Valenduckie: Kate Bridges’ Most Romantic Places in the World
Friday, February 15, 2008 9:00
Kate Bridges is another Friday cupid and shares with us some of her most favorite and romantic places on our small blue orb. She also has a Harlequin Historical release coming – Klondike Fever, 1 Apr 08.
Do you believe in love at first sight? I do. In my case, it’s with a city.
What could be more romantic than witnessing the most famous train in the world, the Orient Express, pulling up on the platform in the most romantic city in the world, Venice? Many moons ago, when my husband was just my boyfriend and we were backpacking across Europe, I was struck by the adventure of the moment when we disembarked from our own grimy train, to be standing next to those posh and elegant coaches. At the time, we were poor students. We stopped to stare at the first-class passengers with their Louis Vuitton luggage, European suits, and perfumed hairstyles. Many of them were headed to Asia, but we had our own quiet agenda of discovering this intimate Italian city. As the Orient Express rumbled out of the station, we stepped out to the Grand Canal of Venice. And wow! Love at first sight.
My second most romantic choice sits on the opposite side of the world, close to the Arctic circle and far from the rest of civilization. Yukon Territory in Canada. A year ago, my husband and I—and we now have a daughter who joined us—explored the route the Klondike stampeders took over the treacherous mountains. What I’ll remember most about the Yukon is the wonderful smell. I’ve never inhaled such pure fresh air. Every step I took brought a different scent—pine trees, wild mountain flowers, moss, rivers that churned up ancient glacial silt. And how about that view?
The photos of Venice and the Yukon River are my own. My trip to the Yukon and Alaska inspired my current series set in the Klondike. For more photos, please visit my site.
Do you have a favorite romantic place?
For a chance to win a free advance copy of my upcoming April Harlequin Historical, KLONDIKE FEVER, please leave a comment on this post and I’ll put your name into a draw. Two winners to be chosen today!
Becky says:
February 15th, 2008 at 9:15 am
My favorite romantic place would have to be Baccarat France, I went there with my ex last year. We actually had our first kiss there while watching the sunset standing in the middle of grapes! Reisling has been my fav wine ever since.
Maya says:
February 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am
kate – what a nice surprise, to wade into the duckpond and find a trw sibling!
and i’m totally with you on the venice=most romantic thing – i’ve never really understood how everyone and their dog is so enthralled with paris. it’s very nice, granted, but after all the buildup i found it anti-climactic. visiting venice, though, was all i expected it to be. *sigh*
the other place that got the same response out of me are the alps in summer – all that brilliant sun, flower-strewn meadows, snow-capped peaks, the occasional pretty brown cow with tinkling cowbell, and jaw-dropping horizons on every side. i’m guessing it would be very similar in the rockies (possibly minus the cowbell part – is there such a thing as grizzly bells?) but sadly i haven’t had a chance yet to see…..
Maureen says:
February 15th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I would love to see Venice. What exciting trips you have had. I am hoping that someday my husband and I will be able to travel to Alaska. I think we would both love it.
Cherie J says:
February 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Mine is St. Thomas. Hubby and I went their for our first honeymoon and also celebrated our first anniversary there as well. Our honeymoon was very romantic. Hubby rented a small villa with a small private pool and a beautiful view. I will always have fond memories of that special time and place.
azteclady says:
February 15th, 2008 at 10:36 am
The Andes. There’s one particular mountain peak in the Venezuelan side, Pico del Aguila, where a glacial lagoon has formed over an ancient basin. The bottom is volcanic ash, so the surface is a perfect mirror of the surrounding peaks. The only way to reach this place is by horse (two hours ride, to be exact), and most days there’s at least a bit of fog moving over the water. The cold is so bitter one can barely feel one’s face, but the view is worth every aching muscle.
My best memory from that day was having my 16mo daughter inside my jacket during the ride, and watching my 6yo son riding his own little horse unassisted. Slightly less good a memory is of him riding to the edge of the water, then dismounting on the right side of his horse… in 4in of ice cold water… and losing a shoe to the ash. (Even this one is compensated by the memory of my now ex hunched over his saddle horn while the guide held the guide rope *evil cackle* What can I say? I can be as vindictive as the next gal *wink*)
CrystalGB says:
February 15th, 2008 at 11:41 am
For my husband and me, it is Gatlinburg,TN. We honeymooned in a cabin there and we like to celebrate our anniversary by going back there.
Kate Bridges says:
February 15th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Hi everyone!
Your own romantic escapades sound wonderful–from the vineyards in Baccarat, the Alps, St. Thomas, the Andes, to Gatlinburg. I’ll have to google these places so I can see for myself! It’s giving me the travel bug to go someplace warm today, since there’s such a huge pile of snow here in Toronto.
I also really love the personal stories. You’ve sure described them in a vivid way. Funny how in important moments, we notice all the 5 senses. Helpful to remember when I’m writing!
Maya-lol on bumping into you here.
A fellow Venice-lover at that!
Maureen–I hope you and your husband make it to Alaska one day. I hear the cruises are beautiful up there. We flew into the interior and rented a car to get back to the coast, so no cruiseships for us, but the scenery’s gorgeous throughout the state!
I’ll leave the draw open till 10 pm tonight, when I’ll announce the two winners of KLONDIKE FEVER. (EST–ie. same time as New York and Toronto). Thanks for all the interesting comments!
Kate
http://www.katebridges.com
Little Lamb Lost says:
February 15th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Scotland. My husband and I honeymooned there travelling around to different bed and breakfasts, hiking, sightseeing (lochs and castles, ruins, and distilleries), eating well and tasting single malts. It was a gorgeous location and a wonderful experience.
JSL says:
February 15th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Whoops – I think my comment here got lost… so my pick for most romantic place would be Florence.
Nathalie says:
February 15th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
The most romantic place… Paris especially when in a café
Danny says:
February 15th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
One of the most romantic for me was in an old abbey in Northern England.
Kate Bridges says:
February 15th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Wow, there are some really nice stories in here.
I would love to spend a chunk of time in Scotland and northern England. I’ve been to London, which was exciting, but I’m sure it’s totally different in the countryside.
On the same trip when we went to Venice, my dh and I went to Florence. The city was gorgeous, as you say JSL–full of brilliant art and architecture. On a student’s budget, you learn to walk a lot and admire things from the outside.
The Alberta Rockies are special in my heart, too, Anne, I know how you felt when you saw them.
Pearl, thanks for the compliments on the photos. And I agree with those of you who said that traveling to certain places is a life-changing experience. And so special to see how other people live, and what they think is important in life. I can’t imagine having the time to shop for fresh food every day like they do in many European cities, but I wish I did. Or at least, I wish we had that type of lifestyle. It’s big supermarkets over here, not quite as charming.
Jenna, your trip to Barcelona sounds like a great experience. As did the comments on Paris, the abbey in northern England, the bed and breakfasts in Scotland (Little Lamb Lost–what is a single malt, BTW? Are there double malts?) and Lake Como!
Kate
http://www.katebridges.com
Kate Bridges says:
February 15th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Okay, it’s past ten o’clock here and time for the draw.
I’ve got your names in a baseball cap. I’m mixing them all up…
And the winners are….
Kate Bridges says:
February 15th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Maureen and Jenna!
Congratulations! You’ve each won a signed copy of KLONDIKE FEVER. The novel doesn’t come out until April. I was expecting my advance copies to arrive in about 2 weeks, but guess what showed up at my door today? Yup, the books!
Could you please contact me through my website and give me your full name and address?
Thanks, everyone, for coming out to talk to me today!! I enjoyed your company.
And thanks Sybil and company, for inviting me.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kate
http://www.katebridges.com
azteclady says:
February 15th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Congrats, Maureen and Jenna!!! *applause*
Thank you, Kate, it was fun!
acdaisy77 says:
February 16th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Congrats ladies!
Katie says:
February 16th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Oh my, your pic makes me want to re-visit Venice. I can’t remember a lot about the city for the first time I was there, I was a wee thing of seven LOL. It’s only about four hours by car away from where I (usually, though not currently) live. A friend though told me that Venice is best visited during the Winter months because of a) smells and b) fewer tourists.
As to a favorite romantic place … hmmm, I have never seen anything as magnificent as the Highlands in Scotland. A lot of Scotland set romances I have read tried to depict them but it’s something that one can only experience for oneself.
Maureen says:
February 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Thank you Kate!
Danny says:
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:52 am
Big congrats Maureen and Jenna!