My Melange

Readers Report : Tips from Real Travelers

This week Cherrye and I decided to focus our attention on tips from our readers! 

After last weeks tips on airfare, I got some great feedback from my readers on some other great sites to consult when purchasing airfare.

Terry reminded me of seatguru.com.  An excellent resource for trying to get the *best* seat on your flight.

Kathy suggests using transavia.com and flybmi.com to search for great airfare deals.

Vicki used edreams.com.  She found the best price through them for her recent ticket purchase.

Which brings me to the readers tips for this Travel Tip Tuesday. 

This weeks tips were submitted by Vicki of Jacksonville, Florida. She suggested a few things to do before leaving on your trip out of the country.

Vicki said:

• Call your credit card companies and let them know you will be traveling out of the country.  That way, when they see international charges come up, they won't freeze your account.
• Make copies of your passport and write your itinerary (hotels, etc) on the bottom of the copy.  Put one in each bag.  If your bag is lost, the finder, should they be so inclined, will know where to find you to return your bag.

Great idea's Vicki!  Thanks so much for your tips!

And though it is not necessarily a tip, Susan from Israel sent me a delicious slide-show of Carnivale in Venice that I just had to share with you.  I guess the tip here would be visit Venice during Carnivale.  I can't imagine a better advertisement.   

You can watch it here:  Download venice_carnival_3.pps

Don't forget to head on over to My Bella Vita to see Cherrye's readers travel tips today!!

Now readers, I ask you...what are your travel tips? 

C'mon.  You know you all have them.  And I want 'em.  No, I need  'em!! 

Here is your chance to help your fellow travelers save time, money, space or headaches from the overwhelming hassle of travel.

Email your travel tips over to me at mymelange (at) yahoo (dot) net. 

Until next Tuesday.....Happy Travels!

.

 

 

Taverne Henri IV

I was lucky enough to find this little wine bar, a stones throw from my hotel on my solo trip to Paris.  The Taverne Henri IV is nestled at the far end of the tranquil Place Dauphine, steps from the Pont Neuf. 

It was a perfect spot for me to grab just a little bite to eat and a glass of wine at odd hours.  I would bring my journal and write about my experiences while noshing on the homemade fare.

Sandwiches, quiche, cheese and charcuterie plates are all on offer, as is almost any kind of wine by the bottle or the glass imaginable.  Bistro fare,all at deliciously low prices.

My first visit, Phillipe the owner and manager served me a fruity Beaujolais and a quiche that looked more like a souffle.  Yeah, it was that big.

A few nights later, I happened to overhear a few Americans.  Somehow, we all introduced ourselves and before long, we were like fast friends that had known each other for years.  We drank and talked (and drank) until the wee hours of the morning.  Phillipe was gracious enough to keep the place open much longer than normal closing time.  He often joined in on our fun, though he did not know much English. He would gently quiet us when we were being too loud.  There were people that lived upstairs.

It was a night I will always remember.

On the morning I left Paris, I was faced with an unexpected 15 minutes before my taxi was to pick me up.  I immediately hopped over to Taverne Henri IV, for a last little nosh standing at the bar and to thank Phillipe for his wonderful food, delicious wine and for making a lone American girl with a journal feel welcome in a strange communal French wine bar.

Upon returning to Paris last year, even thought I was staying the Marais, I knew I had to return.

The food was better than I remembered and the place was very busy.  We stayed until it cleared out a bit.  As luck would have it Phillipe was conversing with a couple from Brazil that spoke French and very good English.

Again, somehow we got brought into the conversation.  We drank and talked about everything from their travels to their lovely Brazil (and the men talked soccer).  Before we left, we had exchanged email addresses with the lovely couple.

The whole time Phillipe and his wife had been waiting on us.  I was dying to find out if he remembered me.  Even though it had been 2 years, I was willing to try and find out.

I know enough French to get me by, but not enough to explain who I was to Phillipe.  But his lovely wife seemed to know English pretty well.

I called her over.  I explained.

"Two years ago, I came all week with a journal, one night, stayed late, bunch of noisy Americans, he kept the place open....Did he remember?"

She translated for Phillipe.  As the French words danced out of her mouth and into his ear, he looked at me and I could see the look of recognition come over his face along with a warm smile.

He remembered. How nice.

I left that night with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

So, next time you are in Paris, stop by for a bite, a glass of wine or just to make some new friends.

What about you?  How does a place become one of your favorite haunts?  Have you ever made friends in a similar way, when you least expected it?    

Taverne Henri IV
13 place du Pont-Neuf
Paris, France
01 13 31 43 54 27 90

Travel Photo Friday

Well, what can I say?  Whoohooo!!

Welcome, to our first edition of Travel Photo Friday.  I hope you are just as excited as I am about this kick-off!  Once a month, I will feature a travel photo, submitted by none other than you, my dear readers!

Our first photo was sent in by Angie.  Angie shares my love for France and Italy, so I was over the moon when I saw her name pop up in my email.  I was anticipating a fabulous photo.  And she didn't disappoint!

Not only do I love the picture, but the story behind it is as well.  You can tell she has a passion for research, for seeking things out and she definitely has a good sense of humor, which is certainly important when you travel, right?

So without further ado...here is Angie's contribution to Travel Photo Friday.  Her description is below.

"This picture was taken in Rome in September 2006.  In one of my guidebooks, a mention was made of this foot with very specific directions on how to find it.  Apparently, it’s the only part of an ancient statue that’s left and no one really knows what the original statue looked like.   I just loved the fact that it’s still there…that no one decided at some point just to destroy it because it’s just a foot.  It’s in a back alley of Rome and I probably couldn’t find it again without my guidebook but while there, we were on a mission to find it!

The Michelin man (whose name is Bibendum, by the way) is a windup toy that we travel with…we place him in strategic spots and photograph him.  In an ode to the movie Amelie, we send random pictures to friends who saw the movie with us.  We don’t label them or give any clue as to who sent them so periodically they get photos from Bibendum’s adventure."

Angie, I can totally relate.  Haven't any of you ever been on one of those missions?  Where you can't rest until you find that one thing you are searching for?  I, for one, am so glad you found it!

And what did I tell you about her sense of humor!  I love the whole *Bibendum* idea.  Wouldn't you just love to get an email of a photo with this little white wind-up toy and have to figure out where in the world Angie was?

Yeah, I would too!

Great photo, thanks Angie!  Go over and check out Angie's blog, Aradgirl,  for a more in depth look into her life, her travels and her adorable new (huge) puppy, a Burmese Mountain Dog.

Do you have a fab photo and description to be featured here for Travel Photo Friday?  Yeah, you know you do.  Don't be shy!  You can remain anonymous if you like or I will shout and tout ya from the rooftops (of Paris perhaps?)!  Just email your photo and description to mymelange (at) yahoo (dot) com.  Put Travel Photo Friday in the subject line.

Hey, and if your featured, or if you just want to spread the good word about this event, feel free to grab my badge and put it on your blog.

I can't wait to see what you guys send me for our June event, which will take place on June 6th!!

Until then....Keep snappin' those photos!

Sweet Springtime

Sweet, fragrant clusters of blossoms
Delicate, graceful lilliputian stars
Shades of violet, lavender and periwinkle blue
Lovely, just lovely
Can you smell them for there?

The first round of Lilacs made their way into my kitchen this week thanks to my other half.

Their delicious aroma fills my home with the sweet smell of Springtime and of childhood memories. 

Memories of that same sweet aroma wafting through the kitchen windows of my childhood home when the breeze gently danced through the lilac branches in the back yard.

Lilacs are short lived, so you should definitely take the time to appreciate them.

One of natures finest gifts.  Lilacs.  Enjoy. 

Travel Tip Tuesday:Saving on Airfare

True story.

Remember last Tuesday, when I posted about our new and exciting events coming up?  Namely Travel Tip Tuesday.  Well, as luck, fate or karma would have it, across the Atlantic, in Italy, fellow blogger Cherrye of My Bella Vita also announced to bloglandia (huh, that does sound Italian) that she would be having Travel Tip Tuesday on her blog. What are the odds?

Yeah, I had to sit down too.  Had to stare at it for a few minutes.

Of course we had to tell each other.  After a few emails back and forth, a logistic Q&A and a collaboration of ideas, we have decided that it would be great fun to host this weekly event...together!!!

So, from today forward My Melange and My Bella Vita (they sound and look so good together, don't they?) will have a dual event every Tuesday.

You may be asking yourself, "What does that mean to me?" 

Well, I'll tell you what it means....it means you will have double the Travel Tips each and every Tuesday!  That's right.  Double the fun and twice the tips. 

We'll kinda be like the Doublemint Twins, but with a twist of travel, instead of gum. 

You know..
two,
two,
two tips in one! 

Or like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups...

two great tastes that taste great together! 

Oh Lordie!  You must think I watch waaaay too much TV.  I digress...

Cherrye will post tips from her and her readers and I will post tips from me and my readers!  We will attempt to be organized and have theme weeks, so that we both discuss the same topics. 

I am so excited about this new venture and I know Cherrye is as well.  I hope you are just as excited as we are!!

Now, don't forget, in order to make this a double success, we really need your participation!  Please email your travel tips to me at mymelange(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Now...on with the show!!!

Todays theme is Saving on Airfare.  Here are some thoughts...

1. Sign up for all the free airfare alerts or newsletters you can find.  This way the deals come right to you!  Each site works a little differently, but on some you can put in an alert for notification of a specific price you are looking to pay, others will let you flag when a specific fare has dropped by a certain dollar amount.  A few of these alerts are available thru FareCompare, SmarterTravel and Airfarewatchdog.  Others are newsletters that come directly to your email with a list of the top deals of the week.  Travelzoo and Sherman's Travel offer this type of service.  And as I said...these are FREE!
2. Don't forget to sign up for alerts and fare sales with the airlines directly.
3. Always travel midweek.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday seem to offer the best fares. And don't be afraid of a red-eye, they can be less expensive.
4. Book on line.  Generally, the airlines will charge you a fee for booking over the phone.  Try to compare prices during the week.  For some reason, Tuesday seems to be a day where the airlines lower their prices, albeit temporarily.  Often a flight I have been watching, goes on sale on Tuesday, but goes back up on Wednesday.  I don't know why, but now you know!
5. I am not a huge fan of travel packages, but for the right price, I would go for it!  Most packages often lump in your airfare, hotel, car and/or attractions for the same price that you would find for just airfare alone.  You end up paying alot less for your airfare in the end.  Try gotoday.com for package deals.
6. Check with consolidators.  I used 1800flyeurope to go to Italy.  They were able to get me the same direct flight that I wanted on Delta, at far less than the airline price.  And the best part...I was still able to rack up the frequent flier miles on the flight, which doesn't always happen on a sale ticket.  Bonus!
7. Speaking of FF miles..try signing up for FF programs that have codeshares with other airlines.  You may not reap the rewards with your first flight or two, but if you make a valiant effort to use only those airlines, you could see yourself with a free ticket, sooner than you think.  Delta is one example, as their program codeshares with Alitalia and AirFrance. 
8. If you will be traveling within Europe, check out Ryanair and Easyjet.  These are smaller Europe only airlines, but you can score tickets for a little as $20 each way.  You will sacrifice luxuries and have luggage limits, but at those prices I would think you would be ok with bringing your own water or buying a new wardrobe when you get to your destination.
9. And last, but not least, airfare auctions are becoming more popular.  Try Skyauction.com, but like any other auction, make sure you price compare your tickets on other sites, just to make sure you a getting a deal.

Got a travel tip that you want to submit?  Both Cherrye and I would love to hear it!  Email it over, along with your name and where you are from, unless you want to remain anonymous.  That is fine too!  Now head on over and see what Cherrye has to say today!

Until next Tuesday.....Happy Travels!

Finito Italiano

Well, it's over.  Italian I class...is history!  I never thought I'd get through it.  But, I did!

As you know, we had 10 classes of Italian and though I can't say that I am fluent in the lingua, by any means, I can say that I have certainly learned alot.  I have come to appreciate this beautiful language even more than before. 

If that was even possible?

You may remember that our professoressa was having a contest.  She  told us to keep adding Italian parole that we learned, to our vocab bank, and that the person with the most words at the end of class would win.  Something.  I was hoping the prize would be an all-expenses paid trip to the Bel Paese.

Being that I am a competitive person, I added new words like a mad-woman.  My strength is usually in the vocabulary and the memorization of said words.  My weakness...ahem, grammar.  So, this contest played to my strengths.

I started my vocab bank with a mere 100 words.  I am happy to announce that the night of our last class, I had 547 words!  Yep,cinquecento quaranta sette parole!!!  And I owned 'em!!

When the insegnante heard how many words I had, she said "Whoa, va bene, va bene!"

She grabbed my quaderno and started quizzing me.  As if she didn't believe me.

After she declared me the winner, she presented me with two little doni.

First, she told me to open the piccolo one first.  She said it was *the card*.   And this was my card...

A little pin that says.....I Love Italian!!   È vero!!! 

The second gift was a copy of a popular American children's book . Tre Orsi.  The Three Bears.  Awww, how cute!!  A perfect gift!

Allora, we are left to our own devices for the summer.  Italian II does not being until September.  We will be challenged to keep up what we have learned and not lose it.  I have found this free Italian pod-cast that can be used as basic review.  I am considering investing in some Pimsleur Cd's and of course we continue to rent Italian movies through Netflix.

I am sure you all have some even better recommendations for how to keep up on our new Italian language skills. 

I would be grateful if you shared....

What's new and exciting at My Melange?

I have decided that we need to have some more fun around here...and I'd like your help with that!!  I am introducing two new categories, and the best part is...they are interactive!

Yep, that's right.  It's all about you!!

Let's get right to it...

Numero Uno~

Since this is part travel blog, beginning next Tuesday...I will have a weekly feature called Travel Tip Tuesday.  I will post a new travel tip every Tuesday.  It can be anything.  Airfare, packing secrets, discounts, new hotels or museums opening.  Really.  Anything. 

Here is where you come in.....I want YOUR travel tips!!  You know you have 'em, those certain little things you always do when you travel.  Something your friend taught you or something you read somewhere.  That little something that makes your life a little easier when you travel.  And what fun it is to learn from one another, right? 

So, send me your travel tips!!!! 

Email them over to me at mymelange (at) yahoo(dot) com, with Travel Tip Tuesday in the subject line. Please include your first name and city and/or country, so that when I post your tip, you get the credit.  If you happen to have a blog, please include that info as well, I will give you a little *linky love*

Travel Tip Tuesday will kick-off next Tuesday, so get your tips in by Monday!

Numero due~

I have also admired so many travel photos on other blogs.  I thought it would be a great to see photos and hear stories of other readers travels!  So sticking with the travel theme, I will also reveal....Travel Photo Fridays.  This will be a once a month event, on the 2nd Friday of the month.

I will post another readers picture and a short description (written by you of course) of why it is one of your favorite pic's.  And of course, you have to tell us where the picture is!! 

Now, as you know this is a blog with a focus on Europe, so if you have pictures to submit that are from Europe..that would be spectacular...but it doesn't have to be Europe.  It can be anywhere in the world...really!!  The more diverse, the better, right?

Won't it be fun to see different parts of the world that you haven't gotten a chance to visit yet?  Maybe we'll be inspired to travel somewhere we had never even considered. 

So, I don't know about you, but  I am pretty excited to see these photos start rolling in!!  If you have a friend or another blogger that has great photos on their blog, it might be a great opportunity to tell them about this event.  The more the merrier!!

Email your photos and descriptions over to mymelange (at) yahoo (dot)com and put Travel Photo Friday in the subject line.  Again, include your name, location and blog (if you have one).  May 9th is the official kick-off for this event!!

Fingers crossed, these events will be complete with blog badges.  Since I am graphically challenged, it is taking a little longer than I expected, but I am hoping to have it all worked out soon!

I need your help to make this successful.  So, get your entries in...I can't wait to see all the good stuff rollin' in!!! 

Stay tuned.....

 

Healthy Pasta

I really love sharing recipes that are flavorful, good for you and so easy to make.  This one fits the bill.  Pasta doesn't always have to be heavy, with filling sauces.  This one only has only a few ingredients, many of which you may have on hand right now.  It is courtesy of Ellie Krieger of the Food Network.

Pasta with Parsley and Walnuts

12 oz (3/4 of a box) of whole-wheat fettuccine**
2/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts. 2 tbsp reserved to garnish
1/4 cup olive oil
5 cloves minced garlic
1/2 low sodium chicken stock (I use veggie stock)
1/2 cup chopped parsley leaves, plus more for garnish
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cups gently packed arugula leaves

Cook the pasta to al dente, according to the instruction of the box, then drain.  Meanwhile, toast the walnuts in small dry skillet over med-high heat, stirring frequently, about 3-5 minutes. 

In the pot that you boiled the pasta in, heat the olive oil over low heat, add the garlic and stir for 3-4 minutes (do not let it burn).  Return the pasta to the pot, add the broth, all but 2 tablespoons of the walnuts, the parsley, salt and pepper and toss to combine over low heat for 1 -2 minutes.  Add 1/2 cup Parmesan and toss.

Arrange 1/2 cup on arugula leaves on each of 4 serving bowls.  Top each with about 2 cups of the pasta.  Sprinkle with the remaining cheese, walnuts and  more parsley.

**Whole-wheat pasta, in my opinion, has come along way in texture and taste.  Personally, I like to use both traditional white pasta and whole-wheat pasta, depending on the dish, though purists and Italiani veri (true Italians) like my blog buddy Joe over at Italyville are boycotting the whole-wheat stuff. 

What are your thoughts?  Do you have a preference?

Italian Dialects

Italy is made up of 20 different regions.  Until the 1800's each region had it's own dialect that was spoken.  In Tuscany, the National language of Italy was created.  It is this Italian language that is taught and is now known by all of Italy.  This is the Italian that we are currently learning.  Well, attempting to learn.

So, all along, I have thought about these other dialects in the 20 regions.  I imagined it would be like someone from the US, hearing the same word spoken in Maine, Tennessee, West Virginia, New York and Boston.  Each word would have a little different sound, based on the area you were from, but that basically you would be able to understand one another. 

I further imagined what  different words might sound like traveling from region to region in Italy.  Hmm, would southern Italy have like a twang, like we do in the South of the US.  Would Northern Italy pronounce there words with more of  a German sound and perhaps.

So, I went out on a limb and asked our professoressa about it in our last class.  She stared at me like I was pazza.  Apparently, I didn't quite *get* the whole dialect thing.  You see, I though dialects were kinda like an accent.  Oh, nay- nay.  The dialect of a region is a totally different language. And there are 20!  Yeah, missed the boat on that one.

Allora, basically, we are learning the national Italian language that everyone understands, yet there are 20 other completely different local languages, different in each region, that people speak.  The words are totally different.  Oh Caspita!

So, I took a few deep breaths and decided not to get overwhelmed....one thing at a time.  The National language is challenging enough without even thinking aboutadding a local dialect to the mix.

I guess I won't be fittin' in with the locals any time soon.

I leave you with a few more of my favorite Italian words.  And don't worry, these are from the National language...not dialects.

francobollo
boh
professoressa
zanzara
spuntino
tee voo (tv)
abbigliamento
dappertutto
cinquantacinque
lungomare
parcheggio
certo

So, what are some of your favorite words or sayings in a foreign language and why? 

 

Earth Day 2008

A spectacular blooming Japanese Cherry Blossom in all it's glory, bowing gracefully, reminding us of all the beauty we are surrounded with on this Earth Day.  This is what we are fighting to save and preserve.  Please do your part  more than your share to protect such wonders of nature for generations to come.

Need I say more?

Tell me, what changes are you making in the quest to Go Green on this Earth Day?

Antiquing in the Hudson Valley

 

A while back, one of my readers asked me to write about my favorite spots in the Hudson Valley to find antiques.  It has taken me awhile, (bet you thought I forgot, Rose) but I think I have been able to compile a list of  my favorites.  Of course, my absolute favorite markets are in France and Italy.  But I do need to be able to act on my obsession when I can't get there, so I need my local places just to get me through.

I frequent a mix of flea markets, antiques stores and what I would call mish-mash, junk-a-tique barns or second hand shops.  You will find a hodge podge of very different things at each place, but I hardly ever leave empty handed.

Flea Markets

These are generally organized events that occur at regularly scheduled times throughout the season.  Since our winters are bad here, the season usually runs from April to October.  Each market is different in terms of hours and days of the week.  Some even charge admission.  Click on the links provided for more specific information.  Here are my local favorites.

Stormville Flea Market
Elephants Trunk
The Antiques Garage & Annex
Dutchess County Fairgrounds

Antique Stores

There are a few stores that I frequent during the off-season, when I can't go scouring around the markets.  These are ones I find reasonably priced and able to score a good deal.

Vintage Studio
Hyde Park Antique Center
Beekman Arms Antique Barn
Attic Memories
The Annex Antique Center

Barn Sales

I often find barn, yard or garage sales listed on Craig's List or in the local newspapers.  These are always great for a nice weekend drive, hopping from place to place to see what treasure you might uncover.  I have a few spots that are fixtures in the community that carry second hand stuff.  These are not for the faint of heart, or those who are germ-phobes.  You have to be comfortable around dust and dirt and getting on your hands and knees to dig through boxes.  If you learn how to bargain, you can get amazing deals at these places.

Hoffman Barn
Bottle Shop Antiques
The Barn
Stanz

Auctions

We have two reputable auction houses in my area.  Just like E-bay, make sure you come early and check over what you are buying.  Set a price in your mind and DO NOT go above it. It is easy to get sucked in, caught up in the hype and loose control.  If you do, you may win a piece that you love, but you may end up paying through the nose for it, if you are not careful.

George Cole Auctions
Absolute Auctions

Publications

Two well-known, reputable publications for more information are the Northeast Journal and the New England Antiques Journal.

And finally, there are some towns in my area that have an abundance of antique shops.  These cute villages make great day or weekend trips, and have much on offer to do.  Cozy B&B's, great shopping and Zagat rated cafe's and restaurants.  I have provided a link to websites with information on these towns, but if you would like additional information or are thinking about planning a trip to any of these areas, feel free to contact me with questions or advice.

Beacon, NY
Cold Spring, NY
Rhinebeck, NY
New Paltz,  NY
Millbrook, NY
Hudson, NY
Great Barrington, MA

In addition to my local haunts, I have 2 antiquing trips planned for the 2008 season.  In May I am going to the Queen Mother of all antique fairs in Brimfield, Massachusetts (que choirs of angels).  Sometime before fall I will be going to Chicago to visit my lil' sis and will be attending one or two shows out there.  Stay tuned, I will of course give you full reports!!

And speaking of flea markets, the pictures in this post are of new items here in my flea market.  Contact me if you are interested in purchasing or want additional information.

Happy Antiquin' Y'all !!   

Chatty Blog Award

Anne in Oxfordshire gave me a Chatty Blog Award.  Imagine that?  Me, a talkative person?  Sheesh, I guess she knows me all to well!!  Yeah, I guess I like to chat it up a bit!!  I also have chatted via email with many people I have met through my blog.  I really enjoy responding to all the comments left on my blog, getting to know new people from all walks of life and have made some great friends here just from chatting!!

So, my fellow chatters, I pass this Good Chat Blog Award onto....

Bleeding Espresso
Jessica in Rome
Rochambeau
Some Pink Flowers

Let's all chat happy!!

French Arch-itecture

 



Click on each picture to open a larger one.

As promised, I have compiled another collection of some of my favorite arches in Paris.  I have my favorites, but really I am interested in what you think.  Which ones are your favorites? 

And now that you have both collections, the real choice is between the Italian Collection and the French Collection.  Which are you more drawn to?  Which do you think I am more drawn to?  What differences in design can you pick out?

Italian Arch-itecture

 
Click on the thumbnails to see a larger picture.

There is something about European Architecture.  All those curved lines are much prettier and softer than severe right angles.  We have curved archways here in the US, but certainly not of the same grandeur that Europe does.  Come to think of it, the word arch appears in architecture.  I wonder if there is a connection?

Oggi, I decided to share some of my favorite photos of arches in Italy.  Domani, I 'll give you a peek at some of my French favorites.

Which one is your favorite?