Indulging a romantic wanderlust in Europe

MANILA, Philippines - Traveling is always a good cure for the weary soul. When life gets to be too taxing or tedious, there is nothing like leaving life’s stresses behind by journeying in faraway lands. The world is vast and beautiful, and to not explore it is a huge waste.

But while traveling is wonderful in itself, nothing beats seeing the world with your soul mate. There is nothing like going on a gondola ride in the Italian Riviera in Venice, watching a Broadway musical in New York, or enjoying the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris — all with the one you love.

This is why when an opportunity arose for married globetrotters Wilfredo and Purita Lim to go on a tour of Central and Eastern Europe via Trafalgar, they immediately grabbed the chance to indulge their romantic wanderlust.

Booking Trafalgar’s Cossack Explorer 2013 16-day itinerary via the world’s leading guided holiday company’s local partner Pan Pacific Travel Corp., they took out their worn-out his-and-hers luggage and hopped on a plane to Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital and most populous city.

“My wife and I have been to a lot of European countries, but not in Central and Eastern Europe,” Wilfredo shares. “We have been to France, Italy and many others, but we have not been to any of the Scandinavian countries. Denmark has always been on our travel bucket list.”

After sightseeing in Copenhagen, the couple was whisked away to places such as Berlin, Helsinki, Stockholm, St. Petersburg and Moscow. There, the couple was able to soak up art, culture and history. They walked the streets of tragic Warsaw, which was almost entirely destroyed during World War II. They toured the Winter Palace in the historic St. Petersburg, where the final Tsar of Russia lived and breathed. They also enjoyed lush forests and meadows bordering the shores of Lake Vattern.

When asked what they love most about traveling together, Wilfredo says, “We love seeing new places, getting to know other cultures and most especially, seeing where some good movies are filmed. We love it when a particular spot was used in a movie because we can finally relate to what we saw on screen.”

He says one of the things that made this trip stand out among their other sojourns is their travel director, Malcolm. “I personally believe that travel directors can either make or break a vacation, and Malcolm is definitely the best we have ever had,” he says. “He was very nice, very friendly, had a great sense of humor. He was also very caring toward us, even though there were 43 of us in the group. During meals, he made sure that everyone was sitting down before he could eat.”  He adds laughingly, “He also looks a lot like the action star Jason Statham, and I had a great time constantly ribbing him about it.”

And the most important thing they expect excellence from when they travel? “Of course, the hotel accommodations should be comfortable and perfect.” Which he declares is exactly what Trafalgar provided them. “This is the first time we traveled with Trafalgar, and we were not disappointed. We tried two other tour companies before this one, and I must say I’m glad we saved the best for last.”

He also shares that he is recommending Trafalgar’s Cossack Explorer 2013 itinerary to his friends. “I’m already telling everyone all about our trip. I’m really encouraging them to book trips for it now because I know they will not regret it.” And as for their future travel plans, he says he and his wife are not going to waste time: “We are already looking forward to joining Trafalgar’s South American tours.”

But of course, at the end of the day, what made this couple’s Central and East European sojourn truly special was each other. “I prefer traveling with my wife than traveling alone or on business, because if my wife is around I have someone taking care of me, and I have someone giving me extra attention. I love that.”

The trip was also unforgettable as it marked the celebration of their 38th anniversary as a married couple. “The trip was not just about becoming closer to each other because we have always been close. More than that, it was a great way to re-connect, to appreciate each other for who we are and what we can be together. It was like going back to basics, and I enjoyed courting my wife once again.”

Indeed, it is better to roam the world with the love of your life by your side. This long-time husband and wife can certainly attest to that.