Pippa is going to Portugal!

I just couldn't wait for my Lake Como trip so I've decided that I need a few days in Portugal.  I need to find out what all the hype is about.  In scouring the internet and talking to people who have been it seems to speak to my soul. The people, culture and beauty is all must haves for my life.  I decided Lisbon would be the city of choice based on input from friends.  I hope to see and do as much as I can in the few days I have.  My job is such that I can work from other countries (given the right work permissions) to that is always in the back of my mind when I travel. I love different parts of the world in different seasons so it is very hard to say if I could stay in one place year round.  

The country provides two of my favorite things: Port Wine and little custard pies. I plan on drinking port and gaining a pound or two!

It looks like there are a few options to select from! Yummy

These will be in my daily meal plan. 

Lake Como Hotel Selections

Finding hotels that are clean, safe, near cafes and affordable is tough.  This year is different than other years. People are travelling in BIG numbers again and the summer travel has most of the great and/or affordable places reserved. The selection was slim but I think these will work.  

I'm a fan of boutique type hotels with character and charm but my first priority is to be walking distance to the cafes and such.  There is nothing worse than being 2 miles away from the center and no car. I also enjoy a nice view.  

This one is a bit grand but the price was right and it is in a great area, or so it seems.  You never really know until you get there.  European establishments have no problem with twisting things a bit and then  having no issues when you bring it to their attention. But that is only one small downside to travelling to new and exciting places. 

It's Time to Visit Lake Como!

I love coming home after a long trip. I slide into my crispy sheets that cover the mattress that is perfect for me. Unlike the many I experience in my travels. I snuggle down and dream of my most recent excursions.  I love sitting at my home and soaking in the familiar things that my life has collected.  Then it hits me. It is time to go again!  I just secured flights to Milan where I will stay a night and then head to Lake Como and spend a little time in Varenna, Bellagio and a few other villages. 

I might get over to other lakes but the focus is Lake Como.  I have been wanting to go for years and I finally pulled the trigger.  The flights are booked and now it's time to go on the arduous hunt for hotels. 

I'll then work my way to the South of England and go to the yearly car show and Swing Festival. I think I'm in heaven when I can be around the old cars and watch the couples swing dance the night away.  Always good fun! More details to follow.  

The Lungs of the City

Bon Soir! I spent most of the day in the gardens.  Every big city needs the 'lungs' that allow people to go and breath and get peace and quiet from the hustle bustle of the city.  The parks in the center of Paris are those lungs and they are very appreciated. Paris is a lovely city but I say it every time I visit - 3-4 days is enough for me.  That would be a totally different story if I knew someone who lived here or my pockets were MUCH deeper. I wandered down very posh streets today with boutiques that I didn't dare step inside.  But pressing my face to the glass and admiring was enough for me.  Stock Photo included in this post. 

Solo travel has its perks and downside.  I came back to the hotel for my afternoon nap around 3pm.  I asked the front desk clerk to arrange for a cab to take me to the train station and a pick up at 6:30am.  My head hit the pillow about 4ish and I was out!  I woke up and the clock said 6:20! I panicked and rushed around gathering up my last few bits, washed my face to wake up.  I was ready to run out the door with luggage in tow. I did a final sweep of the room and I opened the curtain. It was light outside.  I said 'hmmm...is it normally light at 6:30am?'  I looked at my phone and saw that it was 6:30PM! I'm such a goof. I think a travel buddy would have set me straight sooner than I did. But hey I was up and awake and now I could head to dinner. And that is exactly what I did. 

I must of gotten plenty of sleep since it is in the wee hours of the morning here and I'm blogging.  My train leaves at 7am for Bordeaux and I'm excited. Even though it is still a city It is not quite the size of Paris. I'm ready. Stock Photo included. 

 

 

Paris is Lovely

Today was so lovely.  There was a bit of a chill in the air but that made it even more enjoyable for my long walk.  I left the hotel and went left and today I went right! No particular place in mind to have breakfast. I would leave it up to luck.  And boy did I get lucky!  I had an omelet  that was so yummy I actually closed my eyes to relish every bite and try to hold it in my memory. And I'm not sure if they put crack in the butter but damn it is good! I washed all that down with a wonderful tasting café au lait. That was enough fuel to get me to my next location. 

Now it was time to walk it off.  I headed towards Luxembourg gardens and settled on getting a cab when I got tired. I downloaded the map and off I went!  I never did get that cab and I walked the entire distance only stopping once for another coffee in a cute little café.  You know the kind. You look in the window and everyone sitting in there looks like they have very exotic and interesting lives and you want some of that. I said my obligatory French that got me a sweet seat by the window so I could watch the people walk by.  After an hour of soaking up that treat I was off again to the gardens.  

I have great pictures of Lindsey here at Luxembourg Gardens and just being there again today brought back sweet memories.  I spent my time in the garden with Doris, Sinatra and Dean.  I switched over to older Parisian music to enhance the experience even more. When you travel alone and there is isn't a conversation coming and going it's nice to have a tune piped in and you can just soak up the environment and relax. My favorite song is "Again" by Doris Day and listening to it in this lovely place made it double sweet.  

In my travels I take pictures of doors. I adore doors - all shapes and sizes. No judgement; every one has their thing :-) Now these are not just your ordinary doors, they are beautiful doors! I'm interested in what stories are behind them.  If only they could tell me a bit of the lives of those who crossed their threshold. The ones I saw today were not that exotic but pretty all the same. I almost have enough pictures for a book. Just think a book of nothing but beautiful doors from Europe. I would buy it!

Spending several hours walking and then in the gardens required a nap for this 'older' lady. I cabbed it back to the hotel for a snooze. 

Rested and ready to head out for dinner. Where to eat? Where oh where? There are 1000's of great places and it is so hard to pick just one.  I landed on Le Nemours Paris that is an area I wanted to see so it worked out well. I had the quiche (great review) that was goat cheese and zucchini. I paired it with a sweet wine and ended with crème brulee. I'm a lucky woman. That meal was another home run. I have never had such powerful flavors on my taste buds. 

After dinner I headed out to explore and I ended up at the Museum of Music which was very pretty.  Even though it was very late there were a lot of people out and about. I sat on the steps of the museum and a nice couple started a chat. I must look very American (or they heard me talking to myself). They asked me where I was from and the conversation took off from there.  They were Canadians on their first trip to Paris as a couple.  They too are headed south to see the French countryside. Paris is a lovely place but it is a city and this old country girl can only take so much of the big city. I need hills, trees and loads of parks to sit in and grow old.  Until tomorrow - Bonne Nuit!

I'm coming Lord!

I saw my life flash before my eyes in the cab ride from the airport to the hotel. Now I know why I have always taken the metro!  So many close calls and I was praying for the Lord to make it swift and painless.  Note to self: Take metro! 

Once I landed at the hotel the hunger hit me since I wasn't fond of what they offered on the plane so I tucked into the closest café to the hotel and had the best omelet I have ever had in my life.  For approximately 12 Euros I had a huge plate of food, bread and butter with a café au lait. Then back to the hotel for a 5 hr. nap. After I was rested I wandered out to get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower doing it's nightly performance of lighting up to wow the tourist. The ooooh's and aaaaah's from the crowd always gives me pleasure.  I love to hear people enjoying themselves.  

I then wandered the streets for a place to have dinner.  I always ask God and my guardian angel to give me signs of what direction I need to go so when I saw a café called Bistro Dominique I took that as a sign of where I needed to dine since I have a friend named Dominique. Hey...I'll take any sign!  http://www.bistrostdominique.com/restaurant.htmThe food was sooooo good.  The French Onion soup is something everyone should experience. I'm not a big drinker but when in France I do sample the goods.  I had a lovely glass of red wine (7.5 Euros). No nasty aftertaste from the additives that our wines have. It was yummy! 

I met a lovely family from Orlando and we had a nice visit.  They brought their 2 daughters to Paris for spring break.  It's always nice to meet new people in your travels and learn more about what brought them to travel so far from home. I love to hear what draws people to travel out of their comfort zones.  The husband made a comment that resonated with me.  He found it 'soul enriching' (or something close to that).  That is the reason I travel. I feed the soul. Seeing them with their young daughters reminded me of the trips when I brought Kimberly and Lindsey over and how I could see their world open up. 

It is time to get a few zzzzs and rest up for my trip to the Luxembourg Garden tomorrow. 

Time to Travel

Bon Soir. It's countdown time! The mail is on hold and I have given a list of things for Edgar (handyman) to take care while I'm gone and the house sitter should arrive the night I depart. I feel good that the house will be in good hands. I was surprised of the list I came up for Edgar. He is much better than a husband. Just hand him the list and walk out the door. 

I'm a light packer and I don't try to be too trendy in my clothes when I travel. The key is to blend in and pack light.  And the way I look at it is if I really need something as far as clothes go I can go shopping. That would add to the adventure.  The only thing I don't leave up to chance are the plugs and cables to connect my electronics. I've been in situations trying to find American fittings in foreign countries and it is no fun, so I tend to over pack in that area. I travel with a small carry on and a back pack.  The backpack is reserved for the electronics and toiletries.

I downloaded the G7 Paris Taxi app so I'm ready to get a cab on the app if none available when I arrive. I will be early so I will drop off my bags and head into the sunlight! By the time I get the bags dropped it will be time for lunch and my vacation begins.  

I have picked up a couple travel gadgets that I swear by and one of them may look really goofy but it is awesome.  It holds up your head in your seat so you can sleep.  It bands around the top of your seat and a soft band comes around your head and cradles it. You can adjust easily. I never travel without it. 

The other item I never travel without is my Bose headsets. They can almost tune out a screaming child.  I put on soft music and get a little sleep before I roll off the plane. As soon as I can I go directly into the sunlight and look up in the light until I am totally awake.  This keeps me going until the local bedtime. Of course mine is extra early that first night but by the 2nd night I'm on track. 

Driving in France

I decided that I should get an International driving permit before I attempt to get on the roads in France.  I'm not going to take any chances of them saying that I can't rent a car.  It took all of an hr. and was super easy.  I went to the local AAA office; filled out an app and had it in my hand within minutes. I just provided 2 passport pics and $20.  Wah lah! The tricky part is going to make certain the rental place saves me an automatic. A standard is not an option! 

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France in the Spring!

Note: I have been remiss in the past few years with keeping up with blogging about my travels. I go off on tangents and make presentations, digital photo albums and other stuff. I'm now back to blogging and hope I can share my travels with whoever wants to listen. I have published older travel videos in a power point view format in the links prior to this one. Enjoy!

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BONJOUR! It seems the Covid pandemic is fading so I'm back on the road whenever I can find the funds and paid time off from work.  This time I'm headed to France! Starting in Paris and spending a few days soaking up the city vibe. I'm going to lounge in the park under the Eiffel tower; sip on good wine and gaze at the steel wonder like so many others have done before me. My headsets will be tuned to French accordion music so I can feel even more immersed. I'm staying near the Luxembourg gardens where I will get lost viewing the impressive blooms and visualize couples walking dressed as if it was the 1800's. I always try to imagine what it was like many years ago wherever I go in Europe. It's part of the experience that I enjoy. 

Once I have consumed plenty of Parisian cuisine I will drift off to sleep with visions of country villages and be ready for the next part of my journey; Bordeaux. Not one mile of the countryside will be missed with my face pressed against the window allowing my mind to take 100's of mini snapshots to enjoy later. My plan is to sit in village cafes, watch people and listen to locals speak the language of love.   

After a few days in Bordeaux I'll wander over to Bergerac where I will meet up with a new friend. She will show me her home and share her insights on the area. My final destination is Sarlat. So many people have said that it is a must see. From Sarlat I will take the TGV back up to Paris to make certain I have my pockets full of memories to take home and enjoy. I'm no 'spring chicken' so I'm going to take it slow and embrace each moment.  I will post a blog on each area I visit. This will help you visit virtually and also help me remember.  

Warwickshire and Sevenoaks, England

 Mallory Court

and Sevenoaks

Christmas In London, England

Christmas in London, England 

SanFran Tiburon

 San Francisco and Tiburon

Stratford Upon Avon

 Stratford Upon Avon