I could have chosen a different destination for this romantic summer holiday. But I chose Venice. I wanted to see its beauty, to experience traveling by vaporetto, to hear the beautiful Italian language, to see fascinating people, to taste good food, enjoy the gelato, the coffee, the music and all nice things.

I did all that and more. I love Venice. I enjoyed walking its narrow road, passing by its colourful and magnificent architectures, watching beautiful people, looking at the expressive Italians waving their hands while they speak, the friendliness, the beautiful live music … They said it will be jammed pack full of people. They said it would be too hot. They said it would be too expensive. But none of this bothered me. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Coming back to the hotel after a wonderful day exploring the city, I found a candle, a bottle of champagne and some chocolates in the room courtesy of the hotel. This was to celebrate this lovely time in this romantic city.

I was circling the Stonehenge and was really, really cold. Was it not supposed to be summer? The thing was, I had no plans of circling the Stonehenge. I did not plan to go there. But the coach needed to stop on the way to London from Bath so that tourists can have a look and enjoy. But it was cold!

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in Wiltshire, England. It’s an ancient stone circle which evolved between 3,000 BC and 1,600 BC. Its exact purpose remains a mystery. 

Although it was freezing cold that afternoon, I was happy to be asked by excited tourists to take their photos. I don’t know why because my hands were mid frozen. Did I mention it was June? 

It was an unexpected trip. I didn’t plan for it. But a friend once told me that Bath is beautiful and a must place to go if ever I’m in UK. Well, I’m in UK again. And somehow, I found myself in Baker street, waiting for the coach to take me to Bath, a two hours ride from London.

I didn’t know what I have to see in Bath but there are really beautiful architectures along the way to the main square. In the main square, I basically followed what others did, visiting the Roman Bath which was established between the first and the fifth centuries AD and Bath Abbey which was built in 1499. Walking around the city centre was quite fascinating even though the weather was cold and the skies were grey.

At the square, I saw a stall selling handmade leather products. There was a question posted on the wall that says, “Tired of paying too much for pointless brand names?” Well, I did thought it was a great question and ended up chatting with the seller.

I did surrender my sandals as it was rain, rain, rain in Dublin. The seller wished me happy warm feet after he handed me my red Keds. Yes, Dublin was certainly an experience. It was my first time to visit a country on my own with no apparent reason other than to see the place.

But it was beautiful. I enjoyed walking by the River Liffey during the sunset, strolling on O’ Connell Street and Grafton Street, having a sandwich on the park bench at the Saint Stephen’s Green, taking the bus many times around the city to see many places many times. I visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, attended a church service at the Christ Church Cathedral, had a Viking experience, etc. It was an interesting three days. But what I loved most was visiting the Dublin City Gallery and especially the National Gallery. I did quite a commotion at the National Gallery when I asked the guards where was this and that painting that it almost became a museum tour! One of the most beautiful and emotional paintings I’ve ever seen is Frederic William Burton’s The Meeting on Turret Stairs,1864. It tells about Hellelil’s love for her bodyguard Hilderbrand, whose death was ordered by her angered father. What a tragedy!

After a week in Havana, I started getting too much of the live music and found myself at the comfort of my iPod. As I sit at the lobby of Hotel Praque Central for my afternoon Mojito and some delicious Cuban sandwich, I was ready to shoo away the guitar duo.

Even at my favourite Café de las Infusiones, an attractive courtyard coffee house which serves excellent Cappuccinos, I got enough of the perfect dancing pair and the wonderful pianist. Staring at the yellow wall reflected by the strong sunlight, the blue ceiling holding the ancient looking lamps and fans, I whispered to myself, can the piano and dancing stop for a while?

So returning to Hotel Nacional for the late night Daiquiri while watching the main artery of Havana, the Malecón, I was listening to Night Fever on my iPod. I think I had enough of Guantanamera.