Isn’t it R*mantic? : Love: A self-proclaimed romancer suggests offbeat Valentine’s Day ideas.

Many will romance that special someone on Valentine’s Day by rolling down the car window and buying an inexpensive bouquet at a freeway off-ramp. Or by stopping at a drugstore and grabbing a card bearing a heart. Or by purchasing that traditional box of sweets.

But all of those fall short for Robert Badal, a self-proclaimed romancer who taught a class Wednesday at Harbor College on “Romantic and Unusual Things to Do in L.A.” He’s more into gondola and balloon rides, garden strolls, late night poetry readings and sunsets so awesome they elicit a sigh.

Badal, 35, who sports a bushy mustache and shoulder-length, reddish hair, does not simply recite his romance secrets; he acts them out.

He advised against a particularly stuffy French restaurant in Orange County by grasping both hands around his neck and pretending to choke himself.

He climbed in and out of an imaginary limousine in the middle of the classroom to show the pleasure of driving in style to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a show.

Other stops on Badal’s tour included a gondola ride in Long Beach, hot air ballooning in San Diego, small theaters in Hollywood, dinner at the Hotel Bel-Air and browsing at Trashy Lingerie.

But one does not have to empty the wallet or venture beyond the South Bay for a romantic interlude.

Stroll through the South Coast Botanic Garden on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Such a diversion, Badal says, is good for romance.

Or stop by the Papadakis Taverna, which he dubs the “Greekest of the Greek restaurants.” The staff at the San Pedro eatery yells back and forth at each other, Badal says, making this a perfect place to loosen up an uptight date.

He recommends a late-night drive over the Vincent Thomas Bridge as an out-of-the-ordinary romantic scene.

“It’s not the Golden Gate, but we have to use our imaginations here,” he says.

No South Bay beach made Badal’s list of favorites. He prefers the more obscure El Pescador, El Matador and La Piedra beaches, just north of Zuma.

His favorite sunset is up that way, too.

Drive north on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, he says. Turn right on Corral Canyon Road and then drive to the top, where the road dead ends. Follow the trail off to the right. From atop some boulders, there is an idyllic view of the San Fernando Valley, the ocean and the mountains.

“Any noise you hear,” he says, “you brought with you.”

But Valentine’s Day falls on a Thursday. If work schedules and traffic make Malibu and other distant locales difficult, try this.

Stay home and watch some of Badal’s most romantic films on the VCR.

“To Catch a Thief” features some famous kissing scenes with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. “Random Harvest” has a romantic twist at the end involving Ronald Colman and Greer Garson. “Moonstruck,” starring Cher and Nicolas Cage, is Badal’s favorite popular romantic comedy.

Or leave the television off, pick up a book of poetry and recite some verse.

Byron’s “She Walks in Beauty” is a good one. Also Christina Rossetti’s “The First Day,” E. E. Cummings’ “i like my body when it is with your body,” and Nos. 18 and 130 of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

But best of all, Badal says, take out a piece of paper and a pen. Ponder your loved one, and put down your thoughts.

“Above all else,” Badal says, “romance is original.”