Category Archives: Independent Travel

Imported French Fashion in the Minneapolis North Loop

The latest from my Mill City Times writings: Imported French Fashion in the Minneapolis North Loop: http://millcitytimes.com/news/cest-chic-boutique-imports-clothes-and-accessories-from-fran.html Read about French fashion imports; good photos too!

Also posted in Julie & Julia, Travel, Travel i France, Travel in France | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Morocco Calls.

Once there, you can never forget. Our trip to Morocco, staying with the Ambassador and his wife in Rabat at the time, then traveling around the country by car remains so very fresh in my mind. Leaving Rabat, we drove north to Tangier, stopping at little restaurants recommended by the Ambassador. Then spent one night […]

Also posted in Morocco, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Romantic Places — Beyond Valentine’s Day

Romance is nice year ’round, not just for Valentine’s Day. As a long-time married partner, I urge you to take time to put romantic moments, places and vacations in your life. And they don’t have to be the most expensive spots in town — it’s all about ambience, atmosphere and the right partner! Some of […]

Also posted in Travel, Travel i France, Travel in Europe, Travel in France, Travel in Italy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Responses

Rental Car Blues

The Rental Car That Wasn’t There – Twice!! My favorite travel columnist/trouble-shooter, Christopher Elliott, www.elliott.org, says that “people assume that a reservation number means you have a reservation – and that is not necessarily true!” I learned this the hard way a few months ago – twice – once in deep France and again unexpectedly, […]

Also posted in Car rental, Travel, Travel i France, Travel in Europe, Travel in France, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Iconic Holiday Excursions Around the World

A Personal Concierge Makes it All The More Joyful Holiday in St. Barts Guest blog courtesy of Time & Place, vacation rental providers. http://www.timeandplace.com I count on my concierges to create a holiday experience beyond the guest’s imagination. Broomfield, Colorado (PRWEB) November 07, 2013 In time for the holidays, Time & Place announces it is booking […]

Also posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Do’s and Don’ts of Travel Insurance!

            If we needed a reminder, this is it. 89-year old Dodge Melkonian and his wife Jill, 65, of Clearwater, FL, were cruising along the coast of southern Turkey with Azamara Cruises when Dodge fell at night in his cabin and broke his hip.  Considering their age and the adventurous nature of the cruise, the […]

Also posted in Cruising, Travel, Travel Insurance, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Responses

A Night in an Enchanted Castle!

It is the perfect setting for a murder mystery. After some fairly tricky driving, we found our way to Chateau de la Verrerie, the Glass Castle, http://www.chateaudelaverrerie.com, situated next to a misty lake deep in the Berry, a department in the Loire south of Paris. Seemingly, we drove forever through flowering fields, having veered off the […]

Also posted in Travel, Travel i France, Travel in Europe, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Response

Keeping Your Stuff Safe Overseas!

Simple reminders for passport, cards and cash safety. Recently, a friend asked advice for her teen-aged daughter who would be traveling in Europe for the first time. She asked what to do with her passport and credit cards while walking around on the streets; wanted to know about using hotel safes; taking travellers’ checks or using […]

Also posted in Travel, Travel in Europe, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Responses

France trip with my spouse doing all the juggling, driving and talking!

  Written by Guest Blogger: Roland Minda This is a lavishly laudatory spouse review plus trip highlights. It was intended to be brief, but now a little indulgence as to length!  (P.S. I often call my wife by her nickname, M2, for her name, Merle Minda.) This trip took us first to 5 glorious days […]

Also posted in Travel, Travel in Europe, Travel in France, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Responses

She Cruises; He Cruises — Downton Abbey at Sea?

  Pack lighter for a cruise and still look sparkly!          It was bad luck timing that the New York Times Sunday Travel Section published a major piece on transatlantic cruises or crossings the very week and actual day that the second worst cruise incident in just over a year hit Carnival’s Triumph, drifting without power […]

Also posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Response