Arrived in Beaune in the afternoon. Our hotel is most interesting: Hôtel de la Cloche - diligence du 16e siècle! A Diligence was a stopping point for coaches which delivered mail before the postal system had been established. At market bought Comte petite fromage du Jura; terrine de porc. Bought ficelle, then went to Casino supermarche for 2 - 1/2 bottles Burgundy wines for picnic. Drove routes des grands crus as far as Chagny to canal du Centre. Had a picnic beside canal. Drove back via small roads through wine towns of Chassagne-Montrachet, -Montrachet, Meursault, Pommard and to Beaune. Opened 1/2 bottle of Bouchard Aine et Fils--pretty good for €5. Lovely evening- went out in short sleeves. Sat next to interesting Irish couple with dog who own 2 houses in Luberon, apts in Malta amd Amsterdam; ... read more

Quite a cultural shock to be back in a 1st World country after the medinas of Morocco!Yet, here we are staying in a 17th Century stable that has been converted into a funky little apartment. As in Morocco, we have to duck under large beams and low lintels; step up or down over uneven floors. It is a treat to have full amenities: kitchen, TV, WIFI, bathroom with bath tub, even a washing machine. We've had fun going to local markets and buying food and wine to make our own meals. We're right in the old centre of Dijon, so we have parked the rented car and walk everywhere. 3 churches are within a 5-minute walk. Between 1100's and late 1300's there was an incredible amount of church building going on. It seems to me that ... read more

Things come in 3's:3 phones, 3 taxis, 3 disturbances. We had agreed to ph the riad (inn) to let them know that we arrived so rhat they could meet us at the Bab (gate) to walk us through the maze of streets to the riad. We had already consulted someone about which digits in the long ph number were the ones to use. When we did find a public phone, and the correct change (we were told 1 or 2 dirhams), R tackled the job. Try #1: money into slot, number entered-- call goes through but cuts out after a few seconds. Try #2: more money + number entered. R can hear voice on other end but they can't hear R. Waits a few minutes in case he calls back. Try #3: R goes to Tele-boutique ... read more

Here is a short list as I think of them...After so many years of teaching, I am always thinking of creative ways to use things: 1. Save the .187L plastic wine bottle from the airplane trip--it is small enough to fit in a pocket and large enough to slake your thirst. 2. Save the flimsy bowl from your airplane meal. It can serve as a cereal bowl, hold a snack. 3. Of course you won't throw away those tiny plastic utensils. Great for eating that cereal or yogurt. BRING FROM HOME:A. U-shaped travel pillow. I use mine a lot to prevent neck kinks. But then I take a lot of siestas! Sometimes the hotel pillows need a supplement. The newer ones have a snap so if yr luggage is full you can carry pillow attached to ... read more

BLOG composed May 16 On arriving in Marrakesh I was struck by the intense heat and dryness. 42 degrees C. Pretty hot compared to 12-15 degrees back home. Then I was impressed that so many people here speak French. I thought that the French influence would have died out by now. Arab and French are the main languages of instruction in schools, with English and Spanish next. We were met and warmly greeted by the driver then host at our Riad (a private home used as guest house). Riad Alaka has about 4 rooms each with bathroom, centred around an open atrium which has a cool plunge pool. We've already cooled off in this amenity! There is also a rooftop sitting area with jaccuzzi (too hot right now, but a great idea in cooler weather). On ... read more

Our first full day in Madrid started at noon yesterday because we had slept 12 hours after our arrival! Travelling can be hard work! (i think the heat was a factor--30 degrees C after months of cold weather took its toll.) So we just skipped breakfast and moved right on to lunch in a cute bakery near our hotel in the Gran Via, called Le Pain Quotidien (my love of French follows me everywhere!) I settled for a bowl of carrot soup and a hunk of organic bread, then a new kind of coffee to me--cortado. It's an espresso with a touch of milk, like a small capuccino (called a noisette in France). Just right when you don't want to spend a fortune on your coffee. Next, we headed off to tackle the Prado. I say ... read more

We've had a a wonderful 4 days here in Lisbon, with the weather getting progressively better. Today was sunny and 28 degrees. By now, we have figured out the public transit system, but today, I could not stop laughing at all the crazy experiences we had with using it. There is a transit card that you buy at small, specially marked shops. You load it with money and then activate it each time you enter and leave a transit vehicle--metro, bus, tram, or train. It is great when it works, but...yesterday, mine worked fine when we took the train along the Water to Caisca. But R's did not. He knew money was loaded on it, so tried several times, put more money on it, no...finally, in desperation, I went through the gate and he followed me ... read more

I am writing my first blog since 2010, this time on my I-Phone from our B&B in Lisbon! Unfortunately it is pouring rain on the morning of our 35th wedding anniversary (unlike on our wedding day which was sunny and warm). We are headed off to the acquarium since most museums are closed on Mondays. Last night, we found a good seafood place called Marisqueira Do Lis on Av Almirante Reis. We ordered a mixed seafood dish for 1 and shared it. I was surprised that it was served cold, but it was delicious. The frites and salad filled out the meal with a local red wine. Price was moderate. What I enjoyed most was the frenetc activity of the waiters and cooks-- reminded me of a French bistrot. We are finding Portugese people very friendly ... read more

Dimanche passé, la dame où habite G. nous a conduit au village charmant de Gourdon qui est près de Grasse. Les routes étaient étroites et serpentées, mais nous sommes arrivées saines et sauves. Après une exploration du village à pied, nous avons diné dans le plus beau restaurant du village, Le Nid d'aigle--une terrasse couverte et perchée. Le repas était très bon--deux heures et demie plus tard, nous avons continué notre balade à pied! Puis, notre chauffeur nous a emmenées à Biot, le village fameux pour sa verrerie. On a observé les artisanats qui soufflaient le verre. Malheureusement les produits étaient trop chers et trop fragiles pour emporter dans notre valise!... read more

Vendredi passé nous avons fait une merveilleuse promenade en vélo d'Antibes à Cagnes-sur-Mer (une heure au bord de la mer, puis une demi-heure pour monter la colline!) Nous voulions voir la Maison Renoir où Auguste Renoir, peintre, a habité entre 1906 et 1919 quand il est mort. Non seulement on a vu des tableaux, des esqisses et des bronzes, mais aussi y avait-il toute la maison à visiter y compris ses meubles, ses outils de peinture, son fauteuil roulant. Regarder par les memes fenetres où il regardait m'a fait grand plaisir! Je veux y retourner visiter Haute Cagnes...... read more