This piece appeared in the December, 2013 issue of Destinations Travel Magazine
Whether you are a legendary lothario or unlucky in love,
stealing a kiss at the right moment can go a long way towards wooing your
sweetheart. But the right moment has just as much to do with location as it
does with romance. Sometimes snagging a quick snog starts by picking the right
spot.
During holiday season, tradition has thrown the bumbling
lover a helpful assist in the form of mistletoe, those little sprigs of foliage
tacked to doorjambs that demand passers-by stop for a smooch. Perhaps there
aren’t too many single people finding their soulmate by getting ambushed by
lip-locks anymore. Mistletoe for most may be relegated to polite, slightly
embarrassing pecks on the cheek from acquaintances at holiday parties.
But that does not mean spontaneous romance is dead. On the
contrary, it exists in abundance in special locations around the globe; not in
a weed nailed to a doorjamb, but at fairytale castles, in aromatic gardens and
atop stunning vantage points.
These are travel’s own version of mistletoe – those
unexpectedly romantic spots that set the mood with inherent romanticism. And
the best part is, they work all year round. Watching a sunset from a car riding
on the highway is a traffic nuisance. But step onto a secluded beach, hand in
hand with your significant other, and that sunset becomes the universe’s most
powerful aphrodisiac.
The tradition of mistletoe began in Europe, with several
origin stories bouncing around history and mythology. Fitting, then, are the
countless spots around Europe that carry on this tradition of romance twelve
months a year.
It is no secret that Europe is home to some of the most
romantic cities in the world. They pay homage to love in one way or another,
from ruined temples dedicated to the god of love to padlocks adorning bridges
in a symbol of devotion. Romance is equated with a gondola ride along a Venice
canal, or a moonlight stroll along the banks of the Seine.
The clichés of love abound in Europe. But the best spots are
the unexpected ones. Your significant other should be just as surprised by the
place’s romantic atmosphere as he or she is with your ability to harness it.
Whether you’re looking to pop the question, spice up your
honeymoon or just surprise your sweetheart, finding the perfect place is easy
to do in Europe, if you know where to look. These five European destinations
are a good start.
Verona
Verona, Italy is home to the most famous tale of
star-crossed lovers ever written: Romeo and Juliet. The city has embraced the
love by promoting several tourist locations with connections to the tale. The
most well known is Juliet’s famed balcony from which she listened to Romeo sing
her praises.
To get to Juliet’s balcony you squeeze through a crowded
tunnel covered with love notes, mostly to the eponymous maiden. What looks like
graffiti at first glance, begins to set the mood at closer look.
In the far corner of the connecting courtyard, a statue of
Juliet stares demurely at the passers by, many of them copping a feel of her
breast (they say it is supposed to be good luck). The petite statue stands
underneath the famous balcony.
But it’s not until you enter the home and ascend the
stairs toward the balcony that the scene becomes more surreal. Standing out on
the balcony affords you the opportunity to recite a few poorly remembered lines
from William Shakespeare’s play and spend a special, yet fleeting, moment with
your special someone. But the moment is torn away after a quick snapshot and
the next couple replaces you.
The real romantic spot is back before you arrived at the
actual balcony. As you make your way through the house, find the windows that
look down upon the courtyard and the balcony. Perhaps a touch voyeuristic, the
real whimsy of this place opens up from this vantage point. Couple after couple
will appear on the balcony, smiling arm in arm. From here, you can’t help but
feel the love.
Fussen
The village of Fussen, Germany is home to one of the world’s
most famous castles, but you may not know it. Walt Disney modeled his
Cinderella Castle after the masterpiece that is Neuschwanstein Castle. King
Ludwig’s summer residence is perched high up on a rocky outcrop overlooking the
stunning Bavarian countryside.
Everyone dreams of a castle like this when they are young.
We all wonder what it would be like to be the valiant prince or beautiful
princess, living in extravagance with the royals.
But as charming as the castle itself is, with spires and
towers just begging for a damsel in distress, it is not the most romantic spot
in the area. As you climb up the path to the castle, keep on going right by it
and trek farther to Mary’s Bridge. This skinny walkway traverses the massive
gorge cutting behind the castle. From high above Neuschwanstein, the entire
castle soaks up the panorama. From here, the fairytale becomes as real as it
ever could, evoking your own personal “happily ever after.”
Paris
To put Paris, a city synonymous with romance, on a list of
unexpectedly romantic spots would seem trite. But don’t underestimate the City
of Light. Paris can still turn a few tricks, and not just at Moulin Rouge.
The Rodin Museum, dedicated to the works of French sculptor
Auguste Rodin, is home to some of the most stunning and famous pieces of
artwork in history. Rodin’s Gates of Hell
and The Thinker rest outside in
an exquisite garden. At first glance, the writhing figures on pieces like the Gates
of Hell do not elicit a romantic feeling.
But let the garden draw you in, with bursts of color from flowers and roses
offsetting the dulled bronze worked by Rodin’s hands.
It might be the flowers, it might be the thoughtfulness of The
Thinker, or it might be the entangled
(mostly naked) bodies in the other sculptures, but the garden here certainly
has the potential for temptation, and the opportunity for you to create your
own romantic masterpiece.
Salzburg
Classical music pours from every window in Salzburg,
Austria, giving everyone in the city a giddy step. Utilizing that bit of extra
energy is necessary to explore this mountain town, its rows of churches,
courtyards and gardens, and the looming ridge that runs like a backbone behind
the old town.
Up along the ridge, the Hohensalzburg Fortress sits every
bit the patriarch, hulking over the cliffside. The fortress is a symbol of
strength, fortitude and stability; virtues any lover would want to embody. Not
to mention, the view from up there is extraordinary. The only problem is, you
can’t see the fortress itself.
A short walk along the ridge brings you to the Salzburg
Museum of Modern Art, which sits just as high. The museum has a wide patio
right along the cliff affording views of the river, the shining spires and, of
course, the fortress off in the distance. At dusk, the sun glints off the river
and ridge, imbuing the rooftops, the green turrets and the steely spires with
deep amber orange. It’s enough to make you burst into you favorite Sound of
Music song. A better option, though, is to
steal a kiss and enjoy the breathtaking vista.
Cliffs of Moher
Danger gets the juices flowing. One step towards the edge of
Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher on the western side of the country, will get your
blood pumping with excitement. The thumps continue from the exquisite natural
beauty before you. Emerald green grass runs to the very edge and spills over
into oblivion, nothing but air between it and the sea spray crashing against
the cliffs below.
Your stomach lurches as you peer over the edge; reminiscent
of a similar feeling of falling – into love, perhaps? Wind gusts sling across
the top of the cliffs like arrows from Cupid’s bow. The scene naturally drives
people towards each other.
There is something powerful about the Cliffs of Moher,
something almost mythological. Throw in the unavoidable fact that as visitors
to the Emerald Isle, there’s a good chance you’ve been imbibing in a few pints
of Guinness, and inhibitions may be thrown in the wind. It all adds up to a
perfect and unexpected opportunity to pull your lover back from the edge and
hold on tight.
The truth is, travel mistletoe can be anywhere in any
season, if you take advantage of the opportunity. Many of us travel to get
closer to other people around the world. Nobody ever said the person you get
closest to, can’t be the one you brought with you.