Travel

We came home from Paris with 9 new scarves, 6 dresses, 6 sweaters/tops and 4 coats between the 3 of us. I’m still so impressed at the new wardrobe that my friend Jackie assembled. She rarely shops in the US – being exceedingly practical and finding it annoying to match her petite hourglass figure. Practically…

The stages of Paris trip shopping grief: In the course of a few days, I went from full-blown panic that I purchased too much during our trip to Paris and it would never fit in my suitcase and we’d be barred from returning to America…to annoyance of hauling everything through the airports…to regret that I…

We woke up tremendously excited to have slept well the night before. For Jackie and me, parents of toddlers, it was a revolutionary feeling to have slept and woken up “on our own terms.” Our first full day in Paris was also the last day there were reported to be sunny skies for a while.…

We’re on a grand adventure! I’ve left darling Rob and Lucy at home and traveled to Paris with my two oldest friends: Jackie and Margaret. A 10 day vacation exploring the best of France from our charming apartment right in the middle of the 1st arrondissement. We’re just steps from the hub of Les Halles…

Technically, the Museu Coleção Berardo is in Belem, a suburb of Lisbon. It’s a giant building just 10 years old – constructed with future expansion in mind. And – importantly for mid June in Portugal – it is air conditioned! It seems like every train, light rail and bus from the heart of Lisbon takes you to…

I have a fondness for smaller museums, tiny gems that are off the beaten track. Usually housed in old palaces or mansions that are as interesting as the art themselves. Places like the Musee Ceramique in Paris. In Lisbon, a small museum a block from our apartment in Alfama fit the bill. The “Museu de…

Lisbon is packed with so many amazing museums! One of the first on our agenda was the National Museum of tile, aka: “Museu Do Azulejo.” This museum is housed in a 16th century convent on the east side of the city. It’s a waterfront walk there from town. Only technically though, since most of the shore…

We had no idea what we were getting into when we first arrived in Lisbon, Portugal for a two week stay in the historic Alfama district in June. Within minutes of driving in, we had more questions than answers. Why is everything decorated? Are there normally barbecue restaurants covering every sidewalk? What’s with the topiaries? We…

Our next stop on the “commonwealth tour” was Bath, where Tom and Fleur live in a beautiful village called Batheaston on the outside of town. They have a festive terraced garden with a view of exceptionally green British farms and hillsides. Fleur set up Lucille with bubbles, toys and a bucket of water to splash in.…

We spent our last few days in England on a sort of “commonwealth tour” –making visits to guys from Rob’s team around the country. Our first stop: Brighton! Anyone familiar with Pride & Prejudice knows that Brighton is the end all. A gem where a little sea bathing would just set you up forever. We drove in…