Author Archives: tofrance2013

More about Ghent: absolute Power and The Shirtless Band

Posted on December 29, 2014 by tofrance2013

On Sunday, our last full day in Ghent, we went out to see another of the major sights in the city, the Gravensteen, or Duke’s castle. Having seen some French Dukes’ castles in Nantes and Angers, we were prepared for … Continue reading →

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Ghent, with churches and snow!

Posted on December 27, 2014 by tofrance2013

Last night, we got all bundled up and walking around Ghent’s historically preserved city center. We delighted in the lights sparkling off the canal, the new, cute, modern shops installed in baroque buildings, and enjoyed dinner and drinks on the … Continue reading →

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Onto Ghent, Belgium

Posted on December 26, 2014 by tofrance2013

It was an early start in Paris… 7:30 am. It was the earliest revelry we experienced while staying in The City of Light… Which, by the way, it doesn’t get light out until about 8am. Anyhow, we put ourselves together, … Continue reading →

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Silent Night in Paris

Posted on December 25, 2014 by tofrance2013

It turns out, come Christmas Eve, Paris goes very, very quiet. Walking home from an old fashioned Christmas eve mass, there was almost no one about…you could walk down the middle of the Rue Beaumarchais in complete safety. Such a … Continue reading →

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Christmas Market on steroids

Posted on December 24, 2014 by tofrance2013

We have been reading about the Marches de Noel…the French Christmas markets, and been dying to see one. Our mental picture was of a quaint collection of stalls hosting hand-made goodies from local artisans…but we opted to walk across town … Continue reading →

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Newly Reopened Musee Picasso

Posted on December 23, 2014 by tofrance2013

When we last visited the Picasso Museum in 2008, it was under construction … And it then closed altogether for further remodeling. It was our good fortune that it just reopened in October of this year. The museum seemed to … Continue reading →

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Christmastime in Paris

Posted on December 22, 2014 by tofrance2013

The French have a phrase that translates to “licking the windows” … I know how to do this… It’s a fancy term for window shopping… The Parisian shop windows are dressed up extra nice for Christmas… The chocolate shops especially … Continue reading →

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The new neighborhood

Posted on December 22, 2014 by tofrance2013

One of the things Harold likes about our visits to Paris is that we never stay in the same neighborhood twice. In the past we have been in the artsy St. Germaine, the hilly area behind Jardin de Plantes, and … Continue reading →

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Notre Jour de Paris

Posted on December 21, 2014 by tofrance2013

Paris is ours… We flew into Charles de Gaulle at 10 am… And after a shuttle ride into our Marais neighborhood, we set out for adventure… Lunch. Harold was starving and we were recommended the Italian Style Cafe not far … Continue reading →

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Countdown to take off…

Posted on December 19, 2014 by tofrance2013

Our Dear Stuffed Pal, Harold is a jumble of nervousness, excitability, and silly. He keeps going back and forth as to whether he wants to bring his beret. It doesn’t fit in his backpack very well. He also told me … Continue reading →

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