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Posts from the ‘Travel’ Category

1
Sep

What To Do In Bern, Switzerland

Bern is the capital of Switzerland and is almost halfway between Geneva (80 miles) and Zurich (70 miles). Easily accessible by train or car, Bern is a fun place to spend a day. The old part of the city has the most character with traditional architecture and old streets that are interesting to explore. Don’t miss the “Time Bell” which is called the “Zytglogge” in Bern: a clock tower with moving parts that was probably the inspiration for kitschy Swiss clocks popular with tourists (as I’ve never seen one of them in a Swiss home). Read more »
26
Aug

A Day in Segovia

Segovia is a small city worth spending a day exploring. Located in central Spain, about 60 miles north of Madrid, Segovia is an easy day trip from Madrid. There are five  important activities/sites to do/see:
  1. Aqueduct de Segovia
  2. Alcazar de Segovia
  3. Catedral de Segovia
  4. Walls and Gates of Segovia
  5. Mason de Candido Read more »
20
Aug

What To Do In Amsterdam

Amsterdam is part of the Netherlands although many people also say “Holland.” In planning to spend a few days in Amsterdam, there are 5 sites/activities that should not be missed:
  1. Bike Tour of the City
  2. The Anne Frank House
  3. Museum Amstelkring
  4. Van Gogh Museum
  5. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Read more »
18
Aug

Don’t Ask for Ketchup in Paris

My husband – carnivore man – and I were walking through the streets of Paris one afternoon and came upon the Paris Opera House which is more formally known as the Palais Garnier.  The Paris Opera House was built in the mid-1800’s and was the primary home of the Paris Opera for more than 100 years.  A large rectangular shaped building enveloped by a diamond-shaped parcel of land with the streets (rues)  forming the borders, the Paris Opera House is an impressive building. Read more »

14
Aug

Kids and Rome, Italy

Before I travel to any destination, I always research what to do and especially where to take kids as there are only so many museums (maybe, one) and ruins that my daughter can see in one day before she turns to her dad and says “why do I have to see all this?”  His response: “Because my father showed me, and I’m showing you….and you will show your own children..” to which she wholeheartedly advises him she isn’t going to carry on the tradition.
We’ve learned through the years to make sure we do museums and places where our daughter is restrained from running, touching, or speaking in a voice louder than a whisper, in the morning and to spend the afternoon seeing or doing something she is interested in. Read more »
8
Aug

What To Do In Vevey, Switzerland

Vevey, Switzerland is a vibrant town on the north shores of Lake Geneva (Lake Leman) about 18 kilometers (11 miles) from Lausanne or 50 kilometers (32 miles) from Geneva. The town is most famous for being the home of Charlie Chaplin for the last 25 years of his life (1952-1977) although the Swiss may tell you Vevey is most famous for being the place where milk chocolate was invented in 1875. Or, they may tell you that Vevey is where the Nestle Company was founded in 1866 by Henri Nestle.  All may all be true but Vevey is also where the Musee de l’Alimentation or the Food Museum is located. Read more »

29
Jul

A Day in Le Mont Saint-Michel, France

Le Mont Saint-Michel  or more casually known as Mont St. Michel is probably one of the most photographed sites in France (after the Eiffel Tower). I was there in 1977 and remember being taken aback by the site of the towering island in the distance, charmed by the narrow stone streets for pedestrians only, and being served a huge omelet for lunch, which is what the town is also famous far. Flash forward 34 years and not much has changed. Read more »

27
Jul

A Day in Bayeux, France

Bayeux, France is a small city with about 14,000 residents, 30 kilometers from Caen and 10 kilometers from the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial (Cimetiere USA). The town is charming on foot but some of that charm is lost if you’re in a car trying to maneuver through narrow one way streets that seem to keep you going in circles. Best to follow signs to the center of town, park and explore the town on foot.  There are two sites to see in Bayeux:
  1. The Cathedrale Notre-Dame of Bayeux
  2. The Bayeux Tapestry Read more »
25
Jul

A Day in Normandy, France

In 1977 I went on a high school trip to France, Belgium and Holland – a whirlwind trip over 10 days that included a visit to the west coast of France although and I was unable to see Normandy because I was sick and left at the hotel to convalesce that day.  I always regretted not being able to go so when my husband and I decided to explore the west side of France, Normandy was on our schedule. Read more »

11
Jul

Blue Mountain Lake, 12812

Today, like most days I stopped at the local post office to pick up the mail. We don’t have mail delivery in our small village called Blue Mountain Lake in upstate New York – everyone has a box.  Liz is our postmistress and she knows everything that is going on and is not averse to passing along information, which suits everyone just fine. In and out is impossible as locals and summer residents stop to talk about what’s going on in town (not much, usually but that’s the way everyone likes it), the weather, or how bad the black flies are this year. Read more »

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