by NormaK I had an opportunity to watch the final stage of the Tour de France on Sunday afternoon. I like cycling and if Sydney were as flat as Canberra with proper bicycle paths, I’d be cycling everywhere. So when I was invited to watch the final leg of the Tour de France, I jumped …
by NormaK Ladurée Paris After watching the final stage of the Tour de France 2009, I decided to go and have afternoon tea at Ladurée on the Champs Elysées. Ladurée is a French institution and was established in 1862. They are known for their macarons, they employ 45 pastry cooks and 40 cooks. It was …
By: Darío VDL Coordinates: 43° 16′ 23.87″ N, 6° 38′ 22.64″ “I was in St Tropez organizing a VIP party on Bastille Day, the national holiday here in commemoration of the French Revolution in 1789. It was a lovely event – …
Kids, young and old, are fascinated by cacti. Two great gardens lie on the Riviera – one atop the hill at Eze-Village and the other in Monaco. Both afford spectactular views of the coast and a myriad of species. Eze-Village – if quaint perched villages are your cup of tea, and you’d relish a vigourous walk …
By NormaK The Loire Valley is known for its magnificent castles and wines. Been there, done that! Last weekend, I sought something a little different… Saumur is a beautiful town with a lovely chateau overlooking the Loire River – all built in the chalky white tufastone that is so characteristic of the area. When they were …
By BobP Between Xmas and New Year, I ventured off to SouthernMorocco for a bit of sun and a taste treat. For the first part of my stay, I rented out a small Ryad inthe heart Marrakech’s bustling medina. The staffwere delightful, the rooftop terrace was sunny and warm during the day and Itreated myself to a …
Beijing has become avant-garde, in its own way. We already posted about the art scene – now a bit about the trendy club/dining scene. Not too long ago, night life for foreigners in Beijing meant private dinner parties for the powerful or alcohol-soaked karaoke bars followed by visits to massage parlors for those so-inclined. Foreigners …
It was the most extraordinary gala dinner I have ever attended. Twenty-six of us, dressed in gold silk jackets hand-tailored for the Golden Birthday event, relished a 6 course meal on the Great Wall of China. We were attended to by an army of waiters who fanned around the massive table to synchronously serve each …
We had the most wonderful 4 days in Venice this week. The city sparkled under the brilliant sun and crisp winter air. Absent the summer crowds and cruise shore-excursions, it was a true pleasure to stroll down the streets, grab an espresso, hop on a vaporetto and even walk right into St Mark’s with nary …