Life is a patchwork of experiences
A view of Paris’s Eiffel Tower at dusk as seen through the Wall of Peace memorial at the south-east end of the Champ de Mars park.
The photo in this post won Finalist – Photography: Facility or Architectural-Print or Online Category in the 2017 North America Travel Journalists Association competition.
Continue reading “PhotoPOSTcard: A Peaceful Perspective of the Eiffel Tower”
Don’t visit Annecy (pronounced Ansi) if you are looking for big cathedrals or museums filled with important art. But if you are looking for a quiet, lovely, romantic spot to just relax and amble along cobbled streets past canals and pastel colored houses, all with lake and mountain views, then Annecy, France’s little “Venice of the North” is the place to go.
Continue reading “Photo Essay: Annecy – A Day in France’s Lovely Little “Venice of the North””
I think most international tourists zip through central France on their way from Paris to colorful Provence and the sunny shores of the French Riviera. But as I recently experienced, if you are traveling near the city of Limoges, stop and take in some of its culture and history. Continue reading “Photo Essay: A Day in Limoges, France – Don’t Stop Just for the Porcelain”
The town of Limoges in central France, and the area around it is well known for its fine porcelain production. The discovery of kaolin in the area in the 1760’s, a critical component for hard-paste porcelain, and a ready supply of water from the Vienne river helped produce a successful French industry that could compete with the popular porcelain products imported from China. Continue reading “PhotoPOSTcard: Bucolic Reflection on the Vienne”
Update – sadly this program is no longer offered at this time.
One of my goals for this year has been to take quilting classes from some of the best instructors in the industry so that I could learn from various experienced quilt artists and get exposed to diverse teaching styles and techniques. I was thrilled to discover Crafty Retreats in central France and a class with Sheena Norquay, one of the UK’s top free motion quilting instructors. What I did not expect was the absolutely perfect holiday guest experience. Continue reading “A Perfect Holiday Escape with Crafty Retreats in Central France”
One final view of Italy’s majestic Dolomite granite peaks before we move on. This view is in the Rosengarten/Cantinaccio region. The German name, Rosengarten, derives from a legend about the dwarf king Lauren who supposedly had a rose garden here, but because of a curse, it can only be seen at sunset. These peaks average around 9000 ft. and since they are west facing, beautifully capture the orange glow of sunset. As with other regions in these mountains, there are ample scenic hiking opportunities in the area.
Thanks for visiting
Rose
With over 6000 square miles to explore in Italy’s Dolomite mountain region, we decided to make our home base in the town of Castelrotto/Kastelruth near the area of the Alpe Di Suisi (in Italian, or Seiser Alm in German). This high alpine meadow claims to be the highest and one of the largest alpine meadows in Europe at an altitude of approximately one mile above sea level and covering an area of approximately 23 square miles. Continue reading “Photo Essay: Hiking in the Alpe Di Siusi High Alpine Meadow in Italy’s Dolomites”
The Dolomite mountain region is northern Italy’s outdoor playground with numerous options for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The 6000 square mile area is also protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Driving through the area the views present granite peaks soaring over lush green meadows and picturesque towns with characteristic church steeples.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
I like hiking the Italian way. On a recent trip to Italy for a Dolomite trekking holiday with my husband and daughter, we discovered that in Italy, “la dolce vita” or “the sweet life”, applies equally to hiking as it does to all other things Italian. Continue reading “Hiking Like an Italian on My Dolomite Trekking Holiday”
The Dolomites are a spectacular mountain range in northern Italy. 6000 square miles of jagged limestone peaks, they have been a tourist destination since the mid 1800’s. But it was the 1956 Winter Olympics in the region that put this mountain range on the winter skiing map. In the summer, the high alpine meadows are shared by hikers and the local cows as they move to the higher pastures for grazing.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
