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Visit a Cafe in Tokyo that Treats You Like an Old Friend
Greg
December 01, 2023
Your favorite travel letter is BACK after a lovely week off. I hope those of you who celebrate enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. As promised, we’ve got some fresh off-the-press recommendations for you today from my recent travels!
Let’s get to it…
“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.”
Here’s what’s on the itinerary today:
Stay in Perledo, Italy
View from the couch
I truly don’t think words can describe how amazing this stay was. But here’s my best shot…
Silvana, the host, is a 73-year-old Italian nonna who only speaks Italian. She is the most hospitable woman I’ve come across in my life. She prepared a massive breakfast spread each morning, made a reservation for us at a local restaurant, drove us to and from town on request, and even washed AND folded our clothes.
The language barrier made for a wholesome experience as we attempted to communicate with hand signals, Google Translate, and a few words of the opposite language here and there.
The place itself was lovely and was only a 10-minute drive to Varenna, our favorite town on Lake Como. The views were unreal, and Silvana even had a Bernese Mountain Dog named Liebe that reminded us of our pup back home. 🥺
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Tokyo, Japan
Tomodachi ga Yatteru Café
I’m willing to bet this will be a new concept for most of you.
Tomodachi ga Yatteru Café employs models and actors that serve patrons as if they’ve been friends for years — fitting as the name translates to “Cafe run by friends.” No really, even if you’ve never been there you can expect to be greeted with sayings like “It’s been a while!”
The bit goes deep…Instead of a standard drink menu, the options include things like “the same thing as last time”. 😂
These are the kinds of unique experiences that have me dying to visit Japan.
Experience in Zermatt, Switzerland
For my serious snow hounds, this is a bucket list experience. Situated up at 13,000 feet, I don’t know that I’ll ever have views this good while skiing again. The gondola to the mountain sits right outside the town of Zermatt, and trust me when I tell you that the ride to the top and corresponding views are worth the $100 lift ticket itself.
We went a little before the peak season and were rewarded with open runs and unobstructed views of the Matterhorn and the rest of the Swiss Alps. Although the runs were a bit icy, I’d imagine that may change as more snow comes in. During peak season, the entire mountain is open and you can ski in Italy and Switzerland on the same day!
Carry On
For those of you looking to plan your next trip to Italy, or even if you’re just fascinated with Italian culture, I’d highly recommend you check out Italy Segreta. This Italian culture magazine has some incredible resources and recommendations for exploring The Boot.
AI Travel Art Piece of the Week
Welcoming in the Christmas season with some reindeer enjoying a log cabin retreat!
Recommendation Zone 🌟
Fork in the Road — If you are looking for more travel content, this publication is for those who travel for food 🍲. Each issue features a brief history explanation, some culinary highlights, and expert local knowledge in a quick 5-minute read. Check out one of his latest on Marrakech here.
Cheers ‘til next week,
T.O.