Destination- Paris

As far back as I can remember I’ve always enjoyed nightish activities. There are so many hidden places in Paris to explore, such as tiny, cozy cafés down small streets behind the Bastille or Montmartre. And, lately, when I travel to Paris it’s during the winter months, when crowds are minimal, heat is not extreme and you don’t have to stop investigating your surroundings due to lack of light.  There are so many hidden places in the city to explore [especially at night]. I like to simply get lost by wandering the parts I don’t know, certain of discovering new places filled of charm.

There’s nothing like a late afternoon tea to partake in an elegant break from an extremely busy day. After an over-night flight; checking into the hotel, then spending a few hours in the Musée National Picasso-Paris it was time relax. The cuisine on our Air France flight was truly inedible so, after a packed day, we stopped into Mariage Frères for a spot of tea, finger sandwiches, scones and a few high-end pastries. It was the perfect amount of food to take away hunger without feeling stuffed.
Mariage Frères
17 Pl. de la Madeleine, 75008 Paris

Marché Bastille or Marché Richard Lenoir) is one of Paris’s largest and most popular open-air markets, located along Boulevard Richard-Lenoir near Place de la Bastille. Open twice a week on Thursdays from 7:00 AM to 2:30 PM and Sundays from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Once at the cheese counter I purchased Morbier a semi-soft French cow’s milk cheese from the Jars Mountains. Next, a huge slice of Raclette from Switzerland renowned for its exceptional melting qualities and pungent flavor. A slice of Comte known for its nutty, sweet and fruity flavors. And lastly Camembert which has a rich earthy, and quite pungent, mushroom-like flavor.
Marché Bastille
Boulevard Richard Lenoir
75011 Paris

Travel stylishly,
Kathleen

FALLINGWATER [AN ICONIC HOME]

After the holidays, I went to visit family in Pittsburg and a few of us traveled to Fallingwater the house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania. The three-story residence was built over a waterfall on Bear Run stream, and designed as a weekend retreat for the Kaufmann family, who were the owners of the Kaufmann’s Department Store in Pittsburg. Since 1963 the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy [WPC] have operated Fallingwater as a tourist site and maintains the 5,000 acres surrounding the house.

Architects working from the master bedroom porch.

There are preservation cycles that occur every 20-25 years, and in 2024 Fallingwater began a $7 million dollar renovation project to address the persistent water leaks and structural issues of a home built over a waterfall. Our guide mentioned the house has always leaked, making waterproofing a constant battle. It was interesting seeing the architects work, as water has been a threat to the home’s integrity with its flat roofs and strong horizontal lines for many years. The project will be completed by spring of 2026

Travel stylishly,
Kathleen