January 2015 Blog Posts (12)

http://www.coastalbreezenews.com/2015/01/23/afiyet-olsun/

http://www.coastalbreezenews.com/2015/01/08/further-afield-in-istanbul/

http://www.coastalbreezenews.com/2014/12/30/istanbul-highlights/

Swiss Heartland Untour - May 6 to June 4, 2014

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

We were both up at 4:58am.  It had rained overnight again.  At 5:33am the thermometer showed a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.  The skies were overcast.  

The Sunnis Bakery opened at 6:00am.  The saleslady was just putting out the morning delivery of pastries when I walked in at 6:10am.  I had been a regular customer for at least two…

Swiss Heartland Untour - May 6 to June 4, 2014

Monday, May 26, 2014

I was up at 4:58am, followed by Eleanor at 5:35am.  The skies were overcast.  It rained during the night.  I was out the door arond 6:05am for a bakery run. 

First stop was Sunnis Bakery for two apfelstrudels.  Total cost 4CHF ($4.48 U.S. dollars).

Next stop was Cafe zum Stein Bakery for our favorite bread,…

Well, after indeed blowing my nose all the way home, we had an uneventful trip to the USA.  Direct flight from Paris to Cincinnati is the way to go!  Of course, we then have a hour and a half drive, but that is do-able.  We are tired, happy to be home, and yet missing Paris.

Realizing that we were only a few blocks from the terrorist attacks that happened a couple of days ago, and that Republique square is steps outside our…

Today was a day for packing in earnest, all the clothes were dry ( no dryer but it worked out fine--electricity costs too much to dry clothes with it!)  We walked to the caramel store-Jacques Genin-to purchase more caramels for our house sitters and pet sitters, then strolled around our neighborhood.  My scratchy throat has developed into a real cold, and I am glad it happened late in the trip--I can blow my nose all the way home!

We make our way to Notre Dame and Pont St. Michel,…

Monday October 13 2014

Today we started to do some laundry and experiment with packing to see if our cheese and champagne would fit!  We brought our big suitcase (it's purple and we call it Barney) on wheels but it was mostly empty when we came.  And I always try to bring very few outfits, and even leave or discard some stuff along the way.  For example, I brought old trail hiking shoes and old nike flip flops to Amalfi and left both behind--I needed new ones and could buy…

Today was mostly a relaxing day--it was cool and rainy again.  We decided to shop a little at the Carousel under the Louvre, and then decided to have some onion soup while we were out.  Found a wonderful  little restaurant near the Quai Branley Museum and went in to a cozy homey atmosphere.  Wonderful soup, and they were quite OK with that being our order.  We waited out some rain showers then went past the wonderful vertical garden wall into the Museum.  This is a museum of indigenous art…

Today was another big day for us--we decided to go to the Paris flea market at Clignancourt.  There is a famous gypsy jazz (manouche) guitar school there along with a restaurant called Les Chopes des Puces.  So, mustering up our maps money, and good walking shoes, we took off.  It was a gorgeous day, and this part of Paris was a revelation.  Sooo many poor refugees here, so much poverty, so little beauty...

The flea market was…

Friday October 10 2014

Today was a day full of tours, the walking kind!  Before we left, after a lot of research, I had booked a tour through an organization called Paris Greeters.  These tours are free, guided walks led by Parisians of some of their neighborhoods. They had contacted us before we got to France and asked about our interests and dates that would work for us.  I had noted Rhea's interest in woodworking and guitar making, and mine in…

Swiss Heartland Untour - May 6 to June 4, 2014

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Despite going to bed very late, we were both up at 5:25am.  When daylight arrived, the skies were clear.  This was our chance.  We decided to make another attempt to walk the Grandmother's Walk, one of the most famous footpaths in the Alps.  It begins high above Wengen at Mannlichen and extends about 3 miles to Kleine Scheidegg.  The path is relatively…