tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543311402800292662024-08-29T02:03:01.208-05:00A resource for those who want to travel outside the US - everything from which luggage is best, where to get a great cheap meal in Florence, how to get to the monkey forest in France! Ideas for products, gadgets, guide books along with my own personal experiences from 30+ years of travel.Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-65865060160998825882011-08-25T11:19:00.003-05:002011-08-25T11:25:41.461-05:00

I am so excited - it's almost like giving birth - those months (in my case years) of worry and nurturing to prepare for the event.  Then there's the hours (in my case months) of intensive labor to get to the point of "ta dah!"  it's finally here!  My "Petit Guide to Paris and Nice"!  It began many years ago as a microsoft word document for how to make the best of your time in

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-49668145206883934802011-07-05T19:00:00.002-05:002011-07-06T10:43:08.676-05:00

I have many well-meaning friends and acquaintances who are trying to understand why I want to live in France.  They will ask me many questions about the region I want to live in - the area in southwestern France which is called the Dordogne or Perigord (part of ancient Aquitaine).  No, it isn't near any large cities.  Yes, it's mostly quaint small villages and beautiful country

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-72784802799088300582011-04-25T10:27:00.000-05:002011-04-25T10:27:05.086-05:00

   In my previous post I introduced an article that I wrote for a friend of mine who was planning a trip to France.  I had intitled it "How to Get Along with the French", but after reflection, I realized that the suggestions I had made can be applied to everyone anywhere in the world, including our own USA!  It all comes down to basic common courtesies, which, unfortunately,

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-90815293208648866272011-04-10T14:26:00.000-05:002011-04-10T14:26:17.381-05:00

I originally wrote this for a friend who seemed wary about visiting France having heard numerous stories from fellow Americans who thought the French were unfriendly.  After I wrote these, I realize that what I have here are simple common courtesies that, unfortunately, our society has ignored over the past few decades.  I love quoting my grandpa who said: "You catch more flies with

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-36328778712603421272011-03-18T14:39:00.005-05:002011-03-20T08:01:05.401-05:00

When I say those words, "country cooking", what comes to mind?  Fried chicken?  Chicken Fried Steak?  Ham and beans?  Chicken and dumplings?  All those great standby recipes from grandma's kitchen?  I have never lived in the "country" but we visited my grandparents in the Ohio hills every summer and it was very much in the country!  That's when I realized that

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-52792432591978231852011-02-08T09:47:00.000-06:002011-02-08T09:47:53.362-06:00

When you travel to another country, what is the first thing you notice?  Is it the trash in the gutter?  The noise on the subway?  The odd food on the menus?  The unfriendly people?  The unfamiliar sounds of a language you don't understand?  Do you tend to view your new experience as something so completely different from your own daily routine that you miss the

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-31591742676562081032010-12-20T14:23:00.001-06:002010-12-20T17:30:48.768-06:00

"Twas the night before Christmas . . . "  Actually, it was the twelfth of October!  We were on the second day of our Mediterranean cruise.  We spent the morning in the southern Italian town of Bari and walked from the dock to the Basilica of St Nicholas.  Did you know he was a real person?  Well, not the red suit wearing, reindeer owning, sled driving "jolly old" guy.&

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-12717006976235431322010-12-03T15:25:00.000-06:002010-12-03T15:25:06.741-06:00

I will admit that I stole the title from a blog I just read by the Christian author, Max Lucado.  His blog is, of course, one about our spiritual journey.  But I feel that this title works well in describing a physical journey as well.  So, please forgive me, Max, for stealing your title to use for my travel blog!  We can get so used to our surroundings and everyday routine

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-19091836144082294792010-11-11T10:14:00.001-06:002010-11-13T09:41:37.556-06:00

It never fails that as soon as I get home from a long trip - even before I unpack (which by the way often takes me many days!) - I am planning my next adventure.  I don't know why I have such a travel lust.  Well, yes I do.  I love history, art, architecture, culture and self-discovery.  My son, Andy, and I have had many discussions about our love of travel and what a

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-89192949771423363192010-11-05T19:17:00.000-05:002010-11-05T19:17:50.926-05:00

I thought it might be fun to share some travel quotes and see which ones you like best.  Or add your own! "One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things" - Henry Miller.  "Not all who wander are lost" - JRR Tolkien.  "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page" - Saint Augustine.  "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.  I

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-79345330485694944992010-10-28T09:19:00.000-05:002010-10-28T09:19:38.870-05:00

Finally, I'm back and in the central time zone!  What an amazing trip!  I've been asked what I liked best about the 2 weeks I spent in Europe.  My response is, without a doubt, Athens and Dubrovnik (Croatia).  These 2 cities could be visited numerous times and still there would be more to see and experience.  Athens is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-48520251372563647122010-09-30T10:35:00.000-05:002010-09-30T10:35:34.301-05:00

I leave next week for Greece!  This trip has been planned for over a year and now it is only a few days away.  How time flies!  This is my retirement gift to myself - a little long in coming as I retired three years ago.  But I've been saving for and anticipating it for a long time.  I've never been to Greece so I will be a true tourist there.  I say that because

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-75766509022521531092010-09-23T13:25:00.000-05:002010-09-23T13:25:41.323-05:00

In my creative writing class I'm doing an essay on "spirituality".  As I was thinking of what it means to me to be spiritual and was searching my memories of spiritual experiences in my life I realized that my first "recognized" spiritual experience happened in 1973 in France when I lived in the northern city of Reims during my junior year in college.  I expressed in my essay that I

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-43705027318728226312010-09-16T09:12:00.000-05:002010-09-16T09:12:48.579-05:00

After numerous trips to Europe over the past 30 years, I've come up with ideas for what to do when you first arrive in a foreign city - anywhere - and are trying to survive on jetlag!  Here's what works for me.  Use some common sense on the airplane.  Drink lots of water or juice.  This will keep you hydrated which is really important.  Caffeinated drinks will dehydrate

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-82109555018243031032010-09-14T09:15:00.000-05:002010-09-14T09:15:19.992-05:00

My dad had a phrase he'd use a lot when we were traveling or camping, especially when he wasn't sure exactly where we were.  He'd say, "It's just around the next bend."  When I was little I didn't realize the significance of those words.  I'm not sure he did.  It became a little joke between us.  But now, after years and years of traveling (I must have picked up the

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-61586324976033227402010-09-08T16:35:00.000-05:002010-09-08T16:35:38.372-05:00

After your visit to Notre Dame you may want to have a soda or ice cream.  There's a little cafe on the street to the left of the cathedral.  If you're lucky you might find an outside table.  Now, walk back towards the metro stop.  As you walk through the flower market you will look straight ahead and see, past the large square, a huge imposing building.  This is the

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-34190564936485172612010-08-31T09:58:00.001-05:002010-08-31T10:06:24.272-05:00

People ask me all the time "Where's your favorite place to visit in Europe?" and I always answer "Paris!"  I have an ongoing love affair with this city.  Let me tell you what I advise people to do on their first day in this special city.  Take the métro to the "Cité" stop.  This puts you in the middle of the Ile de la Cité in the middle of the Seine river in the heart of Paris

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-31823081910768042722010-08-26T11:10:00.000-05:002010-08-26T11:10:40.495-05:00

For those of us who travel often, there are certain little things that make life so much more comfortable, whether in a car, on a plane or in a hotel room.  I'm sure all of you have your "favorite things".  These are mine:  an inflatable back support that fits into its own little bag.  I have a bad back and sitting on a plane for 8-10 hours at a time really hurts.  (

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-52609076437056684442010-08-24T09:36:00.006-05:002010-08-24T14:08:34.130-05:00

There's what to pack and then there's how to pack.  And both are an art.  I'll start with the "what to pack" question.  It's all about the art of mixing and matching.  Whether male or female you want to plan your travel wardrobe around which pieces can go with which other pieces.  It's also important to have clothing that is lightweight and wrinkle resistant.  I

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-58521926133324103262010-08-19T09:56:00.002-05:002010-08-21T15:21:56.285-05:00

Long gone are the days when you could throw anything in your carry-on and not have to worry about TSA standards.  (But don't get me started on that!)  So over the past few years I've come up with a list of things that I recommend should go in your carry-on.  Remember that I'm talking here about international travel so my assumption is that you have a bag that you're checking in and

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-254331140280029266.post-33511864754324874032010-08-17T19:05:00.003-05:002010-08-20T09:57:22.850-05:00

I'm so excited!  I have new luggage.  (I feel like Steve Martin in "The Jerk" when he yells, "the new phone books are here!  The new phone books are here!")   It wasn't an easy task - finding what I wanted.  You see, I'm really picky about what I travel with (also who I travel with, but that will be a later blog! ha!)  I am a firm believer in practicality and

Candyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02417464133822032393noreply@blogger.com4