Brittany April 2023

A vibrant field of yellow flowers under a clear sky with trees in the background.

Britany by Jean Luc Bannalec In January our friend Axel recommended we try a series of murder mystery stories that take place in Brittany.  Now as the planner I am, we had already booked our whole 3-month trip by then.  But after reading one or two of the books, we decided we had to go…

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Aix-en-Provence

A whimsical amusement park ride with cartoonish heads on a spinning structure.

So we missed the Solar Eclipse.  Darn!  Oh well, we’ll catch the next one. 2044?  Maybe not. On the positive side, we’re here in Aix en Provence.  What a beautiful city!  Kilometers of walking streets in the old town filled with shops all dealing in unnecessarys.  There’s Cartier, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Cardin, Ralph Lauren, even…

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The Basque Country February 12, 2014

Black and white cubist-style artwork depicting abstract human and animal figures.

We stopped in Biarritz, France on our way to San Sebastian, Spain.  Both towns lie on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic.  We had a memorable 3 course lunch at Café Goulue.  In need of exercise we strolled down to the waterfront.  There we watched, spellbound, as thirty-foot waves pounded the shoreline.  Those waves…

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Meeting Dali –Figueres Spain  January, 2014

Surrealist museum facade with large egg sculptures on the roof against a cloudy sky.

Spain lies on the Mediterannean just south of the French border. It’s the birthplace of Salvador Dali, and home of a major Dali Museum. Getting there is half the fun. Anzie, son Rowan and his beautiful girl friend, Kali, accompanied me on an overnight. After Perpignan we took the coastal road, parts of which reminded…

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Bruges

Tall historic clock tower with intricate brickwork against a blue sky.

Bruges is the capital of West Flanders and the city is now a World Heritage Site of UNESCO. Bruges is a gorgeous Medieval town which reminded me of Tallinn in Estonia. There is the similar market square the cobblestone streets, horse drawn carriages that echo the sounds of clippity clop, parades, and colourful street held…

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Brussels

Historic buildings with ornate architecture in a European city square.

Quite amazing, this country.  Two, maybe three, languages.  Home to the European Union.   Wonderful cuisine.  Adjacent to France, Netherlands, Germany and Luxemburg.  Also borders on the North Sea.  Great Festivals celebrating Mardi Gras and Beer.  Speaking of beer, it’s a major product in Belgium. The country is divided into two parts: to the north of…

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Canal Cruise – Holland – May,2010

A vibrant orange tulip blooming in soil.

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is a veritable city.  You can find anything there.  You can buy a car there!  Anzie and I had just arrived in the early A.M., and were wandering around looking for the track where we were to board our train to Brussels.  We noticed hundreds of people lined up in front of…

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