I have been on break since late November, but I am back now to continue my videos and songs of the places I have seen and can recommend. So, where was I when I left off. Oh yeah, castles in Wales. “A long time ago, in a land far, far away, there was a maiden, […]
Although many countries around the world claim they have the most castles, Wales certainly has an outstanding collection, which are preserved through Cadw, their historic environment (cultural) service. Some of the best are located near Cardiff, the nation’s capital. The following video displays the first of these sights: Castell Coch, Wales’ Victorian fairy-tale castle. To […]
Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England, is the ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill. He was born and raised here, and, proposed to his life-long wife Clementine here (in the Temple of Diana.) Although our knowledge of Churchill generally centers around his leadership of war-torn Europe during World War II, one should also get to […]
Besides museums, public buildings and structures can serve as cultural and historical representations of a civilization. Encompassed in this sphere, some of these even become known and remembered throughout not only a society, but in the world at large. They become icons. Paris, France, has many icons, and today we see three of them — […]
Impressionists – need I say more? Paris, France highlights two of the best collections of Impression-era artwork in the Musee d’ Orsay and the Musee de l’Orangerie. The following video shows only a few of what these museums hold, by the best artists and painters of their generation. By all accounts, make it your mission […]
In a quiet corner of Paris, France, the Musee Jacquemart-Andre beckoned me. Less crowded and more sedate than other museums on a weekday afternoon, I walked quickly from my hotel, close to the Arc de Triomphe, to be on time for a tearoom “invitation” (reservations recommended for the cafe and museum, especially on busy weekends.) […]
The Centre Pompidou in Paris, France, is closing on September 22, 2025. It housed Muse’e National d’Art Moderne, Europe’s largest modernistic art collection, but will be shut down for five years while the Centre undergoes building restoration work for asbestos abatement, accessibility upgrades, and energy improvements. The Pompidou is known for its innovative glass and […]
Arrondissements and Gothic churches tell the well-rounded story of Paris, France. First of all, “arrondissement” in French means “rounding.” It describes the shape of the 20 arrondissements, or districts, of Paris. Moreso, it differentiates the unique culture and history of Parisian neighborhoods. For example, the Temple Arrondissement (3rd,) is known for its Marais neighborhood’s Middle […]
Read the title above, and say the capital city of France, “Paris,” as a citizen of Paris would say it — Pwahr-ee, Pear-ee, or Par-ee. The title flows and rhymes like the rhythm and nature of daily life itself in the city. Living in Paris can be as simple as watching people in a cafe, […]
Rhetorically, who doesn’t love the Louvre? It holds one of the great art collections in the world. The Louvre started off as a humble fortress. Then, it turned into a fabulous palace. Now, it is home to “Mona Lisa” and all other kinds of fantastic artwork, dating from civilizations thousands of years old to today. […]