My Mélange

My Inner French Girl

Last week it dawned on me that it has been a little over a year since my last trip to Paris.  

*Sigh*

It is sad.  I miss the city, I miss my friend, I miss the food and the language. 

So, I have to get creative in order to bring back that lovin' French feeling.  To get in touch with my inner French girl, if you will.

Here are some of my favorite ways to keep France alive in my heart:

Pop in my favorite French movie, Amélie, for a tour around Montmartre, like no other.

Practice speaking French.

Throw five French CDs  in the stereo, hit shuffle, close my eyes and allow myself to be transported.

Make some crepes. Anything with Nutella.

Splurge on some expensive French wine.

Drool over a slideshow of my hundreds of Paris pictures, pausing to savour memories.

Delve into a new French Memoir.

Buy a bouquet of all-white roses or tulips for the kitchen table.

Visit one of my  favorite local French cafés or restaurants for an authentic French meal.

Treat myself to some French skin care, Caudalie is my favorite.

Leaf through my many French Décor books and magazines, longing to make the changes in my own home.

Visit The Paris Apartment- she always has the best trade pictures.

Go shopping for stylish chic clothes, with that French flair.

Throw on a black trench and a scarf and go for a walk in the rain.

By a new French cookbook.

Take a trip to my local flea-market and scour it for Frenchie finds. 

Visit gourmet markets, scooping up all the French products I can find.

But,the most exciting thing I am currently doing is planning a new trip, but not to France.  I am going to Montréal and Old Quebec City.  Three weeks and counting.  

It's not France, but hey, it is French.  French-Canadian counts right?!

It is only a six hour drive, the dollar is actually worth something, I'll have no airline stress to deal with and it will be a great way to get in touch with my inner French girl.  And hopefully it will hold me over for yet another year.

Hopefully.

***

So, what do you miss most about France?  What are some of the things you do to keep your Frenchness thriving until you can visit again?

Armchair Travels: Stunning Venice

Photo courtesy of Earth Photography.

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.  Really good pictures, that is.

Mine, well, sometimes I think they are not worth a hundred words.

For those of you who have not visited, Venice is a city like no other.  It is hard to capture that special feeling without actually spending time there. 

I was perusing the internet, as I often do, and found a photographer who has managed to capture the magic of Venice, through his lens.  Whether it be stunning night shots on the canals or a rarely captured shot of the Piazza San Marco, without a soul in sight, these photos will take you on a magical tour of Venice.

This site, called Earth Photography, also has great photos of Rome, Florence and a few others in Italy.  And if you are sucked in, like I was, you can visit other countries like France, Greece  and Morocco.

It's like eye-candy for travelers.

Enjoy!

Love Thursday : The Things We Do For Love

**Note, this was originally posted in August 2007, but I thought it would make a great edition to Love Thursday**

Before I left for my first trip to Paris, solo, I asked Chris if there was anything special he wanted me to bring back for him.  I was expecting a beret, a bottle of wine, cheese, or something chees-y like an Eiffel Tower t-shirt.  But non, he surprised me.  He wanted some pictures. And not just any pictures.

There is a famous picture by Brassai, called ' The Stairs'.  It is a truly lovely black and white photo and one of Chris's favorites.  So, his souvenir was for me to find and recreate this picture.  Uh, ok, no problem.  I didn't know a tiny souvenir would turn into a project.

 ~The things we do for love~

So, I sat at the computer and let my fingers do the walking.  After tons of web surfing...at last I found that the photo was taken in Montmartre.  Hmmm, ok, so I need to look for a large staircase in Montmartre.  Shouldn't be too hard.  Well, since Montmartre is on a hill, called the butte, there are stairs all over.  Back to the computer.  More research, more websites.  Finally, I narrow down my options, go to Google Maps and discover...' The Stairs ' is actually a staircase that runs alongside the funicular that takes you to Sacre Coeur.  The staircase is actually named...Rue Foyatier. Viola!

When in Paris, armed with the address and approximate location, I head to Sacre Coeur in Montmartre.  Mind you, this is several days into my trip and my tootsies have never done so much walking, hurt so bad, or seen so many ugly looking blisters...but off I go to find and climb a staircase.

  ~The things we do for love~

When I arrive at Sacre Coeur, I head to the left and there I see the funicular, which is like a giant tram that takes you from street level, to Sacre Coeur at the top of the hill. 

To the left of this, I see some stairs.  I move closer, and sure enough...the street sign says, Rue Foyatier!

At last...I am so excited!  Until I see how looooong the staircase is.  It seems to disappear in the clouds. And that motorized tram is looking mighty fine to my feet, that are on fire now.  But...I promised.

 ~ The things we do for love~

So I trudge up the stairs, turning back to look down at every landing to take a picture.  Part of the problem is that I don't know the exact angle or how far up or down the stairs the picture was taken from.  So, I just keep snapping, and snapping...from the left, from the right to get the best shot. 

The Brassai picture, has no people in the shot, which presents a problem.  It is really busy when I went.  Just when I have the best shot lined up, people are walking up or down.  It was very frustrating for me.  Needless to say..I took at least 50 shots, some with people, some without.  In total, I spent about 1 hour at ' The Stairs'.

  ~The things we do for love~

When I arrived home, we went through the photos.  Chris loved all the shots and chose the one he liked the best.  We blew it up to an 11 x 17 black and white and we can look at it often.  Though it will never be as good as the original Brassai, especially since the conditions were not the same, it does serve as a wonderful reminder of my first trip to Paris, a sign of accomplishment, and above all it represents..the things we do for love.

Happy Love Thursday everyone!!

Photos:  Around Rue Foyatier, Paris

NYC: Scenes From the Train

I thought I would share photos taken from the train ride on our way down to NYC.  The tracks hug the Hudson River the whole way down.

Bear Mountain bridge

Old box cars

Sailboats at the Peekskill station

A lighthouse near Croton-Harmon

Can you guess which bridge this is?

It's the Tappan Zee bridge, taking many commuters from New York to New Jersey.

And there it goes...

This is a cool drawbridge near Spuyten-Duyvil.  The actual span moves up and down.  You can see Columbia University to the right.

Coming into the Bronx

Near 125th Street station, right before we go underground headed for Grand Central Terminal.

If your tootsies hurt after walking in the city all day, I found this for you.

Join me on Monday to hear and see what we did in the big city.

 

Have a great weekend!!

Newport : The Breakers

We continue our stroll along the Cliff Walk, heading toward the breakers along the coast.  We arrive at the grand stone entrance, marking the point on the path where you are entering Breaker property.

Let's get a closer look at the gates surrounding the 11 acre property on Ocher Point Avenue.

The ornate wrought iron details are just amazing.  The gates are over 30 feet tall.

 

These lanterns are larger than most people I know.

And I love the details on the gates.  One of my favorite symbols, the Fleur-de-Lys, is prominently displayed.

 

Another fine display.

There are some lining the top of this entrance gate.

 

Beyond the gates, we get a sneak peak of just a slice of the mansion.  I love the swag detailing showcasing the round window.

Just look at the view they have, back to Newport.  Not bad, eh?

Finally, we see the full shot of this 70 room, 65,000 sq. foot Italianate style mansion that was the summer home to the Vanderbilt family. It took two years and seven million dollars to build in the late 1800's.  I live near and frequent the Vanderbilt Mansion in historic Hyde Park, so I have an idea of the size of that home. This one puts that house in the cottage category.

As the tide comes in, the ocean water slams up against the jagged rocks in front of the mansion.  Now we know why they named the mansion, The Breakers.

The ornate, moss covered gates, signal the end of the property, and beginning of another.

It is no surprise that we find the Fleur-de-Lys motif again.  But, check this out...

And that concludes our tour of The Breakers on Cliff Walk.

Join me next time as we continue our walk passed The Breakers, and a few surprises on our way back.

So, what do you think?  Would you like to live here?  What could you imagine doing if you did?

Newport- Cliff Walk

Lets go for a little walk.  A Cliff Walk.

We begin on a cloudy, hazy, day with the clouds sprinkling now and then.

We start out at the intersection of Narragansett Avenue, where the path is paved.  We walk South.

We come upon the Forty Steps.  This is where the servants of the mansions that line the coast would gather after work for parties into the wee hours of the morning.  Some met an untimely death at the cliffs edge.

We curve around and we see a view to the North.  You can barely see the Harbor and downtown Newport in the background.

We come to this cool stone tunnel.  Up above is the property of one of the mansions.

And of course, a peak back the other way.

The coast is lined with jagged rocks.  We see unidentified birds hanging out on the rocks.

The backyards of the mansions meld into the path and the rocks below.  What a view to have from your window.

 

This gorgeous gem is part of the Salve Regina University.  Not a bad campus, eh?

All of the grounds are beautifully landscaped and manicured.

Again, looking back too see how far we have come.

The drop is much higher than it looks.

A shady spot on the walk complete with a lovely combination of brick and stone, red and gray, curves and
angles.

The giant moss covered tree trunk here is a reminder of how old this area really is.  I love its position right next to the equally old and weathered stone wall.

And finally we get close enough to see that the birds are Cormorants.  They seem to be enjoying the spray from the surf, or looking for food.

Join me next time when our walk continues down to the famous Vanderbilt summer home, The Breakers.

Travel Tip Tuesday - Destination Newport

What better what way to kick off my series on Newport, Rhode Island than to feature it as a destination for this weeks Travel Tip Tuesday!?

Newport is a port city, surrounded on three sides by water-Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean to be specific.  It is full of craggy coastlines, mansions, history, hauntings, shopping, galleries, restaurants, fishing and maritime fun.

   

There is so much to do there, one can certainly get overwhelmed.  I spent four days, but one could easily fill up a week with all the wonderful activities available.

Here is an overview of the Best of Newport.

Cliff Walk. A stunning 3 1/2 mile walk along the eastern coastline, where you can enjoy wildflowers, birds, ocean views and a look at some of the famous mansions on the water.  Most of the trail is a pleasant walk, but at some point it becomes more of a rock-climbing adventure.

Ten Mile Drive.  A breathtaking drive around the entire Newport coastline.  Enjoy passing ocean views, Fort Adams State Park, resorts, country clubs, golf courses, fishermen and huge summer homes overlooking the ocean.  There are even a few up for auction, so you may be able to acquire some oceanfront property.

Mansions.  Drive along Bellevue Avenue and drool at the site of the gilded gold wrought iron gates and ornate finials the size of your car.  It you want a closer look, drive in the gates and wander around the grounds.  You can have a tour of the inside, but you'll pay admission.  A few of the best include The Elms, Marblehouse and The Breakers (Vanderbilt summer home).  Visit the Newport Mansions website for more info. 

Bed & Breakfasts.  There are over 300 B&B's located in Newport. With that many to choose from, there is certainly one that will fit your needs.  The downtown area as well as the historic architecture lends itself well to Bed and Breakfast accommodations.  The area is loaded with tons of historic old houses.  Our Inn was built in 1857 and had huge rooms with fireplaces and a large wrap-around porch.  There is no other way to stay, in my opinion.

Fresh Seafood.  Head downtown to the wharf area and see lobstermen hauling in their fresh catch of  the day.  Many will let you buy lobster right from the boat. The Aquidnick Lobster Company on Bowen's Wharf is another great option for lobster, crab, mussels and oysters.  The area is also known for Quahog's, the largest in the clam family. Don't want the hassle of cooking on vacation?  The Wharf area is loaded with seafood restaurants. The Landing and The Mooring are two great options, both with excellent harbor views.

Ghost Tours.  Take a 90 minute lantern-led stroll through historic Newport in the evening and hear tales of the haunted city by the sea.  Or why not check out the haunted chairs during a ghost tour of the beautiful Belcourt Castle. Bwahahahahaaa.

Local Events.  Golf and Tennis tournaments, Polo matches, regattas and jazz festivals-Newport has it all.  And it is not just a summer destination.  There are tons of things to do all year long.  Check here, here and here for more information on upcoming events.

Boating.  Newport has every kind of boat tour imaginable.  Try the Adirondack II Schooner for a sailboat ride in the harbor.  Gansett Cruises offers a more relaxing experience.  Try a sunset cruise or my favorite, a sunrise breakfast cruise. Or just head down to Bowen's Wharf for more cruising options. 

The Beaches.  Easton's Beach, also known as First Beach, is the only beach with a concession area, carousel and aquarium, making it the best for families.  The Atlantic Beach Club on First Beach has live music on the weekend. Baily's Beach and Gooseberry Beach are located on Ocean Drive.   Second and Third Beach are both located further out in Middletown.  Surfers can be found at Second Beach. Parking rates are astronomical though, ranging from $10-$25. 

Vineyards.  The Newport area boasts two wineries, both give tours and tastings. Newport Vineyards is the closest to downtown and has a very large selection of wines.  All grapes are grown locally.  Greenvale Vineyards is five miles from Newport in nearby Portsmouth. Tour the beautiful vineyard and views of the Sakkonet River.  Visit on a Saturday in the Summer to hear jazz.

Stay tuned for more in depth posts and pictures about Newport.

And don't forget to head over to My Bella Vita.  Geggie is minding the store while Cherrye is away and she is reviewing seven US hotels.

Till next time....Happy Travels!

Just back from.....

 
                                                photo courtesy of gonewport.com

Newport! 

That's right.

It was Newport, Rhode Island. 

Janie was the clever girl who guessed it first.  Your little gift will be on it's way amica mia!

Thanks to all of you for your participation!!

Since there is so much more than one posts worth to tell about Newport (and only about 200 photos), I think I will have several Newport features over the next few weeks.

Stay tuned!

Travel Tip Tuesday-Destinations

This week, for Travel Tip Tuesday, Cherrye and I are focusing on destinations.  As you might have figured out by now, my two favorite destinations are France and Italy.  But, believe or not, I know there are other great places on this planet of ours and I would love to visit them all!!

It is hard to pick just one, but this week I am going to focus on my top pick. 

 
© Pontus Edenberg| Dreamstime.com

Morocco.  Stunning Morocco.  Why Morocco, you ask?

Well, first of all, it does have a French influence.  Maybe that has something to do with it, non?   

Secondly, I think it has a bit of a mysterious feel to it.  It's a bit different.  It is not at the top of everyone's must-see list.  In fact, I bet most would not think to go there and many will never make it there in their lifetime.  Morocco seems to fly under the radar, virtually unnoticed. 

You know the movie Casablanca?  Well, Casablanca is in Morocco.  And for most, that is all they know about Morocco.  Well, you may have also Rocked the Casbah, to the Clash, back in the day.  But seriously, that's it!

But there is so much more, let me show you...

Morocco has beautiful deserts.  Deep terracotta colored sand dunes, like this one.  So beautiful.

 
© Galyna Andrushko | Dreamstime.com

And since it is on the coast of Africa, it has beautifully clear aquamarine water and red jagged cliffs.  Breathtaking.

 
© Anatolij Kivrins | Dreamstime.com

And then there is the eye-popping architecture.  Bright bold colors like azure blue, burnt orange and mint greens set against pure white and clay colored structures.

 
© Scubabartek| Dreamstime.com

The arches that I love so much in France and Italy, are similar, yet distinctively different here.  They have a round shape, but come to more of a point at the tip.  It is very unique.  And the mosaic tile-work is just exquisite. 

 
© Peter Cullen| Dreamstime.com

Though in the desert, it is also home to tropical foliage and lush gardens, like the Majorelle Gardens in Marrakesh.

 
© Andrea Poole| Dreamstime.com

Souk's are a dream come true for a flea market queen like me.  These markets are filled with everything from handmade Moroccan wooden carved furniture, lanterns, slippers, rugs, pottery, food and spices. A trip to a souk would be a must for me! 

 
© Mypix| Dreamstime.com

And speaking of food, the cuisine is also intriguing and sounds deliciously different.  Of course, I am familiar with couscous, which is a Moroccan dish, but I would love to sample a Tagine.  This is a traditional North African dish named after the pot used to cook it.  It is like a slow cooked stew, containing a meat, vegetables and many different spices native to the area.   I'd also sample some Harira, a traditional Moroccan soup, as well as the ubiquitous mint tea.

 
© Jana Bacikova| Dreamstime.com

I have never been on vacation to an area where camels roam or better yet, are used as transportation.  And that also intrigues me.  Now, I have seen camels up close and personal at petting zoo's, but that's the extent of my contact.  They aren't necessarily pretty creatures, but I think it might be fun to go for a camel ride, don't you?

 
© Oleg Seleznev| Dreamstime.com

And after said camel ride would be the perfect time to partake in a spa-like experience...local style!  How about a visit to a hammam?  These are tiled bathhouses with steam rooms, baths, scrubs and some even have massages. I'd love to experience this.  The goal is to wash yourself off, open your pores with hot steam, scrub yourself down 'till you're baby smooth and then rub in some aromatic oil.  

 Ohhh yes...pleeease!

And now for some practical info:

The most well-known area's in Morocco are Casablanca, Marrakesh, Tangier and Fès.

The currency is called the Dirham.  Currently one Dirham is equal to approx .14 USD, which makes it an excellent spot to visit in the current economy!

Morocco is very close to Europe, so ferries are available from Spain, France and Italy.  Check here for schedules and rates. It is also very easy to fly from Europe to Morocco.  Flights are available from the US as well.  Royal Air Maroc is Morocco's airline.

Once in Morocco, trains seem to be the best way to get around. 

To read more about Morocco, check the following links to these articles or blogs that offer a wealth of information.

http://www.morocco.com/
http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-srv/misc/0804_MoroccoDecoder/index.html
http://budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502908.html
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/moroccos-secret-sands
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/10339
http://www.cntraveller.co.uk/Guides/Morocco/Marrakech/
http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_morocco.html
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/morocco/
http://www.fodors.com/world/africa-and-middle-east/morocco/fez-and-meknes/

Blogs

The View from Morocco
Real Travel
My Marrakesh

So, I hope you have enjoyed this armchair tour of Morocco.  After writing this and posting these fabulous photos of the area, it makes me even more determined to get there...someday.  But, once I get the bug...it's hard to think of anything else until I can make it happen! 

Morocco waits for you....will you go?  If you have been, what was your impression?  What is one of your dream destinations?

And, don't forget to pop on over to Cherrye's blog to see which destination she is highlighting today!!

Happy Travels!

US Airlines in Trouble?

In the last few weeks several situations have occurred that frankly, makes me question the Airline industry here is the US.

It started a few weeks ago with Southwest Airlines.  Many of their planes had to be grounded for not performing required inspections.  Seems that they may have conspired with their buddies over at the FAA, who decided they didn't need to inspect their planes for cracks in the fuselage.  Are these airlines and our government just a little too chummy?

Next up are American and Delta, who grounded planes and canceled hundreds of flights due to wiring concerns.

Not to be excluded is United.  Seems they may have missed some maintenance checks as well, so they grounded about 30 planes.

Newer discount carrier Skybus announced that they are closing up shop.  Oh, and passengers who have purchased tickets aren't necessarily getting their money back.  They need to contact their credit card companies.  This one really hits home for me because Skybus was helping to fuel growth at my local airport, Stewart International.

Tonight I am watching CNN and they announce that yet again American Airlines is disrupting service.  AA is canceling hundreds of flights to inspect their MD-80 fleet. Again.

Oh come on already! 

Canceling flights for inspections?  I don't understand this concept.  Shouldn't someone be managing this inspection process?  Shouldn't there be a way to schedule a plane for an inspection without disrupting service, without canceling flights that people have already paid for and have planned vacations or business trips around?

I know, it would take someone with a plan, someone with intelligence. A stroke of genius. A college degree. I know it is asking alot, but this isn't rocket science or brain surgery.  Or is it?

What are your thoughts on this?  Does this affect which airline you fly with?  Does this scare you?  Are you considering not flying or taking a vacation because of this poor mismanagement?  Is the FAA doing all that they can to protect us in the air?

Ok, now it's your turn to weigh in!