A year of love, baguettes, and French lessons
On our final day in Madeira, V's meetings ended early and we were able to explore together. I saved most of the island's highlights for us to see together. We had a fantastic day discovering the western half of the island. Our first stop was the little port of Camara de Lobos, a tiny fishing …
After the south of France, the next stop on my grand tour of following V on his business trips was Madeira. Madeira is a small island in the middle of the Atlantic, part of Portugal but closer to Africa. It's famous for its eponymous wine, but it's really a remarkable place beyond that. The steep …
If you know me at all, you probably know that I'm not a passionate enough football fan in general, nor a Patriots fan specifically, to stay up until 5am to watch the Superbowl. However, you also know that I love to host a good party, so we celebrated the event with a crêpe extravaganza. For …
I spent a few days on my own in Paris this month, when V was on a business trip in South America. Again I got to explore like a local, which was wonderful. It was the first day of the post-Christmas sales (signs for "SOLDES" were everywhere you turned). I made my pilgrimage to the …
I am now in the enviable position of being a frequent enough visitor to Paris that I can explore the minor sights and seek out the hidden gems. I can go to the Louvre if I want, but I don't have to. We visit friends there, we pass through on the way to other destinations, …
After mixing with the rich and not so famous in Cannes and Monaco, we turned to the more casual side of the French Riviera. We were blessed with more glorious weather which seems to be the norm in the south of France. We stayed with V's aunt in her lovely, art-filled home in the hills …
The Côte d'Azur... what a gorgeous place. V's sister and I had a glorious few days exploring the French Riviera: Cannes, Nice, Monaco, and the surrounding area. It's always sunny, the hilly seaside towns give everyone a view of the sparkling Mediterranean, and the food is fresh and delicious. Its landscape and architecture reminded me …
First allow me to pay homage to a lovely writer who passed away this week. Peter Mayle wrote A Year in Provence and other luscious memoirs about life in Provence, as well as several fun mystery novels. I'm sad that I'll never again read one of his detective capers, filled with characters who eat bouillabaisse and …
At the beginning and end of our Greek summer vacation, we spent a few days exploring the capital and its environs. Highlight #1: the Acropolis Museum. I can't believe I didn't hit this museum on my last trip to Greece! What a wealth of archaeological treasures. And for the low price of €5. After seeing …
After a wonderful visit on Paros with V's sister-in-law and her family, we took an evening ferry to Naxos. No front row seats this time, though it mattered less as it was dark out. I'd been to Naxos before, but it was great to travel there with a local. We stayed at Studios La Fontana …
