Visiting Your Favorite Vacation Spots During A Pandemic

Photography by Xavier Photographic Art

One of my favorite places to visit is the city of Paris.  I have beautiful memories of being in the city eating the food, visiting the museums, sitting in the parks, and just soaking it up.  Of course, with a travel ban in place and a pandemic still forcing us to stay close to home travel to anywhere out of the State or out of the country is either banned or difficult to accomplish.  But not to worry!  If you have a favorite place in your own city, in your state, or even in the world you can still re-capture the feeling.

When I am longing for Paris, I simply visit my favorite restaurant in my hometown, Paris Bistro.  Once restaurants were given approval to open with reduced capacity main street in Lakewood Ranch was closed to traffic to allow restaurants to serve customers by setting up tables in the street so you don’t have to go inside to eat.  On several occasions we have gone to Brunch early on Sunday morning (when the streets are still cool and there are only a few early risers) to enjoy a truly French experience in a relaxed socially distanced outdoor setting.  They even brought in this 1982 Citroen Charleston.  I always feel like I have been transported to Paris for a min-vacation.  The owners are French, and they even indulge me by letting me practice my French.  Oh-la-la!  One day I will return to the City of Lights but for now this is what satisfies my dream of being there.  Find a spot that brings back your favorite memories and joy to your heart whether in your own town or anywhere in the world.  Bonne journée!!