Header photo – Bergen harbor fish market/ Border photo – inside a Kelpie, Falkirk, Scotland
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Tag Archives: france travel
Some online resources on gardens in the south of France
In response to a reader request for recommendations on gardens in the south of France, my only home resource, Secret Gardens of France, listed mostly private properties, almost all of which were near Lyon or farther north, so I did some … Continue reading
Solo travel in Paris – from the NY Times
From the NY Times. Solo in Paris – makes me want to see the city again; it’s been more than ten years and never for more than two days. Paris demands much more time than that! The article is a … Continue reading
Posted in France, General magpie travel, News from Europe, Paris travel
Tagged france travel, Paris travel
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Perking up pictures with Photoshop
I’m spending more time on the blog and playing around a little bit with Photoshop. It’s one of those skills that requires a lot of repetition and it’s easier for me to learn how to use this software by concentrating … Continue reading
Messing about in boats in Paris and more summer fun
From France 24. Take a boat out onto the lake in the Bois de Vincennes. And here’s a list of all sorts of summer activities throughout France indoors and out.
Posted in European festivals, European museums, European music, France, General magpie travel, News from Europe, Paris travel
Tagged avignon festival, boating in paris, bois de vincennes, france jazz, france travel, opera in aix, opera in europe, paris plages, Paris travel, summer fun in paris, summer jazz in toulouse
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Trapping tourists at Mont St-Michel
From France 24. The mayor of Mont Saint-Michel is in hot water for rigging bus stop locations so tourists would have to pass his restaus and other shops. Fines and jail sentence (even if suspended) forthcoming. Tsk tsk tsk! Mind … Continue reading
Marseille working to clean up its image for its closeup as a 2013 European Capital of Culture
From France 24. Marseille is one of two European Capitals of Culture, so it’s trying to clean up its seedy reputation in hope of boosting its visitor numbers for 2013.
Posted in France, General magpie travel, News from Europe
Tagged france travel, Marseille, Marseille capital of culture
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A virtual tour of the Louvre’s new branch in Lens
From France 24. Now that the Louvre’s second location is open in Lens, France, we can get a digital glimpse of what is there. Fears that this would be a second-rate installation proved to be unfounded. Click on the link … Continue reading
Posted in European art, France, General magpie travel, News from Europe
Tagged france travel, Louvre in Lens
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French wine news – Chateau d’Yquem ditching a 2012 vintage
From France 24. Chateau d’Yquem will not be putting down a 2012 vintage of their Sauternes. The reason? Lousy weather. Red Bordeaux will also be having a rough year. Better luck next year. Actually, I never would have known. I … Continue reading
Posted in Europe food & wine, France, News from Europe, not really travel
Tagged Chateau d'Yquem 2012, france travel, French wine
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Day old baguettes are ‘hot’ in France. Sacre bleu!
From France 24. Now, cash-starved bread hounds in Nîmes are buying day-old baguettes to save money. What next?!
Louvre opens a new branch in Lens
From Deutsche Welle. A new branch of Paris’s Louvre is opening in the northern mining town of Lens. If you are in France after December 12, 2012, stop in.
Burger King is returning to France. Oh joy.
From France 24. Burger King, gone from France for 15 years, has decided to open two locations, one in Marseille and one at a highway rest stop in Reims. I wonder if the first location will have bouillabaisse on the … Continue reading
a new hotel atop Mont Blanc in France not quite ready for guests
From France 24. A brand new, high altitude hotel on Mont Blanc in the French Alps has some issues that will prevent it opening as expected. There’s been a fire, malfunctioning solar cooling systems. My first thought is – are … Continue reading
Gevrey-Chambertin chateau and vines sold to Chinese tycoon
From London Independent. A Chines casino zillionaire has bought a very prestigious Burgundy chateau. According to Wikipedia, Gevrey-Chambertin produces 8 of 33 grand cru wines in the region. My first thought upon reading the headline was whether we would have … Continue reading
April in France – a new baguette from McDonald’s
From France 24. It’s a long way off, but if you’re in France in April, keep an eye out for Le McBaguette. It looks and sounds pretty good. I might be tempted to try it, except for a recently developed … Continue reading
Caution – speed cameras in France are big moneymakers
From France 24. If you are driving in France, you may already know about these. Speed cameras are catching lots of speeding motorists and more cameras are being installed. Slow down! We’re all safer that way.
Last days for English bookshop in Paris
From France 24. Not as venerable as Shakespeare and Co, but Paris’s Village Voice shop will close as of July 31st.
Watch out! You need a breathalyzer kit in your car in France
From France 24. A new French law requires everyone, including tourists, to have a breathalyzer kit in their car. Cars rented in France will probably automatically carry one, but cars from other countries won’t.
Napoleon’s English letter goes to auction; a look at Berlin’s Museum Island
From France 24. Napoleon began learning and writing English while imprisoned on St Helena. A letter from this time has been auctioned for a honkin’ load of money. From Deutsche Welle. Berlin’s Museum Island with five top museums clustered together … Continue reading
Travel to Versailles like a king. Really! And Grand Palais art in Paris
The train to Versailles from Paris has added a stylish option. From France 24. A new Daniel Buren art exhibition at Paris’s Grand Palais. From France 24.
Posted in France, News from Europe
Tagged france travel, Louis XIV train carriage, news from Europe, Versailles train
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More art news – Louvre, Bilbao Guggenheim…
New electronic guides at the Louvre. From France 24. The Guggenheim in Bilbao. From Deutsche Welle.
Posted in France, General magpie travel, News from Europe, Spain
Tagged Europe art news, france travel, spain travel
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a roundup of travel ideas for springtime in Europe
From the Prague Post… Cooking classes in Prague From the London Independent… A bicycle tour of Brittany Food services on UK motorways are improving, but I’ll bet the French rest stop food is still the best. Ten spring walks to … Continue reading
travel ideas for Bermuda and Nice
From London Independent’s Simon Calder. Continuing the ”48 hours in …” series. Ideas for visiting Bermuda. I’ve stayed at the Rosedon Hotel he mentions. It’s within walking distance of downtown Hamilton, yet private and very tropical British. Also, a sunny European … Continue reading
Posted in Bermuda travel, France, General magpie travel
Tagged bermuda travel, france travel
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The start of truffle season in Provence
Où sont les truffes? Truffle season is here. From the London Independent.
Posted in Europe food & wine, France, General magpie travel
Tagged food & wine in Europe, france travel
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some info for visiting Bologna and/or Marseille
London Independent visits Bologna and Marseille
Posted in France, General magpie travel, Italy travel
Tagged france travel, Italy travel
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Seeing Normandy with a veteran – Day 3 and final thoughts
Following breakfast on our last day, we spent an hour examining the Bayeux tapestry. This historic relic, more than 200 feet long, is mounted in a protective, low-lighted case in a darkened room. A recorded narrative on a cordless handset tells … Continue reading
Seeing Normandy with a veteran – Day 2 afternoon
After lunch on Day Two, we finally arrived at Omaha Beach. The weather was now sunny and a little breezy after a lunchtime shower. There were several houses facing the beach that Dad did not remember from his previous trip … Continue reading
Seeing Normandy with a veteran – Day 2 morning
The first stop after breakfast on day two was the German cemetery at La Cambe. It was still early enough that the mist had barely risen above the car. The German cemetery had only one or two other visitors aside from … Continue reading
Seeing Normandy with a veteran – background and Day 1
Some background My father served in World War II in Europe. Born and raised in New York City, he began his invitational military service (he was drafted) at Fort Hancock, New Jersey, one of the forts guarding New York harbor. … Continue reading
Coping with the heat in northern Europe
Last July was a scorcher throughout most of Europe. Even in Finland, temps were setting new records; I was in Helsinki in mid-July when they set a new record (89) and they saw a nother new high of 93 before the month was out. … Continue reading
