forget paris
I know that the world at large sees Paris as the epicenter or romance, and to some extent, I think it’s a pretty great place for love. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be proposed to in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower?
But honestly, Paris isn’t all that. True, I was there with my Mom and not the great love o’ my life, but in my travels alone, I’ve discovered some cities that plucked at my heart strings in a way Paris, with its big city rush and crush could never come close to.
Edinburgh. Cobble stones, castles and kilts. I felt a little bit like I was in a fairytale. And a walk up King Arthur’s seat will take your breath away. In more ways than one.
Venice. Forget the gondolas; the real charm is in the color and the quality of light. Everyone is beautiful on a fall evening on the canals. In the early morning, before the tourists come on strong, there’s almost nowhere in the world that is quite as charming.
Lucca. Medieval fortress walls, narrow streets that end in even narrower streets, smelling of baking bread, and home to the man who made me fall in love with Opera. I think if you were to take me back to Lucca, you’d get lucky. Just sayin’.
Where’s your capitol of romance? If you say Paris, that’s okay, too. Just have a really good reason for it.
I love Paris but not for all of the big things like the Eiffel Tower. The last time I stayed I was in a tiny studio in Monmarte with a view of Sacre Couer from my bed. I find the little streets and cafes very romantic and I love wandering the streets in the early hours. If you get far enough away from the tourist sites you find all kinds of secret courtyards, interesting people and amazing food.
That being said Amsterdam is my favorite romantic city. No its not for the mood altering substances…its the canals. I love the canals.
Harbour Island, The Bahamas. Pink sand beaches, quaint hotels, golf carts, cool sunrises, sail boats, cracked conch and peas ‘n rice, a hot breeze wafting through the curtains at night …
I’ve spent three summers living in Athens and it will always be my favorite romantic city. I met a boy the first year I was there and the city was simply magical.
Prague…this has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Everywhere you look the spires and the castles just conjure up knight in shining armor imagery.
I lived there for a bit and the only word I have ever really felt described Prague accurately is MAGICAL. And that’s precisely what you feel as you wander the streets, whether alone or with a lover. But I highly recommend walking hand in hand across the Charles Bridge with someone very special.
Madrid. The city, the warmth of the people, everything…
If it’s true that “the way to a (wo)man’s heart is through his/her stomach”, then Paris wins, hands-down. I swear, even the vending machines in gay-Paree are required to serve food worthy of a Michelin star. I ate my entire way through France (stepping over piles of dogshit while swooning over the most delectable crepes possible). Paris was beautiful, Provence was “meh” (see “dogshit”, above), but the food, oh god, the food!
It must me transmitted in mothers’ milk, or taught in school or something, because every and I mean EVERY meal I had in France was The! Best! Ever! - and I traveled out of a backpack and on a tight budget.
It must be genetic, no matter what I do, the simple ingredients of ham, cheese, and a baguette do not transform into the loveliness that I found in France.
Ahhh, France.
I certainly have to second Edinburgh and add to it St. Andrews, Scotland. Its about an hour north of Edinburgh and one of the most beautiful towns in the world. The beach, golf course, cliffs, and ruins make it overwhelmingly romantic.
Anywhere on Lake Como. Those little towns, like Bellagio and Menaggio and Varenna and even Como itself, are all so amazing and picturesque. It really is like something out of a fairy tale.
Then again, I could be biased because Como is the place where I finally realized that the boy next door was the man of my dreams.
I say Paris at first because, well, I actually was proposed to there. :o)
But I also say Blarney, Ireland which we visited only a week or so after he proposed. Sometimes, when I’m doing something that I really wish I didn’t have to do, sitting somewhere I wish I’d rather not be, I flashback to Blarney for some reason. It was quiet, eversomore quiet than the hustle and bustle of Paris or Rome (to which we had also just recently traveled). There was light rain, but even that rain was charming. The accents were delightful, the scenery was so lush (no doubts why they call it the Emerald Isle), the people were polite and friendly and I most often saw them with smiles rahter than the frowns of the big cities.
Budapest - a city of two halves, with the most amazing hot baths, which are mixed so you can still spend time together. Opera, mozart requiem in the cathedral, wandering the streets looking the the fantastic architecture while wrapped up against the cold, drinking mulled wine in cozy cafes, walking along the river banks with the autumnal colours overhead on the trees. A most romantic trip!
While I’ve never been to Paris, a friend and I did a 10-day trip through three countries (Ireland, Scotland and England) followed by a 10-day trip through three cities (Venice, Florence and Rome, with a stop in Lucca and Pisa). I must certainly agree that Edinburgh, Venice and Lucca are must-see places! I, who rarely wish to travel back to a place I’ve already been, would gladly book tickets to return to Edinburgh. And I really wish we’d planned to stay longer in both Venice, which takes a few days to get oriented in, and Lucca, which deserves way more than a few hours on a train stop going to Pisa. Good call, Fish!