France trip- Monaco

While in the south of France, we visited Monaco, which is technically it's own country (the smallest country, I believe). Apparently the casinos here require formal attire, and a membership, therefore we didn't even attempt going. :) There was a beautiful palace that we visited, where they were in preparations for the wedding of Prince Albert & Princess Charlene to happen about a week after we were there. Monaco is partly built upon a big rock (La Roque) where they have a beautiful botanical garden. Walking around it was not only beautiful in itself, but overlooking the bay with it's yachts in it (this is a VERY wealthy community) and the city made for some lovely views.

Nice, France

Our first destination in France was Nice, on the southeast edge of France and on the Mediterranean Sea. Just thinking about the south of France brings my blood pressure down and makes me feel more relaxed! :) Beautiful weather, palm trees, beautiful flowers... I would equate it with San Deigo-like weather- not too hot, sunny, breeze from the water. The lazy feel of the town is exactly what I look for in a vacation spot, with a place to get some gelato on your way down to the water's edge. The beaches in Nice were rocky shores and we were surprised to see locals laying down their towels and laying down as if it were sand. It hurt my feet to walk on those rocks, but perhaps it's something you get used to over time. :) We took a day tour around the city, which brought us up to a spot where there were beautiful vistas of the beach and shoreline. There was a beautiful waterfall that we could see from a distance and were able to find our way up. A great few days of food, sun and sea.

La Belle France!

I had the good fortune to be able to travel to France for 2 weeks and returned just a few days ago. What beautiful country! A friend and I visited Nice, Bordeaux, Normandy and Paris. Referencing the map above (which you can see a little bigger if you click on it) we went to:
1. Flight via Madrid to Nice (3 days) and Monaco (day trip from Nice)
2. Flight to Bordeaux (3 days)
3. St. Emilion (day trip from Bordeaux)
4. Train to Paris (overnight)
Normandy bus tour for 3 days
5. Rouen
6. Honfleur
7. Caen
8. Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel
9. Angers
10. Ambiose
11. Back to Paris (4 days)

From the south of France's beautiful vistas overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Nice, to the beautiful countryside of vineyards outside Bordeaux, to the beaches of Normandy, to the bustling city of Paris, France was a wonderful and diverse place to visit. From tiny elevators, to french fry sandwiches, to downpours on one side of France and cobblestone beaches on the other, France held a lot of surprises along the way. I have not yet mentioned the best thing about France- the food! A place that I could definitely live just for the culinary delights. Stay tuned for more details and pictures of each of the four areas we visited in France. "Au revoir" for now!

New York, New York!

New York was a blast! What did we do in New York? A better question might be, what didn't we do?? :) I recently took a 5 day trip with friends and we covered much of Manhattan- took in some plays on Broadway, a carriage ride around Times Square, enjoyed a sunny day in Central Park, sailed out to meet Lady Liberty, ate some great food and I got to meet Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter actor)!! My friends and I were lucky enough to see Dan Radcliffe in his currently running production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and it was just great. Harry Potter, the Exhibition was also nearby in Times Square at the Discovery Museum, which necessitated a visit from this very-big-Potter-fan. :) We covered a lot of ground and enjoyed every minute... New York, I'll be back (possibly before Dan Radcliffe's play run ends in November). Enjoy a few pics below from the jam-packed trip or find more pictures at my photo website.

The Highlights:

Harry Potter, The Exhibition


Times Square


With friends in Central Park


Central Park


Dinner with friends after the play


Carriage ride around Times Square


World Trade Center Memorial Site


Heading out for Born Yesterday, another Broadway play we saw


Harry Potter event at Harry Potter, the Exhibition


An artful brunch (please eat brunch in NY, should you go there)! :)


With friends


Chinatown


Bryant Park/New York Library


How to Succeed theatre


Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter)


Rob Pattinson (Twilight)


"Top of the Rock" Rockefeller Center

Meyer's Castle

I ate tonight with two of my sisters at Meyer's Castle. Didn't know there was a castle nearby the Chicagoland area, did you? :) It's in Indiana, just over the border in Dyer, Indiana and a short drive from the Chicagoland area.

The grounds of this old, large house are beautiful with long path of archways lit by Christmas lights leading you to the restaurant. They have wedding receptions outdoors under a tent and also have a nightclub on the weekends on the lower level. Park in the lot near the entrance and a shuttle will bring you up to the door. Enjoy a meal on their porch area, built onto the house, in order for "everyone to have a window seat." And don't forget to look out those windows to the pond and peacocks roaming around. We had a lovely time in this very unique venue!

We went for their four-course dinner, which was superb, as well as affordable, at $25.50 per person (what a deal!! :) on Sundays (this was special Sunday/Wed/Thurs pricing, otherwise the four-course meal is still a steal for what you get at $34.50/person). The meal began with a quite delicious palette-cleansing shot from Brazil called "caipirinha" accompanied by a tasty empanda. The second course was a help-yourself tapas bar with such dishes as spicy mushrooms, seafood salads and marinated portabello mushrooms. The third course was a pasta bar where one picks the type of pasta and ingredients for the sauce (garlic, veggies, cheese), which is prepared as you watch and delivered to your plate piping hot. Last, but certainly not least, is the "meat" served to you on skewers similar to a Brazilian-style steakhouse. The meats featured were 3 types of steak, a tremendous melt-in-your-mouth pork tenderloin, chorizo sausage, chicken legs, roasted veggies and glazed pineapple, which is a MUST to try, even though you feel like you're about to burst at this point in the meal. :) In addition to the atmosphere, great food and great price, the service was wonderful and the owner very personable. I'd urge anyone to give this place a try! I plan to get back in the warmer months to walk around and see the grounds of the beautiful castle a bit more. Below are pics I took of the grounds, peacocks and our meal. :)

More pics at my photo website & more information in an article my sister Carrie wrote on Meyer's Castle.