Archive for the ‘France’ Category

Five European Cities You Must Visit

Monday, March 8th, 2010

The only difficulty you face when planning a visit to Europe is deciding where to go. There is so much to see, so many beautiful cities and so little time that you are spoilt for choice. In no particular order, these are five cities that you should see. There are many, many more such as Barcelona, Madrid, Budapest, Prague ?

London. When you tire of London you tire of life as someone once said, and it is still true even now. London is dirty, noisy, crowded and the public transport isn?t the best in the world but there is something about London that has to be experienced. Hyde park, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, a walk along the Thames, Harrods, Oxford Street, Covent Garden, Soho. You can go on and on.

Paris. If you are planning a visit to Europe, how could you not spend at least a few days in Paris? It is probably the most chic city in the world, with its beautiful architecture, cafes, churches, monuments, art galleries and more. Walk along the Seine or take a bateau mouche to see the city from the river, climb the Eiffel tower, visit Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, eat, drink and be merry.

Rome. Like London Rome is noisy, crowded and amazing. It has great food and great wine combined with thousands of years of history. Visit the roman forum, Vatican City, the Coliseum., the Fontana di Trevi and the Pantheon. As with all these cities, the only hard decision is what to miss out if you only have a limited time. You could live in Rome for a month and only scratch the surface.

Venice. Simply, the most beautiful city in the world. It has to be seem to be believed. After visiting St Mark?s Square and the main tourist sites, I would suggest leaving the normal tourist areas and wandering through the back streets to see something of the real Venice. Even during the long tourist season these are relatively empty, and you will stumble across many hidden gems, not only architecturally but also gastronomically.

Berlin. In common with the other cities, there is a lot of interesting history attached although Berlin is different in that much of it is more recent. You can follow the track marking out the Berlin wall, see the last remaining bits of wall (now preserved), Checkpoint Charlie, the last remaining watch tower and so on. There are also an astonishing number of museums and beer halls within easy reach, and of course the Berlin State Opera.

Finally, a little bit of language helps. English is widely spoken, especially in the tourist areas, but people appreciate it if you make an effort in their language. This doesn’t have to be more than hello, goodbye but it usually gets a good response. You will also find that in places where you might expect an understanding of English, such as the metro in Paris, it can surprisingly be absent.

Bouillon Tourist Information

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

General summary of city:
Bouillon is a city that is situated in the province of Luxembourg, in the western section of Belgium. A small city and part of the Neufchateau district, Bouillon has a relatively small population numbering just over 5,000 individuals. Yet, the small population of the city can be somewhat deceiving, Bouillon is a city that offers plenty of things to do see and enjoy.

Bouillon is located very near the French border and is surrounded by Ardennes. Filled with incredible castle structures, and many historical sites to see, the city of Bouillon draws thousands of tourists each year. The city of Bouillon is also the location where Godfrey of Bouillon first left for the Crusades in 1095. Further, the city of Bouillon was, at one time, under the rulership of the French?specifically King Louis XIV in 1676. Later, the city would become part of Belgium in the eighteen century.

Castles, museums, beer breweries, and recreational activities are all easily accessible to guests in Bouillon. In fact, if guests visit Bouillon at the right time of year, they can take in all of the recreational activities that are offered on an annual basis in Bouillon. The city of Bouillon offers a carnival every March, a Trout Festival every April; Falconry demonstrations between the months of April and August; a Medieval Weekend during the month of August; a Craft Fair in September; and a mountain biking expedition in September.

Places of interest:
Bouillon houses a number of sites of historical interest. The Archeoscope is filled to the brim with edifying exhibits: exhibits that will reveal the true history of Bouillon, from its early beginnings to the present day. Further, within the Archeoscope, travellers can view scale models of the existing fortifications within the city of Bouillon and neighbouring France. The Archeoscope is often the first site visited by travellers?the historical education provided by the location readies the traveller for other site seeing adventures within the city.

Alternatively, travellers may also want to see the Ducal Museum, housing exhibits pertaining to the First Crusade to the present. English speaking, guided tours are offered at the Ducal Museum, and guests can take in the breath-taking sixteenth and seventeenth century architecture that this museum is famous for. Ultimately, the Ducal Museums is a source of historical exploration that the entire family can easily enjoy.

Of course, travellers seldom leave Belgium before sampling its world famous beer or visiting one of its breweries. While staying in Bouillon, travellers can tour the Le March? de Nathalie, the city?s single brewery; a brewery that brews well over 300 varieties of Belgium beer. Travellers are given the opportunity to sample some of Belgium?s finest brews at the Le March? de Nathalie.

Things to do:
The annual Falconry Demonstration that is offered between the months of April and August is called the Ballet de Rapaces. Offered three times daily, the Falconry Demonstration is a perk of visiting the Castle in Bouillon. The times for the Falconry Demonstration are set at 11:30 am, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm respectively. Each show lasts approximately ? hour, just a short time for travellers to see the beautiful falcons and their abilities.

Alternatively, many tourists find that they are drawn to the medieval architecture of Bouillon and such travellers may enjoy seeing the Chateau Fort. The Chateau Fort was established in the late 900?s and was formerly owned by Godfrey of Bouillon. The Chateau Fort houses long, vast corridors, and dark dank dungeons for traveller exploration and the medieval charm of the Fort is truly unforgettable. Adults and children find the Chateau Fort incredibly interesting, and the guided tours?especially the nocturnal tours where guides walk tourist through the castle with lighted torch in hand?serve as an incredibly memorable experience. The Chateau Fort is accessible from 10 am to 6:00 pm and the cost of admission is nominal: 5.20 Euro and 3.50 Euro for children and adults respectively.

Food & Drink:
Travellers can enjoy a fine dining experience at the La Vieille Ardenne on Grand Rue, a caf? and restaurant that proudly offers catering facilities to the residents of Bouillon. The La Vieille Ardenne has an outdoor veranda and travellers can sit on the terrace while sampling one of Belgium?s famous beers. Alternatively, the Auberge du Panaroma situated at Au dessus de la Ville 23 serves a fine selection of French cuisine, and is open every day except Monday and Tuesday.

Those travellers looking for fantastic Italian entrees can please their palate at La Rocca; located at rue du Petit 19 in Bouillon. La Rocca is open every day except for Monday and offers its guest live entertainment while they dine. Children?s menus are available at La Rocca and the dining facility is handicapped accessible.

Meanwhile, travellers looking for a taste of Belgian cuisine will find precisely what they desire at La Baratin, located at Rue des Augustins 12. Open everyday of the week, except for Mondays and Tuesdays, La Baratin offers the best in Belgian dining. Popular entrees among travellers include frites, Flemish cabbage, Flemish Stew, mussels and chips, and a dessert consisting of Belgium?s famous chocolates can finish off any meal. Again, beer, including the fruity, flavored variety is available in many cafes and restaurants throughout Belgium.

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How to Shop Smartly for Fashion in Paris

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Going to Paris for a shopping spree needs not put your household finances down for the next two years. It simply requires a little planning, and being let in on little-known shops offering bargain basement deals.

Paris is a shopping mosaic
Those of you who visited Paris already know that from a shopper’s perspective, the city is divided in broad sections where stores of the same trade tend to congregate. A mosaic of many colors, tastes, and price ranges.

Take Saint-Germain-des-Pr’s, for instance. The highest part of the famed area, situated closest to Boulevard St Germain, is home to designer clothing stores, sidewalk caf’s and restaurants. Dive in, and your footsteps will lead you to Rue de Seine where the art galleries have drawn together.

From Saint-Germain, walk up the Rue de Rennes, towards the Montparnasse area. You’ll be crossing the Rue Du Four where even more expensive clothiers line up the facades. But continue on to the Saint Sulpice metro station, around which many clothing stores offer cheaper garments and accessories.

Sales season in Paris
In another area of the city, not too far from the old Opera house, the Boulevard Haussmann became the homestead of the department stores over a century ago. The Printemps store was built there in 1865, followed closely by the Galeries Lafayette, in 1893. Department stores are not unlike Ali Baba’s treasure cave: clothes, shoes, jewelry, watches, accessories, perfumes spread on a five-story high, gigantic floor space.

Their selection is great, but you have to visit Paris during the official sale seasons to find true bargains there. And there are only two sales seasons in France: winter, and summer. Their respective starting dates in a given year are set by administrative decree, and they each last 6 weeks. In Paris the winter sale season usually starts in the second week of January. The summer sales season starts toward end-June.

Designer depot bargains
For off-season bargains look somewhere else. The gems are often to be found in small shops in God-forsaken streets, or in hard-to-find first-floor apartments. This is especially the case of designer depots.

Though it has become a brand name in North America, a designer depot is in fact a form of commerce. People like you and me bring in clothes we don’t want to wear anymore, and get a little money from the shop owner who will resell our garments for a little more money to other people.

I can hear your blas comments: “Tcha! Consignment stores! Thrift shops!…” Well, in Paris, designer depots aren’t exactly your regular Salvation Army-type stores. Not at all.

Though not all equal before God, Parisian designer depots are often owned and managed by women with a background in the fashion industry. Women with flair and a sharp eye for what to wear and how. Women who can readily tell you why you would look better in this dress than in that one.

In ‘designer depot”, there is the magic word ‘designer’. Parisian designer depots offer designer and couture clothes at deep, deep, deep discounts. And mind you, clothes in quasi perfect condition. Clothes worn only once. Well, maybe twice.

If you come to them with your regular hoodies, or your last season tennis shoes, or your mall-shopped polo shirt for that matter, do not expect to be welcomed. Expect rejection with a disapproving stare instead.

So, where do they hide?
Then again, not all designer depots were created equal, and where you go shopping for practically-perfect-in-every-way designer clothes is the true measure of your inside knowledge of the city.

I would like to recommend you three ‘petites adresses’ [the French for 'best-kept-secret places'] I selected amongst a host of others.

For those of you, ladies, who like the classic look, ‘Priscilla’ is the shop for you. Priscilla is lady who owns the place. She reveres such signature names as Yves Saint Laurent, Max Mara, Kenzo, Chistian Dior, and Sonya Rykiel. Her prices range from $60 for a skirt, to $75 for a jacket, to $130 for a lady’s suit. Priscilla advises you to rummage around, and come to her place with an open mind. The shop is located at 4 rue Mouton- Duvernet, in the 14 th district. The nearest metro station is Mouton-Duvernet. Its opening hours are between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Monday, and between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm from Tuesday to Saturday with a one-hour break at 1:30 pm.

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A Leader In Luxury RV Manufacturing Is Monaco

Monday, December 28th, 2009

If you are looking for a luxury motorhome look at a Monaco. They use the highest quality materials available, and are crafted with the highest level of care. Monaco not only insists on supplying the best customer care but the best motorhome.

To be able to build the repeat business that Monaco has is unbelievable. Monaco has done this by building and satisfying their customers for years. They listen to the need of their customers. This is how they are able to release a new model every year. They keep all the information they receive and create a new model.

There are so many events to go to that you can get additional information on RVing as well as the up and coming RV. It is suggested that if you are making Rving your lifestyle that you attend these functions. This is also a way to get your opinion out there. Your choices are roadside clubs, magazines, rallies, conventions.

You can get both Class A and Class C made by Monaco. The eight (8) Class A models are the Knight, Cayman, Diplomat, Camelot, Windsor, Executive, Signature, the Dynasty which is the newest. The Class C is a mini motorhome named the Esquire. The two (2) Monaco gas models are the Lapalma and the Monarch SE.

Monaco also works with Good Year and Cummins. Their products Good Year tires and the Cummins engine are in all of the RVs that they manufacture. The “Road Master Custom Chassis,” is another branch of the corporation. Chassis is (pronounces cha-see) is the frame that supports the RV. Road Master Custom Chassis only supplies Monaco with their Chassis.

All the RVs are completely described on their official website. You can get detailed information on your current RV or a new one.
Monaco selects certain dealers that have to meet their standards in order to sell their motorhomes. Monaco expects the dealers to know their product and is trained in depth about them. Monaco stands for excellence, reliable, and great customer service and treats everyone like family. Rving is a investment as well as a lifestyle.

The official website for Monaco it has everything you would want to know about a Monaco motorhome. There is information about all the different models, styles, floor plans, interior design, exterior design, color, as well as the way they built it. This is where you can get a brochure for the exact model you are interested in. They also offer videos, photos of the motorhome, and the top ten reasons to purchase a motorhome. Monaco high level of customer service as well as service is the hard to find in today’s society.

If you are looking for a luxury motorhome look at a Monaco. They use the highest quality materials available, and are crafted with the highest level of care. Monaco not only insists on supplying the best customer care but the best motorhome.
To be able to build the repeat business that Monaco has is unbelievable. Monaco has done this by building and satisfying their customers for years. They listen to the need of their customers. This is how they are able to release a new model every year. They keep all the information they receive and create a new model.
There are so many events to go to that you can get additional information on RVing as well as the up and coming RV. It is suggested that if you are making Rving your lifestyle that you attend these functions. This is also a way to get your opinion out there. Your choices are roadside clubs, magazines, rallies, conventions.
You can get both Class A and Class C made by Monaco. The eight (8) Class A models are the Knight, Cayman, Diplomat, Camelot, Windsor, Executive, Signature, the Dynasty which is the newest. The Class C is a mini motorhome named the Esquire. The two (2) Monaco gas models are the Lapalma and the Monarch SE.
Monaco also works with Good Year and Cummins. Their products Good Year tires and the Cummins engine are in all of the RVs that they manufacture. The “Road Master Custom Chassis,” is another branch of the corporation. Chassis is (pronounces cha-see) is the frame that supports the RV. Road Master Custom Chassis only supplies Monaco with their Chassis.
All the RVs are completely described on their official website. You can get detailed information on your current RV or a new one.
Monaco selects certain dealers that have to meet their standards in order to sell their motorhomes. Monaco expects the dealers to know their product and is trained in depth about them. Monaco stands for excellence, reliable, and great customer service and treats everyone like family. Rving is a investment as well as a lifestyle
The official website for Monaco www.monaco-online.com it has everything you would want to know about a Monaco motorhome. There is information about all the different models, styles, floor plans, interior design, exterior design, color, as well as the way they built it. This is where you can get a brochure for the exact model you are interested in. They also offer videos, photos of the motorhome, and the top ten reasons to purchase a motorhome. Monaco high level of customer service as well as service is the hard to find in today’s society.

Travel Beaches in France

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

France is surrounded by three major water bodies, namely the English Channel, Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic Ocean on is north, south and western side respectively. Because of an extensive coastline one can find a large number of beaches in this country. The France beaches serve as some of the major tourist attractions of the country.

The beaches lining the Mediterranean coast are the most popular beaches of the country. Most of the beaches in the southern part of the country are fond in the cities of Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, Cote d’Azur and the island of Corsica. The beaches in this area re known for their white sand and blue waters. The temperature is much more warm over here and the sand is soft over here. These beaches are visited by a majority of the travelers especially the celebrities, and hence these beaches are a more expensive vacation area. The main beaches that are worth visiting over here include Bouillabaisse Beach, Graniers Beach, Jumeaux Beach, Pampellone Beach and Tahiti and the Monte Carlo beaches. In Corsica, one can take pay a visit to the Golfe di Sogno Beach, Palombaggia Beach, Santa Giulia Beach, Loto Beach and Saleccia Beach.

If you are panning to go o the western side of the country, then you can check out the beaches lining the Atlantic coast. The most popular beaches found in this area include Belle-île-en Mer, La Rochelle, La Baules, Ile de Porquerolles and Pléneuf-Val-André. One of the most famous beaches of the country, found in this part is La Baules. This is a crescent shaped beach and the longest one in the whole of Europe.

One can find both natural and nude beaches in France. The topless beaches make France pretty famous all across the world. Some of the famous topless or nude beaches that one can find over here include Cap d’Agde, Le Centre Hélio Montalivet, La Moutte, and Leucate Plage. These beaches are frequented by a large number of celebrities as well as commoners.

The beaches are a good place to go for family outings, picnics and camping. One can go for sun bathing over here or embark on a number of water-based activities like snorkeling, diving, swimming, yachting, surfing, sailing and others. There are a number of beach resorts over here, where one can choose to stay, when on a holiday to France. The beaches are filled with a large number of cafes and restaurants, where one can try out different kinds of delicacies and drinks.

The France beaches are one of the most regularly visited tourists spots of the country. They are a perfect place to relax and have fun.

Paris, the French City of Light

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Paris is situated in the heart of the Ile-de France, capital of the country and world famous capital of fashion, art, architecture and the so-called bon-vivant lifestyle attracting million visitors a year seeking to enjoy some of the bustling activities taking place in almost every corner of the city. Whether for shopping, cultural events, music festivals, art exhibits and almost anything else, Paris seems to be the ideal frame for your dreaming vacations. Planning a trip to the French capital is however an easy task due to the large variety of city attractions and things to do elsewhere.

In Paris, there are no less than 170 theaters and over 134 museums so when it comes to culture and entertainment, you can bet there is something to see matching your personal preferences, including festivals, art exhibits and many other cultural events taking place in the city all year round. However, based in those preferences, you must plan carefully to pick the right services including accommodations closer to the places of your personal interest, although if you cannot afford a room in the Champs-Elysees, there are beautiful hotels alongside Paris riverbanks and across the city’s départements (boroughs.)

Travelers hive Paris boutiques, departments stores, and shopping malls wanting to take back home the latest fashion designer clothing and original perfumes and fragrances at reduced prices. Food and wine is also another exciting activity and a unique opportunity to enjoy them in the cradle of the French cuisine, nevertheless as a top-notch capital city, restaurants offer to visitors international and regional cuisine.

Lovers of simple life can find a haven of quiet a peaceful life at the tea restaurants that also serve taste salads and sandwiches with your cup of tea. Open-air cafés in Paris are called Open-air “guinguettes” and besides picturesque offer exquisite liqueurs as coffee companion.

Cafe bars in Paris are more popular during daylight that piano bars that are populated during the Parisian nightlife, when other shows wink at you inviting to the Crazy Horse Paris, Moulin Rouge and other burlesque shows famous all over the world since more than one hundred years.

Other venues to enjoy Paris night time include the Académié de lá brirë, performing acts at the Cite de la Musique (City of Music), and comedy acts at Lane Rouge. If you travel with a group of friends or your family, remember to ask your travel agent for group passes available for visiting stadium, monuments, museums and other venues at a reduced price. In Paris, a single pass can grant you access to over 50 different places and events!

Paris daylight or nightlight walk tours takes you straight to the Place de la Concorde, Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris, Eiffel Tower, the Palais Royal, its monumental fountain, the historic Le Jardin des Tuileries, and Musée du Louvre with its Pyramide Inversée (Inverted Pyramid). The Louvre was built in 1793 and houses some of the most important fine art and painting collections of all the times.

Travel Arc de Triomphe de la Porte Saint-Martin

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

The Porte Saint-Martin is a Parisian monument located at the site of one of the gates of the now-destroyed fortifications of Paris. It is located at the crossing of Rue Saint-Martin, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin and the grands boulevards Boulevard Saint-Martin and Boulevard Saint-Denis.

The Gates of Paris
Two triumphal arches, at the Porte Saint-Martin and Porte Saint-Denis, were commissioned by Louis XIV to commemorate his military victories. Ever since 1670, reinforcement of France’s northeastern borders had allowed the removal of fortifications surrounding Paris, and this circumference was transformed into verdant promenades. During the centuries that followed, they were to become the “grand boulevards” of Paris.

Symbolically marking the entrances into 17th-century Paris at the sites of the old toll-gates, these two triumphal arches served only an ornamental function. Their sculptures and bas-reliefs celebrated the King as a head of war.
History of the Porte Saint-Martin

Porte-Saint-Martin, Théâtre de la, Paris, celebrated playhouse, built in 1782 to replace the Opéra, which had been burnt down. The opera company remained there until 1794, and the building was apparently not used as a theatre again until 1810, when one of the first plays to be presented was a melodrama by Pixérécourt. In 1822 an English company appeared unsuccessfully in Othello and in 1827 Frédérick played for the first time with Mme Dorval, whose career was to be linked spectacularly with the Porte-Saint-Martin. The great days of the theatre were in the 1830s, when it saw the first night of the elder Dumas’s Antony and Le Tour de Nesle and Hugo’s Marion Delorme and Lucrèce Borgia; but with the decline of Romantic drama the fortunes of the theatre also declined and in 1840 it closed after the banning of Balzac’s Vautrin. When it reopened it had no settled policy, but continued to present revivals and commonplace and lachrymose melodramas such as Dennery’s Marie-Jeanne; ou, La Femme du peuple (1846), in which Mme Dorval made her last appearance. It was burnt down in the rioting of 1870 and rebuilt on the original plans, but somewhat smaller. It had a further moment of glory in the 1880s when it was acquired by Sarah Bernhardt, who had appeared there 18 years earlier in the fairy-tale play La Biche au bois and now returned in a revival of Meilhac and Halévy’s Frou-Frou. In 1898 the record run of Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac again made the theatre one of the most popular in Paris. Because of its great size it was later unable to compete with the cinema, and from 1936 to 1978 it was devoted almost entirely to musical comedy. Marcel Marceau then took it over as a base for his École de mimodrame. It housed the Comédie-Française when the latter was strike-ridden, and in 1989 staged an adaptation of Camus’s novel La Peste.
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