New Year's Eve - a time to reflect on the previous year and welcome a brand new one. And what better way to toast to new and shiny year than with a bit of something sparkly? For French enthusiasts, such as yours truly, New Year's is the perfect time to indulge in a classic French treat - Continue reading
15 December 2014 
Gift Ideas for Coffee Lovers
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(photo source) For those who know me, you know that I love espresso drinks. Not regular coffee drinks but the fancy kinds that more resemble a dessert than a beverage. But while in France, I had challenges finding espresso drinks similar to what I had in the US - unless I visited Starbucks. So, Continue reading
1 December 2014 
Hotel St. James – Urban Oasis in Paris
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One of the best parts of our last two days in Paris was staying at the historic St. James Hotel, a grand chateau in the heart of the city. From the moment our cab drove through the iron gates and dropped us off in front of the large front entrance, I knew we had made the right choice. Although we Continue reading
24 November 2014 
A Little App of Paris Surprises
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(Photo Source) A few months ago, I came across an awesome Website for Francophiles like me. My Little Paris delights readers with what's new and hot in Parisian shopping, dining, and culture. The quick, magazine-like updates give you access to cool new bistros, hip brunch spots, local boutique Continue reading
17 November 2014 
Experiencing Champs Elysees
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We left Avignon early in the morning, taking the 2.5 hour train ride back to Paris where we spent our last two nights in France. We made our way to our final hotel of the trip, the historic grand chateau - the St. James Hotel. What an amazing place to stay the night in Paris! More to follow on our Continue reading
9 November 2014 
Memories of Cassis
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Cassis, France - located on the Mediterranean coast - was our last stop during our side trip to Provence. Cassis is located about 30 minutes Southeast of Marseille, another port village in the South of France. But where Marseille is a large, gritty, commercial port, Cassis remains a small, colorful Continue reading
29 October 2014 
Enchanting Gordes
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On our third day in Avignon, we made our way to one of the most enchanting towns in France - Gordes. The small Provincial village is set in the hills of the Luberon region. The narrow hillside driving can make it a challenge to reach the hill town in poor weather. However, to our good fortune, we Continue reading
26 October 2014 
Roman Influence in Southern France
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On our second day in Avignon, France, we drove straight west to visit the small towns of Arles and Nimes. Both towns have been highly influenced by Roman architecture and monuments. While in Arles, which is a quintessential provincial town, we toured the very large Roman arena dating back to 1st Continue reading
25 October 2014 
Road to Avignon
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We said au revoir to the Royal Champagne hotel very early on Tuesday morning and drove back to Paris. From Paris Gare de Lyon, we caught an early train to Avignon, in Provence in Southern France. The 2.5 hour train ride was relaxing and gave us both a chance to catch up on our writing. On a side Continue reading
23 October 2014 
A Taste of Champagne in France
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By now you should know that I adore Champagne and sparkling wine. So it should be no surprise that after 3 nights in Paris, we made our way North to the Champagne region to taste a bit of the bubbly. Our first stop was in Epernay at Champagne Mercier where we were taken on a short train tour of Continue reading
22 October 2014 
Our Lady, Notre Dame
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On Sunday, our third day in Paris, it was fitting that we toured the iconic cathedral, Notre Dame. On a side note, when I called the kids back home to tell them we went to Notre Dame, my son reminded me that Notre Dame had just lost to Florida State, ha! When you walk up to the towering Continue reading
21 October 2014 
Royal Tour of Versailles
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On our second day in Paris, we ventured out in the St. Germain area for a quick, early morning run in Luxembourg Gardens. Whoever said the French do not run for exercise is mistaken. We saw many runners, men and women, throughout Paris (day and night) but especially throughout the garden, albeit Continue reading
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