Where Is the Real Sun?

I was talking to some of my colleagues yesterday... 3 of them are going to spend a short period in different places in the South. I know they'll have a great time, but to their question: "Why have you never taken such a vacation?" I'll answer:
Ever since I arrived... here I've been assaulted by commercials inviting me to go to Cuba, the Dominican Republic or Mexico - Cancun for reasonable prices, it's true. For about $600 one can spend an all expenses paid week basking in the sun and swimming in exquisite pools or in the ocean. It would seem that these offers are hard to resist. Many of the people I got to meet took the opportunity of spending a few days in one of these destinations. I didn't... it never tempted me. I only went to Washington, Atlantic City, Niagara Falls, Quebec, Ottawa and Toronto until now. New York and Montreal are on the list, of course. From all those places the one I was charmed by was Washington. I truly was and I can probably say this is a city where I would feel comfortable living. I arrived here during the cherry blossom period and I was mesmerized by the different monuments and museums. If it weren't for them, you'd forget you are in the States... Washington is a calm city, with buildings scattered among trees and flowers and smiling people. It's the town where I encountered the most content faces, and this is the hint that can help you decide whether or not you should move to a certain city... from an idealistic point of view, at least.

I'll never forget what someone told me after having visited Toronto: "after seeing New York [the person lives there], no other city will ever impress me. Toronto is only a small scale immitation of New York". I couldn't agree more with the last sentence, but the world doesn't revolve around New York City and Toronto. There are so many other cities that one should visit, at least, in order to discover their secrets, their culture and rythm. North America is all about skyscrapers, that's its charm. But there's not much culture involved... except for Washington and Quebec, maybe. Montreal is said to be a cultural city, but it's the people who make it that way, not its history and buildings. How could you not be impressed by the Spanish, German, Italian, British, Czech or even French cities? And I'm only mentioning European destinations because it would be too overwhelming to think of the Asian or African wonders... for now, at least. What about South American regions, those that have nothing to do with the beach and cocktails with intriguing names? There is so much to be discovered before taking time out and getting a sun tan in Cuba or being blinded by the Times Square lights!

I would not refuse a trip to a sunny destinaton if the opportunity arose, if I won one, for example... lol. But I'd rather save some money and take a mouthful of Spain's treasures embeded with a Moresque air, inspire the smoke from Czech Republic's chimneys or get lost in Shakespeare's reality on the the streets of England.