July Summer Days

July summer days. Could we please make them last just a little bit longer? If you have been high on summer fever these last weeks let me slow things a bit down for you. Set aside those travel books and maps. Take a pause from packing and planning. Just be still awhile and relish the simplicity of summer beauty. Breathe it in. Oh, how I love this season of sunshine and warmth. Even ordinary walks in the park turn into something special. 

Let me share with you a July summer day spent at a fountain with a pair of ducks and an abundance of waterlilies. 

Have a lovely summer! 

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A Castle of Dreams

I live in Europe. Castles? Puh! I’ve seen them all! I’ve been to some of the world’s most beautiful and historic castles. What castle does America have to offer that could ever compare to those I’ve already seen? That was what I thought when Hearst Castle popped up in a suggested itinerary. But since I was en route to San Francisco, might as well drop by and check it out. I’ve always been an inquisitive traveller. Even if you think you’ve seen it all - there’s always more to see! So, I made up my mind. I went to Hearst Castle, albeit  without much excitement.

     
After procuring tickets in the main building near the estate’s entrance, I rode a bus up the hill and through the property. A lively commentary played all the way up, sharing the key points of the castle’s history. It told the story from way back to the Gold Rush of America. From a man’s dream to a son’s strategic investment up to the completion of the castle. The vastness of the parkland was mind-boggling. Back in the days there were all kinds of exotic animals roaming the estate, like camels, ostriches, kangaroos, and even giraffes! Now, zebras could still be seen grazing in the ranch. 

    
So you can imagine my interest mounting as the bus rode higher and higher. Add to that the lush landscape and the fresh wind from the ocean below; I wasn’t so skeptical anymore. Then I got off the bus and beheld the castle grounds — I was enthralled!

    
Now, if you’ve read my previous post of feeling the world (Blogpost: Go Feel the World), well this was one of those moments were I just forgot all those other castles I’ve seen and just looked at everything with new eyes. And I felt it. I felt the castle. I felt the history. I felt everything! I saw a man’s dream turn into reality and an architect’s vision realized. I felt the love and determination that formed the foundations. I just felt it. 

     
It wasn’t a European medieval castle, it was more like a cross between a castle and a  mansion. Hearst Castle had every modern luxury. From cavernous rooms, to indoor swimming pools, even a private cinema, Hearst Castle had it all — and that was already decades before! The guesthouses are lovely bougainvillea-covered buildings. I was particularly fond of them! But those flowers! The flowers made the place come alive; a medley of colors that adorned the property and turned everything fresh and inviting. 

     
Enough said. I highly recommend you visit Hearst Castle. Take a short trip back in time to a world of billionaires and socialites. Where celebrities, tycoons and politicians mingled. Where extravagance is commonplace and summer days are seemingly eternal. But most importantly, take a trip to a place that reminded me that even the wildest dreams can come true. 

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Luxury Redefined

When I think of the French Riviera I associate it with anchored yachts, elegant people, and excessive luxury. It’s a world of flaunted wealth and hidden scandals, of gaiety and intrigue set in the backdrop of pebbled shores, blue waters, and a sun-kissed sky. My curiosity was piqued. With all that in mind, I wondered...what had Nice to offer to a simple traveler? 

          
It turned out that Nice is more than just a stop for the famously rich to soak in the sun. The old town center was a charming mix of twisting roads and colorful houses. A wonderful combination of European charm and Mediterranean flare. I even got to experience the luxury that the Côte d’Azur is so famous for. Now, I didn’t drive down the coast in a Lamborghini. And I didn’t party on a yacht. But I did walk along the Promenade des Anglais in the late afternoon sun. I did take a refreshing dip in the ocean and then I did get to watch the sun turn the sky in the softest pastel shades. As I sat there in quiet contentment I thought to myself: I did get a taste of luxury after all.

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Tranquility in This Restless World

Summer is fast approaching. Can you sense it? I hear it with the chirping of birds ere the break of dawn. I feel it in the gentle breeze through my open window. I see it in that azure sky. Yes, Summer is coming − and I’m giddy with excitement. I am already checking out potential countries to visit . Might have even narrowed it down to one particular country that presently beckons me to its rolling hills and enticingly calls me by name. 

        
Whatever you do this summer, wherever you go, or even if you just plan to stay at home, find time to relax. Give yourself a break. Summer is all about kicking off your flip-flops and treating yourself to a 24/7 relaxation therapy a.k.a lazying around. Relaxation to me is a time of wandering barefoot along the beach. To feel the water gently lapping against my ankles. To sit under a palm tree with my eyes closed while listening to the song of the waves − a mix of mighty roars that strangely lulls me to sleep. My body relaxed. My mind blissfully drifting. And when I’ve spent the entire day doing sweet nothing, I reward myself by watching the sun set beyond the horizon. Oh, if it were possible, I’d sit by the shore and watch an eternal sunset paint the heavens! A  source of tranquility in this restless world. 

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Hidden Spring

Another post to celebrate the beauty of this season. I was walking around the old city center of Vienna in search of lovely nooks & crannies to photograph when I stumbled upon a lone flower shop in the shadows of the Stephansdom. It looked like it had already been there when lords and ladies paraded their frivolous attires in Springtime. I probably spent a good fifteen minutes outside the shop just feasting on the beautiful sight. It was like a hidden garden or a burst of Spring against the gray cobblestones and the dark shadows of the old buildings surrounding it. Quite a treasure. 

Wishing you all a lovely Spring!

Thank you for reading!