My 5 Favorite Countries

5. Greece

At 21 I bought a flight ticket and showed up in Athens alone speaking not a single work of Greek. I definitely should have came a little bit more prepared, but my experience in Athens was unforgettable. My favorite day was taking a cruise to the Ionian islands. I visited three islands that were all stunning. My trip to Greece also taught me that Greek food is my favorite in the world. I would return to Athens tomorrow just to eat moussaka and gyros if I had the time and money. Not to mention the art museums and historical sights are spectacular.

Poros - One of the Ionian islands

4. France

I have two words: art and pastries. As an art enthusiast, Paris is my favorite city in the world. There is nothing better than a day at the Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Musée de l'Orangerie, or the Rodin Museum. Seeing the thousands of pieces that are housed in Paris is mind blowing. Also, do not even get my started with the pastries. There is nothing like an almond croissant, pain au chocolate, creme brulee, baguette, or tarte au citron in Paris.

I do not understand why people say the French are rude. Sure, if you are eating right by the Eiffel Tower, you are not going to get the best customer service. However, generally, I have experienced better hospitality in France than Italy or Spain.

When I visited the South of France I also had a magical experience. I explored the beautiful Le Panier neighborhood in Marseille, took a Mediterranean boat tour, and saw Cezanne's studio in Aix-en-Provence. The South has a more laid-back vibe than Paris and knowing some French was definitively important. By the end of my trip I learned how to order at a bakery and ask for a glass of wine. I feel like at some point in my life I will either live or have an extended stay in France.

Paul Cezanne's studio in Aix-en-Provence

3. Portugal

Here you have it, my favorite county in Europe! I have visited many places in Portugal from the Algarve, to Lisbon, Porto, and the Azores. One thing that makes this country so special is the people. The Portuguese hands down are the nicest Europeans I have come across. Unlike my experiences of speaking Spanish in Spain, the Portuguese were always friendly when I would practice. Everywhere is stunning from the colorful, cobblestone streets, and orange roofs of Lisbon, to the beaches and rock formations in the Algarve, and the volcanic Azorean Islands. Even though Portugal is a small country of around 10 million people, there is still so much more I want to see. I want to visit the island of Madeira, the canal town of Aveiro, and the university city of Coimbra. Currently, I am studying Portuguese for at least half an hour a day so I will be even more prepared for my next trip.

Lagos - a beautiful seaside town in the Algarve

2. Guatemala

I first visited Guate in 2023 for almost two months. I was there to earn my English-teaching certification and study Spanish. During that time I stayed in Antigua and took trips to Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, Guatemala City, and Flores. After visiting 20 countries I can say Guatemalans are the friendliest people I have encountered. You will be sitting in a park and people will just sit next to you and start a conversation. You will briefly meet someone in passing and they will invite you to a party. As a Spanish learner, it is the perfect environment. I did not get any judgmental reactions, only love when I spoke Spanish.

The traditions in Guatemala are fascinating. When I visited Lake Atitlan, a lake with multiple picturesque towns, I learned that the different towns spoke distinct indigenous languages and have unique traditions. I bought a bracelet in one town called San Juan, and the next day in another town called San Pedro a woman asked me if I wanted to buy another bracelet from her. When I politely declined she looked at my wrist and said, "but you bought a bracelet in San Juan, they are cheaper here." I could not believe that just by the technique used to sew my bracelet, the vender could tell which town it came from. My other favorite Guatemala memory was visiting the Tikal Mayan ruins. These are the most beautiful ruins I have seen to this day.

Tikal

1. Mexico

My love affair with Mexico began before I had even visited. The country has fascinated me since studying it in my fourth grade social studies class. Now 15 years later I have taken more trips than I can remember, visited nine states, countless cities, and it is where I currently call home. Mexico is so diverse. You can have a completely different experience depending which region or city you visit. However, everywhere you find friendly people, delicious food, and great vibes. Mexico will always have a huge piece of my heart for many reasons: it is the first place I fell in love, went through a breakup, met one of my best friends who has become family, and got a job teaching at an elementary and high school. I have found Mexico a welcoming place, people are always willing to help me, medical care is efficient and affordable, I feel quite safe, most cities and towns are walkable, and transportation is easy to navigate. Not to mention the countless "pueblos mágicos." These are special towns that have received support from the Mexican government due to their cultural importance. There are hundreds to visit and all are gorgeous. Some of my favorites are Cholula, Mazunte, Cozumel, Orizaba, and Atlixco.

Mexico City alone is a reason to give the country a visit. It is by far my favorite city in the Americas. Yes, some parts of Mexico do have high crime rates. However, most of the country is quite peaceful and with common sense millions of tourists visit safely every year. Do not let the headlines make you miss out on the music, food, people, landscapes, cities, and culture of this fantastic country.

The iconic main basilica in Guanajuato