On my recent trip around the world I made a “Best Of” list as I traveled, whimsically thinking that if I could combine these qualities from other countries with what I believe to be the “Best Of” the USA (technology, music, entertainment), it would be my own personal Shangri-La. Australia had the best yogurt I ever tasted and the most stunning sunsets. New Zealand had the friendliest people and an incredible variety of spectacular scenery. Vietnam had the cheapest prices. Cambodia had the best ancient ruins at Angkor Wat. Thailand had gorgeous beaches, amazing food, good prices, a peace-loving people, incredible spirituality, and lovely tropical weather. Bali had the most beautiful temples and the loveliest handcrafts. In Zimbabwe, the people exhibited an amazing stoicism and an always-smiling, gentle nature, despite the fact that their economy is falling apart and they live under the thumb of an insane, corrupt dictator. In Tanzania it was the animals on safari that took my breath away and in Zanzibar it was the intense colors of the fabrics worn by the women. The Swiss Alps deserve special mention, but for Europe in general, the culture and history impressed me most, along with the public transportation system – especially the trains.

Upon my return home I pulled out my list and compared it to Sarasota, Florida, where I have decided to live for the time being. Surprisingly, it held up fairly well in comparison. It has lovely beaches; great culture; friendly, welcoming people; reasonable prices; beautiful sunsets; and a great downtown with a full complement of services. The only things it lacks are mountains and a decent transportation system, and it can’t really be faulted on the transportation issue because there isn’t decent public transportation anywhere in this country – even New York pales in comparison to the train, subway and bus systems in Europe. But yesterday I discovered that there may be hope for a better transport system in this country after all. Continue reading →

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