Hello all!
So terribly sorry about the delay in posting the top five list this month, I'm going through a complete computer nightmare over here.
Since last month we focused on the places we dream of going to, we thought it appropriate to focus this month on the favorite places we've been. With no further ado, here are our lists!
Melissa's list:

1. vancouver island - we went here on our honeymoon, to victoria and tofino and oh, i just loved every second of it! the country is beyond beautiful... words can't really do it justice.
2. florida keys - i'm usually not a beachy kind of girl, but the keys just called to me. it was such a wonderful trip - so relaxing and with just a touch of quirky fun.
3. new orleans - we went to celebrate brian's 30th birthday, and celebrate we did!! new orleans is such a grand old city, there is always beauty around every corner.
4. fairy lake, mt - i used to live in bozeman, mt and fairy lake is about a 45 minute drive up into the mountains. besides being stunningly beautiful it's where brian and i got engaged, so it will always have a special place in my heart.
5. nyc - claire, i am so thankful that you live in nyc because i get to come and visit so often. i love this city. i could visit a million times and there would still be more to experience and see.
6.i'm obviously not as well-traveled as the rest of the sandwich, for example, here's a picture of me the first time i saw the ocean. i was 24.
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Lindsey's list:

1. Tobago - Michael and I went here on our honeymoon. It was so beautiful and relaxing, we had so much fun playing in the waves.
2. Shanghai China - I spend a semester in Shanghai and loved everything about it: the language classes, clubs, food, travel, even the calligraphy classes that I did horribly in.
3. Game parks in Kenya - growing up overseas I was amazingly lucky that my dad's company sent the family to America every year. Our best trip home had a 'stop over' in Kenya for a photo safari.
4. National parks, Utah - I can't pick just one, I loved exploring every park we visited and want to go back to see more of them.
5. Preikestolen, Norway - My parents moved to Stavanger when I went to college. What an amazing country. This was my favorite hike.
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cmv's list:
1&2. Lisbon, Portugal- Most of my family is in Lisbon so I was lucky enough to spend most of my summers there as a child. Besides the emotional connection, I really can't think of a more beautiful place on earth. Even the walls and the floors around you are covered with incredible charm and artistry.
3. Barcelona, Spain- Besides the amazing color and culture, you have the astounding works of Gaudi architecture. Love it.
4. Salvador de Bahia, Brazil- When I decided to live in Brazil for a few years (many years ago) I wanted to go to Salvador. Instead I ended up in the absolute polar opposite place, a small German town in the middle of nowhere. Which of course only made the visit to the incredibly vibrant, colorful, musical, artistic land of Salvador all the more wonderful.
5. Berlin, Germany- Oh I love Berlin. The powerful history and diametric opposites, all before your very eyes. Wonderful.
6. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil- It just doesn't get much better than Rio. A city overflowing with life (good AND bad) and stunning natural beauty.
There are so many incredible places in this world both close to and far from home-- what are your favorite places you've been?
-cmv & the sandwich