Trip Tip a Day

Tip of the day: Enjoy the outdoor cafe Yes, the outdoor sidewalk cafe is a European staple. It's not as if we don't have them here in America, but actually, it really is as if we don't have them here in America. So, enjoy your seat, the sites, the views, the fresh air, the shade perhaps, the waiter, the food, the people watching, and enjoy taking it all in - al fresco!

Tip of the day: Have something embroidered in Venice Choose your item and watch as she embroiders freehand The apron says "c ucino con Amore" with hearts A fun Venice memory for the 13 year old cook in our family from her Swiss Uncle Kurt

Tip of the day: Visit the Chanel shop at 31, rue Cambon, Paris My daughter had some very kind help picking out the perfect Chanel lip color and making her purchase at 31, rue Cambon. We visited this location to see the original Chanel property and view the famous staircase. We could view the staircase from the foyer - but NO photos allowed! Window displays July 2009 Watch Vogue's video "Inside Coco Chanel's Private Apartment": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpinr4Uts-8 Some Coco apt.photographs including the mirrored staircase at: http://www.notcot.com/archives/2007/09/chanel_finale.php

Tip of the day: Consider a leisurely bike ride wherever you go Here is the Avignon site for bicycle rental - Velopop! http://www.velopop.fr/

Tip of the day: To see Paris by bicycle, get a credit card with a chip I had heard about the Paris Velib bicycle system on a radio show and was eager to try it out. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14429468 . This bicycle system was attributed with making Paris more friendly. The Velib bikes stood out and could not be missed - long racks of bicycles near the great tourist destinations, Parisians picking up bikes, dropping them off at the racks, tourists and citizens riding around the city. At this point I was ready give my feet a rest and cover some ground on a bike. We looked bewilderedly at the rental kiosk at the rack we happened upon. Then a kind citizen gave a half hour explanation (in French) to Kurt -our Swiss travel companion, guide, friend, and linguist. Kurt said "she tells me you need to have a chip in your credit card to place the deposit on the bicycle." Air rushes out leaving me deflated like a balloon smashed empty on the sidewalk. B

Tip of the day: Have Passport, will travel. The passports arrived - it was a short wait from applying on Sept. 25 in the County Clerk's (Denton County TX) office to receiving them October 10. The original birth certificate that accompanied the application returned to us a few days later under separate cover. Step 1 for any trip to Europe - complete.

Tip of the day: Enjoy a fresh perspective Travel - always brings out my fresh perspective. Like these petals on flowers that look nothing like any other flower petal I've ever seen before. Fresh. Gotta love that.

Tip of the day: Visit Trevi Fountain in Roma It's a video-clip-on-the-blog experiment - Trevi Fountain still photographs, Trevi fountain video clip to capture the sound. Let's see if it works. Who is the King of the European fountain - Trevi perhaps?

Tip of the day: Try some pastilles My throat was a little scratchy this morning, so I sucked on a blackcurrant pastille (Cassis Pastilles) . They are a wonderful chewy consistency - nothing like the hard candy type of cough drop/throat lozenge we have here in the US. A few years ago, scratchy throats were going around a workshop I attended in Germany. My wonderful German roommate got me a box of Ricola Krauterpastillen (Blackcurrent Pastilles). They are so great for a sore throat. We have Ricola cough drops here in America, but no pastilles. Pity.

Tip of the day: Enjoy a cappuccino in Italy Here's a beautiful cappuccino from a cafe near the water in Cecina Mare, Italy. I love the cup, the saucer, the little spoon, the foam and the delicious taste. Ahh.

Tip of the day: Bring some earthly treasures home from your trip Many years ago, I visited the beach at Cecina Mare on the Mediterranean near Pisa in Italy. I collected these rocks from the beach and loved them, especially when they in water (as above in the photograph). The color comes alive, the bands of white run through the rocks, the colors and shapes are beautiful. After we moved from Ohio to Texas, I couldn't find the rocks. I thought they hadn't been packed up and were perhaps tossed while packing (and I blamed my husband). :-( For years I have dreamed about getting back to Cecina to collect some more rocks from the beach. Imagine my surprise when today, 13 years after moving to Texas, I found the little sack of rocks in my garage clean out. They were in a bag with all the letters and cards my husband wrote me when we were in different states for a year before we married. I hugged him and told him I was sorry today. My treasures have returned - two of them.

Tip of the day: Enjoy the view from a bridge over the Seine in Paris Day Night

Tip of the day: Be prepared to see lots of grafitti in Rome Rome has it's share of magical sights - Trevi fountain and the Coliseum are just two. But Rome has a big share of grafitti that leaves an impression. A shame, not sure. Something that captures your mind and your eye, yes.

Tip of the day: Enjoy another Paris fountain!