10 Great Destinations for a Kiss

Remembering the Magic

On Valentine's Day, what could be more fitting than recalling the magic of the most romantic places you've ever been?  We all have a different list, but here are my top ten:

The Taj Mahal -- Agra, India

"A story of eternal love and friendship such as the world has never known before, lies shrouded in the mists of history.  Much of that story has been forgotten and become blurred in the memory of men, but it has left behind a symbol of such rare beauty and unwavering devotion that it can never be forgotten.  That symbol is the Taj Mahal."                  --Mantoshe Singh Devji

The Taj Mahal, the breathtakingly beautiful monument to the love of Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz is a wondrous site to behold.  Yes, it may be crowded, and yes -- at certain times of the year, such as in August when I went, it will be scorchingly hot, but seeing it with your own eyes is an experience of a lifetime.   

See it at dawn, when the early light transforms the marble into shades of petal pink.  At noon, the marble appears pearl white under the blazing sun.  In the evening, darkness unfolds, casting silver shadows over the walls as delicate moonbeams dance overhead.

Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Not far from Ouarzazate, a honey-colored kasbah called Aït Benhaddou rises from the shimmering sand, resembling a palace out of the Arabian Nights. 

Here, ancient camel caravans once plied the lonely road to the desert. 

Park your car, your camel, or your donkey.  Cross the shallow, reed-strewn river as the sun rises high in the sky, painting the landscape in the muted shades of the desert -- salmon, dusty pink and tawny gold.  The kasbah's chaotic jumble of red-ochre dwellings seems to spill down the rocky bluff, coming to rest at the village's outer walls.

Climb the narrow, rutted stairs to the turreted rooftops, where you can view the sun-kissed fields that stretch for miles to the desert beyond.  High upon your turret, it's not hard to daydream of the caliphs and sultans of the past, of veiled princesses and of the deeds of conquering tribes. 

Down below in the alley, a man in a sapphirine-blue robe leeds his camel into the shadows, dismounts and embraces a slender, dark-eyed woman.  Reluctant to let go, they look around anxiously - then steal a lingering kiss in the dark.

The silence of the empty alleyway whispers of stolen kisses and secrets hidden amongst these ancient walls -- a place for romantics, most definitely.

The Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain

"It absolutely appears to me like a dream; or as if I am spellbound in some fairy palace." -- Washington Irving

Here, in this Moorish realm of legends and dreams, I sought refuge from a summer storm in the magnificent royal garden of the The Palacio de Generalife, once the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid sultans of Granada.

On the Patio of the Sultana, I sheltered in the shadow of an ancient brick doorway.  Gazing at the garden, an old, dead tree caught my eye.  Held steady by an iron brace, I realized it is the Cypress tree where the Sultan's wife, Sultana Zoraya hid, waiting for her lover.  I wondered -- how many people had sheltered here before me?  So many people had lived and loved and dreamed here, in this garden meant for romance.

Sweetheart Abbey, New Abbey, Scotland

This beautiful Cistercian Abbey, just 8 miles south of Dumfries, was one of my favorite stops on a recent trip to Scotland. 

The caretaker, an elderly gentleman with snow white hair, took some time to tell us a romantic tale.

Sweetheart Abbey was founded in 1273, he said, by Lady Devorgilla of Galloway, daughter of Alan, Lord of Galloway, in memory of her husband John de Balliol.  When he died, she had his heart embalmed and placed in a casket made of ivory and silver.  She carried his heart with her everywhere, and when she died, she was laid to rest in front of the Abbey church's high altar, holding her husband's heart close to her own. 

This graceful ruin is a peaceful place, and as you can see from my photo, very lush and green under the bright blue sky.  A perfect place to share with someone special. 

Burns Country, Scotland

"O my Luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June:
O my Luve's like the melodie, That's sweetly play'd in tune."   -- Robert Burns

It's only fitting to include Burns Country on my list, on this romantic day in the year that marks the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth.  Visitors can follow in Burns' footsteps from the humble cottage in Alloway where he was born and the medieval Brig O'Doon, setting for the climax of his famous tale, Tam O'Shanter, to the Globe, Burns' favorite howff (pub) in Dumfries, the city where he spent his last years.

And then there's:

• Prague, Czech Republic -- In this beautifully preserved, historic "City of 100 Spires" romance can be found at every corner.

• New York City, USA -- Scene of the world's most famous kiss.  How could New York City not be romantic?  Here's writer Heather Cross's Top 10 Romantic Places in New York City.

• Positano, Italy -- This magical city on Italy's Amalfi Coast is the perfect setting for the most beautiful sunset you'll ever see. 

• Paris, France -- the city of lights and love.  In "Top 10 Places to Steal  a Kiss" in Lonely Planet's Best In Travel 2009:  850  Trends, Destinations, Journeys & Experiences for the Year Ahead, the writers say, "We could come up with a completely separate list just featuring places to pucker up in Paris," and I agree.  Tops on my list:  Stealing a kiss by the resting place of two of the most passionate people that ever lived - the tombs of lovelorn Abelard and Heloise, in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

• St. Augustine, Florida-- Why not steal a kiss beneath the Love Tree?  On Cordova Street, a palm tree grows out of an oak, and legend says that a kiss underneath it will seal your love for all eternity.

Which places are on your list?

 

Comments

[Nomadic Pinoy]

I certainly agree with the first two, having been there (but not necessarily for a kiss). Even at any time of the year, it's still quite romantic!