I went to see a customer today and saved him some money on his lecky (northern expression for electricity and I know I'm a travel agent but I do also help people save money on their utilities) and he said something to me that really put a few things in to perspective. We got talking about holidays (forever the salesman!) and he said to me that all he wants is to sit in a lovely town square and watch the world go by with a cold beer in his hand.
We sat there for a few seconds in silence and we both let that sentence sink in. Fred is 87 this year and I doubt he will be able to fulfill this wish, I would love to go with him. I'll try and persuade his son to go instead I think.
It is a comment that has really made me think as I have been very fortunate in my short (uh hum) life to have visited quite a few places in the world, but I have to say that, when all is said and done, you can't beat sitting down in a beautiful place watching the world go by with a cold beer or glass of wine in your hand. It could be a quaint spanish town, it could just be down your local pub. It's the simple pleasures in life that seem to be the most rewarding and they're the ones we take for granted!
So I've compiled my top 5 places that fit the criteria that Fred laid down and that is the places have to be relaxing, have an atmospheric ambience and Fred wanted the warmth of the sun on his back -but I have added colder places as well. All where you can enjoy a cold drink. They aren't in any order, except for the first one as a dedication to Fred and his inspiration, as I found that they are all wonderfull in their own way. So here goes:
1 - Citta Sant Angelo, a 13th century hilltop town in the Arbruzzo region of Italy. It has a wonderful town square and a great bar with table outside to have a refreshing drink. I can see the droplets running down the glass as I write!
2 - A hill overlooking the Elooloo Escarpment and the plains of the Masai Mara at sunset. This is a fabulous time of day in Kenya, one where time really does slow right down and the colours of the land become a hundred times more vivid.
3 - The Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree Hotel in Bangkok. It's an open air bar situated 61 floors above the bustling streets of the city. There's always a magical atmosphere and they have a telescope for star gazing too!
4 - Aurora Sky Station in Swedish Lapland. There is a fabulous café at the station where you can observe the Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis. A cold beer might not be advisable but a lovely hot chocolate would go down very well.
5 - Last but not least how about sitting in the beer garden at the Dunnings Old Mill pub with a lovely pint of Harveys bitter (not cheap mind you, the cost of a pint these days.)! But worth every penny in my opinion.
I am sure that as you read this you will be able to add many more places to the list but I hope that the top 5 gives you a little inspiration to enjoy a moment when you are out and about or visiting a destination where you can take a few minutes out and savour the moment!
Until next time,
Steve, Citrus Travel