My Mélange

Travel Photo Friday : Greece is the Word

   Welcome to our 7th edition of Travel Photo Friday.

  Wow, time flies, I can't believe it has been seven months already!

  This month, my best French friend Anne, who happens to be the   Foodie  Froggy in Paris, submitted photos of her trip to Greece. 

Now mind you, this isn't Anne's first trip to Greece.  She went on vacation there 2 years ago and loved it so much, that she and her family returned again this past summer.

And from the looks of all the photos I have seen- I can certainly see why.

Let me just remind you that Anne is French, but her English is amazing!

Anne has chosen pictures from the little town of Oia in Santorini Island, because it is her favorite.

Here is what Anne writes about her favorite part of Greece:

"The history of Santorini is really interesting : it is a group of  five volcanic islands,the main one being Thera, which people tend to confuse with Santorini because it is the largest one and the most famous, but it is only one of the five islands of Santorini.

Of the others, only one is inhabited, Thirasia. The others are too small.  In 1500 BC, Santorini was a unique and round island, before the volcano eruption. This eruption entirely buried the island under layers of  lava and broke the island in several parts, with sea water in the middle. This is why many people think that the legend of Atlantis was actually in Santorini.

The main towns are Fira, Oia, Imerovigli , and Pyrgos. Each one has its own charm, but my favorite  is Oia, because it is so peaceful and quiet, away from the tourist crowds due to its location (at the extreme north end of the island, far from Fira port where all cruise ship disembark their passengers).

I love its wonderful views on the sea and the remains of the volcano, its wonderful narrow alleys with captain houses, houses built into the volcanic rock, the steps that leads down to the harbor, and of course its unique white and blue architecture. 

Some gorgeous restaurants and hotels with views that leave you speechless. What I also enjoyed a lot are the numerous art galleries with beautiful objects made with lava, great drawings, made with good taste, not at all your ordinary tourists souvenirs.

And now on with the stunning show...

As always, the captions below the photos are from Anne.

A general view of the town of Oia, which shows how high is the city and the houses like they were stuck together as to not to fall from the cliffs.

What can I say, the picture speaks for itself : breathless view, wonderful terraces, peace and quietness.

You have the feeling that the stairs will lead you directly to the sea.

The white and blue houses are not a cliché, they are everywhere and they are so so beautiful and serene.

Art galleries with beautiful objects, not the typical tourist traps.

I love them ! They are beautiful and they were seated there under the shadow of the tree, chatting quietly for hours. I want to be like them when I am their age !

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Thanks so much Anne!!  Your photo tour makes me want to go to Greece.  Now.

Which one is your favorite?  Have you been to Greece?  Tell us about it.

Travel Photo Friday : Glacier National Park

This edition of Travel Photo Friday, Terry, RN, author and owner of Caring is Not Enough, has submitted photos from her summer vacation to Glacier National Park, in Montana.

Terry is also my good friend.  We go way back.  We worked together over 12 years ago (ouch- it really hurt typing that) when she lived in the Hudson Valley. I also used to house-sit for her when she traveled.

After she and her hubby moved to San Francisco, they convinced us to give it a try.  Chris and I packed up and moved to the other side of the country and stayed with Terry and her husband, until we found a place of our own. Their hospitality and kindness will never be forgotten.

Even though they remain near San Fran, and we have since moved back to New York, thanks to email, we still keep in touch.

Though the photos have no descriptions, they are so awe-inspiring and beautiful that words wouldn't do them any justice.  Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

Thanks so much for sharing Terry!  It's no surprise, being an animal lover, that those bear cubs are my favorite!  This was our first edition of  U.S. photos, and I couldn't  think of a better way to showcase such a lovely American natural wonder.

So, which is your favorite?  What National Parks have you visited?

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Join me for our next edition of Travel Photo Friday on November 7th!

Travel Photo Friday : A Different Perspective

Welcome to our 5th edition of Travel Photo Friday!

I am excited this week that Erin of The Olive Notes has submitted some, shall we say, artistic photos for this months event.  

And, she presented them in a guessing game fashion.  How clever is that?!

So, on with the show.

Erin writes, I like to look at famous monuments in different ways to find geometric shapes.  Here are a couple of examples I've enjoyed spotting while traveling in Europe.

Picture #1.

Can you guess where this enormous hole is found?  Yes, I'm looking directly skyward as told by the clouds. They say you can fit 8 MINI Cooper cars end to end across the opening.

Picture #2

On a romantic night in the city, we finally made it under one of the most famous icon's in the world.  Over 700 tons of iron stands above my head, complete with 20,000 light bulbs.  Can you guess where I am?

Answer#1

The famous Pantheon in Rome!  This is probably my most favorite monumental structure in the ancient city.  So foreboding and grand.  It makes you just stand in awe of how this was constructed so long ago.

Answer #2

Of course, we are standing under the beautiful Eiffel Tower in the city of lights and love, Paris!  What a wonderful surprise we had we when rode to the top to find the nightly strobe-light show (from the 20,000 lights) begin the minute we stepped off the elevator!

Thank you so much Erin, for the stunning pictures and the little Q&A you set up for us!!

That is one stunning night shot of the Eiffel Tower!!

Do you have a favorite travel photo that you would like to submit for Travel Photo Friday?  Please email them right along to me, with your description.

Join us for our next edition, which will take place on October 3rd.

Travel Photo Friday - Palermo

 This months entry is from Michelle over at Bleeding Espresso.  Michelle traveled to Sicily earlier this year and her blog photos were so lovely, I couldn't wait to get my hands on whatever she was going to send me. 

Michelle and I are what I would consider good blogging buddies.  You may remember that I won her Bella Bag Contest, and that she won the My French Life contest.  I live vicariously through her, because she lives in Italy.

Here is Michelle's contribution to Travel Photo Friday.  The descriptions follow the photos and are Michelle's.

Located in the heart of Palermo in Piazza Pretoria, La Fontana della Vergogna, or the fountain of shame, is a work by Florentine sculptor, Francesco Camilliani and Michelangelo Naccherino completed in 1555 that features 16 nude representations of gods and goddesses.

 

The fountain gets its name because of the cold reception it got from Palermo's citizens who didn't appreciate coming out of church (the piazza is surrounded by them) and being greeted by many, many nether regions.

Here's a creative way to get around Palermo--what I like to call a Sicilian taxi. I'm guessing it is probably not the most economical way to see the city, but hey, it's a horse!!  Whee!

Thank you Michelle.  You always have a way of mixing facts with funnies!

You can read more about Michelle's trip to Sicily and Palermo on her blog.  Here is a link to her cleverly titled category....Palermondays!

My favorite is the taxi!  How 'about you?  Which is your fav and why?

I am looking for YOUR travel photos.  Email them over, along with your description and you can be featured in Travel Photo Friday!

See you September 5th for our next edition!

Travel Photo Friday

Welcome to our third edition of Travel Photo Friday!

This month Linda of Milanese Masala, submitted photos involving three of my favorite things. 

Italy, Wine and Nutella.  How did I get so lucky?

Linda lives in Milan, Italy and blogs about food, life, travel, music and my favorite of late...calcio, Italian soccer. She has the sexiest photos of the players on her blog.  Sweaty, sexy, photos.  Ahhhh.  Yes. 

Oh, scusi.  Mi dispiace.  Lost my mind there for a minute.

Ok, back to these photos.  Read Linda's description of the photos below.

"These were taken last fall in the gorgeous Monferrato area of Piedmont. It's an area famous for wines like Barbera and Grignolino but hazelnuts also reign supreme. Yummy Nutella is a regional product.

We had lunch at a great B&B called La Quercia Rossa and spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the owner's vineyard's and chestnut groves. Their dog was even our impromptu guide, showing us around and playing with the kids. As you can see, the vineyard was at its most beautiful. The colours were breathtaking, as if the hills were on fire. We had a wonderful day and I just wanted to share it with you and your readers."

 

Linda, your photos are stunning and beautiful.  The orange, yellow, amber and green are so strikingly different from what I am used to in Italy.  I am familiar with beautiful pictures of Tuscany and the Chianti area with lush green foliage.  It is so nice to finally see where one of my favorite wines (Barbera) and Nutella are created.

 

Thanks for participating!! And for sharing your photos, your story and the info on the lovely B&B with us!

 

Calling all photos!!  Do you have a favorite travel photo to submitt for Travel Photo Friday?  Just email your photo over with a short description. I'd love to inlcude you!!

 

Join me for our next Travel Photo Friday, Friday August 1^st.

 

Travel Photo Friday

Welcome to our next edition of Travel Photo Friday!

This weeks entry comes from Joanne of Frutto Della Passione.  She lives in Italy and her blog is about Italy and Italian food.  Two of my most favorite things in the world.

Joanne submitted two photos for this event.  They were both taken in Santa Cristina di Val Gardena in the Alto Adige region of Italy.  Here are her photo's with her descriptions below.

"We go skiing in this part of the world every year. The ice fountain shown in the picture is just one of many that are located throughout the village. If you look really carefully you can see a spray of water mist at the top. That's how these fountains are created. The mist is sprayed non stop and freezes as it falls, creating the cascading effect. No two are alike and each one is constantly changing"

"This is a life size, hand carved presepio (nativity). This area is famous for it's woodcarvings and sculptures, and this is an excellent example of the craftsmanship. "

Wonderful photo's Joanne.  I love the ice sculpture, but that nativity is breathtaking!!  You have truly captured the lost art of hand carving in Italy.  Your photos and descriptions remind me why I love Italy so much.

Thanks for participating, Joanne!! 

Do you have a favorite travel photo to submit for Travel Photo Friday?  Yeah, you know you do.  Please email it, along with a description, to mymelange (at) yahoo (dot) com. 

Join me next month on Friday, July 4th, for our next entry!

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!

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.....