Restaurant
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Art Deco Dining in London: Brasserie Zédel
As you’re probably already aware, I love French food. So I was delighted when one of my fellow Blister Sisters added a French restaurant to our London visit the week before our rowing tour of the Thames. What I didn’t realize was that Brasserie Zédel is the place for Art Deco dining in London. I would discover this on our first full day in London Town, when we made our way there for lunch. But first, we emerged from Piccadilly Underground station that morning and strolled the grand, curved Georgian architecture of Regent Street. From here, we set out on our walking tour of some of the world’s great luxury…
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Where to Eat in Paris When Visiting Place des Vosges
To me, Place des Vosges is a hidden treasure within the heart of Paris. I must have passed it dozens of times over the years during my visits to the city, never knowing that it was hiding in plain sight, just beyond a wall. Fortunately, I had a wonderful opportunity to discover it last summer when I stayed nearby. The primary entrance is visible from Paris’ famous Rue de Rivoli, a stone’s throw from the Saint Paul Metro station in the Marais district. And the second arched gateway is directly opposite the gorgeous courtyard from it, at the end of rue de Béarn. Fit for a Queen That’s one of…
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Where to Eat in Paris When Visiting Les Invalides
Across the gorgeous Pont Alexandre III – Alexander III Bridge – from the Champs-Élysées, sits the stunning gilded dome of one of Paris’ major monuments. The beautiful les Invalides is most notably known as the final resting place of Napoléon Bonaparte. A Glorious Refuge Built by the Sun King, Louis XIV, as a refuge for veterans, it still provides support for them over 300 years later. However, today it is also home to several military museums, including la Musée de l’Armée. Through their collections and exhibitions, you can learn about the history of Paris over the last two hundred years. Les Invalides is such a fascinating place that time will…
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Where to Eat in Paris When Visiting the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower – La Tour Eiffel – is one of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, and definitely one you want to visit when in the City of Light. Not only is Gustave Eiffel’s masterpiece a stunning beacon of light, it is also an engineering marvel that warrants a closer look. This could take a while so of course you’ll want some ideas on where to eat in Paris when visiting this architectural treasure. Viewing the grand Iron Lady from ground level, you have the opportunity to appreciate the contrast of the delicate beauty of her filigreed arches against the obvious strength of her four massive pillars. And you also get…
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Restaurant L’Echiquier, Sedan, France
Today a major winter storm whirls around me, blanketing everything in sight with a fluffy layer of white, meringue-like peaks. So I’ve decided to escape for a bit to a beautiful, warm, summer’s day. I was in Sedan, France last July and had one final evening to myself before embarking on a rowing tour with 79 other people. The tour promised bare bones accommodation (cots in community centre gymnasiums) so I was treating myself to a night at the fantastic Hôtel Le Château Fort de Sedan. I had been informed upon check-in that their dining room was fully booked for dinner that night. So I decided to look for a…
