Take Your Pleasure

Please enjoy the following four chronological travel romances that moved me during a trip to Europe in the mid-nineteen eighties. The title of each story is named after the dominant object of my affection and further evoked by one of four senses.

Manuel

Sense of Smell
Spain and Portugal

I arrived in Madrid and was struck by a unique scent. During dinner, my friends and I met Manuel, a charming Portuguese man who invited us to his farm. Despite some hesitations, I found myself drawn to Manuel, sparking an ardent romance. I left Portugal, with hopes to reconnect, clinging to memories encapsulated in a pillowcase scented with Manuel's cologne. Read more

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Tristan

Sense of Touch
France

Oh, Tristan, my gorgeous, poetic French beau. We shared a passionate encounter on a train and continued our affair in your charming Parisian flat. Tristan, you were a perfect lover who treated me like a queen. I have always cherished our brief time together as the epitome of a fleeting travel romance, and I still shiver with the memory of your magical touch. Read more

David

Sense of Sight
Italy

Following solo adventures in Venice and Padua, I reunited with my friends Carol and Rosalyn In Florence, where we immersed ourselves in the city's rich artistic heritage, shopping, food, and flirtations, culminating in a deeply moving encounter with a beautiful man named David. Read more

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Carol

Sense of Taste
Greece

Carol and I spent a decadent month island-hopping in Greece, with friends old and new, sharing yummy food, beaches and vistas, as well as some comical mishaps. I had a brief fling with a man named Costas, resulting in an unlucky consequence. However, it was the cherished memories of the connection between Carol and myself that was the ultimate gift. Read more

Take Your Pleasure

Manuel

Sense of Smell Spain and Portugal