Tiny Love Stories: ‘I'm So Aware of Our Age Gap '
An Arrow to Amsterdam
Traveling Berlin solo, I download a dating app to find someone in the famously queer city. Waiting at a cafe, I text: 'all black, striped bag, blond head.' Maren embraces me with ease. We talk for hours, but I'm so aware of our age gap that I never make a move. As I travel through Europe, her texts keep coming — sweet, intimate, funny. Finally, she sends a map with arrows pointing back to Berlin. I send an arrow pointing to Amsterdam, my final stop before returning to California. Two beautiful Dutch days have led to two deeply romantic years. — Abigail Severance
Visions of My Father
Rounding the snack aisle at Trader Joe's, I see them examining scones: a woman around my age, mid-50s, and her father, in his 80s. Stooped yet still tall, with surfer-blond hair, he resembles my dad, gone a quarter of a century. It's only through others that I can imagine what he'd be like now. 'Those cranberry orange scones are the best,' I say. They thank me for the tip. Later in the parking lot, I watch as she gently guides him into the car. I let my tears fall, grateful for a glimpse of another daughter's love. — Joelle Fraser
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Forbes
U.S. Is About To Lose $12.5B, California's Entire Tourism Tax Revenue
People enjoying time together on vacation hiking trip. Golden Gate Bridge, over Pacific Ocean, ... More mountains in the background. San Francisco, California, USA The United States is the only country among 184 global economies, analyzed by the World Travel & Tourism Council and Oxford Economics, that is poised to lose a staggering $12.5 billion in international visitor spending this year. It is a 22.5% decline compared to 2024 and the equivalent of California's annual travel-related state and local tax revenue. Nearly 90% of tourism spending in the U.S. comes from domestic travelers. Still, the impact of international travelers is far greater than its share suggests since each spends around $4,000 per trip on average, eight times more than the average domestic tourist. In 2024, 72 million international visitors arrived in the U.S., 9.1% higher compared to 2013. However, based on the latest estimates, 2025 is shaping up to be a disappointing year. In 2024, over 20 million Canadians traveled to the U.S., spending approximately $20.5 billion. Early signs of a slowdown emerged in March as Canadian travelers stayed away. Summer flight bookings on Canada–U.S. routes have plunged more than 70% year-over-year, dropping from 1.5 million in March 2024 to just over 400,000 by March 2025, according to OAG. In May 2025, Canada recorded 4.8 million international arrivals by air and car (returning residents and non-residents included), marking a 16.7% drop compared to May 2024. It was the fourth straight month of year-over-year declines. U.S. Travel Association highlighted as early as February that these five U.S. states (Florida, California, Nevada, New York and Texas) would be hit hardest by a drop in Canadian visitors. As of April, Visit California indeed reported an almost 16% year-over-year decline in Canadian arrivals, its top international source market. The state now forecasts a 9.2% overall drop in international visitation and a 4.3% decline in visitor spending for 2025. It estimates that the most significant decline in spending (17%) will come from Canadian travelers. Canada is also Florida's top international source market, accounting for nearly 30% of foreign visitors last year. Unlike California, however, the decline has been less severe. Visit Florida reported only a 3.4% drop in Canadian arrivals by the end of the first quarter. New York City has also revised its tourism forecast, now expecting 3.1 million fewer visitors and an estimated $4 billion in lost revenue, according to a report first published by The New York Times. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, visits from Western Europe fell 17% in March 2025. This is the first year-over-year decline since 2021. Part of the drop came from two of the U.S.'s most important source markets: arrivals from the United Kingdom declined nearly 15%, while Germany plunged more than 28%. Travel from Asia also continued its downward trend, marking a second consecutive monthly decline. The region remains 25% below pre-pandemic levels, with South Korea down nearly 15% year over year. South America followed suit with a 10% decline in March after a flat February, driven by double-digit drops in visitors from Colombia and Ecuador. U.S. accommodations are under growing pressure this summer, with booking volumes down 6.7%, a decline fueled in part by a steep 46% year-over-year drop in Canadian travelers and a 7.4% dip in visitors from Mexico, according to the latest data of SiteMinder, a hotel distribution and revenue platform. Average daily rates (ADR) for U.S. accommodations have dipped to $317.29 for June–August, down 3.9% from $330.03 last year. However, not all regions experience a decline. Texas hotels reported a 6% increase in ADR, while Florida saw rates fall by nearly 8.8% year over year. There is a silver lining. According to SiteMinder, the average booking window for summer stays made in April held steady at 80.4 days, virtually unchanged from 81.8 days last year. Meanwhile, the average length of stay increased slightly to 2.29 days for summer 2025, compared to 2.26 days in 2024.
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-seattle-skyline-MSTBEAUTFULCITY0625-d14b1a04b6a5444396b696cdafd3f68e.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
9 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
This Is the Most Beautiful City in the U.S., According to Travelers
In June, one Reddit user posed a simple question to the r/notravelpics subreddit: What's the most beautiful city in the U.S.? Travelers, locals, and city lovers alike soon chimed in with their personal favorites. And though the answers spanned the map, one city climbed to the top: Seattle, a city Reddit travelers loved for snow-capped peaks and ocean views. The city, which was called out by user u/KingsElite, was determined to be the 'best' answer based on the Reddit algorithm, which considers the ratio of upvotes to downvotes to identify comments with a high likelihood of being "good" and backed by a large number of people. Another Reddit user said they, 'second Seattle. Nothing better than a clear sunny day when the water is sparkling and the mountain is out." Another added that they find themselves "suggesting it to people all the time because it flies under the radar of places to visit, but there's so much to see, do, and eat!' The proximity to both the ocean and the mountains was a big draw for people, and another user noted how it's a short drive from "beautiful outdoor places." Following Seattle on the 'best' ranking was a post by u/Myfury2024 that highlighted two smaller cities and two larger cities. The comment stated that the best small cities were Savannah, Georgia, and St. Augustine, Florida, and the best large cities were Washington, D.C., and the 'city center of Chicago.' While it wasn't the top comment in the thread, it had the most upvotes—and an overwhelming number of Redditors backed Washington, D.C., "Very ideal city to live in, and an amazing city to visit," a user wrote. "Walkable, decent public transit, tons and tons of free activities catered to most interests, great green spaces, great architecture and city feel, distinct neighborhoods, diverse, amazing and diverse food options, good nightlife, and way more social and easy to make friends than most cities.' Other popular cities on the thread included Honolulu, where one person noted that you can hike and swim in waterfalls located within city limits. San Francisco also made an appearance in the discussion, and another user noted its 'scenic views, natural beauty, unique architecture, the ocean and bay, and hills.' While beauty is famously in the eye of the beholder, this Reddit thread offers a compelling snapshot of what travelers value most in a city: natural landscapes, vibrant neighborhoods, and access to outdoor adventure without sacrificing cultural depth. Whether it's the evergreen drama of Seattle, the walkable charm of D.C., or the waterfall-lined trails of Honolulu, each city named in the thread offers its version of beauty—and plenty of reasons to visit.
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Forbes
Best Luxury Father's Day Trips for Medieval History Lovers (2025 Guide)
Conway Castle in Conwy, Wales, is located in North Wales. It was built by Edward I, during his conquest of Wales, between 1283 and 1287. De Agostini via Getty Images The Papal Conclave in May was a reminder of a tradition that assumed its modern form in the 13th century. Medieval History is chic again. A trip to the Vatican is just the starting point for the perfect luxury travel guide of Europe's iconic Medieval destinations, from the Vatican City to Conway Castle in Wales, paired with 5-star hotels to make Father's Day a luxury. Rome Cavalieri, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Garden Lobby - Nervi Staircase. The hotel overlooks the city from Monte Mario, about 15 minutes from the city center © Antonio Saba Any tour of Medieval Europe must begin in Rome. Present-day Vatican City was the seat of the papacy in the Middle Ages, with only some back and forth; from 1309-77 it was in Avignon, until Gregory XI returned the papacy to its current home. Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel overlooks the city from Monte Mario, about 15 minutes from the city center. Any of the 'Rome view' suites, or the luxurious Penthouse, offer ideal vistas for scoping out the Eternal City before Dad ventures out to St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican museums, and the Sistine Chapel. The Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Resorts Collection is a 13th-century luxury resort on 2,500 acres of forests, lakes, meadows, and gardens in southwestern France insta: @manuheslop The knights of Chasteignier de la Roche-Posay hold a significant role in medieval history. Like many noble families of the era, they were closely tied to the chivalric traditions and responsibilities that defined medieval knighthood. They also built a 13th-century château that houses a luxury resort (Domaine des Etangs, Auberge Resorts Collection) set on 2,500 acres of forests, lakes, meadows, and gardens in southwestern France. Once the private estate of the Primat family, today the property exudes the grandeur of the medieval era in modern luxury: stone barns, a floating tennis court, and historic architecture that whispers stories of the past. When in the village of Massignac, Dad can visit the Château de Massignac, a 15th-century castle located in the nearby commune of Alloue; or the Dolmen de Tauzat, a Neolithic-era burial chamber. Exterior of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France's most famous medieval monument. © Yannick Boschat Diocèse de Paris When in Paris, stay at the Hotel de Crillon, constructed in 1758 as a private mansion and designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, the principal architect of Louis XV. Among its 36 suites and 10 signature suites: Les Grands Appartements, created by Karl Lagerfeld, which blend luxury accommodations and historic architecture two blocks from the River Seine and steps from the Place de la Concorde. Ayasofya, Hagia Sophia, was a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica, later an imperial mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. getty When it was Constantinople, the seat of the Byzantine Empire, Istanbul was the cultural and political hub of Europe's most important empire in the Middle Ages. It's still home to the Hagia Sophia, which was constructed in the fourth century and still stands as perhaps the grandest testament to Byzantine architecture. Today, it's an active mosque as well as the home to a remarkable collection of medieval Byzantine mosaics spanning from the sixth to the 14th century. When in Istanbul, stay at the Pera Palace Hotel, which first opened its doors in 1892 to passengers on the Orient Express. Since then, it's hosted Agatha Christie (who wrote part of Murder on the Orient Express in Room 411) and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (the founder of modern Turkey, who frequently stayed in Room 101), among other dignitaries. For Father's Day, book dad into a spacious suite named for one of the property's famous guests, including Mata Hari, Ernest Hemingway, or Alfred Hitchcock. City of Aachen, West Germany is the perfect home base for exploring Germany's Rhineland, with its idyllic vineyards and historic castles, or taking a Rhine River castle cruise for a sip of history with your Riesling. getty In 800, Pope Leo III crowned the Frankish king Charlemagne as the emperor of Rome. Charlemagne in turn, chose Aachen, which today shares a western border with Belgium and the Netherlands, as the seat of the Carolingian Empire. It's the perfect home base for exploring Germany's Rhineland, with its idyllic vineyards and historic castles, or taking a Rhine River castle cruise for a sip of history with your Riesling. The Aachen Cathedral Treasury (Aachener Domschatzkammer) holds the most important collection of church artworks North of the Alps Book a well-appointed suite for Dad at the Quellenhof Aaachen, one of Germany's first grand hotels since its 1912 opening. Its Fireplace and Tea Lounge is the perfect setting for relaxing reading — or reflecting on a day about Aachen's old town. Sunset view of Conwy Castle in Conwy, Wales. Wales boasts the highest density of castles per square mile in the world — thanks to the brutal Wars of Welsh Subjugation. getty For dads who would rather scale a turret than walk a golf course, Wales boasts the highest density of castles per square mile in the world — thanks to the brutal Wars of Welsh Subjugation. Start in the town of Conwy, a living diorama of feudal life. The walled market town features the castles of the Master of St. James, a famed medieval architect responsible for designing King Edward I's castles in North Wales in the 13th century, and the 16th-century Plas Mawr town in the heart of town on High Street. Stay at The Castle Hotel, also on High Street, a cozy former coaching inn that dates to the 15th century. Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Galicia, Spain was constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries. The cathedral's exalted status brought about the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), roads that connected much of medieval Europe getty Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, along the North Coast of Spain in Galicia, is traditionally believed to house the tomb of Saint James the Apostle, making it one of the most important Christian pilgrimage destinations alongside Jerusalem and Rome. Constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries the cathedral's exalted status brought about the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James), roads that connected much of medieval Europe. The Parador de Santiago de Compostela claims to be Spain's oldest hotel, dating to 1501. It features Renaissance and baroque architecture, the largest collection of Madrid School paintings in the Paradors collection, and luxurious rooms all contained within a UNESCO World Heritage site. Westminster Abbey (rebuilt by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century), and Smithfield Market (known since the 12th century for its livestock market, and formerly the site of public executions) are just a few of the city's must-see sites getty The Tower of London, founded in 1066 by William the Conqueror, played a central role in medieval power, intrigue, and imprisonment. It's the highlight of the UK capital's remarkably well-preserved medieval sites of interest. The Temple Church (founded in the 12th century by the Knights Templar), Westminster Abbey (rebuilt by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century), and Smithfield Market (known since the 12th century for its livestock market, and formerly the site of public executions) are just a few of the city's must-see sites. The centrally located Savoy Hotel overlooks the River Thames and has been a symbol of luxury since its opening in 1889. It combines the best of British service along with several palatially appointed suites with river views — all within walking distance of historic London. Cashel Palace Hotel, Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland, Historic Hotel 5 Star, Drawing Room © Michelle Chaplow / Hotel Essence Photography / hotel Photographer. All rights reserved Any use of t Perched on a limestone outcrop in the heart of the Golden Vale, the Rock of Cashel was once the seat of the High Kings of Munster and the site where St. Patrick is said to have converted King Aenghus to Christianity. Today, it remains a captivating complex of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, including a 13th-century cathedral, a 12th-century chapel adorned with Ireland's only surviving Romanesque frescoes, and a 28-meter round tower — all set against a backdrop of rolling green hills and farmland. Eleven miles north sits the Cahir Castle, originally built in 1142 by Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond — an underrated medieval jewel used often in filming. When in County Tipperary, stay at the Cashel Palace Hotel, a five-star Relais & Châteaux property set within a meticulously restored Palladian manor dating to 1732. Edinburgh's Castle dates to the 12th century under King David I, and served as the primary royal residence during the medieval period. getty Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, which runs from Holyrood House to Edinburgh Cathedral, stand as the symbolic and practical centers of Scottish medieval power, culture, and conflict. Edinburgh's castle dates to the 12th century under King David I, and served as the primary royal residence during the medieval period, especially before the rise of Holyrood Palace. Historians view the Royal Mile as a rare surviving example of medieval urban planning, making it the perfect walk for medieval historians. Stay at The Witchery, one of Scotland's most famous hotel-restaurants, dating to 1595, hidden in a collection of historic buildings at the gates of Edinburgh Castle. The gothic-themed hotel leans into its storied past with a flair for dramatic details from floor to ceiling. Continue the fantasy by driving to Stirling Castle, Glamis Castle, and Dunottar Castle — all within an hour or two of Edinburgh — for a broader look at Scotland's medieval past. Immerse dad in the Knights Templar ruins, sleep in a 15th-century Welsh castle and travel through time on this unforgettable journey for Father's Day.
