When I was 17, I saw the movie that would become my obsession for the next year — a tale of romance and deception, a light-hearted comedy slowly descending into tragedy, filled with zany music and wild and colorful costumes, bearing one message: The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved […]
A Dazzling Night at the Moulin Rouge Read More »
Each time I’ve been to Paris, it’s been during a different time of year. I’ve experienced rainy April days, the tourist swam and local flight of August, chilly October nights, near-perfection in June, and the freezing temperatures and soldes of January. On this trip, my sixth, I visited in December — and got to experience
Christmas in Paris Read More »
This past weekend, I got to experience a delightful festival for the first time: Lyon’s Fête des Lumières, or Festival of Lights. Every year from December 8-11, Lyon’s nights are filled with brilliant light shows that are as technologically savvy as they are artistically scintillating. Despite my lifelong francophilia, I had never heard of this
Lyon’s Festival of Lights Read More »
In Paris, two islands fill the Seine: Ile de la Cite and Ile Saint-Louis. The former gets all the fame: it’s the geographical center of Paris, and today is home to Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chappelle. No matter how you get to Paris, flying via Flybe, train, or by car, you WILL end up on Ile de
Ile Saint-Louis: The Other Island in the Seine Read More »
When I first visited Paris in 2001, Montmartre was easily my favorite neighborhood. The artists in Place du Tertre, the tiny cafes, the remnants of the bohemian life, the view of Paris from the top of the city — to me, it was pure magic. Less than a month later, Moulin Rouge hit theaters —
Montmartre — As Seen by iPhoneography Read More »
For my latest stay in Paris, I wanted to stay somewhere special — ideally, in a stylish boutique hotel. When I found the Hotel 7, I not only got my wish — I got to see one of the most stylish hotels I’ve ever seen! The Hotel 7’s rooms alone are works of art —
Hotel 7 — Paris’s Most Stylish Boutique Hotel Read More »
I just spent the past weekend in Paris, my favorite city in the world. I adore Paris, and though I wasn’t solo on this particular trip, I think it’s one of the best cities in the world for solo female travelers to visit. This was my fifth visit to Paris, and though I’ve spent so
Paris is Wonderful in Winter Read More »
I’m a big advocate of traveling in the off-season and reaping the benefits: lower prices, fewer crowds, a more local experience. But as I sit here in Turkey, I’m disappointed at my decision to come here for three weeks in late November. Istanbul was great if a bit cold, Cappadocia was freezing cold and creepily
Traveling in the Off-Season: Sometimes Great, Sometimes Awful! Read More »