Year: 2025
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Musée Marmottan
On my wish list — along with Notre Dame — was touring three small museums: the Marmottan, the Jacquemart-André and the Nissim de Camondo (closed for a two year renovation). Today I visited the Marmottan and the Jacquemart Andre. The Marmottan is in the western section of the city on the edge of the Bois…
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The Left Bank
Across the Seine today to visit St Sulpice, Paris’ largest church, and St Germain-des-Pres, one of the city’s oldest dating back to the 8th century. Both churches are justly famous for their pipe organs. St Germain-des-Pres is a riot of stenciling and polychrome. We happened upon an almost perfect bistro across from a clothing store…
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Ile de la Cite, Ile de St Louis
One of the things I most wanted to do on this visit was explore these two islands in the Seine. Notre Dame is on Ile de la Cite, along with Sainte Chapelle. Ile de St Louis is much quieter, a place of grand town houses. It was a splendid day for exploring.
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Notre Dame de Paris
Today Janet’s friends the Bonanos managed to get no waiting in line tickets for us to visit the newly rebuilt and cleaned Notre Dame. It was breathtaking — the limestone gleamed, the stained glass sparkled,, works of art once darkened by soot were vibrant…and, most extraordinary, even though the building was crowded with people, no…
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Arrival in Paris
Comfortable flights, but the travel seemed long. We arrived in Dublin before dawn and our flight to Paris left with the rising sun. At Charles de Gaulle we had some trouble finding the RER B into Paris, but once we found the correct train it was only a few minutes to Gare du Nord and…
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St Kitts and Nevis, Day 7
Beach day. Last full day on the island and much of it spent relaxing at the beach, followed, of course, by yet another great meal. Nevis is a lovely, unrushed place to relax. Highly recommended.
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St Kitts and Nevis, Day 6
Today was a relaxed and low key day, exploring Pinney’s Beach near Charlestown, looking at expensive yachts in the harbor, a visit to the island’s famous hot water springs and a very relaxed lunch at the picturesque Hermitage Inn. The Hermitage is a collection of brightly painted cottages around a 250 year old plantation great…
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St Kitts and Nevis, Day 5
We had planned today to hike to the top of Mount Nevis, the dormant volcano at the center of the island; however, we learned it was advisable to have a guide ($135 a person), and, since it has been rainy the trail would be muddy…and, furthermore, part of the trail required using ropes to pull…
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St Kitts and Nevis, Day 4
Beach day…and that was about it for the day. Before the beach we visited Newcastle Pottery where whimsical objects are made out of the island’s red clay, and Sweet O Savory bakery where we bought a selection of beef, chicken and fish pies for tonight. And, then it was to nearby Chrishi Beach Club where…
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St Kitts and Nevis, Day 3
Today was a beautiful day that began at the Nevis Botanical Garden, the Caribbean’s largest. There was an outstanding collection of palm trees from around the world, bromeliads and orchids everywhere. We spent half a day in the gardens and could have stayed longer. Lunch was at the famous, and exceptionally beautiful Golden Rock Inn…