mstchrlady

in a town called San Dona di Piav(ve)…

Venice is such an enchanting place. It is hard to stroll through it at dusk and not feel the magic. I remember fondly those days of water taxis and streets like hidden passageways. The boat to Murano island where they make their beautiful and famous glass. The cappuccinos at San Marco’s Square. Breakfast on the Canale Grande. The dinners of pasta appetizers complemented by luscious Italian wine… Abbiamo manggiato molto bene!!!

Venice is for dreamers and romantics. It is worth more than the typical tourist stop. It is a city straight from a fairy tale and is meant to be soaked in. If you go there and can’t get past the herds of ill-behaved tourists, the smell or the mosquitos then I feel sorry for you. If you are able to open your heart to it, you’ll be whisked away to a world of fantasy. Ahhhhhh, Venezia — thank you for your magic!

I used to live in San Francisco and my boyfriend and I would make the hour and a half drive here every few months. It is such a quaint little village with all sorts of cute shops and boutiques. We enjoyed watching the surfers and dining in the restaurants with the gorgeous ocean views. And we liked that it’s not pretentious like so many other places in the area. I highly recommend it.

If you can only see one place in Japan, this would be it. It’s the cultural capital of Japan and it is mystical and beautiful. There are so many temples and ancient sights. This is about the only place in Japan where you’ll still see real geishas. I especially recommend Kiyomizu temple and Kinkakuji (the Golden Temple) and Ryoanji temple is great for just sitting and contemplating. It’s the Japan of 1000’s of years ago and perfect for anyone who is into Japanese culture or history or who just simply wants to see the traditional Japan.

Old Town really is a nifty place to hang out. I loved it so much that we had our wedding reception there (in a lovely Moroccan restaurant — I married a Moroccan). If you visit, you really should try to schedule a meal at Gadsby’s Tavern. It’s a historical landmark. Another fun thing to do is to take a tour of Old Town by lantern-light (they have ghost tours and regular ones). Also, for you canine lovers out there, Alexandria was voted one of America’s “most dog-friendly cities” and you will find many stores that allow dogs — and even have water dishes and/or treats. There are also several gourmet shops just for pampered pooches. If you have any questions, let me know. I’ll try to help if I can.