Here Are Six Countries I Plan To Visit After COVID-19

Iceland

Iceland has been on my vision board for quite some time now. I would love to visit Reykjavik, its capital, soon. According to this article, Iceland is apparently the best place to see the Northern Lights. I’d rather visit the capital however, since I’m totally a city girl. My plan is visit sometime around late 2021 mostly because I heard that the lights tend to glow more fiercely towards the fall season. I’m also planning to stay at the Reykjavik – Loft HI Hostel on Hostelworld for my accommodation. I’ve never had an issue with Hostelling International and I’m hoping that my stay there will be just as good as my last stay with them. The only thing I’m still trying to figure out is whether I should do a Northern Lights Tour or make a quick walk to Öskjuhlíð Hill, a popular viewing spot. What’s nice about the tour is that the guide takes you to the countryside so that you can escape the city’s artificial lights and he’ll take photos of you free of charge. However, since the tour is starting from $74, I think it’s really going to be outside my budget. On the other hand, even though walking to Öskjuhlíð Hill would be free, I’m wondering if it might be too crowded with tourists because of that. Either way, I’m really looking forward to 2021. Maybe we’ll finally be in a season where we can leave everything covid related behind.

Portugal

Portugal is also another country that has caught my eye recently. I’ve been wanting to go there ever since I studied abroad in Italy. Unfortunately however, I did not have time to visit the country while I was studying overseas, but I definitely want to make up for it. My plan is to visit Lisbon since it is the second oldest capital in Europe after Athens. It would be such a pleasure to walk amongst the Portuguese as I strut my way across the city. The city itself is built on seven hills: São Jorge, São Vicente, São Roque, Santo André, Santa Catarina, Chagas, and Sant’Ana but surprisingly Graça, the highest hill of them all, was forgotten. I’ll definitely make it my goal to visit each and every hill especially since all of them reveal a different hidden corner of the city. After Lisbon, I’m heading to Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of Europe, for a day trip. From what I’ve seen on Google Images, it’s a beautiful cliff that offers amazing views. I feel like being there would just take my breath away. I truly do solemnly promise though that if I do make it to Cabo da Roca someday, you will all be getting some high-quality pictures on Instagram. Other than that, I’m really looking forward to what Portugal has in store for me and who knows… maybe I might learn some Portuguese.

Belgium

Although Belgium isn’t necessarily at the top of my post covid list, I still want go there and eat the best Belgian waffles in the world. After all, that’s what the country is known for anyways. My plan is to visit Brussels for a couple of days so that I can have a chance to sample as many waffles as I can. In Brussels, there are two types of waffles you can get: Liege or Brussels. Liege Waffles are oval shaped with no toppings while Brussels are rectangular shaped and served with a wide variety of toppings. I’m not sure about what you all prefer but the Brussels waffles sound just about right for me. As a sugar addict, I can pretty much eat waffles all day with whipped cream! Also, with a quick Google Search, Maison Dandoy seemed to be THE place to go. The waffle spot is definitely Instagrammable and.. who doesn’t love food porn?! Haha! Besides the food, I haven’t really thought much about what else I can do in Brussels. While I’m over there, I might just do some random sightseeing at the Palais Royal or  the Musee Royaux Des Beaux Arts. But hey… if you guys have any other ideas or places for me, feel free to let me know. I’m all ears!

Ireland

From what I’ve heard about Ireland, it seems to be the place to be, especially on St. Paddy’s Day! I want to go to Ireland after covid because I grew up next to an Irish neighborhood in NYC and I’ve always been fascinated by the culture. My plan is to visit Dublin and book my accommodation on Hostelworld again. A day trip to the Cliffs of Moher is also on my bucket list since it’s not too far from Dublin and it was a filming location for The Princess Bride and the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie. Who wouldn’t want to visit these cliffs?? It’s only about 170 miles away from Dublin and it’s bus and train accessible. Walking the cliffs also shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for me since I am one avid walker. I could probably do the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk each way from Doolin to Liscannor in one sitting. SERIOUSLY!

Scotland

My plan for Scotland after covid is to visit the lovely Edinburgh castle. I’m going to book my accommodation in Glasgow, the capital. But I figured a day trip to Edinburgh would be worth it. The castle basically towers over the rest of the city which makes it one of the most visited tourist attractions in Scotland. I’m looking forward to doing a self-guided tour once I’m there since listening to a guide can be pretty dull at times. In fact, the last time I did a guided tour, I pretty much remember being all the way in the back not listening to the guide. Besides the castle, Edinburgh is also known for its filming locations for the Avengers, The Da Vinci Code, and Outlander. I’m hoping to visit every single one as I make the most of my time there.

Puerto Rico

And last but not least…Puerto Rico!!! Guys, I really want go to ziplining and apparently San Juan is full of Ziplining tours. I’m planning on doing this one after covid and what’s nice about it is that they provide you with round-trip transportation to and from your hotel. So instead of having to pay for your own transportation there, it’s basically already included. The zipline adventure is also 5 hours AND you can swim in three of the natural pools near the forest canopy. The only question I’m curious about is.. if they’re able to provide free photos or some form of photography. I mean this is an amazing activity and all but if I don’t have anyone to take my picture will it really be worth it? Besides the zip lining tour, I really want to practice my Spanish as much as I can while I’m there. I took Spanish 101 while I was abroad in Italy and I haven’t practiced at all ever since I left. I would love to travel to Puerto Rico as an opportunity for me to brush up on my skills. Post-covid season couldn’t come any sooner and I’m ready to drop my mask and break free!

What do you guys think of these countries so far after covid? Should I add any more? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment down below and let me know! 

*You can also check out a longer version of my bucket list here.

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