City of Lights

The spacious rooms at the Hôtel Du Louvre are a true haven after day of serious walking and sight-seeing. The hôtel is an inviting place to return to so one may relax and contemplate in the very heart of the City of Lights. Our room overlooked the l ’Opera, which is lit up each evening as if by the magic of nightfall. Hôtel Du Louvre Place André Malraux, 75001 Paris, France +33 1 73 11 12 34

The Brasserie du Louvre is typically Parisian in atmosphere and the décor is faithful to vintage French bistros: red seats, black and white checkered floor, and white tablecloths. After a half of day of traveling, then trekking an hour from the airport it was an absolute treat to have this establishment in our hôtel.

The relaxed setting with extremely long menus made it hard to decide what to eat for dinner. But no matter where I am in this city I always enjoy a fragrant bowl of French onion soup with sherry, Gruyère cheese, and fresh thyme.

Our waiter Benoit de-boned our Sole Meunière at the table, which is sole fillets dredged in a bit of flour, pan fried in butter and served with lemon!!!

Doors from a display in the Louvre, can you imagine these lovely items in your home…possibly to partition off a living area?


Walking from the La Porte de l’Enfer or Gates of Hell, that depicts a scene from Dante’s Infereno at the Musée Rodin.

The Musée Rodin
77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France

Enjoying a glass of wine after a day at the Musée Rodin and the Louvre.

Kathleen

Kathleen17 Comments

Style on the Adriatic

Venice is an awe-inspiring, mystical city steeped in beauty and fantasy. Surrounded by water, made up of canals, bridges and churches, and where two of my absolute favorite artists’’ Canaletto and Monet have immortalized the town in oil paint.

The Doge’s Palace is built in Venetian Gothic style and is one of the landmarks of the city and was home of the Doge of Venice. The canals are the ultimate in Venetian street style, and there is nothing like walking to discover local trattoria’s and la panetteria’s {bakeries}.

Travel stylishly,
K

 

Kathleen4 Comments

Summer Dreams

What is it about this time of year that draws one outdoors? Early this morning I took my coffee and camera outside to listen to the neighborhood awaken in the cool crisp air. As I focused on taking photos of the newly bloomed Asian Lilies, squirrels jumped from tree to tree. At first, I thought it was a huge buck walking through the woods or a rather large man, but after focusing on the area where branches were falling, I saw the furry tails of these creatures chasing one another. After lining up a few floral shots, I picked up my coffee and began dreaming of the perfect summer, which by coincidence starts with a morning like this…NO HUMIDITY and temps down to 46 degrees.

I usually take to creating the perfect escape during lengthy meetings at work, and begin drafting vacations in margins of notes or on the computer. First and foremost I must be near water. Its the perfect place to start the day with a morning swim, then to end the day after sightseeing. To be gliding through the water for an evening swim is absolute luxury!

As my needs are simple next on the list, its about finding bakeries and bistros with fabulous desserts or treats. Tony took this photo while in downtown Rio last week of a tart and cappuccino at Columbio Confectionary. And, margarita’s to martini’s are always on the agenda.

Lastly, what reverie can end without flowers. These beautiful lilies were from the early morning photo-shoot, where my focus during warmer months are always on growing and procuring blooms to have on the desks at work, and in vases around Heath.

As summer approaches, remember to stay stylish,
K

Kathleen5 Comments