Wanderboomer

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

BY Nancy Mueller 8 Comments ON February 14, 2012

Shot on Location: 7 Movie Destinations for Valentine’s Day

Romantic Movies on Location

Travelers at heart can visit any one of several romantic destinations on Valentine’s Day in the click of an eye through the magic of movies. Cuddle up with or without your sweetie and pass the popcorn and kleenex . . .

An Affair to Remember

An Affair to Remember

An ocean liner headed for New York City sets the stage for this Hollywood classic starring Deborah Kerr (Terry McKay) and Cary Grant (Nicky Ferrante), with Fate and Destiny in key supporting roles. As an added bonus, you can enjoy gorgeous views from the villa on the French Riviera where Nicky’s wise and loving grandmother resides. Most famous line: “If you can paint, I can walk!”

Casablanca

Casablanca

Former lovers meet unexpectedly in French Morocco during World War II when “of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world,” Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) has to walk into his, Rick’s (Humphrey Bogart). The drama includes flashback scenes to happier times when they fell in love in Paris, together with a rousing rendition of the national anthem of France, “La Marseillaise.”

Dr. Zhivago

Omar Sharif (Yuri) and Julie Christie (Lara) are star-crossed lovers in this film set in Russia (though filmed in Canada, Finland and Spain) during the Bolshevik Revolution. Any movie that can romanticize an Ice Palace in the Russian countryside in the middle of winter is worth a viewing.

Lady and the Tramp

In case you think that only we humans hold the monopoly on romance, our canine counterparts will convince you otherwise in this Disney classic. Has there ever been a more heartwarming animated scene than when our main characters discover love at the end of a shared strand of spaghetti at Tony’s (Italian) Restaurant?

Roman Holiday

Audrey Hepburn won an oscar for her performance as Princess Anne who rebels against her royal duties by going undercover as a commoner in Rome for a day. After a memorable chance encounter, reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) soon realizes he has the scoop of the decade – and the love of a lifetime. Location shots include the Spanish Steps, Palazza Colonna, and Bocca della Verita (Mouth of Truth).

Notorious

Notorious

Rio de Janeiro takes center stage in Hitchcock’s brilliant tale of espionage, romance and betrayal. Cary Grant stars as Devlin, an American agent, who enlists the aid of Alicia (Ingrid Bergman) to track the Nazi ring operating in Rio after her father is convicted of treason. Love intervenes only to be pushed aside by the dutiful Devlin who throws her into marriage with Alex (Claude Rains), leader of the local Nazis group. Will Devlin find a way to save Alicia and himself by movie’s end? You’ll just have to watch the film to find out.

Sound of Music

“The hills are alive with the sound of music” while romance blooms between Maria, a young postulant at Austria’s Nonnberg Abbey, and Baron von Trapp, a widower engaged to be married. Cupid strikes when their eyes meet as the Baron leads Maria in a dance. Be still my heart . . .

Added Bonus!

I can’t help myself. I have to include one more travel film here:

The English Patient

The English Patient

Though this World War II drama is set in Tuscany and Egypt, several scenes were shot on location in Tunisia for a more realistic portrait of 1940’s Cairo. Viewing Ralph Fiennes in his role as Count Laszlo de Almasy carrying his beloved, white shrouded Katherine (Kristin Scott Thomas) across the windswept desert landscape leaves me mesmerized every time. When he recognizes that she’s wearing the thimble (You have to see the movie), her reply, “Of course, you idiot. I always wear it. I’ve always worn it. I’ve always loved you,” says it all. Sigh . . .

What about you, Wanderboomers? What travel movies would you add to my list for Valentine’s Day?

Filed Under: Activities, Africa, Baby Boomers and Travel, Brazil, Entertainment, Italy, New York, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, Russia Tagged With: An Affair to Remember, Audrey Hepburn, Austria, Baron von Trapp, Bocca della Verita, Bolshevik Revolution, Cairo, Canada, Cary Grant, Casablanca, Claude Rains, Count Laszlo de Almasy, Deborah Kerr, desert, Dr. Zhivago, Egypt, espionage, films, Finland, French Morocco, French Riviera, Gregory Peck, Hitchcock, Humphrey Bogart, Ice Palace, Ingrid Bergman, Italian, Joe Bradley, Julie Christie, Kristin Scott Thomas, La Marseillaise, Lady and the Tramp, love, Morocco, Mouth of Truth, movies, Nazi, Nazis, New York, Nicky Ferrante, Nonnberg Abbey, Notorious, ocean liner, Omar Sharif, Palazza Colonna, Paria, Princess Anne, Ralph Fiennes, restaurant, Rio de Janeiro, Roman Holiday, romance, Rome, spaghetti, Spain, Spanish Steps, St. Valentine's Day, Terry McKay, The English patient, The Sound of Music, Tony's, travel, Tunisia, Tuscany, villa

BY Nancy Mueller 10 Comments ON December 27, 2011

The Best of 2011: Hotels & Haciendas

Here are my top hotel choices from my travels in 2011 . . . Drumroll, please!

Hacienda Cusin

1) Hacienda Cusin – If you’ve been following my blog, then you already know much I loved staying at this luxurious Ecuadorian resort last summer. My only regret is that my visit was so short, only for a night. No matter. I was still able to take in its beautiful pastoral surroundings and enjoy a couple of exquisite meals in the cozy dining room.

Spa at Termas Papallacta2) Termas Papallacta – I’ve written several posts about this luxurious hot springs and spa that lies high in the Andes, just 40 miles east of Quito. Just imagine starting your day with a restorative soak in one of several pools just footsteps outside your cabin door. Go ahead. Breathe in the misty, clean air brought by the Amazon jungle winds. Afterwards, stroll along the covered walkways that lead to the main lodge where a breakfast of empanadas and exotic fruit juices, like naranjilla or guanabana, await. I can hear you moaning now . . . Or was that me, remembering the experience?

The resort, a popular haven for adventurers and health-conscious travelers, is the first in mainland Ecuador to receive the Smart Voyager sustainable tourism certification. Lucky me to have stayed here for three days and three nights!

Inside Spa at Termas Papallacta

MV Evolution3) MV Evolution – My home away from home for my cruise of the Galapagos Islands was aboard a classic 32-passenger yacht “floating hotel.” Billed as a throwback to memories of exotic travel in the 1920’s, this small-ship was a beauty. With an all-Ecuadorian crew of 18 that included a doctor, cruise director and two naturalist guides, the level of personal service our hosts provided was exceptional. As you might imagine, the sky lounge on the upper deck became a very popular watering hole at the end of our days spent hiking, kayaking and snorkeling.

Okay – so far, my top hotel choices for 2011 have all been in Ecuador. But there is one more worth mentioning . . .

4) Hotel Casablanca in New York City – What a perfect little retreat from the over-the-top bright lights and cacophony of Times Square! Truly a boutique hotel, with its tiny elevator and narrow hallways, the hotel is a lovely little gem with a Moroccan motif in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The staff was warm and welcoming, and despite a few problems with the free Wi-Fi service during my stay, the level of service was outstanding. I especially enjoyed Rick’s Café, the intimate lounge where a delicious continental breakfast was provided each morning and a wine and cheese reception every afternoon. So civilized . . .

While there, I struck up a conversation with one of the other hotel guests – a young girl visiting New York City with her family to celebrate her 11th birthday on 11/11/11. If you saw The Today Show that day, you saw her, too, along with several other kids celebrating the same event themselves.

Inside Rick's Cafe at Hotel Casablanca

So much depends upon the care and kindness of strangers when we’re on the road. Whether you want to celebrate a special occasion like my new 11-year-old friend, or simply disappear off the beaten path, each of these hotels offer unforgettable experiences.

What hotels made your “Best of 2011” list, Wanderboomers? Tell us why.

Filed Under: Baby Boomers and Travel, By Land, By Ship & By Sea, Destinations, Food & Dining, Galapagos Islands, Hotels, New York Tagged With: Amazon, best of, Casablanca, Ecuador, empanadas, fruit juices, Galapagos Islands, guanabana, Hacienda, Hacienda Cusin, hot springs, Hotel Casablanca, Hotels, jungle, luxury, Midtown Manhattan, Moroccan, Morocco, MY Evolution, naranjilla, Rick's cafe, service, Smart Voyager, spa, sustainable tourism certification, Termas Papallacta, The Today Show, Times Square

Hello fellow wanderboomers! I’m a Seattle-based travel journalist, specializing in fun travel adventures for the young at heart. My articles have been featured in Hemispheres, AAA Highroads Magazine and Northwest Travel & Life Magazine where I'm a frequent contributor. When this Wanderboomer isn’t traveling, I help global executives polish their personal and professional brand for long-term results.
For travel tips, news & inspiration in our Wanderboomer newsletter, subscribe here.

Destination:

  • North America
  • South America
  • Europe
  • Asia
  • Australia
  • Africa

Categories:

  • Business
  • Family
  • Purpose
  • Writing

© 2023 · Wanderboomer. Terms and Conditons | Sitemap | Contact · Site by Wordpress Barista