: No.  For obvious reasons!