Podcast

Chambéry & Annecy – a perfect two days in France

GO AWAY!
Two days?? Is it possible to get the flavor of two towns in France in only two days? Can I get a Oui Bien Sur up in here?* If you follow my two-word suggestions below, you’ll have time to taste the food France is known for, tour adorable Renaissance towns, and sample a few of the many things Chambéry and Annecy made famous, including secret passageways, trompe-oeil-ed cathedrals, vermouth-stirred cocktails, and truffles au chocolat.

 SLOW DOWN!
Catch an early flight to Geneva and get off the plane ready to have lunch. In less than an hour, you can be sitting at the Auberge di Pere Bise sipping Rosé Champagne on the terrace overlooking Lake Annecy. Bliss, total bliss.

For the next few hours, I went on a roller-coaster ride of […]

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August 11th, 2017|Chambéry, Destinations, France|0 Comments

A Bit of France: Le Loop d’Été au Chamonix

When I think of things to do in Chamonix, I envision everything white – skiing, snowshoeing, snow, snow, snow. I’m here in the summer and those ice crystals have melted to reveal verdant valleys and moss-covered mountains. Even though we’re not in Austria, I do want to belt out a little “Hills are Alive!”

This time, I can breathe in the mountain air without fear of frostbite or falling down crevasses due to lack of prowess on the slopes. The sun stays out longer (even though it rained a bit when we were there) and you can venture even farther, trading skis for hiking boots.

There’s no rush to get to the slopes before the crowds or be at the end of jam-packed lift-lines – totally enough […]

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July 28th, 2017|Chamonix, Destinations|2 Comments

The Art of Seeing

“I don’t want to spend part of my holiday standing in front of a painting!” Having spent practically my entire college career studying art from the world’s great scholars, A little part of me died when my dinner partner uttered those words last week.

Then I took a deep breath and realized maybe he was right. Why stand in line at the Louvre, then fight the crowds to get a glimpse of the Mona Lisa  – when you could see it stress free online?

Even David Sedaris, the humorist, author and New Yorker contributor, whom I adore, said: “(The Louvre) just doesn’t interest me. I mean, I think so many people come here, and they feel like they have to do certain things because somebody told them […]

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May 12th, 2017|Destinations, Paris, Rome, Venice|2 Comments

A Bit of France: Le Loop de Paris

What is there to say about Paris that hasn’t been said already. There must be millions of luxury travel blogs telling you where to go, what to do and, most importantly, where to eat. Although it’s a crowded market, I thought it was time that I throw my chapeau into the ring as well!

Since these are my Best Bits, I’ve decided to let you into the Cypriot’s and my little Parisian secret – Le Loop!  Le Loop, as it has always been called, is our way of managing Paris, if we have only one weekend in which to do it.

Most of Paris is closed on a Sunday, except for the shops in Le Marais, so Le Loop is for Saturday or another day in the […]

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April 7th, 2017|Destinations, France, Paris|1 Comment

A Bit of France: Reims – The City of Bubbly

Reems (Eng.) or Rance (Fre.), it truly doesn’t matter how you pronounce it. I mean we say Paris and it is technically called Paree! The most important word you need to know is Champagne.

Best known for its incredible cathedral, Reims is footsteps away from the vineyards of France’s most popular export! Only 45 minutes from Paris, a day trip to sip the bubbly stuff is easy as Pommery on any holiday to the City of Lights.

A mix of architecture, from Medieval wonders, Renaissance houses, Roman ruins, plus little of the two Arts, Deco and Nouveau, thrown in for good measure, make Reims an architecture jewel.

Heavily attacked by the Germans in World War I, George Burdett Ford, an American architect and Art Deco fan, was brought […]

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March 9th, 2017|Destinations, France, Reims|4 Comments

A Bit of France: La Bouitte, St. Martin de Belleville

Between mouthfuls of our mingardises (petit fours), we agreed that our hosts’ last name should be Le Meilleur (best) not simply Meilleur (better), because this dinner just couldn’t be more fabulous.

Eaters from far and wide travel via every mode of transportation to dine chez Rene & Maxime. Before lunch & dinner, a line of helicopters waits to land at the nearby helipad all coming to one place, La Bouitte, the 3 Michelin star restaurant that tops them all.

That’s not just my opinion. In 2015, 6,000 chefs across France voted for the restaurant that best represents French gastronomy  – La Bouitte was the winner and Rene and Maxime Meilleur were named 2015 Chefs of the Year.
THE HOTEL

Staying at La Bouitte is just as glorious as dining […]

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May 13th, 2016|Destinations, France, St. Martin de Belleville|0 Comments