Tagged With "Count of Monte Cristo"
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Re: Montreal: Je Me Souviens
Re the name "Montreal": there is a town in France with the same name so it is not certain that the City of Montreal is called that because of Mont Royal. Apart from that small quibble, I heartily agree with all you have written about my home city. Oh, wait ... it really isn't so that "almost everyone speaks English quite well". Venture east of Blvd St Laurent and you'll soon find that isn't the case. But then the average visitor, unless by accident, will not find him/herself in the part of...
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Re: Finding Reiner #6: Frozen Grave
Just to add a note: on our way to Mont-Saint-Michel this morning, we noticed signs pointing to a Deutschesoldatenfriedhof, or German Soldiers' Cemetery. Curiosity took us to it and we were surprised by its story. It was constructed in 1961 for reburial of soldiers who had been buried in small locations all over Normandy, the Channel Islands and other nearby areas. It is a solemn place, and quiet, and the spirit expressed in the signs and in the design was one of reconciliation and hope for...
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Re: Times Square and Hell's Kitchen
I have to agree on the crowds...makes me nuts, but still you sometimes have to go there! That's how I feel whenever someone talks about walking on the Champs Elysee. But the most crowded street I've ever been on that wasn't facing a parade was the tiny Grande Rue in Mont-Saint-Michel, so narrow that you think the people in the restaurant across the street are at the next table, and jammed with more people than possible, mid-day.
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Re: Agritourism Bed and Breakfast in Normandy
Thanks! We thought of Bayeux, but we've decided in the end to look for a farm B&B in the Manche area of Normandy for one night; the second night will be either in, or very near Mont St-Michel. In fact, if there are no reasonable rooms available on the Mont, and if the B&B is near enough for us to spend the evening on the Mont, we might take the second night there. I've been advised that the experience on Mont St.-Michel is very different after the crowd leaves, so we'd like to stay...
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Re: Agritourism Bed and Breakfast in Normandy
Definitely visit the Mont St. Michel (island) after the tour buses leave. So a great time to head out to the island is mid afternoon (ie. get there by mid afternoon, don't leave Bayeux at that time). By the time you get to the old island itself the crowds will be thinning. It's a bit of a climb up to the monastery, but the views are incredible as the great history and beauty of the place. Just be sure you don't delay visiting the monastery too long (believe it closes at 6 pm but double check...
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Re: Agritourism Bed and Breakfast in Normandy
I imagine there's a real difference between staying on the Mont, compared to staying near the Mont. Yes, you'd give up the view but could always make the trek to get a photo at the appropriate hour, then go back. I was there some years ago and we had no plan regarding where we'd stay. It was off-season so we weren't worried. We found a very modest, friendly hotel on the main street as it begins it's climb, with a view of the cobblestones below and it was perfect. But then, under the...
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Montreal: Je Me Souviens
There are many great cities to visit in Canada, two of my favorites (for different reasons) being Vancouver and Montreal. Vancouver has one of the most breath-takingly beautiful settings of any city in the world, and I’ll be discussing it...
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Super-tide at Mont-Saint-Michel: High water and 30K viewers
Last Saturday's "super-tide" at Mont-Saint-Michel, the island monument just off the coast at the border of Normandy and Brittany, drew over 30,000 spectators from all over the world, anxious to see the storied island as it seldom is...completely...
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Index: Mont-Saint-Michel
A Visit to Normandy: Magnificient Mont St. Michel Mont-Saint Michel: Like no other, Part 1, Island and Village Mont-Saint-Michel: Like no other, Part 2, the Abbey
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"Tide of the Century" Coming to Mont Saint-Michel
Crowds gathered along the coast of Brittany ,near Mont Saint-Michel, to watch Saturday’s high tide. The tide will be the first in nearly a month of large spring tides due to culminate on March 20 and 21 . March 21 has been touted as "the tide of...
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Parc des Buttes Chaumont, Paris: A Park with a Past
Like so many of the great parks, Paris' Parc des Buttes Chaumont, seems to be at one with nature, or even to be nature itself. But while this park is beautiful, and a favorite of Paris families in the northeastern part of the city, it has a...
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Mar. 20, 2017: St. Joseph's Oratory, Montreal
Travel Rob shares the spectacular and free to visit, St. Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal.
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A Tour of Stained Glass in Old San Juan
Old San Juan has a wealth of gorgeous stained glass in a variety of styles. Jonathan L shows us some of the best.
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Apr. 4, 2017: Coffee Estate in Guatemala
Marilyn Jones isn't a coffee drinker, but she found her visit to a tropical coffee producer an enjoyable learning experience.
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June 13, 2020: Mont Saint-Michel at Night
PHeymont and his wife spent an overnight on Mont Saint-Michel and found the night gave them a very different view.
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High Road to Taos Scenic Byway, New Mexico Highlands
Join Jonathan L off the main road through the New Mexico Highlands
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Maymont Mansion, Richmond, Virginia (Where Gumbo was #366)
Gumbo was visiting home of James and Sallie Dooley, known as Maymont. The mansion is located at 1700 Hampton Street, Richmond, Virginia.
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Obernai, France: An Alsatian Treasure
George G shares his love for Obernai, in Alsace, and some practical advice for visiting.
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Mont Blanc gets protected status
France is taking new actions to protect an increasingly fragile environment and to 'do something' about some wacko tourist behavior.
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France's next traffic nightmare: Tractors in Paris
As if last weekend's endless jams of vacationers returning home were not enough, new traffic chaos is headed for Paris as hundreds of angry French farmers are doing what they do when their frustration level with the government hits a peak: They're on...
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City of Architecture and Heritage, Paris
An unusual and barely-known museum provides study casts of France's best monumental architecture and a view of architecture as a mirror of society.
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Barbie Expo, Montreal
Travel Rob was surprised to see just how nice the Barbie Expo in Montreal is.
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France gets a new 'favorite village' in Flanders
A small hilltop town wins this year's vote for France's Favorite Village.
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Old San Juan - Museo de las Americas is a Must See
Museo de las Americas One of the highlights of visiting the Museo de las Americas (web site) in Old San Juan is the “Indian in America” which is a permanent exhibit. This is recognition of over 20 tribes from around the...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 6: Chateau D'If, France's Alcatraz
The storied Chateau D’If sits on the small island of If, just a short ferry ride from Marseille’s Vieux Port. Built originally (depending on your view) to defend Marseille from invasion or to keep Marseille under the king’s...
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A Farm Visit in Normandy
I lost my heart in Paris a long time ago, but every time we visit we plan some out-of-city experiences as well. Last summer, as part of our two weeks in Paris, we planned a two-day side-trip to Normandy, visiting Mont-Saint-Michel. For our...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 29, 2014: The Night Birds
With Halloween coming in two days, it seemed like the moment for this twilight picture of Mont-Saint-Michel, France, seemingly under attack by hordes of birds. Actually, there's nothing really sinister about it; they're just the usual...
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D-Day + 70 years: Normandy beaches are still an important destination
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings on five beaches in Normandy by Allied forces, beginning the liberation of France and Northern Europe, and helping crush the Nazi war machine already being driven back to its own territory by the...
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Endangered tourist destinations around the World
Do you feel like getting lost in the backstreets of Venice, snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef or skiing in the Alps? If so, don’t hang around – tourist hordes have put these much-loved sites and many others at risk. These places...
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Mont-Saint-Michel: Like no other (Pt. 1)
The Island and Village Everyone told us that Mont-Saint-Michel is “special,” even friends who knew how many old churches and quaint villages we’ve been to, even those who usually are concerned with long drives for...
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Mont-Saint-Michel: Like no other (Pt. 2)
The Abbey and Monastery Mont-Saint-Michel is, really, two places: the historic religious structures at the top of the island mountain, and the town below that supported it in ancient times and today. The town featured in Part 1; this time we're...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 4, 2015: Stairway to Heaven
The unusual light in this shot invites the title, but the stairs actually rise not to heaven, but to the heavenly beauty of the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy. As you might imagine, a town and abbey on an island mountain feature plenty...
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Can't get to Vienna? Google offers virtual tours
Google's Street View technology makes it possible to visit important sites and attractions with the trip.
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Nothing sacred: Swiss chalets aren't Swiss!
A researcher at Zurich's ETH university has discovered that the style we think of as Swiss is actually based on foreign architects' sketches.
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Tour de France to start at Mont-Saint-Michel (where bikes are banned)
This year's Tour de France will kick off at a spectacular location, but some locals are upset because their own bikes are banned from the island.
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7 Underrated United States Vacation Destinations
Odetta Viola has some suggestions for interesting and less visited destinations for your consideration in the USA (sponsored content).
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Besides the Eiffel Tower, Here Are 9 Things France Has to Offer
Tired of the crowds in Paris? Monica Albert has several interesting suggestions for other fun activities in France (sponsored content)
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Mont Blanc glacier is in danger
Warnings of a possible runaway glacier have closed roads in Italy near the borders with France and Switzerland.
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Old San Juan - Museo de las Americas/La Princesa
Museo de las Americas One of the highlights of visiting the Museo de las Americas (web site) in Old San Juan is the “Indian in America” which is a permanent exhibit. This is recognition of over 20 tribes from around the Americas....
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Tasty lunch sets the table for climate conference
The world climate conference (COP21) opens today in Paris with 150 heads of state and government meeting to try for a world agreement on environmental issues. The outcome is still doubtful, but lunch will not be a problem. A team of French...
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Chamonix, France
George G shares a visit to the lovely alpine region of Chamonix, France, home to the beautiful but deadly Mt. Blanc.
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Walking the Walls of Old San Juan, Part 2
Jonathan L continues his walking tour of Old San Juan
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Brussels to get a cartoon museum
Brussels has signed off on plans for a new museum, dedicated to cartoons in general, and to the popular character Le Chat, created by Philippe Geluck, who will have a role in the museum's development. The Le Chat Cartoon Museum, to open in 2023, will join a cluster of museums near the Brussels Regional Center. It's part of the Mont des Arts redevelopment project, intended to give the city a new cultural focus area. The city's Urban Development Corporation will pay about €9.4 million toward...
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Re: Top 5 island destinations to revisit in 2017
Loved St Agustin in Gran Canaria. Stayed right on the water at the Don Gregory. Very little to no wet weather and lots of sunshine. Lots to explore on the island and wonderful cuisine. One other island I'd like to add to the list is Martinique because of the lush tropical parks, wildlife, excellent cuisine, and the volcano Mont Pelee.
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Mar. 25, 2017: Mysterious Mill of Montmartre
After several stays in the area, PHeymont tracks down the backstory of this unusual building in Paris.
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Royal Gorge Bridge & Park - Our Thrilling Visit Part 1
Samantha shares part 1 of her thrilling visit to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park near Canon City, Colorado.
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UK: New cycle route has history, beauty
Cycling UK has created a 150-mile four-day loop that's almost all off-road.