posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 30
Attention Bridezilla’s! I’ve just found a new wedding stresser for you. Listen to this: you and your planner have confirmed and re-confirmed that the bridal party has the directions to the venue, the church is decorated, the bus is ready to transport the guests, the flowers are vibrant and in bloom, the cake is perfectly creamy, the champagne is cool, crisp and sparkly, the meal has been dutifully pre-tasted and modified to your liking, but…what about the bread? My GAWD, what about the bread????? In American weddings, not much is made of the bread served along with dinner- it’s pretty much the same basket of rolls that you get in finer restaurants from coast to coast. But in France, apparently it’s a big deal. Big enough to warrant pretty detailed guidelines before you choose your reception menu, as outlined in this article that I found on MarieClaire.fr. Here’s my (fairly feeble) attempt at a translation, but you get the gist. Who knew?:
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 17
With the planned transportation strike tomorrow, residents are looking for ways to make their appointed rounds. The strike is anticipated to begin late tomorrow evening and end Friday morning at 8 am.This will be the first time that the Velib program has been put to the test. Already, savvy commuters have been lining up alternative methods of transportation. Automobile traffic is understandably expected to be a mess. The carpooling initiative has decided not to charge its normal rates for the duration of the strike. Taxis, motorcycle taxis, and boats along the Seine are all expected to pick up a lot of the movement, but are already maxed out with reservations, according to news sources. Even Segways are expected to be booked solid.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 15
24 portraits of our environment: Respect, protect and preserve
After the rain, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England, photo by David Holmes.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 14
I’m finally getting around to this! I was recently tagged by Lara at Ready2Spark who has started a Green Challenge. She’s asked several bloggers to share tips on what they’re doing to introduce environmental sustainability into their daily lives, and then to pass the challenge on to others. Here are a few things that my family and I are doing over in this neck of the woods:
1. Whenever possible, we try to buy organic produce and use “green” cleaning products. (btw: When I’m in the States, it’s always a bit surprising to see how the term “organic” is being thrown around nowadays. I’m sure I wouldn’t have to look too hard to find a study proving/disproving the level of organic authenticity in a jar of cocktail weenies bought at a roadside 7-11, but who am I to question?) Here in Paris, products labeled organic (or “bio” in French) aren’t as readily on hand as in the States, but you really don’t have to look far. Monoprix and Carrefour both have their own extensive lines of bio products. Naturalia and Biocoop are health-food stores that have several locations around Paris, and there are lots of online websites that deliver bio products to your door. Most of the local produce markets also sell organic on a daily or weekly basis.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 8
Travel to Hawaii is ramping up after recent rains have slowed bookings. The weather has cleared and sunshine has returned to the Islands!
Recently John Monahan, President and CEO of the Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) stated “We’re enjoying blue skies and the warm sunny climate that everyone expects when coming to Hawai’i.”[1]
Repeat travelers to Hawaii are on the rise, with more than 62% of visitors enjoying the sun and sand more than once. Today’s travelers are also more likely to be independent, and rely less on group and package tours. In 2000 just over 49% of travelers were independent explorers, while in 2005 that number rose to nearly 54%.[2]
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 5
Lots of sporting excitement this weekend! On Sunday Europe’s biggest horse race - Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe - is run at Hippodrome de Longchamp. And Saturday night France plays New Zealand at Cardiff, Wales in quarterfinals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup. For both teams, a win is crucial to remain in the competition. I admire the All Blacks, but allez les bleus!
Last year I was in Seville, Spain and missed the Arc. On Sunday, I’ll be wearing a hat to cheer on Frankie Dettori riding Authorized in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. After all, the venue is across the street from our apartment! Authorized won the Juddmonte International stakes in York, England in August. The horse is the punters’ favourite in Sunday’s big event, although certainly not without strong competition from Irish Derby winner Soldier of Fortune and Zambezi Sun.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 4
Miami Beach is fast becoming one of the top vacation destinations for families andtravelersalike. Miami Beach offers sun, fun and a variety of activities to choose from. Now that you have decided to vacation in Miami Beach, it is time to choose the hotel that you will reside in for your vacation. With a plethora of hotel options how does one pick the perfect Miami Beach hotel? A good way to choose a hotel is by the amenities t
hat the hotel has to offer. One of the biggest disappointments that I have encountered is getting to a hotel and expecting a service that the hotel does not offer. With all the travel tools that are available on the web, you can do a little research before you go to make sure you get what you want. Listed below are what I feel are the top 5 amenities that a hotel can offer to you and your family to make your accommodation choice perfect for you.
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 2
Photograph of a tiled Islamic pattern at the Mosquee de Paris by Jordana Shalhoub.
For the Writers Island prompt “journey,” a poem about a journey interrupted:
My new passport
is missing a stamp:
there’s no visa to that country
where we lost our hearts
and found love.
Totally unexpected,
a coup de foudre*
from that smile of recognition
and the meeting of the minds
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Oct 2
Photograph of a tiled Islamic pattern at the Mosquee de Paris by Jordana Shalhoub.
For the Writers Island prompt “journey,” a poem about a journey interrupted:
My new passport
is missing a stamp:
there’s no visa to that country
where we lost our hearts
and found love.
Totally unexpected,
a coup de foudre*
from that smile of recognition,
the meeting of the minds
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posted by Charles H. Russo on Sep 25
Riviera Maya is the ideal vacation destination for tourists visiting Mexico. Many content vacationers refer to Riviera Maya as paradise on Earth.
Riviera Maya has something for everyone, whether it is sports, dining, shopping or just simply relaxing. The warm climate of the Caribbean is refreshing. The days are sunny and warm and the nightlife is vibrant and eclectic and there is always a party that one can join.
Riviera Maya offers many top of the line hotels that can cater to your every need. There are also rustic cabins built on the edge of the jungle or facing the sea for those who enjoy being closer to nature. A vacation in Riviera will be one that you wont soon forget.
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