Ok, so I love cats…what of it?
I must have hundreds of cat photos. I take them all over the world. I have cat pictures from Turkey, from Bulgaria, from Thailand, from Japan. You name it, I got it.
This particular cutie was taken a couple of weekends ago in Kientzheim, France. Yep, in the Alsace!
You may wonder why I take so many cat photos. It’s simple. I love cats, dogs, all animals. I’d love to have pets, but I live to travel and travel to live. It’s pretty hard to explain to a pet that you’re [...]
Continue reading Reflection #569 – Cat Photo from Kientzheim, France
The French region of Alsace is one of my favorite places in the world. Here are a few reasons why:
Alsace is located on the eastern side of France, along the German border. It is a region rich with vineyards. In spring, you can see scenes such as this, as the bright, lime-green leaves of the first grapes begin to appear. Later, in the fall, the leaves are dark, and the grapes are full and heavy. They begin picking and wine fests pop up all over the region. At any time of year you can visit the [...]
Continue reading Addicted to Alsace
Welcoming the storks back from winter.
In the last few years, I’ve really looked forward to the arrival of the storks. Somehow they know the weather better than us, and they bring with them fresh green leaves on the trees, tulips and daffodils, and other spring colors.
When we were traveling in Israel, we were able to witness them migrating. One day there was a sand and wind storm coming in from northern Africa, and although it made for a pretty miserable day for humans, the tired birds were elated.
We looked into the sky to see [...]
Continue reading Storks and Spring are Finally Here
Traveling through the Languedoc-Rousillon region of France was a mixture of stunning landscapes, scrumptious food, and sophisticated wines.
Our time in southern France, the Languedoc-Roussillon region, was relaxing. We rented a gite (cottage) for a week in a town near Montady. We woke up every morning and headed straight to the boulangerie to get our choco-pain or warm crossaints.
From there, we would head to the day’s destination such as Carcassonne, Canal du Midi, Pont de Gard, Nimes, Narbonne, Agde, and more. We would explore until lunch, where we would try to sit and have a wonderful French [...]
Continue reading Reflection #548 – Wine Yard in Languedoc-Roussillon
Traveling gives you the opportunity to get a glimpse into somebody else’s life.
I’m fascinated by homes around the world. You can tell a lot by a person’s home, and front yard for that matter.
Therefore, I’ve compiled ten photos of front yards from around the world. What can we glean from them?
This first house was the house Jim and I owned in Alaska. Alaska front yards contain a lot of snow, and usually the machines and tools that help you remove the snow or at least a couple of four wheel drives to get you up that [...]
Continue reading Front Yards From Around the World
Spring in the Loire Valley, that is something everyone should experience during their lifetime. The flowers are gorgeous and the weather is perfect, not too hot nor cold.
We rented this little cutie for a week, and it had one of those huge old fireplaces in it, so we lit a fire each night to ward off the nightime chill.
Some French cheese, a fire, and a good red wine after after a day of castling…really? Perfect!
Have you been to the Loire Valley, what was your favorite thing? The baguettes? The croissants? The wine? The castles? There is [...]
Continue reading Reflection #532 – French Gite, Loire Valley
A feria is a festival which sometimes includes a good bull-fight found in southern France or in Spain. Feria season is coming up, so get your hats, climb on your horse, and join the fun.
We had never been to a small town feria before, and were thrilled to find one. We headed down to the city village center right at noon when the festivities were going to begin.
The first thing that happened was a low-key parade of the local people on their horses. Men, women, and the children pictured above all mounted up for a quick ride [...]
Continue reading Reflection #521 – Kids Riding in the Feria, Southern France
Tours Cathedral
Blue skies peek over the Tours Cathedral in Indre-et-Loire province in France. A beautiful crisp spring Sunday, and the bells are ringing, the worshipers are entering, as we continue on our way. The cathedrals of Europe are beautiful and realizing how long they were in the making, it kind of boggles your mind. I love the fact that the Cathédrale Saint-Gatien de Tours took over 400 years to build.
That’s perseverance!
I am not one of those travelers that needs to go into every church, every castle, but I do enjoy the stories that are part of them. In [...]
Continue reading Reflection #509 – Tours Cathedral
When in France…
Roquefort cheese aging in the caves.
Waitress: Ma’am, what kind of dressing would you like?
Me: Roquefort!
Waitress: Sorry ma’am, we only have blue cheese. Will that be ok?
Huh? I thought Roquefort and blue cheese were the same thing? Well, let me tell you, it is not! Just like the French have coined and now own the term “champagne,” and all the rest of the world must call theirs “sparkling wine”, they have done the same thing with Roquefort cheese.
Roquefort Cheese
Roquefort is produced in the town of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon in the south of [...]
Continue reading The Real Roquefort…Cheese that is!
Meandering around Montmartre one Saturday morning, we happened upon a food and wine exposition. Booth after booth of wine, cheese, chocolate, cheese, wine, sandwiches, sausages, cheese…oh and did I mention wine? There was wine from not only every part of the country, but a few from surrounding countries as well. It seems all the French vendors can turn on the charm when it meant making a few Euros on their caloric products, but I daresay this guy was the smoothest. He deftly wielded his corkscrew to give you a taste of any of his wines and liqueurs. His boyish [...]
Continue reading Reflection #379 – Parisian Wine Connoisseur
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