Although romance has many different definitions depending on who you ask, one of my favourites is “exciting and mysterious and having a strong effect on your emotions” from the Cambridge Dictionary. Our travels have always been such for me. Each trip seems to inspire romance and excitement, and our distance over the past nearly three years of the pandemic has made the desire to travel even stronger. But until then it is my memories that sustain me.
So in honour of Valentine’s Day, and to those you love, we want to share our top 5 romantic memories of Europe.
- During our first visit to Germany we spent a day on a bus trip to Salzberg. It rained most of the day except for a
brief period during which we had time to explore the city on our own. After visiting the breathtaking St. Peter’s Cathedral we found a bench outside in a lovely garden to share our picnic lunch. Carefully chosen at the Viktalien – Markt in Munich the day before we shared crusty bread, cheeses, olives and rich ripe strawberries along with a hearty red wine we smuggled in my water bottle. We have had many picnics since but this first one will always be the most romantic.
- We got up very early one morning to catch the sail in to Istanbul. Although everyone waxes poetic about the sail in to Venice, and well they should, we found the harbour at Istanbul far more exotic and intoxicating. The call to prayers from the top of the many minuets, the mix of traditional Turkish fishing and merchant vessels alongside sleek modern motor boats, and the intriguing landscape of this foreign land all viewed from the upper deck of our cruise ship while sipping strong coffee as the sun rose. I so look forward to returning to Istanbul!
- It may be a little bit, okay perhaps a lot cliche but I love sunsets. Especially from a cruise ship. It is not the
sunset itself that I find so romantic, although nature in all of its glory can be a moving experience, but rather that they mark the end of a day filled with wonder and adventure and the promise of a new day at a new port to explore. Every night I wander out onto the deck and spend some time hanging over the railing to watch the sun set over a landscape so very different from my own at home. It is a time when everyone can experience the exact same event but lend to it your own interpretation. I find that very romantic.
- When you are art history buffs like we are a trip to the galleries and museums in Paris is exhilarating. And after all, it is Paris. The centuries of art at the Louvre, the modern expressions found at the Orsay, and the myriad of smaller and unique galleries in between. We broke up our day indoors by enjoying a sandwich in a shady spot at the foot of the Eiffel Tour for lunch and later spent the warm evening hours tucked into a small outdoor table for a delicious supper of escargot and roast duck paired with a rich French Beaujolais. I even found the aloof maitre’d romantic, although I am sure he would not have described himself that way.
- And to finish off, everything Rome! From pasta near the Trevi Fountain, to outdoor cafes overcrowded with locals and tourists alike to sharing a Margherita pizza and a bottle of Chianti in bed in our hotel, the food of Rome is enticingly good. From the deafening roar of the fountains and visitors crowded into Piazza Navona to the silent reverence of the Pantheon, the vibe of Rome is romantic. From the ancient wonders of the Roman Forum and the Coliseum to the constant solidity of St. Peter’s Cathedral, Rome is timeless. Not knowing that we would have to wait such a long time until our next visit the memories of Rome have sustained me through a very long pandemic.
So let romance be your guide the next time you visit Europe and remember that travel is for lovers!