I sit on a bench on Place des Abbesses in Paris. There is a colourful merry-go-round in the centre of this autumn- leaf covered square in the heart of Montmartre, Paris. A young Parisian is sitting on the steps of the nearby church strumming on his guitar with his cap waiting hopefully on the footpath [...]
Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
Edith Piaf – The Sparrow and the Rose
Posted in France, News, Paris, Tourism, Travel, tagged Edith Piaf, James Blunt, Je Ne Regrette Rien, Jim McIntosh, La Vie en Rose, Louis Leplee, Montmartre, Non, Oscar Wilde, Pere Lachaise, Place des Abbesses on November 3, 2011 | 27 Comments »
Toussaint – Don’t get the flowers wrong!
Posted in France, Holiday, Tourism, Travel, tagged All Saints Day, All Souls Day, chrysanthemums, toussaint on October 31, 2011 | 5 Comments »
Within the next few days no-one can avoid the 1st November. In France this day is known as La Toussaint (All Saints Day), a day when one celebrates the lives of all the saints. Equally important as 1 November is the 2 November, which is known as the Fete des Morts (Festival of the Dead). [...]
Hitler’s morning off in Paris.
Posted in France, Holiday, News, Paris, Travel, tagged Albert Speer, Arc de Triomphe, Charles Mangin, Edith Cavell, Eiffel Tower, Hans Spiedel, Hitler, Opera House Garnier, Palais de Chaillot, Paris occupation, Place de la Concorde, Richard Maddox on October 26, 2011 | 22 Comments »
It is early morning on 23rd June 1940. Paris has been occupied for over a week. An armistice was signed in the same railway carriage, at the same spot in the Forest of Compiègne where Foch had imposed terms on the German delegation in 1918. At Le Bourget the light catches a military transport aircraft [...]
Rugby World Cup 2012 – in France
Posted in France, Holiday, News, Tourism, Travel, tagged Brittany, Marseille, Provence, rugby, Rugby World Cup, Toulon, Toulouse on October 20, 2011 | 5 Comments »
The Rugby World Cup mounts to its ultimate crescendo and conclusion. New Zealand to face France in the final match of the Rugby World Cup in Auckland. I am writing this from Christchurch, where despite this city losing the ability to host their World Cup matches, has still been able to get in to the [...]
Escorted Tours 2012 – France and Portugal
Posted in France, Portugal, Tourism, Travel, tagged Carcassonne, Escorted tour of Portugal, Escorted Tours, John Reese, Languedoc, Provence Tour, Small Group Tours, St Remy de Provence, Villefranche sur Mer on October 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
For nearly twenty years my job has enabled me to regularly escort groups through France and Europe. It is at this time of the year when I love planning where I am going to take people on tour for the following year. For the year 2012 I have chosen to revisit some of my favourite [...]
Auvers sur Oise – Dining with Vincent Van Gogh
Posted in Art and Photography, France, Tourism, Travel, tagged Auberge Ravoux, Auvers sur Oise, Starry starry night, Van Gogh, Vincent Van Gogh on October 10, 2011 | 36 Comments »
On that starry, starry night, You took your life, as lovers often do. But I could have told you, Vincent, This world was never meant for one As beautiful as you. Don McLean’s hit song “Vincent” captured for us the agony suffered by Vincent Van Gogh as he tried to live his life. I have [...]
Carcassonne – I was there in the year 1209.
Posted in France, Tourism, Travel, tagged Carcassonne, French history, La Cite, Roger-Raymond Trencavel on October 4, 2011 | 32 Comments »
No one will believe what I am about to write. When I set off from my hotel (www.lemontmorency.com/content/) beneath the fortified town of Carcassonne I was planning on a gentle stroll through the cobbled streets before having a cooling beer and quiet dinner at the end of a long day entertaining clients on my current [...]
Neighbors at War: the joys of Paris apartment living
Posted in France, Paris, Travel, tagged Paris apartment living, Sarah Reese on August 30, 2011 | 29 Comments »
Sarah Reese shares the joys and surprises of living in Paris. “You’re walking too loudly,” my fiery Spanish downstairs neighbor roared at me and my flatmate. “I’m going mad here,” she continued, “I can’t sleep, I can’t work, I’ve even looked into renting another apartment because you both WALK too LOUDLY!” Smoke billowed out of [...]
Portugal Photo Paradise
Posted in Portugal, Travel, tagged Alentejo, Duoro Valley, Escorted tour of Portugal, Lisbon, Marvao, Obidos, Porto, Sandeman's Port on August 24, 2011 | 19 Comments »
To entertain you I’d like to share with you some of my favourite photos of Portugal following my recent escorted tour through that country. The most outstanding thing for me with this country was the warmth of the Portugese people and some of the most astoundingly beautiful countryside. [...]
Lisbon – Arrival in Portugal
Posted in Portugal, Travel, tagged 1755 earthquake, Belem, Escorted tour of Portugal, Lisbon, LX Boutique, Praca du Comercio on August 16, 2011 | 29 Comments »
Portugal has been featuring regularly in the world media at present. Will there be another financial bailout for this country, as it struggles to survive financially? This is the scene that was set for me as I chose at the last minute to lead an escorted tour through Portugal. (Read about why I chose Portugal [...]
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