Arles, France

 I hope that everyone had a great long holiday weekend, three day weekends are one of my favorite things!  It is hard to believe that it is September and I still have some photographs from places that we explored on our honeymoon in May.  I purposely spaced them out so that when I was ready to share them the memory would again be fresh in my mind, because precious memories they were.  

I have a love for France, obviously, I have shared that many times here!  I have visited northern and eastern France and the South of France, but until May hadn't really explored Provence, a place that has now left an indelible mark on me. My mind is oftentimes blown by the beauty that exists in this world - there are just so many places to see and experiences to be had.  The charm of Provence is like no other, from the cobbled stones streets, stone homes accented with the prettiest pastels to the Roman ruins that still linger, it is a site for the eyes.  We visited Arles, a place once inhabited by the Romans and a plethora of artists including Vincent Van Gogh (it is where he painted the famed  Cafe Terrace at Night).  It was pure pleasure to wonder the narrow streets and stumble upon a Roman amphitheater (that is still used today!) or the best open-air food market that I have ever seen - artichokes! lemons! cheese! bread! melons! (the list went on an on).  All I needed was a kitchen.  Our stay was not long enough, I hope to return to this section of France once again but visit Avignon, Aix, and St. Remy.  If you are looking for a boutique hotel to stay, I recommend the Hotel d’Arlatan, it was a relaxing and beautiful space.  Okay, now I officially have the travel bug once again...

The Louvre, Paris

Happy Monday everyone, I hope you had a great weekend! And the good news is that this week is a short one since it is the Fourth of July.   In college, as I have mentioned before, I majored in art history.  Originally I was a communications major, since I wanted to work in magazine editorial, but I changed half-way through because it wasn't giving me the writing that I craved.  My new major allowed me to craft a hefty dose of writing while simultaneously doing so about beautiful art works and architecture.  I love painting and sculpture, but what really drew me into the program was architecture.  Ever since I was old enough to pay attention to columns, moldings and scale I knew that a passion was born, hence my love for Europe. I also clearly have a fascination with royalty, hence my love for Versialles and castles in general. I find it awe-inspiring that kings and queens could live on such a large scale with multiple castles not too far from each other.  The immense size of the Louvre can leave you short of breath, not just for the vastness but for the history that lies behind its columned facade.  One the same morning that I wandered into the Palais Royal to experience the roses, I spent extra time at the Louvre, watching the morning light reflect on the statues and slowly light up the manicured boxwoods that dominate the landscape. It was peaceful. I was one of the only souls there experiencing the architecture.  It was magical.  

The Gardens of Versailles: The Epitome of Grandeur

I first visited Versailles while studying in Paris. it left an indelible mark on what I perceived as beautiful, spawned my creativity and pushed my love of gardens even further. Until France I never truly understood what perfected nature meant - Paris has it mastered, but the grandeur of the gardens of Versailles have it mastered and then some. I left the sprawling palace and grounds so stunned I ended up writing my senior thesis paper on just the gardens (I majored in art history). I longed to go back and finally years later I did happy to recall all of the amazing facts that make this oasis an inspiration for so many of the other gardens in the world. While wondering through the shady bouquets, labrythons and fountains it is easy to get lost in the beauty as your mind drifts off to how it must have been when The Sun king, Louis XIV, was in all of his glory.  One could spend hours or even days exploring it all, here is just a glimpse of the day that we spent wandering around the grounds.  Also if you are interested T Magazine just had a great article about how a portion of the gardens are being brought into this century, interesting read.  

Palais Royal, Paris :: A Quiet Morning with the Roses

One morning, I woke up early and ventured out when Paris was just beginning to awake to revel in the beauty of the Palais Royal.  I first experienced this garden in the fall and was struck by it's manicured beauty - the perfectly shaped linden trees, the fountains and how it offered a quiet respite from the city, but I had no idea what spring had in store.  The space was practically my own except for the few joggers doing laps with their happy dogs or the older man taking a morning stroll before the crowds slowly make the garden their own. The garden was overflowing with fragrant roses in the lightest pinks to vibrant crimson, their beauty left me breathless.   Here is just a peak into this garden oasis that to me is a little slice of heaven.  

Take Me There: L'Hôtel Particulier Arles, France

 I almost love researching trips as much as I enjoy going on them.  I love scoping out attractions, museums, food and of course hotels, in particularly their designs.  While researching our honeymoon I came across L'Hôtel Particulier in Arles, France that is just too pretty not to share.  I adore the use of white and the exposed stone walls that lend the perfect amount of Provencal charm.  Wouldn't you just to love magically appear there now?