Lyon, France – I took myself on a tour of the traboules of Vieux Lyon. They are “secret” covered passageways that connect streets, buildings and courtyards, often on different levels. I read they were built as far back as the…
Frescoes in Lyon
Lyon, France – Here’s a cool thing in Lyon: a series of public murals that depict various elements of Lyonnais history and culture. Several of these are painted as trompe-l’oeil, so it’s hard to tell where the painting stops and…
Lake Annecy Loop
Annecy, France – I didn’t get to cycle around the parks of Versailles or along the banks of the Seine, but I did get to cycle around the Lake Annecy loop. It’s hard to imagine a prettier place for a…
Aiguille du Midi
Chamonix, France – Everyone was excited about Paris, but I felt certain my twin-agers would soon grow weary of the city’s palaces and gardens and fabulous art museums. And I was right. Don’t get me wrong, I wish we had…
Best for Last
Paris, France – We saved the best for last in Paris. At least that’s what the twin-agers thought. I’m glad the Eiffel Tower lived up to the hype because it was not easy to get tickets. The on-line ticketing system…
The Dropsical Woman
Paris, France – Anyone who read The Tsarina’s Lost Treasure knows that the Dropsical Woman – masterpiece by Gerrit Dou – used to hang in the Louvre in the Salon Carré alongside the Mona Lisa. Also, we never knew that…
Versailles Palace
Versailles, France – We are struggling with jetlag. This is the first time we have traveled to Europe (as a family) for less than a month, and we don’t have time to hang out and adjust to the time change.…
Paris Catacombs
Paris, France – I advised the twin-agers to try to sleep on the overnight flight from Boston to Paris, but they did not heed my advice. They watched movies. So here we are in the taxi from the airport to…
The Best Lakes for a Vacation
Lonely Planet writers compiled a list of the best lakes for a vacation in the USA, and of course it includes Lake Michigan! (It’s no coincidence that we had a wonderful getaway to Lake Michigan just last summer, which explains…
Children’s Lit Tour
Springfield and Amherst, Mass – There must be something in the Pioneer Valley water that fosters creativity and playfulness. Or maybe it’s just a coincidence that two of America’s most celebrated kids’ lit author-illustrators lived in this region. Today they…