McGoose
Matt McUsic Joined: January 4th 2007
Logged in: November 26th 2011
Logged in: November 26th 2011
Travel Blog Posts
PARC GUELL
Barcelona’s like the Los Angeles of Spain. It’s sunny the vast majority of the year. Somehow we managed to arrive and leave in a downpour. Still we were lucky to have mostly clear skies the rest of the time despite the weather forecast. Our hotel Nouvel is warm, cozy and centrally located just off the Ramblas. Robyn loves Spain for their unpretentious meals of tapas. You can get small plates and split things and they don’t give you a funny look here or some of that “French lip”. I love France but Spain is refreshing. Our favorite place for montaditos was just north of the Ramblas called La Tramoia. The best is the squid with potatos (Pulpo a Feira). Ciudad Condal was a favorite too, but best to go at an off-hour, as it gets insanely ... read more
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From the moment you depart the old train station in Avignon and enter the fortified walls, the town feels like a petite Paris. The pedestrian friendly (and car un-friendly) streets are fun to stroll, full of shops and cafes. In fact, the main avenue leading from the train station to the Palace of the Popes was widened and modeled after the Champs Elysees. The park atop the hill near the palace of the popes makes for stellar views of the river below. For a great time find local café Celestine. Robyn and I imbibed for hours here while our laundry tumbled dry in the nearby Laundromat. Across the square from Celestine you can get a great tart from Ginette and Marcel. We day tripped over to nearby Arles but it failed to impress us. The small ... read more
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It could be true that Van Gogh didn't actually commit suicide but was instead shot by a young man (in an accident or as a provecation) and faked suicide to protect the young man from a murder conviction. So claims a new biography "Van Gogh : The Life" by pulitzer prize winning authors Naifeh and Smith. The theory has not been fully embraced yet by historians and art critics but it does raise some interesting questions about this emigmatic artist. It certainly peeked my curiosity enough to buy and begin reading this exquisitly written biography of Vincent Van Gogh. The timing couldn't be more perfect to stay in St. Remy de Provence and visit the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole <em style="font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; color:𩻅">mental asylum where Vincent prolifically created some of his most beloved works. Although you ... read more
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Monaco gets comparisons to Disneyland all the time with it's fairytale cleanliness and picturesque residences. From the moment the train arrives this place does feel like a magic kingdom, the main difference only becoming apparent later on when you realize that everyone visiting is a pauper in a land of princes. If you drive a shinny new Mercedes looking cool in Santa Monica, get ready to be upstaged big-time. Still, Monaco is used to being a tourist destination, and they’re good at not rubbing it in. If you’re decently dressed you can make it through every door, although you may soon realize nothing is in your price range on the other side. Robyn and I began our late afternoon stroll at the castle atop the hill; this is where the Price of Monaco resides. We dined ... read more
Nice from Castle Hill
Nice is eh, okay. I wouldn't go so far as nice. Monaco is nice. Nice is sorta sketch. Reminds me of sketchy Medeteranian places like Athens. And the beach scene was eh, not great either. To be fair, we're not here in the right season; but honestly even if we were, how can a rock beach even compete with sand beaches? There had better be some pretty hot bodies for that to happen. Still we managed to enjoy ourselves and a bottle of Pol Roger Champagne didn't hurt at all. I visited the Chagall museum and climbed Castle hill. Walking into the Negresco to use the Waterloo bathroom was my greatest highlight of this beachtown. Nextime I'd skip Nice and visit a smaller town in the Riveria.... read more
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Day1 Bouquet for a sleepy Croque Madame Tooled around BHV and elsewhere while we waited to check in and take a shower at our crappy Hotel Alhambra, don't stay in the 11th, it is NOT the 4th. Dinner at Restaurant L'Industrie Day2 Rodin Museum with a walk back through St. Germain and the Marais. Dinner at Pintre. Robyn's a little sick, so I bought her some flowers and cough syrup. Day3 Picnic dinner with Cheeses and Salami's just north of Les Halles. Day4 Richard Lenoir Marche and up to Montmartre. Found a good restaurant on the back side of the hill called...Au Relais. A fantastic Chocolate Moose at Chez Janou later that evening. Day5 Luxemberg Gardens and on to Bon Marche for the goods. Excellent final dinner at Bouquet Des Archives (our favorite old haunt in ... read more
Arenal From My Window
Working hard and not enough time to enjoy beautiful Costa Rica, but definitely an improvement from nearby poverty stricken, war-torn Nicaragua.... read more
Robyn with Baby Birds!
We went to Garden Cafe one last time for breakfast. Went to the square and got some souvenirs.... read more
Mombacho Beach Club
Finally we had a day of pure relaxation in Granada. For breakfast, the delightful Casa San Francisco where I had a Nicaraguan Tipica and Robyn got a fantastic oatmeal. The owner is very kind too, we'll be back if we have the time. In the afternoon we ventured over to the Mombacho Beach Club which is the hotel/spa wing of the same company that does the chocolate making workshops. We lounged by the pool for an hour before we each got a short 30min massage for $10 each. Can't be beat. Then a nice swim with the ducks in their elegant pool as the sun set beyond the roof of this beautiful colonial building. Ahh. About ready to go home.... read more
