256 TOP 5: CITIES TO REVISIT...

We have been home for a couple of weeks now, and it is almost time to put this part of our life behind us and focus on the future, so what better time to look back with a top 5?

Today it is the Top 5 Cities To Revisit In The Future.

5. Namur

Before the trip, I didn't actually have a clue where Namur was; I didn't even know what country it was in, to be honest, so I had zero expectations.

Namur is a beautiful, medieval city in eastern Belgium that sits where the Sambre and Meuse rivers meet. It is dominated by the Citadel, a fortress complex that predates the Romans, perched on a rocky spur high above the city. It dominates the area and provides great views of the hustle and bustle below.

We spent a day in the city, but it wasn't enough to explore fully. I'd like to delve deeper into the old town, as what I saw in our brief trip was lovely. Definitely a place I'd like to visit again, possibly staying in a hotel at the bottom of 'the rock' this time to save our poor, tired legs!

4. Séte

Originally, we planned to finish the Bust Rally in Nice, then find a villa on the French Riviera and recharge our batteries for a week before driving to Blighty via Lyon, Paris, then Calais. But plans changed: people who weren't at the rally couldn't meet us at the villa, and the whole idea became too expensive, so we needed a Plan B.

I fired up Claud and asked A.I. where a nice place to stay would be between Nice and San Sebastian. There were lots of options, but one stood out to us: Sète. Looking at the pictures, it was a mix of Amsterdam and Venice: a city criss-crossed by rivers, with bars and restaurants spilling out onto the pavement, where diners could watch the boats pass while enjoying a delicious seafood meal.

We found there is more to it than that, with a whole old town to discover, featuring street markets and hidden eateries around the next corner. There is, apparently, a stunning beach on the Mediterranean side of the city too, but we never got the chance to explore there and find it. Definitely a place that deserves a revisit.

3. Freiburg

All I knew about Freiburg before we visited was that their football team had just been knocked out by Aston Villa in a European Cup competition. I have been to Germany before, visiting Cologne a few years ago, so was looking forward to seeing what this city in the Black Forest had to offer.

I was really impressed with the place, to be honest. It felt really chilled and laid-back; it has a thriving 'cafe culture' with bars and restaurants spilling out onto the pavements, people enjoying themselves late into the night, with events and classes taking place in squares around the city.

From what we saw of the city, the architecture is beautiful, and the whole centre is easily walkable, with cars and buses secondary to trams and bicycles. It was frustrating that we didn't have enough time to see more of the place, as it is exactly the kind of place I enjoy visiting. Still, the brief glimpse we had really whetted my appetite for more.

2. San Sebastian

I've wanted to visit this Basque city for years after seeing a documentary about Real Sociedad (the local team), which featured a busy montage flashing parts of the city on screen to the soundtrack of local music. It looked fantastic, so when we realised there was a chance to visit as part of the trip, I couldn't let it pass.

The city is a culinary hotspot, too, with the second-most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita in the world, after Kyoto, Japan. It is also famous for its steaks, which we took advantage of by wolfing down a perfectly cooked 1.3 kg t-bone at the city's highest-rated steakhouse. Lisa didn't enjoy her Hake Pudding so much though!!!

The parts of the city we saw were unspoiled by developers, with plenty of old buildings adding character. Again, another city with a thriving 'cafe culture' allowing frequent stops when exploring. The city has a large retail sector, filled with the big brands for all you shopaholics, and the cherry on top is a stunning beach, perfect for sunbathing and relaxing. We will definitely be going back.

1. Menaggio

One of the very few disappointments of the trip is that we didn't get enough time in Menaggio. This stunning town on the shores of Lake Como was a real highlight of the trip, even though it was one of the shortest stops we made.

Let me set the scene: we came down the Swiss mountains and crossed into Italy via some twisty roads and tunnels. Before we knew it, we had the lake to our right. We were buzzing around tiny hamlets hugging the shore, dotted with beautiful buildings that looked as if they hadn't changed in hundreds of years. Picturesque doesn't adequately cover it; it was stunning. Then we got to Menaggio itself.

A small, bustling town, clinging to the hillside, trying not to fall into Lake Como. Our hotel was on the lake; it had its own jetty for speedboats. It was a short walk along the shore to the town square, dotted with bars and restaurants and filled with people enjoying food and drink on a balmy evening. Honestly, I stopped and looked around and said to myself, "I can't believe we are here doing this".

Getting to Lake Como from the UK is a faff involving flights to Milan and then trains and buses - or an epic European road trip, obviously! - but I can honestly say, hand on heart, it would be completely worth it. Menaggio is beautiful, as is the whole area. I need to go back ASAP; I've made myself feel a bit sad reminiscing about it.