I've been thinking about this topic for awhile and I think yesterday's post about my love affair with Florence is a good segue. Last night I couldn't stop thinking about going back. Then, this morning, I just had to put on my Florence perfume from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab's Wanderlust collection: "The pearl of the Italian Renaissance. Elegant iris, bright berries, gilded amber, and velvety spices."
I guess if I can't be there, the next best thing is to look at pictures and evoke the feeling of the city through scent, right? They say scent is the strongest memory and all.
So, I'm curious. If you're out there reading this, what is your city?
Mine is probably Florence, although Rome and Siena are hot on its heels.
I love when people describe "their city." The enthusiasm and passion is contagious. It always sheds a new light on the place and makes me appreciate it more.
For example, I thought I'd love Venice but didn't have the experience I'd hoped for when I was there for a few days. I wanted Venice to be "my city" and even loved a lot of the sites, but I left feeling unfulfilled.
Then, last month I read a mystery set in Venice. The author's love for they city leapt off the page. That led me to some travel forums and I've been reading about other people's love for Venice ever since. The fog, the churches, the history, the unique architecture they've stumbled upon after "getting lost" on the calles. . .so much of the character and charm of a city is in the details beyond the tourist attractions.
Now I can't wait to read more books and to visit for a longer period of time. I want to allow Venice to reveal itself to me.
Maybe you're lucky and you live in your city. Maybe you don't. Maybe you haven't even been there, yet.
Do you have more than one?
Was it love at first sight or did it happen slowly?
Is it big? New York? Paris? London? Rome?
Or is it small? Maybe it's a town or village that few people know about? I know I love certain cities, for example, but I always breathe a sigh of relief when I head into the countryside.
Tell me! I'm all ears.
I'm pretty sure I know what Jay-Z's city is!