Amazing South Africa, Sandton and East London

Ok so just back from another exotic trip, this time it was South Africa. Have not been back since 1998, so this opportunity was great for the update. The East London area is working class but also, has some nice neighborhood,then the Sandton area as Fourways are just superb it seems very nice architecture and lively.

The country has gone thru a metamorphosis and its looking very bright with growth potential even if as every where else there are economic problems. I was there on business so not much touristic side trips. The car was the main mode as I was driven around, so it look easy, and as I am a road warrior this was heavens.

I did spent a wonderful week, and many new friends who treated me as if known for years. I was able to go into the country to meet customers right in their homes out in the country, very good roads, and gorgeous scenery. My photos were taken with my blackberry so not uptimum but ease of use when on business.

I arrive and was pick up by the transport folks of the hotel where I was staying, the Sitatunga Transfers folks were always very dependable, and the lodging was done at their property near Sandton at Sitatunga Guest Lodge, webpage http://www.sitatungatransfers.co.za/index.php?nav=accommodation You will be in an oasis and well treated. When I needed to move to East London,  I stayed at Thrity Six on Bonza ,another nice   boutique lodge ,gorgeously done, and great friendly service; webpage http://www.36onbonza.co.za/AboutUs.aspx

When we did go out we had fun at Fornos Bakery in Fourways near Sandton, great burgers, sausages, and drinks while looking out in the terrace over a shopping mall and passerbyers, webpage http://www.fournos.co.za/  We had dinner on request at Thirty Six on Bonza as per above, and also a great seafood and cheap 10 euros for prawns plate at Vasilis Mediterranean,Sandton, here is the description in a South AFrican dining guide, http://www.eatout.co.za/Restaurants/6208/Johannesburg/Seafood-Sushi-Mediterranean-Portuguese/Vasilis

I ,also was able to try the Gautrain underground station in Sandton, and direct to OR Tambo international airport, very easy magnetic card depends on your usage you buy from machine using bank cards or cash, very easy indeed,and modern, clean, fast and on time. webpage http://www.gautrain.co.za/  The airport at Johannesbourg  OR Tambo is very nice with all conveniences and had easy in and out there all the time. http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=228  ,the nice terrace bar here is Mandys  The airport at East London is smaller but then easy to manouver and I was told the most expensive place to visit by plane as not too many connections available, http://www.acsa.co.za/home.asp?pid=232 it has an interesting zuly type shape roof,and great bar at Mile High Bar.

I was even close to a beach at East London, very nice beaches in the area, and sure a promise to come back and visited them by the locals.  It sure was a surprise to visit, last time anywhere in Africa was in 2009,and this time it was a very good impression. I shall be back.

A new found backyard, Bucharest;;;;the little Paris….

Well have more time than I thought and its the right time to write about my latest international escapade, Bucharest, Romania. Yes 22 years after leaving the chains of communism ,this city at least is stepping out, great renovations done and ongoing, lots of beauty to be recall the Little Paris, and warm friendly people all over. A new found backyard indeed.

My day was long starting getting from home by personal car to Nantes airport for the flight to Paris CDG, and then connection to Bucharest on AF. All very well as usual. My return was Bucharest, to Amsterdam, then Nantes then perso car home. Very nice indeed . Airports webpages are for Nantes, Amsterdam, Paris, and Bucharest.

http://www.nantes.aeroport.fr/ANA-English/Page/Default.aspx

http://www.schiphol.com/

http://www.aeroportsdeparis.fr/ADP/en-GB/Passagers/Home/

http://www.bucharestairports.ro/index.php?lang=en

The stay in Bucharest was at the wonderful Ramada Parc Hotel near Romexpo exhibition center, and our offices there. Great breakfast, good location, friendly staff, we end up talking football/soccer all night long the first night there. http://www.ramadabucharestparc.ro/

We took a perso car tour of the main sights in town late at night ,which was glorious but since only carry my blackberry the pictures were not good. However, we did walk the pedestrian city center and ate at the historical wonderful Hanul lui Manuc , Romanian specialty of lamb steak and polenta with the local Ursus beer. This is the address as the site is in Romanian language, Str. Franceza nr. 62-64, Bucuresti, Sector 3 ,webpage http://www.hanulluimanuc.ro/  however it can be translated with google !

The official Romanian tourist webpage is at http://www.romaniatourism.com/bucharest.html  and in it you will find a ton of information on the city of Bucharest.  Some personal information, you may want to consider renting an apartment for stays of one week or more, the place recommended is www.aparthomes.ro  also, if need to rent a car other than the international brokers AutoEurope and Kemwel, you can do Continental rent a car at www.intcarrental.ro  Be aware of taxis, best to seek the advice of a local or hotel or apartment recommendation.  All tariffs are posted but sometimes not the correct ones…. some trusted taxi companies are Fly taxi at www.taxifly.ro and for shuttle service the Bucharest airport transfer at   http://www.bucharest-airport-transfers.com/home.html  . There is also a bus No 783 from the airport to Piata Victoriei, Piata Romana, and Piata Universistatii , buses every 30 minutes from 5h25 to 23h for 7 LEI, the webpage for full info is at RATB the local public transport organism, that can also be translated using google, at webpage http://www.ratb.ro/ You need to pay for the bus ticket before getting into the bus, call an Activ Card purchase for 3,70 LEI at small kiosks next to major bus metro tramway stops.

Next week there is the final of the Europa League in football/soccer there, when the Spanish clubs Atletico de Madrid plays Athletic de Bilbao. I saw great enthusiasts folks for this major event as the country is football crazy; saw many casinos it seems all of Europe comes here to gamble.  There is so much to see need at least a week to see it all. Many beautiful churches of the Orthodox Christian rite abound. The National Theater , the Arcul de Triumf or arch de triomphe Romanian ,royal palace, and many museums. The eateries and places to stay are huge with all ranges, and styles to please anyone. I went to a Romanian historical one mentioned above, but my host also suggested Casa Doina, or Osho. Along Calea Victoriei street you have one resto, bar, cafe one after the other. See the fantastic looking and full swing Freddo at street Smardan.

For shopping I stop by Baneasa shopping city, huge see it at www.baneasashoppingcity.ro  Now here are some pictures of my trip there as best available coming from my blackberry. Cheers

 

 

 

Paris, Paris, Paris, should I say more…..?

I had my trip to Paris, it was 3 days spent on my favorite city. IF you are a first reader to my blog, dont worry, I lived for almost 9 years in Versailles and worked in Paris. This time came back for a business conference for an association I am a member,and it happenned to be in the area where I used to worked.  On the first day I took my car and use my old favorite parking at théatre Eduard VII facing  15, Rue Edouard VII a Vinci park webpagehttp://www.vincipark.com/vincipark.nsf/fr/ville/pages/75009.htm

On the second day , I landed at gare Saint Lazare that on previous posts had mentioned it was totally renovated, with over 80 stores, and it has. Looks marvelous, you think you are in a shopping center and not a train station.  This is their new webpage http://www.stlazareparis.com/  and the official SNCF info on the station is at http://www.gares-en-mouvement.com/en/frpsl/votre-gare/

You then go out into cour de Rome and walk into rue St Lazare to go to my conference hotel right there magnificent Concorde Opera Hotel.  the pictures are no make over, the impression is real, wonderful; a great bar,the Golden Black bar and a wonderful French cuisine resto Terminus Cafe. The very essence of class, Paris class is here. So convenient to the Madeleine, Opera,department stores, nice goodies from Paris,and my favorite shopping street rue Tronchot leading to the Madeleine and around it.

We went out walking and I was the leading men;;;;People ask for a resto and I suggested two nearby, on rue caumartin near the théatre Eduard VII, great lovely area. And the experience was sublime, the choices were Restaurant La Taverne De L’olympia, 25 rue de Caumartin or the Moulin à Caffé ,  22 rue de Caumartin across the street. the gang of about 10 persons chose the Moulin à caffé and it was very nicely service ,great food, funny actics of the owner server, and the fun for everyone nice prices, tournedos de boeuf avec cepes, haricot verts en pommes sautées, with coffee,big 50 ml beer  1664  ,and all for 26 euros .webpage http://www.lemoulinacaffe.net/

We had on the next days lunch at the hotel but on monday we venture out courtesy of the conference organiser and chose the Au Petit Riche, 23 rue Le Peletier, 75009 walking from the grand dept stores on Haussmann to rue Le Peletier left , and it was a great choice. We were stuck on second floor or 1er étage in France, nice view over the window on the street below, and away from the more noisy street level area. We had duck,califlower, coffee, and pastry peach mousse, all with plenty of red wine from Bourgueil,Chinon, and Saumur in the Loire area.  The resto was recommended by the hotel staff and it was as usual when done by experts a great recommendation; webpage http://www.restaurant-aupetitriche.com/fr_FR/

In all the free time I wandered around Madeleine,the train station St Lazare, Au Printemps dept store, the parc Ranelaigh about the great La Fontaine, and my fab restaurant La Gare at chaussée de la Muette. Driving on Rue Royale, around pl de la Concorde, the area around the opera Garnier, the théatre Edouard VII, the rue de passy,the palais de chaillot , and the unique historical and architecturally stunning McDonalds at rue St Lazare.

It was a memorable experience, Paris is catchy , it is said that once catch that air and the virus sits in, you will never be the same person, and will have all the positives for the rest of your life, just for been in Paris.  I write in other travel forums and I have said, Versailles thank you I will never forget you, and Paris, what can I say;;;should I say more ?

My travels in the Morbihan of Bretagne !

Another weekend in wonderful Morbihan, and yesterday we left early to do many things in a car swirl tour of the area,and our errands. Today I am relaxing home while the boys are at the movies seeing John Carter at Cineville,Vannes.

Saturday we started early, one of my boys will be in the Auray junion rugby team so he went by the club to sign up and turn in official papers, to be an official player trainee. Then we did our groceries at Leclerc hypermarché in Vannes, got him his outfit for rugby at Decathlon ,Vannes, and drop all off at the apartment I rent here. For reminder the Auray tourist site, http://www.auray-tourisme.com/

We then set out to see the wonderful area ,first another stop at Lorient, to check out the action and FNAC lol!!! They ruined me…. The town was a lot more lively than the first time we visited, it seems the weather has something to do with it,lots of youth was out on the pedestrian street rue du port,and pl aristide briand. In all a much better experience. For reminder ,the webpage of Lorient tourism ,http://www.lorient-tourisme.fr/

Then, we move on to something new, I love the various port,harbor or beach areas around here, its a seaman paradise, and wanted to check out Lamor Plage and Lamor-Baden. We went all the way to the beach, lovely area, quiet as not the season, but the views are magnificent and cant wait to check out in summer, especially the views over to Port Louis across the bay just gorgeous. We had some shopping in city center, and head back to our area. One beautiful place to visit here is the church Notre Dame de la Clarté, from the 6C with a tower from 1666. A beautiful history of houses along the beach that were once the HQ of the nazis military commander,later the French marine, and now some back to original owners and others still the resident of the commander of the French navy base in Lorient.  see city webpage here http://www.larmor-plage.com/Patrimoine.4996.0.html

Before arriving home, we did stop again by Vannes,where we had a nice Mexican’s meal by the hotel de ville in Vannes, the food was good if the fajitas were missing some tortillas, and the price a bit overprice, but for tex-mex in France it was good. The ambiance was terrific, and lots of beautiful people inside, a perfect way to come back for happy hourlol! It is at place de l’hotel de ville, side of the city govt building ,cant missed it or off rue Thiers.The place is name Mexican’s tex-mex ::) For reminder, the site for Vannes tourism, http://www.tourisme-vannes.com/

We will see what other nook and crannies in the Morbihan,Bretagne or France awaits me, but it looks like South Africa will be next month lol! Cheers and have a great remaining of the weekend.

Havana, La Habana, a beautiful postcard of vintage beauty

Well sometimes surprises in life do happenned, and lucky me from work  I needed to go to Havana, Cuba. A whimsical place of many years and family memories, I was born there but left too young as a boy, came back once to see my grandparents who raised me, and now back again. What a change, what a shock full of wonderful memories and honest, too good people, humble ,nice, friendly, like been back into the family again.

This is Havana or La Habana or the complete real name San Cristobal de la Habana; St Christopher the saint in honor of Christopher Columbus and the indian taino word Habana meaning a savannah between two rivers the Cojimar (of Ernest Hemingway fame) and Almendares,(the best baseball team on the island,and my family’s team).

Upon arrival I had my cousin, husband there to greet me, but as in official company trip ,had a very nice friendly Cuban name Pedro Luis, who took me to the Casa Particular of his father Rogelio in the district of Playa, old Miramar, near the hotels Melia Habana,Commodore,Panoramico, and the Miramar Business Center. The house was built in 1923, and wonderfully renovated, huge bedroom,and bathroom with AC and TV, telephone on the hallways,central to all. The service was very friendly, the owner Rogelio chatted with me every morning for the ritual Cuban coffee expresso, strong and black and sweet!!! You and I were set for the day lol! His son Pedro Luis always in contact with me will come to pick me up for the business and took me around Havana for eateries and sightseeing a bit. Every night upon my return, the security person already knew me by name and hand me the key to the room!

I went to the wonderful Malecon, Plaza Vieja, church of St Franciso de Asisi, saw the statue to the Caballero de Paris, gentleman of Paris a beggar who knew like Enstein and told wonderful stories to passerbyers from the 1950′s. We went by the bourse of commerce or longia; and of course, we sip a daiquiri at Floridita Bar,(in 1957 Esquire magazine name it the best bar in the world!). We went inside the hotel Nacional, and walks it historical alleys and patio with its Aguiar canons, magical.

I saw my Morro castle, and the excavations of the Zanja Real or royal sewers now open and shown above ground to tourists.  Coming by grand Miramar on my way to visit my old native place, I saw the clock tower on 5th avenue of Miramar, the Palacio de Convenciones, and the wonderful old houses now occupy by foreign embassies.

Foremost, wandering the streets of Havana, and Playa(Miramar),and Punta Brava took many memories of me, exciting and sad ,curious and forgetful; did not wanted to pass by the house I was born, too many strong memories,and better enjoy the sights tourists see. I am now a tourist in La Habana.

We had lunch at El Bosque inside the hotel Melia Habana, Avenida  3rd. between  76 and 80 streets, Miramar , the Spanish chain of hotels have done a wonderful job here, by far the best in Havana. We ,also,, had our meetings there in the 9th floor breakfast business center with wonderful views of Havana.  I had lunch with the family at a parador private folks have at Parrillada 84  y 15, Playa, all done by charcoal, with my Aunt and cousins. The highlight was at El Palenque, near pabexpo Cuba, wonderful typical Cuban place and food, very nice lechon or pork with yucca,moro (blackened rice), and the local Cristal beer, address at Calle 17 & Calle 190 , Playa, La Habana  . In Havana we ate at Factoria Plaza Vieja, at Plaza Vieja, terrace outfit with shrimps and lobsters,pork,and chicken grilled platters. All very cheap compare to Europe.

For a nostalgic trip we passed by El Potin resto, my Mom used to take me here as a little boy, just a sandwich and light platters place and ice cream,juice and soda drinks, still there!!! and it looks nice after 43 years!!!! at Línea corner of Paseo, Vedado section of La Habana.

Coming and going thru Madrid, I try for the first time the newer terminal T4 and T4S; very modern, spacious, lots of eateries, and shops, with a automated train between the two,and easy walking to the metro station of line 8 that ends there. 2,50 euros one way to Madrid. I had my lunch at Vinea, a nice tapas and wine place.

My return was to Nantes, almost by 11pm and took my car to arrive home here by 12h30 am. Very tired but happy to be able to see my native country again, even if now look more like a tourist than a native; the reception by all was very nice. I shall be back. Cheers enjoy the pictures.

calle 50 now or Godines of old, my street in Punta Brava going to Santa Fe beach

pause at Vinea tapas and wines at T4 Barajas,Madrid airport.

the automated train terminals T4 and T4S at Barajas airport Madrid

panel history of Zanja Real or royal sewers of Havana

front porch of casa particular Rogelio at Playa

Casa Particular Rogelio, bedroom

Casa Particular Rogelio ,bathroom

my mother’s favorite El Potin resto at Linea

walking entering Plaza Vieja

Factoria Plaza Vieja resto at Plaza VIeja

the gorgeous church of St Francis de Assisi

with family at Parrillada 84 Paladar in Playa

dining room resto El Palenque

at 5th avenue Miramar clocktower from the 50′s

The bourse or longia of commerce, stock market of older days

emblematic shields of the original walls of the Hotel Nacional

from Malecon the gorgeous still Hotel Nacional

by El Bosque resto at Hotel Melia Habana

from patio rear of Hotel Nacional

driving Malecon with the Morro Castle on sight

El Caballero de Paris or gentlemen of Paris near longia

Habana Vieja beautiful calle Oficio and Teniente Rey

passing Malecon, ahead the silouette of the Capitol building

Malecon ride the Riviera and Melia Cohiba hotels coming up

A leisure walk in my city, Auray, nice, quaint, and beautifully small

Well here I was all alone, my boys both 18 are gone skiing in the Jura for a week with the school, once coming back vacation time for winter is here from Feb 17-27, and we all should be by our home in Versailles and seeing the rest of the family.

So, therefore, I decide to take a walk in my city ,and take some pictures, the time was crisp cold,and sunny so photos were ok. The city of Auray actually has about 10K+ inhabitants, but it is well serve for its size. It has a local bus service call Auraybus, webpage here http://www.auray.fr/cadre-de-vie/auray-bus/  this is the city of auray govt site,in French, of course. It also tells of TIM or Transport Interurbain du Morbihan with lines 1,5,6,and 16 that allows you to connect with nearby cities such as Vannes. It ,also, has a train station nice and comfy with direct link with Paris Montparnasse with many services during the day in 3h30 , TGV Atlantique webpage http://www.tgv.com/fr/services/e-billet it has service where I have it, e-billet for electronic ticket and also home delivery that we use too. The line to Paris actually goes from Quimper and Brest and it can go to Lille or Roissy CDG or Disneyland. Then, you have the local TER lines for nearby local train service at http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Bretagne/fr/Default.aspx

Then of course driving is my geek, the best is the parking by place Keriolet, very close to city center and Athena by the municipal pool. It has a port for pleasure boats, the Capitanerie is at 4 pl de Rolland at St Goustan, more in French here and contact at bottom of webpage http://www.auray.fr/cadre-de-vie/le-port/

The district of St Goustan, the low city historical part is getting a facelift that will last until 2014, the phases will be put in place so that the activity of tourism is not bother too much. The info in French from the city is here http://www.auray.fr/?id=1015#6230  The main of the renovation will be around la place Saint-Sauveur and quai Franklin. The public is invited to make donations to aide in this renovation with 66% tax deduction of amount given.http://www.auray.fr/accueil/quai-franklin/mecenat/ Anyway , we did went out for dinner a la breton, that is galettes and crepes at a real native place, Creperie St Sauveur, 6 rue St Saveur where we had 2 gargantua galette of ham and cheese,one madrilene with chorizos, one bottle of cider Coat albret, 3 banana splits, and 3 coffees for 54 Euros for 3 persons, real bargain. A quaint place very typically decorated and nice friendly service in a old street up the pl St Sauveur. webpage of tourism for the dept of morbihan ,show the creperie http://www.morbihan.com/creperie-saint-sauveur/auray/tabid/7419/offreid/2b3e3329-e5fb-42fb-8111-d31f6df92ec9/detail-restaurants.aspx

The city has several , a lot again for the size of the city of chapels,churches, monasteries, and towers of many centuries old ,including an old ruins of a castle once guarded the river entry from the Atlantic ocean to the Gulf of Morbihan to the river Loch. The city of Auray has a nice page in French with a great photo of the riviére de Loch, here http://www.auray.fr/auray/paysage/ Also, monument to the fallen of WWI, which I took a photo and it is in the city govt page too here http://www.auray.fr/auray/histoire/monument-aux-morts-virtuel/

To go to the Halles (see photo) or market is wonderful , all is fresh, brought in by fisherman, and delicious, the info again in French in the city govet,and with prices for those interested in having a stand, here http://www.auray.fr/auray/socio-economie/halles-et-marches/ Kerleano symbol of Breton resistance to the French revolution, and the train station, the main plaza pl de la Republique,and the district of St Goustan, all a must to see. The Chartreuse where the remains of those killed by the French revolution, are enterred, webpage at the tourist office site http://www.auray-tourisme.com/la-chartreuse/brech/tabid/8277/offreid/23a4acde-c549-4a97-8d00-26dd33b3ddc4/detail.aspx

Which by the way this is the tourist office of Auray that includes adjacent villages, http://www.auray-tourisme.com/#, and the main webpage of the city of Auray govt site http://www.auray.fr/auray/auray/ Now some photos of my walks ,before I hit the job trail tomorrow, end of month week yikes!

Rue de St sauveur,and Creperie St Sauveur

historic tour de Loch by the river and stade de Loch stadium

rue de lait the sacmania all bags big or small favorite store

colorful,quaint rue de Belzic and Creperie St Michel

Quincallerie de Belzic ,rue de Belzic, the old fashion hardware store

marvelous place de la Republique city center Auray

organ at church St Gildas pl notre dame

nativity scene inside church St Gildas pl notre dame

Monument to fallen in WWI at place Marechal Leclerc

Le Halles or covered market in rue de lait city center

main door pl notre dame church of St Gildas

belltower of church St Gildas in city center,pl notre dame

arts menagers du Belzic city center to find all gadgets

Altar church of St Gildas in city center pl notre dame

A quick leisure trip into Lyon, the city.

During my trip to italy I had time to come out a bit and explore the city thanks to the great public transport system;however, the city was all in fog with under 3°C!!! hardly the time to be out,and the photos were not good unfortunately.

It was an opportunity to come back to the city visited years before, it has change for the better. Some of my observation and that of my hosts.

One of the great one born 300 years ago in Geneva but made this city his for long periods, is Jean-Jacques Rousseau, He lived here or around here from 1722-1724, and again from 1768-1770. Many activities he and Chambery for the rest of the year, the info is in French here http://www.rhonealpes.fr/622-rousseau-2012.htm

The city is known for its gastronomic marvels second only to Paris, so the food is sublime here. There is an exposition that is worth seeing if time allowed at the musée Gadagne, call “Gourmandises! Histoire de la Gastronomie” works ,films,and videos showing the culinary art of Lyon. webpage http://www.gadagne.musees.lyon.fr/

Some work of art in gourmand madmen I AM , from this occassion is;

Docks New York, 18 rue des Dosks, in the 9éme arrondissement , welcome back to memories with bagels,burgers,club sandwiches,milkshakes, and home made French fries!yes webpage www.bieh.fr, and other occassions i have been to the brothers bouchons of Lyon, Au Trois Cochons is great,but take your pick tastes they are all good, recommended, http://www.chabertrestaurant.fr/

Then grab a honey nectar at Divins Nectars,54 rue Saint-Jean, 5é, my miel d’acacia is great here. How about a great bar of chocolate, at Barres d’Or Noir, at chocolatier Bouiller ,one main store at 15 rue de la Croix-Rousse, webpage http://www.chocolatier-bouillet.com/#, finish it off with some great oils, olive oils that is,at A l’Olivier, 33 Cours F Roosevelt, 6é with webpage at http://www.alolivierlyon.com/

Then there is a new Terminal 3 at Lyon St Exupéry airport, my first taste of it, and it was good. Lots of low cost airlines are now base here. It has two levels connected by a walkaway,retails stores, and a food court. The airport site is at http://www.lyon.aeroport.fr/

You have easy TGV connections here too, for the train lover in you. Now with connections to Marseille in the 30 cities cover by this hub, the above airport site has more information, but you can go also to Brussels, Torino, or Milan, Avignon,Nicez, Grenoble,, Chambery,Arles, Aix-en-Provence, to name a few. It is an international airport so connections to many cities in Europe,Africa,and rest of France.

Now that we are in the ski season (my boys leave sunday for the Alps, somewhere in there ::) There are many bus or navette service from the airport/gares to the ski resorts/ You have direct connection from airport to Trois Vallées,Pardiski,Espace Kelly, Alpe d’Huez, Deux Alpes and Val d’Isére. They do five round trips per day, on Fridays Saturdays,and Sundays. You can find schedules and pricing at Altibus the company that service it.  webpage http://www.altibus.com/index.aspx

To move from the airport to center of Lyon as I did this time, you take the public service rhoneexpress, very good indeed even on say foggy day ! In about 30 minutes you are there. It leaves from the TGV station in the airport, every 15 minutes frequency, from 6h to 21h and every 30 minutes from 5h-6h and 21h-00h,you can buy ticket on the bus or at the automatic machines in the stations as I did. webpage http://www.rhonexpress.fr/

For more info on tourism in this region, see http://en.rhonealpes-tourisme.com/ and for tourism in Lyon, http://www.lyon.fr/page/accueil.html

Until next time and hope for better pictures. Cheers.

My ramblings in Europe,this time Carpi Italia

Well it was time again to take a trip,and the work is nice, this time I was at Carpi,near Modena and Bologna Italy.

This is a nice town, home of women fashion, this is whre they cut the fabrics that is put together elsewhere, plenty of models in my hotels oh boy were they beautiful.

My trip began at Nantes airport, where I took AF handle by regional service to Lyon St Exupery airport. Both nice comfortable level airports, and easy to navigate. I even will come back later with Lyon. The airports can be seen here ,first Nanteshttp://www.nantes.aeroport.fr/ANA-English/Page/Default.aspx , then Lyon  http://www.lyonaeroports.com/eng both in English versions. From Lyon took AF again to Bologna airport ,another nice size airport easy to navigate, the site is here http://www.bologna-airport.it/uk/?LN=UK

Of course the car is king took mine to get to Nantes and at Bologna was waited by a nice service call Auto Blu Noleggi, tel +39 339 3846496 email  autoblunoleggi@tiscali.it with great service by my driver Giacomo Franchetto, you wont go wrong using him all over Italy, he is GPS ready.

At my arrival at Carpi I took up residence at My Hotel Carpi, a great place ,prices, very good breakfast buffet, nice size rooms,and just before entering the town and close by the autoestrada autoway, the webpage is at http://www.hotelcarpi.it/

While there I took rides alll over town, but he fog was horrible, at Lyon,Bologna and Carpi plus very cold, so did the best thing to do in Italy,EAT!

I had my lunch at Trattoria Cacciatori at  Via griduzza, 1 – san marino 41012 – Carpi (MO)  tel:+39  059.681962, a great mix plate of pork,sausages,steak veal, and vegetables potatoes all down with a Lambrusco red wine.

For dinner we went to Pizzeria Moglieni, that to the best of me dont remember the name spelling correctly but it was in going to city center Carpi, we had a red peppers pizza that was sublime, plus more wine this time white.

Finally, on my last day we had lunch at a wonderful family restaurant that I highly recommend ,Il Carducci, Viale G Carducci, 16, 41012 Carpi tel +39 059 62 295 18, here we had a special pasta of the region with two broth chicken and beef and tortellini pasta, then a great rabbit done by grandma that was sublime, with red Menulpuziano d’Abruzzo red wine call Bacaro, the webpage is at http://www.ristoranteilcarducci.com/

the trip back was done late by 30 minutes due to bad weather at Bologna and Lyon,again I arrive home by 11pm or 23h. At least the food was great,and the company very sympa and friendly. Until next time in Italy by June I hope. Some pictures to follow up

main entrance to My Hotel Carpi ,nice

main entrance to Trattoria Cacciatore for Lunch

the wine cellar at Trattoria Cacciatori ,Carpi

again on the A1 road to Bologna airport G Marconi

the My Hotel Carpi hallways 2nd floor

the bathroom in My Hotel Carpi

on the road A1 towards Bologna G Marconi airport

Bologna airport lobby while waiting for my flight

on way to parking at Bologna airport G Marconi

2011 in review, Thank you all my friends, best wishes for 2012!!!!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 57,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 21 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Paris missed you already, and soon back !!!

Ok so wondering around beautiful Bretagne, I am beginning to feel city sick about Paris. The eternal Paris, away but never really gone, far away yet so close in the mind, and the way of life, I am a city boy and will be all my life.

Today its the start of sales in France, its the annual winter sales, and the stores are massed up with savvy,shopper, waiting for the doors to open to rush in and get the first try of everything.  A site in French but gives you all the sales dates in all the departments of France, webpage http://www.date-soldes.fr/date-soldes-hiver-france

The English group of restaurants Pret à Manger has open its first resto in La Defense, at the Centre Commerciale Les Quatre Temps, under the Dome at level or niveau 3. The food fresh is taken from the Paris huge food market at Rungis and its done by Franco-Anglo chefs.  Here is their webpage http://www.pret.com/fr/

The American trend of Brunch is becoming more trendy each week there is new places doing this style of restaurant service, so look for them as good value and great French food to boot.  Les Pipelettes,31 rue Brézin – 75014 , and a more italianesque Simone & Nicola 36, passage Charles-Dallery,75014.

For a chic hotel  Hotel Raphael , 17, avenue Kléber  (75016). Who has been here? well Serge Gainsbourg,Jean-Luc Godard ,ex Soviet President Gorbatchev, John Malkovich(producer of Le Figaro Figaroscope) , Bernard-Henry Levy and wife singer/comedian Arielle Dombasle. webpage http://www.raphael-hotel.com/

We all love the 2éme arrondissement, the smallest in Paris. All around the Grands Boulevards,and the passage des panoramas,passage du Grand-Cerf,passage Choiseul,and the Galerie Vivienne, do they ring a bell? oh yes, how about my wine tasting ground and historical place of the Bourse, or the Palais de Brongniart, yes the Le revue des vins de France annual wine tasting in May is done here,and for more see the webpage http://www.palaisbrongniart.com/  ,also a church done by king Louis XIII at  Notre-Dame-des-Victoires by Place des Petits-Pères.

Full of art too in the 2nd at Théatre Montorgueil, 3 rue du sent, The Grand Rex,1, bd. Poissonnière and its webpage http://www.legrandrex.com/ , and the rue Sainte-Anne (name after Anne of Austria),and now call by locals the Little Japan. Shops galore too, my favorite because my father likes the rices there, and ,also, many spices  is L’épicerie de Bruno, lots of rices in small metal cans from many parts of the world 30, rue Tiquetonne, webpage http://www.lepiceriedebruno.com/ And classics of the Paris French cuisine like the Le Grand Colbert, 2, rue Vivienne , webpage http://www.legrandcolbert.fr/ and Aux Lyonnais, 32, rue Saint-Marc , webpage of the great chef in a bistro setting is http://www.auxlyonnais.com/, and the more upper in my opinion but still good ,Drouant,  16, place Gaillon at webpage http://www.drouant.com/

And a grand event in Versailles, webpage here http://www.chateauversaillesspectacles.fr/feux-d_artifice-royaux-136.html

above is the artificial firecrackers royaux and also the season at the Opéra in the castle just wonderful events to time it with your visit, webpage same here http://www.chateauversaillesspectacles.fr/download/OR-Prog-saison-bd.pdf

And to know ahead of time for the musical,nights, and water fountains plays in 2012 stay with Chateau de Versailles spectacles webpage at http://www.chateauversaillesspectacles.fr/home.php

I will be back in the area end of January and again mid February 2012. Cheers

The Grand Palais

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