A Night Out Dancing
It is a dog’s life.
You have worked hard for a while, things are going smooth, but you want some more exotic experience. You want to bring some luxury into your life and share it with your lovely wife. She has been chewing on your ear less these days and life becomes more tolerable. You wonder where you should go. Close your eyes and I will lead you to a little gem in this big city.
The background is an old neighbourhood surrounded by tall old trees and winding quiet roads.
It is hidden in the bushes and not too easy to find. There is a stone bridge and a little brook close by and this neighbourhood has a different view for all different seasons – they are all very pleasing.
This venue is an interesting site. It has its usual dining room, hotel, conference room. It also has a spa to help you relax. The most unusual feature is its little chapel where many couples take their wedding vows. The patio has the natural set up of a different tier rock garden and it is a perfect spot for taking photos. I was there at an anniversary celebration once. The host arranged to have a cellist playing music where hors d’oeuvres and champagne were passed around. A few sun umbrellas kept the heat away and you sat and watched all the beautiful people mingled with their finest. It was a pleasing way to spend an afternoon.
The spa will help you relax. The candles are for the scent, not for dripping on each other. If you do, that would be another story.
Here is the chapel where a lot of vows are taken.
This wonderful old house has an old wooden structure. Everywhere is wood. Starting from the beams, the floors, the walls, the lobby benches, it is wood everywhere. There are stairs that lead you to different level of this old house. Tapestry from the walls, huge copper chandeliers, stain glass windows, you can taste elegances coming at you from every angle.
Saturday night comes. You feel restless. You grab your dancing shoes, dress up properly and head out of the door with your lady. It is a short distance drive to this relaxing hub. The food is good. It is old fashioned. It does not have the fanfare of the modern cuisine. It just offers old fashion value. I would not rate them as top notch but it is decent down to earth good food. More importantly, the price is fair. You are sitting in a grand, richly decorated dining room with luxury. It has history and it has style. I always enjoy the main dining area. Wait till you see this.
You are sitting in a dining area with a fabulous dancing floor and orchestra stage. On one side of the dining hall, there is a banister, beyond which there are seats in the simulation of a boxed seat. It is proper dining with table clothes, cloth napkins and silver flatware. You come here to enjoy a proper meal and especially watch people dancing. On weekends there is usually live music and an orchestra playing music of the 50s and 60s.
I am no dancer myself. I do not have the talent to do all the delicate twists and turns but I adore people who can dance ever so elegantly. Good old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were my favourite when it comes to dancing. Nobody can deny they were dancing royalty and it will be forever.
Dancing is an art form which expresses so tenderly and delicately. Besides from the technique one has to acquire, there is all that expressive movement through one’s feelings. When I was in Madrid, I got the chance to watch a flamingo dance exhibition. The dancing steps were impressive but more so with the tiny gesture of the eyes. The moves were seductive. The body language was involving. The fusions of a couple’s dreams were totally described over and over on the dance floor. It was like painting a story with their dancing and you kept reaching out to see the ending of the story.
After dinner, the band starts to play. Couples slowly step onto the floor. They exchange their glances. They share gentle caresses. Then they move and glide over the floor in unison. The smooth movement signals the harmony that exists between two people. It is gentle persuasion at its best. For the ones who know how to dance, they express through body language. For the ones who do not know a thing, just hold on to each other to enjoy this brief moment of truth of feeling close.
All night long I hold on to my wife’s hand and dream ……….
In case you want to know where this place is, you write to me and I will let you know. Promise.