Versailles — The Ultimate Royal Residence

Mary Gilbert Europe, History, Tours and Sightseeing May 1, 2014Apollo, Ceremony of the Rising Sun, Chateau de Versailles, France, French Revolution, Grand Trianon, Hall of Mirrors, King Louis XIV, King Louis XV, King Louis XVI, Louis III, Marie Antoinette, Napoleon, Palace of Versailles, Paris, Petit Trianon, Private Tours Paris, Royal Etiquitte, Sun King, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writer, UNESCO, Versailles, World Heritage Site 0 Comment

Versailles — The Ultimate Royal Residence

It’s good to be king. Surely that thought occurred to King Louis XIV of France in 1682 when he moved his family and the seat of the country’s government to the Chateau de Versailles, the extravagant and majestic 2,300-room palaceRead more

First Impressions of Paris

Mary Gilbert Europe, Tours and Sightseeing April 28, 2014Boulevard St. Germain, Dalloyau, Eiffel Tower, France, Fromagerie Barthélemy, Grand Palais, Jardin des Tuileries, Jardin du Luxembourg, Left Bank, Louvre Museum, Maison Guyard, Montmartre, Musee d'Orsay, Napoleon III, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, Petit Palais, Place de la Concorde, Poilâne, Pont Alexandre III, Private Tours Paris, River Seine, Rue de Verneuil, Sacre Coeur, St. Germain des Pres, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Vedette 10 Comments

First Impressions of Paris

“We’ll always have Paris.” That’s my favorite line from my favorite movie – Casablanca. Rick sure knew what he was talking about when he said his final goodbye to Ilsa. You change and your circumstances change, but Paris stays withRead more

Branching Out as a Travel Writer

Mary Gilbert United States August 20, 2013Baby boomers, Boom This!, Burgundy, California, France, Glen Ellen, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Senior News, Teri Flatley, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writer, Travel writing 2 Comments

Posted from Glen Ellen, CA I was delighted when one of my Pittsburgh friends, Teri Flatley, asked me recently to write a story about Bill’s and my decision to travel more for Boom This!, her free e-zine that covers news ofRead more

Say Cheese!

Mary Gilbert Food and Wine, History, United States August 17, 2013Brie, California Gold Rush, Camembert, Cheese, Cheese making, Curds, France, Golden Gate bridge, Guernsey cow, Hicks Valley Ranch, Holstein cow, Jersey cow, Jim Boyes, Lynne Devereux, Marin County, Marin French Cheese Company, Marin French Dairy, New Normandy, Petaluma, Rians, Sonoma County, Sonoma Marin Cheese Trail, The Cheese Factory, Thompson Brothers Creamery, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing, Triple creme brie, Whey 2 Comments

Say Cheese!

Posted from Glen Ellen, CA “First you taste sweet, which is the cow’s milk. Then salt, which balances and enhances the sweet. Then a finish that’s slightly earthy, like mushrooms, from the bloomy rind, bringing a depth and pleasing bitterRead more

Brainstorm in Burgundy

Mary Gilbert Europe, Hotels and Rentals July 6, 2013Beaune, Burgundy, Charlotte Observer, Detours in France, Extended stays, France, The Cook's Atelier, Travel, Travel blog, Travel writing 6 Comments

During a trip to the Burgundy region of France last year, Bill (my husband and favorite travel partner) and I experienced an epiphany. Although we had traveled quite a bit over the years, it was generally of the one week-to-10-days variety consistentRead more

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