...It's All In The Experience

L’Hôtel-de-Ville, as some call it, is the Fourth Arrondissement in Paris, located just south of the Third. The Fourth shares Le Marais with the Third, though the former contains the more lively parts of this medieval neighbourhood. The Fourth has become known as the gay district of Paris, particularly around the southern reaches of Le Marais, but the area does include a diverse population.… Read full article


The Third is one of the smaller arrondissements of Paris, only beat out buy the Second. Also located on the Right bank, this charming district is an amalgamation  of cultures, containing the northern
most reaches of Le Marais, the medieval district of Paris (though Le Marais also expands into the Fourth).… Read full article


Galerie Vivienne The Second Arrondissement in Paris is located on the right bank of the Seine, and also happens to be the smallest arrondissement; the area is home to the Paris Opera and the Stock Exchange. Here, you will find boutiques and cafes that have more of a small town atmosphere than a large city, but one of the most popular spots is the market street Rue Montorgueil near Chatelaet Les Halles.… Read full article


Louvre PyramidParis may seem a bit daunting at first, but it’s easy to get the lay of the land with a little help. The French have made navigating the city somewhat easy by breaking down “the city of light” into 20 arrondissements or districts.… Read full article


LutetiaOne of the grand hotels in Paris is the Lutetia. Built in 1910 under the direction of two of the greatest architects of the day, Hotel Lutetia was the first Art Deco hotel in Paris.

Situated in the literary and artistic centre of Paris, several painters and writers have stayed or made their home at the luxury hotel including Matisse, Andre Gide, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Picasso.… Read full article


The tallest Cathedral in France is Our Lady of Amiens, located in the town of Amiens, north of Paris. It is one of the best examples of early 13th century Gothic architecture and sculpture in the world, and it’s been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.… Read full article


My visit to the south of France several years ago, included a trip to the Pont du Gard. A feat of Pont du GardRoman ingenuity and architecture, the Pont du Gard is an ancient aqueduct bridge that crosses the Gardon River and is part of a 31 mile long aqueduct that runs between Uzès and Nîmes.… Read full article


My visit to Saint Jean de Luz in the south of France, just north of Spain, was on a cruise a couple of years ago. As I wandered the streets of this Basque coastal fishing village, I really enjoyed the quaint shopping area as well as the restaurants which specialize in local basque cuisine.… Read full article


St Paul de Vence, in the south of France, is one of the country’s2004_0928Image0048 most charming medieval walled villages dating back to the 13th century. Ramparts were erected during the second half of the 14th century and two of the original towers can still be seen.… Read full article


montOne of the things I love about watching the Tour de France, is seeing the many charming villages and the beautiful French countryside as they ride through. The Tour is, no doubt, a welcome advertisement for France’s Tourist Bureau with estimates of up to 2 billion people around the world viewing at least part’s of the Tour’s television broadcasts.… Read full article