We arrived at our chalet in Les Diablerets, Switzerland – near the town of Aigle, which is also the name of a company that makes good cold and wet weather gear. It took us about 8 hours to drive from Paris, including stops (but not lunch, which we ate in the car). We drove by such breathtaking sites as Mont… Read More
Dinan is an old, picturesque town in Brittany, and it’s pronounced Dee-non, with only a hint at that last n. Every year we go to Brittany for a 2-week extended family vacation, and every year we have a date in St Malo. This year we thought we would venture further and go to Dinan, though we had already been there… Read More
Happy Monday everyone! I’ve got a guest post up from Marta Lopez, a travel writer based in London. You’ll love the insider tips she has to share. (And since I don’t get out much, someone’s got to tell you about these things). Please welcome Marta. Six Dishes to Discover the Soul of Paris There is much more than moules frites, baguettes… Read More
Happy Bastille Day everyone! We’re going to the beach to see the fireworks tonight, although it’s going to be late. It stays light until nearly 11:00. I’ve written about Bretagne before, but usually call it that rather than Brittany. But Brittany is the English word for Bretagne and this is also where Great Britain comes from – to distinguish it… Read More
Chambord is pronounced shahm-bore, and it’s probably the most prestigious château in the Loire Valley. It’s certainly the largest, boasting 440 rooms, 365 windows, 282 fireplaces, 83 staircases, as well as the many turrets and dormer windows. Chambord was seldom inhabited, and that’s probably because it’s simply not very habitable. There is a pretence at protection, but it is certainly not a… Read More
ARE YOU GETTING SICK OF THE CHÂTEAUX YET? I must admit that I feel weary. But I’m nothing if not stubborn, so there’s just Ussé and then Chambord and then maybe I’ll change things up and cook something. Ussé is pronounced ew-say, with an accent on the say, and what’s impressive about this château is that the Duc of Blacas… Read More
