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Ramblings of a retiree in France
Category: Travel
Yet another Postcard from Alassio
We’ve just spent a few days in one of our happy places but we’ve visited so often in recent years that I’ve run out of things to write about Alassio, and its neighbours. And I must’ve taken photos of pretty much every door in… Continue Reading “Yet another Postcard from Alassio”
A wander around the Bourse
The Bourse neighbourhood, named after the former Paris stock exchange once located in the majestic Palais Brogniart, occupies the 2nd arrondissement’s middle swath. Here are the city’s largest concentration of 19th century historic glass-roofed arcades (precursors to our modern indoor shopping malls). How it… Continue Reading “A wander around the Bourse”
Trip to The Ritz, Paris
We’re slowly but surely working our way around some of the best hotels in Paris. On our most recent trip we ate lunch in the Bar Vendôme of The Ritz in the city’s 1st arrondissement. How it all began The hotel is in the Place Vendôme… Continue Reading “Trip to The Ritz, Paris”
Trip to Gare de Lyon
Located in the heart of 12th arrondissement of Paris, Gare de Lyon welcomes 110 million visitors a year. Trains depart to serve central-eastern and south-eastern France. Built in 1855, and redesigned by the Toulon architect Marius Toudoire for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, the… Continue Reading “Trip to Gare de Lyon”
Trip to Le Musée des Arts décoratifs
The Musée des Arts décoratifs is dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of the decorative arts. Located at 107 Rue de Rivoli in Paris’ 1st arrondissement, it occupies the most north-western wing of the Louvre, known as the Pavillon de Marsan. With over one million objects in its… Continue Reading “Trip to Le Musée des Arts décoratifs”
Trip to Le Palais-Royal
Not so much a visit, more of a stroll around one of Paris’ most delightful colonnaded areas and its gardens. It’s odd that the Palais-Royal, while situated right in the centre of historic Paris, is so often missed by visitors. One reason for that,… Continue Reading “Trip to Le Palais-Royal”
Trip to Le Petit Palais
We hadn’t intended to visit the Petit Palais but found ourselves nearby, decided to go inside and found a bit of a treasure trove. It’s a listed art museum in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, which now houses the… Continue Reading “Trip to Le Petit Palais”
Trip to Palais Garnier: Part I
My beloved has wanted to tour the Palais Garnier for ages and I thought the best way to see it was by attending a performance, and I was so right! How it all began Palais Garnier Opera House story includes the demolition and rebuilding… Continue Reading “Trip to Palais Garnier: Part I”
Trip to Bibliotheque Richelieu-Louvois
The recently re-opened and sensitively-refurbished Richelieu-Louvois site is the historic birthplace of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF). Located in the heart of the capital, in 17th century this comprised several important and beautiful buildings, including the Palais Mazarin, the Hôtel Tubeuf and the… Continue Reading “Trip to Bibliotheque Richelieu-Louvois”
Trip to Musée de l’Orangerie
You may not realise this but we have a lot to thank Claude Monet for. There’s all that great art, of course, but he also helped to transform the former orangerie greenhouse — which had been used as a storage space and even as… Continue Reading “Trip to Musée de l’Orangerie”
View from the Back 