Travel theme: Romance

Posted on February 14, 2014 by ailsapm

The first mention of Valentine’s Day as a celebration of romantic love dates all the way back to 1382 when Geoffrey Chaucer penned his ‘Parlement of Foules’ and that well known verse “Roses are red, violets are blue” had its first outing in 1590 in Edmund Spenser’s ‘Faerie Queene’:

“She bath’d with roses red, and violets blew,
And all the sweetest flowres, that in the forrest grew.”

Nowadays, Valentine’s Day has been co-opted by big business and all of the romance that once existed has long since been traded for consumerism. This year maybe we could eschew the boxes of overly sweet candy and the Hallmark cards with soulless verses and instead, reclaim the romance. What do you find truly romantic – a glance, an unexpected gesture, a stolen kiss?

Rome is one of the world’s greatest romantic cities and it is perhaps the most alluring because it doesn’t show off. There is no fanfare; you make your way through a warren of narrow cobbled streets that stretch for miles and suddenly you round a corner and are faced with the impossibly ancient Parthenon or the utterly romantic Trevi Fountain. I didn’t have to look for the romance in Rome; the romance found me.

Piazza del Popolo, fountain, Rome, Italy, travel, photography, travelogue, Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney

carnival mask, venetian, Rome, Italy, travel, travelogue, photography, Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney

coffee, caffe latte, italian coffee, Rome, Italy, photography, travel, travelogue, Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney

Pincio Gardens, Rome, Italy, Piazzale Napoleone I, travel, travelogue, photography, Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney

I’m hoping you fall head over heels for this week’s theme because I’ve had an awful lot of fun with it. If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:

  • Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Romance
  • Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
  • Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
  • Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS!

Romance me!

xxx Ailsa

“Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze.” – Carolyn Gold Heilbrun

“Romance is everything.” – Gertrude Stein

About ailsapm

Hi there! I’m Ailsa Prideaux-Mooney. I’ve lived in many places, and travelled to many more. I had a lot of fun getting there and being there, wherever there happened to be at the time. I climbed a castle wall in Czesky Krumlov, abseiled down cliffs to go caving in the west of Ireland, slept on the beach in Paros, got chased by a swarm of bees in Vourvourou (ok that wasn’t fun, but it was exciting), learned flower arranging in Tokyo, found myself in the middle of a riot in Seoul, learned to snowboard in Salzburg, got lost in a labyrinth in Budapest and had my ice cream stolen by a gull in Cornwall. And I’m just getting started. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far, I’d love you to follow my travelogue - wheresmybackpack.com - and remember, anyone who tries to tell you it’s a small world hasn’t tried to see it all.
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115 Responses to Travel theme: Romance

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  2. Pingback: Valentine’s Day Runaway | Tish Farrell

  3. Tish Farrell says:
    February 14, 2014 at 7:51 am

    gorgeous pics, Ailsa. I have to confess that I just posted this in response to WP challenge, but it so fits yours too: http://wp.me/pKVAM-xV – running away to Africa on Valentine’s Day

    • ailsapm says:
      February 14, 2014 at 8:08 am

      Wow, wow, wow, Tish, please keep writing this, I was entranced from the very first sentence. I feel like I’ve been given a sneak preview of a great novel and now I’m waiting to read the rest of it. Hypnotic and mesmerising. Please write more.

  4. Max510 says:
    February 14, 2014 at 8:38 am

    Very diffulct this week the challenge !!!
    Are you still in Rome ?
    Please, pull some eggs to our politicians !
    Max

  5. Pingback: “I will always love you…” | ilargia64

  7. loganbruin says:
    February 14, 2014 at 10:21 am

    For me, the most romantic spot in Rome is on top of the Castel San Angelo, even if it’s where Tosca threw herself into the river.

    I only had one shot in this category. . . ;o)

    Travel Theme: Romance

  8. Pingback: Travel Theme: Romance | Jubilee Journey

  9. Pingback: travel theme: romance | Del's other stuff…

  10. Pingback: Travel Theme: Romance | Tim Wolverson – Photo Blog

  11. Pingback: Travel Theme: Romance | Edge of the Forest

  13. aj vosse says:
    February 14, 2014 at 12:32 pm

    I was told today (by a lady at work) that I don’t have a romantic bone in my head… or was it hair on my head… so, don’t expect much from me…

    Actually, come to think of it… my post today didn’t do too badly… 😉

    http://ouchmybackhurts.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/14612/

  14. Max510 says:
    February 14, 2014 at 12:44 pm

    Hi Ailsa and everybody.
    Here my entry
    From Venice with love

    Weekly Travel Theme: Romance

  15. Pingback: Travel Theme : Romance | Travel Tales of Life

  16. sueslaght says:
    February 14, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    Thank you for this lovely challenge Ailsa. Come travel along in search of some romantic spots. http://traveltalesoflife.com/2014/02/14/travel-theme-romance/

  17. Pingback: Travel Theme: Romance | Wind Against Current

  19. Pingback: A Romantic New Year in Prague | Jaspa's Journal

  20. Jaspa says:
    February 14, 2014 at 1:19 pm

    My story this week is about a Romantic New Year spent hunting for Treasure in Prague: http://jaspasjourney.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/a-romantic-new-year-in-prague/

  21. Pingback: On Love « Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches

  22. Pingback: Travel Theme: Romance | Destino

  23. Pingback: Travel theme: Romance « Leya

  25. Pingback: Travel Theme: Romance | Jennifer's Journal

  26. Pingback: 2-14-14 The Romance Of Treasure? The Treasure Of Romance? (Weekly Travel Photo Theme Challenge) | The Quotidian Hudson

  28. Pingback: Travel theme: Romance | Taking One Day At A Time

  30. Pingback: Romance? – Ailsa’s WTT | Ouch!! My back hurts!!

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  33. Humor_Me_Now says:
    February 14, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    My wife likes me to be romantic. Man, I am 80 years old. lol

    I do the usual and she loves it—a romantic card and See’s candy.

  34. Lauren @ Peaks and Passports says:
    February 14, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    I love this theme! This is going to be fun 🙂

  35. Pingback: Travel Theme-Romance | WoollyMuses

  36. Lonna Lisa Williams says:
    February 14, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    Great topic! See how they celebrated Valentine’s Day and Lantern Festival in China: http://lonnalisawilliams.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/chinas-valentines-day/

  37. Pingback: Romantic footsteps | Le Drake Noir

  38. Pingback: Romance at Scare Coeur- travel photo challenge | pdjpix

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  41. Pingback: Romance- Ailsa’s Weekly Travel Theme | The Rider

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  44. sudapoedia47 says:
    February 15, 2014 at 2:07 am

    ” love he comes & love he tarries
    just as fate or fancy carries
    longest stays when sorest chidden
    laughs & flies when pressed & bidden”

  45. Pingback: Good morning moon over the Bay of Asinara | My Sardinian Life

  47. Pingback: Travel Theme: Romance | Tvor Travels

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  49. Preeti says:
    February 15, 2014 at 4:10 am

    Here’s my take on dear… my first entry to the travel theme challenge. great blog BTW. Cheers!

    Partners

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