Category: France
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Bustling Bordeaux
Rick and I finished 2023 with a trip to Bordeaux shortly before Christmas. As we already had tickets to see the amazing Beatles Tribute band The Analogues, we decided to stay a few extra days to visit the Christmas Market at Allées de Tourny. Our small but very well-appointed apartment was located on a pedestrian…
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Paris is for Foodies!
You can’t go very far in Paris without running across a place to dine and that’s a very good thing. But choosing the perfect spot can be a challenge, especially when faced with so many choices. My best advice is to use your ears. If most patrons are speaking French, that’s a great sign as…
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When in Paris, Be in Paris
I have recently been asked by several friends and family for ideas on where to stay and what to do in Paris. Having visited numerous times, Rick and I are very familiar with this amazing city and many of its neighborhoods, museums, attractions, and parks. Paris has twenty neighborhoods (called arrondissements) each with its own…
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Are Cruises Really Cheap?
A friend recently commented that large ship cruises are great for budget travelers as they are “so cheap”. My reply was that while bargains can be found, the price tag can be very deceiving. But what exactly do you get for the cheapest rate? Not much in all honesty. Let’s say you find an eight-night…
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Reflections on Reflection
As Concierge Class passengers, we were treated to a special sail away event on the ships Helipad. It turned out to be our lucky day as Diana and I won the raffle grand prize, a certificate for two to dine at any of the specialty restaurants. We chose the French restaurant Murano and had a…
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Celebrity Reflection: A Floating City
As first-time cruisers, Rick and I really didn’t know what to expect on a Celebrity cruise. Our ship, Reflection, holds just over 3,000 passengers, and offers numerous bars and restaurants, a casino, multiple shops, a three-story theater, pools, and more. As the four of us boarded the ship, I was blown away by its size.…
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A Special Day In Marseille
After a rocky night at sea, we woke to a beautiful sunny day in Marseille, France. Founded around 600 BC by Greek settlers from Phocaea, Marseille is the oldest city in France. It is also the second largest in population after Paris. With over three hundred days of sunshine per year, 35 miles (57 kilometers)…
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Hello Spring!
“It is spring again. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.” – Rainer Maria Rilke I fell in love with this quote years ago and admire both its eloquence and the image it paints in a mere thirteen words. Here is my homage to spring in pictures. Most were taken near my home…
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Where in the World?
In this blog, I challenge my readers to guess where in the world the photos below were taken. Some are easy, some not so much. Name the country, city, or place of as many as you can in the comments. Click on Photo 1 to begin. In my next blog, I return to Lisbon and…
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Paris in Black and White
I recently re-watched a wonderful and moving film, The Walk, directed by Robert Zemeckis. Set in the early 1970’s, it tells the story of French wire-walker Philippe Petit who, on August 7th 1974, spent 45 minutes suspended on a wire between the World Trade Center towers. The film is both exciting and beautiful, especially the…