Twelve short years ago tomorrow, we got engaged in Paris. So, because I'm in a bit of a sentimental mood, my Web Robes this week favor all things French. Bon week-end!
Frommer's has some inspiration for a Parisian getaway in the 13 Favorite Paris Moments Slideshow. (I'm a big fan of #9.)
Need a place to stay while visiting the City of Lights? Check out Andrea Reh's post about Le Royal Monceau, beautifully designed by the legendary Phillipe Starck.
And, if you're planning on heading to Paris or anywhere else in the world, maybe Jenn's Travelogue Blog can save you money. Check out her recent three-part post on Getting Great Deals on Travel - Part 1, Part 2, & Part 3.
I started graduate school a couple of weeks ago and it started me thinking about how we learn, what we learn from and what makes us want to keep doing it throughout our lives. Travel for me is learning in its purest form. From discovering new sights, foods and things to do to simple geography, I learn best from going places and experiencing them first hand. I consider each day I'm away a part of my "life" education and it's one degree I hope I never finish.
When I'm not traveling, I learn in other ways. Reading books, articles and blog posts from other travelers out there is currently feeding my wanderlust while I'm stationary at home. Here's a list of a few of the things I'm learning/learned this week:
Six plus years of French and a semester of German should be enough to sufficiently mess with my Italian lessons I'm starting this weekend via Rosetta Stone. Has anyone used this program? Would love to hear your thoughts!
We lived in Vienna for a time several years ago (hence the German lessons) but I learned five things I didn't know about this incredible city in this Frommer's Slideshow.
The Travel & Leisure Global Bazaar is happening September 17th and 18th in NYC. Looks like a very cool way to learn more about the world through "immersive installations and events."
Buffalo Mozzarella cheese is probably my favorite cheese on the planet. This post taught me about its origins and some new ways to enjoy it.
Have a wonderful Friday and if you're in the US, enjoy the long Labor Day Weekend! Thanks for reading!
Traveling for business this week threw the blog schedule off a bit so I'm combining Finds and Web Roves for today's post. Hope you're all enjoying the weekend!
Win a 4-Night Stay in Ireland: Green Earth Travel is hosting a contest for the next 4 weeks through Facebook where you can win a trip to Dublin. Week 1 is now underway. Friend them on Facebook for this week's contest questions and details on how to enter. More info here.
Thailand Find: If you're headed to Phuket, Travelzoo.com has big savings for the 5-star JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa through December 15th. Get an upgraded room, spa treatments and more for only $100/night with a 3-night minimum stay. Learn more here.
Foodie Fun: Rue La La has savings on one and four-day classes at The Culinary Institute of America in New York, California and Texas starting as low as $200. Sale ends Monday, August 22nd.
Moving to France or just want to? Check out Chez Loulou's post about the cost of living in France. Good info for potential expats and dreamers alike.
My Web Roves of the Week are three outstanding short films commissioned by STA Travel Australia that illustrate the beautiful, wonderful and delicious aspects of travel.
The project description:
"3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage, all to turn three ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films."
I think they achieved their goal. Brenna from This Battered Suitcase shared these videos in a post this week and I was in complete awe. For those of you who haven't seen them, I think you will be too.
MOVE
LEARN
EAT
You can get more info on the films here. Have a wonderful weekend!
Since I'm not anywhere close to there, I'll make the best of it by sharing some other travel-focused blogs I've come across since beginning this little blogging journey of mine. Some of these have been around a while and some are just getting started, but they're all pretty new to me. Here are five that have me intrigued and keep me coming back:
The Frugal Traveler: This one is a biggie - a New York Times blog. And the writing is definitely up to New York Times standards. This summer, Seth has been making his way around the Mediterranean on a teensy budget and it has been entertaining to watch how he squeezes the most out of every Euro in different cities. Check out how he did it in Naples.
Jenn's Travelogue Blog: Jenn and I forged a fast friendship after a recent meet-up in Kansas City. She recently held a Blog Winner Weekend Contest to celebrate her 200th post and took one of her readers to Jamaica. Can't wait to see what she's got planned for her 300th!
TravelGirl: I write, a lot. I even do it for a living. So witty wordsmiths and well-written posts appeal to me. TravelGirl's recent post about Researching Unreasonable Train Routes showcased the absolute absurdity of some travelers. I laughed out loud reading it. You will too.
100 Miles Highway: I just discovered this blog today but with an "Eat. Travel. Photography." subhead, how can I not enjoy following along?
Mr. & Mrs. Globetrot: Clean design and really beautiful (and plentiful) travel photos make this team effort blog a treat to look at.
Leave me a comment and share your favorite travel blog. It can even be yours! I'm always on the lookout for awesome blogs about travel to add to my ever-growing reading list. And then, with all of my new found reads as fuel, I can make this a reoccurring series for the first Friday of every month!
Happy Friday! Hope it's fabulous wherever you are in the world!
In a matter of days, I will be in Tuscany. I've only visited once, but there's something inside of me that says I belong there, that I should live there. Maybe one day I will. So today I pay homage to the romantic Tuscan landscape and way of life with an excerpt from Frances Mayes' classic, Under the Tuscan Sun.
"I AM ABOUT TO BUY A HOUSE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY. A house with the beautiful name of Bramasole. It is tall, square, and apricot-colored with faded green shutters, ancient tile roof, and an iron balcony on the second level, where ladies might have sat with their fans to watch some spectacle below. But below, overgrown briars, tangles of roses, and knee-high weeds run rampant. The balcony faces southeast, looking into a deep valley, then into the Tuscan Apennines. When it rains or when the light changes, the facade of the house turns gold, sienna, ocher; a previous scarlet paint job seeps through in rosy spots like a box of crayons left to melt in the sun. In places where the stucco has fallen away, rugged stone shows what the exterior once was. The house rises above a strada bianca, a road white with pebbles, on a terraced slab of hillside covered with fruit and olive trees. Bramasole: from bramare, to yearn for, and sole, sun: something that yearns for the sun, and yes, I do."-----Excerpt: Under the Tuscan Sun, Frances Mayes
For more on Frances' life in Tuscany, check out her blog. The most recent post features Sting's stunning Tuscan villa. Sigh...
