Best and Worst Europe 2009

Awhile back, Greg and I decided that we should rank things best and worst. We saw some really great sites, stayed in some great hotels/hostels, and ate at a couple of great restaurants. But we also saw the worst of all of those things. So here it is, the Best and Worst List 2009:

Best and Worst of Europe 2009

Best Island: Korcula, Croatia

Best historical thing: G-Colosseum, Rome, Italy / E- old town Korcula

Best View: Cinque Terre, Italy

Best Beach: Yet to be found

Worst Beach: Alimia Beach, Iraklia, Greece

Best Hotel/Hostel: LaDespani, Brasov, Romania RUNNER UP Windmill Studios, Naxos, Greece

Worst Hotel/Hostel: Studio Nitsa, Kos, Greece AND Guesthouse Milisa, Split, Croatia

Best Chocolate: Ion Chocolate, Greece

Worst Chocolate: Nika Chocolate, Bosnia RUNNER UP Lacta Chocolate, Greece

Best Hike: Brasov, Romania; RUNNER UP Cinque Terre, Italy

Worst Hike: Iraklia, Greece

Best Dessert: G-yogurt with honey and walnuts, Greece; RUNNER UP gelato, Italy / E-gelato, Italy

Best Bread: G-ham bread in Venice, Italy / E-Turkey

Best Cheese: Cinque Terre, Italy

Best Museum: G-Prado, Madrid, Spain / E: Uffizzi Gallery, Florence, Italy

Worst Museum: Cinque Terre Museum, Italy

Best Castle: G- London Tower, London, England RUNNERS UP Peles Castle, Sinaia, Romania and Bran Castle, Bran, Romania E- Bran Castle, Bran, Romania

Best City: G- Budapest, Hungary / E- Korcula Town, Croatia

Worst City: G- Barcelona, Spain / E- London

Best Restaurant: La Bucatarul Vesel, Brasov, Romania

Worst Restaurant: [insert name here] Istanbul, Turkey

Best Nightlife: G-Madrid

Best Landscape: Slovenia, RUNNERS UP Romania and Cinque Terre

Worst Landscape: Greece

Best Subterranean Experience: G-Labyrinth, Budapest; RUNNER UP Iraklia, Greece / E- Iraklia, Greece

Best Local Brew: Ursus Black, Romania

Worst Local Brew: Mythos, Greece

Best Local Liquor: G-Raki, Greece / E-Visinata, Romania

Worst Local Liquor: Palinka, Romania

Best-Preserved Old City: G- Ephesus, Turkey / E- Lucca, Italy

Best Backdoor Destination: Lucca, Italy

Best Weather: Greece

Worst Weather: Ephesus, Turkey

Best Backpacker Meal: G- sausage stuffing made in Kos, Greece / E-Grilled Cheese Sandwich in Naxos, Greece

Worst Backpacker Meal: Bread and water on the 24-hour train journey from Istanbul to Brasov, Romania AND mushroom soup with gnocchi

Best Food Item: G-pizza (Rome), kebabs (Turkey), gyros (Greece), rabbit and lamb (Iraklia), so much good stuff!, figs (Croatia), uhhh, eggplant pepper sauce (Croatia), goulash (Hungary), tomato soup (Budapest), beef and bell peppers / E- 4-cheese pasta, Brasov, Romania

Worst Food Item: yogurt cucumber soup and grilled eggplant, Istanbul, Turkey AND all food at the kiosk next to the Szechenyi Bathhouse, Budapest, Hungary

Most Interesting Language: Greek

Most Challenging Language Barrier: Turkish

Least Challenging Language Barrier: Romanian

Most Interestingly Dressed Locals: Romania

Most Relaxing Place: Tie between Korcula, Croatia and Iraklia, Greece

Least Relaxing Place: Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey

Scariest Moment: E-cave in Iraklia, Greece AND riding the catamaran between Split to Korcula, Croatia in stormy seas/ G- almost getting stuck sleeping on the street in Milan, Italy

Biggest Culture Shock: G- Turkey

Cheesiest Tourist Trap: G- TBD / E- Peles Castle, Sinaia, Romania AND ferry from Kos to Bodrum (were told we were going to Bodrum, but ended up an hour away in Turgetreis)

Most Picturesque: Bled, Slovenia AND Cinque Terre, Italy

Longest Distance Walked: approximately 22 kilometers, Iraklia, Greece

Longest Travel Day: 24 hours, train between Istanbul, Turkey and Brasov, Romania

Hardest Border Crossing: Between Turkey and Bulgaria - having to get off the train in the middle of the night (E - AND Croatia to Montenegro - having my passport taken at the Croatia border, the bus continuing, and not receiving it back until after the border crossing in Montenegro.

Easiest Border Crossing: Croatia to Bosnia to Croatia to Bosnia to Croatia to Bosnia to Croatia

Best Europop Song Sung by an American (aka Most Frequently Heard Song on the Radio): Poker Face by Lady Gaga.

Most Mosquito Bites Received: Iraklia, Greece AND Bodrum, Turkey (17 on the back of 1 of my calves) AND Dubrovnik, Croatia

Best Ocean Swim Spot: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Best Inside Joke: Robby and Happiness AND two horsies kissing

Most Expensive Country: Italy

Least Expensive Country: Romania

Best Fortress: E - Kotor Fortress

Worst Hawker Experience: In Santorini when some guy actually followed us on his scooter trying to offer us a room.

Best Serious Funny Statement from a Foreigner: You are catching a nice color. (translates to: You are getting a nice tan.)

Biggest Revelation: I found Jesus! (He was behind the sofa all the time!)