France
Winter Paris Pictorial
Early morning winter stroll, Paris, France.
Imagine snow lightly falling as you arrive early morning into Paris. It is dark still, no one is about, it is a cold 1 to 2 degrees on a Saturday. You are dropped off in the narrow laneways of Paris St Germain, the cobbles are slick and the reflected lights from patisseries and cafes glow warmly, beckoning you in to try freshly baked croissants and steaming hot chocolate. Narrow sidewalks and narrow medieval buildings are crammed together so not a drop of space is wasted, each with glass window fronts displaying wares.
Here is our hotel, Hotel de Buci – doors are opened, bonjours exchanged in welcome and luggage taken care of. Hotel de Buci exudes a sense of warmth and character charm that is immediately like coming home from a storm…. although we do not linger. Not a moment to waste. Paris is calling, the snow has stopped and although its dark, the streetscape glistens with an innate beauty. I’am overwhelmed with a connection to history, an unrepeatable moment of magic when imagination and reality coincide, this is the Paris of my soul, this is Paris in winter, I breath deeply and smile, as I head out to explore…
Chantilly, an enchanting last night in France.
Located only 30 km’s from Charles de Gaulle airport Chantilly is the perfect last night in France destination. An historic Chateau complete with the oldest art collection in France at Musee Conde, Dressage Performances at The Grand Stables and a Relais and Chateaux for one little last splurge!
read moreBags, Trains and Rickety Stairs
I like to think of my young self as an ‘original’ backpacker. You know the one – young, broke, hauling too big a backpack along with a 6 month Eurail pass in my back pocket. (Back when there were no mobile phones, letters home were sent via post and you had to go into a bank to withdraw money!) The Eurail pass allowed me to go where any train would take me in Europe. That was pretty cool. I have had a soft spot for train travel ever since. (Not sure if thats because trains still exist in this world!) I was really looking...
read moreWinter Paris Pictorial
Imagine snow lightly falling as you arrive early morning into Paris. It is dark still, no one is about, it is a cold 1 to 2 degrees on a Saturday. You are dropped off in the narrow laneways of Paris St Germain, the cobbles are slick and the reflected lights from patisseries and cafes glow warmly, beckoning you in to try freshly baked croissants and steaming hot chocolate.
read more