Travels with Tricia

Category: France

  • Soaking up the Details (and the Wine) of Saint-Emilion – Bordeaux, France

    Enclosed by vineyards producing some of Bordeaux’s most esteemed wine, it’s no wonder that the village of Saint-Emilion is one of the region’s most alluring destinations. During a weekend trip there earlier this year, I found myself effortlessly charmed by Saint-Emilion’s elegant limestone buildings, its window-boxes brimming with beautiful blooms, its wine, and its almond-flavored macarons. By day, Shawn and I ascended…

  • Photo du Jour: Georges the French Bulldog – Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

    Georges, a regal French Bulldog, stands guard at a wine shop in the village of Saint-Émilion, France, in the heart of Bourdeaux wine country. We recently met Georges, who spends his days sunbathing and greeting wine tasters at his master’s shop. A firetruck-red likeness of Georges sits in the entry way, but laid-back Georges garners most of…

  • A Stroll Through Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle

    Shimmering like a radiant jewel box, Sainte-Chapelle is often overlooked by visitors to Paris, who only visit Notre Dame Cathedral. I’d long read how Sainte-Chapelle is a must-see and favorite among shutterbugs, yet it took me several visits to the City of Light to see this Gothic masterpiece.

  • Claude Monet's pink home, surrounded by purple irises and other flowers. It's located in Giverny, France.

    An Afternoon at Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France

    Artist Claude Monet‘s name is synonymous with his dreamlike paintings which were inspired by his graceful gardens in Giverny, France, where he lived for 43 years. In 1980, Monet’s home and garden were opened to the public allowing Monet’s canvases to come to life. Today, visitors to Giverny can see the Japanese-style footbridge that spans the…

  • Honoring the “Greatest Generation” at D-Day Commemorations in Normandy

    Today, we commemorated the 69th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. In the village of Arromanches, we met a witty British veteran in his nineties with a love of Louis Armstrong and the foxtrot. He was an extraordinary conversationalist. On this day designated to pay tribute to him, he took time to ask questions…

  • Europe, Somewhere in Time: An Interview with Artist & Photographer, Maurice Sapiro

    I recently happened upon the beautiful, timeless work of Maurice Sapiro, an accomplished photographer, painter and sculptor who calls Connecticut home. The images from his Europe gallery, circa 1956, are what captivated me: honey-toned scenes of Venetian gondoliers gracefully powering delicate boats across a lagoon; black and white images of Bavarians in frenzied celebration; silhouetted-figures…