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The Hotel Housekeeper I was watching the ebb and flow of foot traffic during a recent trip when there was a knock at my hotel room door. It was the housekeeper wishing to do her morning ritual. I was not quite ready to head out for the day and kindly asked if she you come back a little later. She
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The seemly never ending pandemic has allowed us to explore our own state and the beauty offered in the North Carolina mountains. You might be surprised that North Carolina boost some amazing waterfalls and opportunities to hike in the majestic Smokey Mount regions of the Tar Heel state. Some of these waterfalls offer the ability to swim, some require a
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It has been almost six months since our last travel experience that required our passports. The passport were renewed this year and now, I feel it will be a long time before we get to use them. The virus has not stopped my whole life, but eliminated the usual trips for holiday breaks and most of my trip planning. Right
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A change in pace for the post this week. Can you identify the above photo including name of these falls and location. A hint is that these are located in the U.S. Please add your guesses into the comments area and thank you for participating.
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We will travel again soon, but not too soon… Are you planning future trips or waiting for the tide to turn in a positive direction with this crazy pandemic? I too am one of those people who are apprehensive to travel. It is possible to explore the possibilities of future exploration of our wonderful planet. It can start by writing
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Courtesy of © 2020 BabyQuip Inc A New Rental Option: As you begin preparing for your next trip, you might consider a new rental service that is gaining ground in the rental equipment market. BabyQuip offers a way to rent baby equipment throughout U.S. and Canada and aims to improve the way families travel. The service is marketed toward traveling
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The question of whether or not it is a good idea to fly in this time of a pandemic is a complicated one. Personally, I am not planning to fly now, but the process of what one considers in when to start traveling again should includes steps that minimize your and others risk. Fearing to Fly? There are two main
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The Security Checkpoints The future of travel will look differently, especially travel by air. You can expect some significant changes to the security checkpoints. In response to COVID-19, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has unveiled several new procedures for passengers at U.S. airports. As you begin to take to the sky for your next vacation, please take not of these
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The Outer Banks of North Carolina As one of the most popular vacation destinations in North Carolina, The Outer Banks has much to offer. These chain of barrier island stretch some 200-miles offer some charming towns, numerous water sports options, beach activities, and so much more. A plethora of beaches, shipwreck diving sites and protected state parks are all just about
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Unofficial Start of Summer Summer is fast approaching and soon the heat of this season will be upon on us. If you haven’t started planning your summer vacation, yet. Consider doing soon. Before we know it, the first major holiday will be upon us. The long awaited unofficial start of the Summer, Memorial Day weekend means people are planning to
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Mansfield Plantation This 1,000 acre old rice plantation sits about 1.8 miles off the main road near the historic downtown of Georgetown, South Carolina. Now, a lovely bed and breakfast, Mansfield Plantation offers luxury comfort in a quiet and beautiful setting. During the first weekend of February, we visited this historic plantation that dates back to 1718 as the weather was
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I want to send a greeting to everyone wishing each of you and yours a very Happy Easter. Please stay healthy and safe…
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A Brief Change in Focus As both domestic and international travel are essentially at a standstill, I would like to discuss our current pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus-2019 (nCoV-19 or COVID-19). I am sending positive thoughts for everyone to remain safe and healthy during this pandemic. This blog post will assist you in understanding COVID-19, the symptoms, risk of
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A Love Letter To The USA~ Dear North Carolina, I am writing to say that I understand that we, all of us, have done things that we are not proud of. But with the passing of time we have learned to face this, and those of us who strive for goodness have done our best to change. To make amends
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Tipping in the US I once read about advice for tipping in the U.S. when Eater published “The No-Tipping Point.” The article is a mix of funny and infuriating stories about people who defend why they don’t tip their waiters and bartenders. The article gives a glimpse inside an entire subculture of diners who don’t care about the fact that in
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Barcelona Barcelona has something for everyone. This city is steeped in authentic history including the Catalan culture. You will also find the wildly bizarre here. Each neighborhood in Barcelona has its own personality and plenty of secrets to discover. This is guide includes some of the most popular areas to explore during your time in this wonderful city along the
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First time visitors to Spain often include Madrid or Barcelona and sometimes both of these vibrant cities. I would recommend exploring both and then, adding Selville or the coast region to your itinerary, if you the time allots. Spain can’t be done in just a few days. We have been here a couple of times and need to get back
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The beauty of living in a coastal community year around is the ability to enjoy a quiet walk along the beach. The weather during this most recent visit allowed for a warmer then usual day. I decided that a long walk along Carolina Beach on Pleasure Island was perfect to build up an appetite for lunch. If you are already
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Revisiting my photos from our third trip to the Africa continent reminds me of this trip for many that is often a once in a lifetime trip. In fact, it may have been for us if not for the ability to first join our friends who booked a LivingSocial tour when they offered booked book three person on a tour
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2020 and Beyond Another year has passed and we are heading into a new decade that will hopefully be filled with many adventures small and large. Personally, I don’t set any resolutions for each new year. I am where I want to be and thus, the point of looking back at another year with regret and what ifs is not
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A tourist provides an incredible economic boost to the places they visit. Sometime with their best intentions, tourism can lead to harmful effects to the local environment. Of course, this isn’t news as many headlines have noted the concern of overtourism. Unfortunately, very few places (cities, historical sites, national parks, and the list goes on) are immune. The question is
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The Empire State Building – New York The Empire State Building has been going through a $165 million renovation for a little more than four year. Now, in its third phase of this top-to-bottom reimagining of this icon building, the 102nd floor Observatory is open to the public. One of the features of this new observatory is the floor-to-ceiling glass windows
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Greek Salad (Horiatiki) During our visit to Greece, the greek salad became the main start to most of our evening meals. A delicious start just about any meal! What makes a traditional greek salad? The fresh ingredients of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and kalamata olives. Often seasoned with salt, oregano, topped with olive oil, and a splash of red wine vinegar. The
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Santorini Santorini or Thira is part of the Cyclades Islands of Greece. It’s one of the most beautiful islands to visit and stay during your next Greek holiday. We stayed in the village of Kamari at the oddly named Afroditi Venus Beach Hotel & Spa The hotel was ideally located within an easy walk to the boardwalk along the Aegean Sea
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Santorini Island The village of Oia on the Greek Island of Santorini is not a quiet village and some visitors consider a visit here a kind of a pilgrimage place. This is one of the most picturesque village on the island, despite the fact that is the most crowded. The sunset from Oia is the what draws the crowds and for good reason.
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Historic Yates Mill County Park Yates Mill is a fully restored, circa-1756 gristmill located in Raleigh, North Carolina. As the centerpiece of the Historic Yates Mill County Park in central Wake County, this is worth a visit to this National Register of Historic Places. Yates Mill is the only restored, operational automatic gristmill in North Carolina and one of just a few in
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Horsetail Falls A visit to the Portland area would not be complete without an exploration of the Columbia River Gorge area. We took a local tour booked via Viator, which offers hotel pick-up from the downtown area. The first stop for the morning tour was Horsetail Falls. These beautiful falls just might look like a a horsetail as they plunge 176
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A visit to Portland’s International Rose Test Garden offers you the opportunity to enjoy speculator views downtown and Mount Hood. This is oldest official continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States. The garden features more than 10,000 roses with hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoying its sights and scents annually. First, by the editor of the Oregon Journal, Jesse
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A recent visit to Portland, Oregon gave me the opportunity to explore the Lan Su Chinese Garden. This little oasis in the small Chinatown district of Portland gives you the opportunity to experience a tranquil, quiet, and beautiful environment behind the walls. In addition, you have the opportunity to learn how two cities, Portland and Suzhou; its sister city in
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A chance drive by led to a visit to the National Museum of Funeral History. This museum is located on the north side of Houston just of I-45 at exit 64. The building itself doesn’t stand out and you might just drive by it without giving the industrial-looking facade a second glance. Instead, consider paying the reasonable entrance fee (around
Read moreYou might have noticed that drnicktravels.com looks a little different as I recently felt like the blog needed a refresh. In taking advice from my fellow blogger, “Living The Q Life” on their Annual Website Review post, I decided it was time to do a refresh of the blog including the theme. Consider leaving feedback letting me know your thoughts
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Monticello During our visit to Thomas Jefferson’s historic plantation known as Monticello or ‘little mountain’ in Italian, we explored the house, grounds, and gardens. Monticello as a name sake does fit estate sites on a hill with wonderful views rolling hills and distance views of Charlottesville. During our time at this historic southern plantation, I learned more about the life of
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Festivals are an event on Cape Ann and one of the largest festivals in coming up from June 26 through June 30. St. Peter’s Fiesta The 2019 St. Peter’s Fiesta or Fiesta in Gloucester is a 5 day event takes place June 26 through June 30. Find out more about it at St. Peter’s Fiesta.org This 5-day annual festival is
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Travel Safety As a frequent traveler, I am careful with guarding my personal effects including my wallet, which is always placed in my front pocket during the warmer months. In the cooler months, I wear a coat that has inside pocket near the upper right or left chest. Throughout all my travels, I have only had one attempt at pickpocketing
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A visit through France offers one the opportunity to explore this great European country from its rich history, wine regions, and food. During your tour, consider taking in some of the many beautiful cathedrals dotted throughout the country. Some are within city centers while others stand out as beacons guiding one safely from the sea into the harbor. Our Lady’s
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“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou Travel should be a joyous experience. A journey in which one can captures the sense of wanderlust and you longing for more destination
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Mount Vernon This plantation home of the first U.S. President and his wife Martha was built during 1757. Mount Vernon served as the home of George Washington for over four decades. You are able to tour part of the original estate, the gravesites of George and Martha Washington and other family members. In addition, the property includes the Ford Orientation
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In planning another visit to Washington, D.C., I wanted to attempt a visit to the historic White House. I was happy to secure tickets through our representative. I recommend planning ahead of time if you plan to visit the inside of the U.S. White House. It is recommended to secure dates about 3 months, but no later than 21 days
Read moreA short metrorail trip from the Ronald Regan Washington National Aiport (DCA) allows one to see one of the top smallest cities in the country, Alexandria Virginia. I recently took the metrorail to the King Street stop to explore Old Town Alexandria. You can take leisurely walk down King Street to see why this is such an attractive and historical
Read moreA recent visit to the grounds that honors those who served our nation offers a sense of beauty and peace for visitors. The rolling hills dotted with trees of various ages truly complement this 624 acre cemetery. This is a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within these hallowed grounds. Please consider visiting Arlington
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Porto, Portugal As the country’s second largest city, this more of a working class city offers a different vide than the more fashion focused Lisbon. Portugal continues to grow as an affordable travel destination. Many first time travelers often focus on Lisbon, but don’t ignore adding Porto to your travel itinerary. São Bento Station During your visit to Porto, consider
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Exploring the 18th Arrondissement A walk through the more hilly streets of Montmartre is like the village for New Yorker or at least, that is what I’ve been told. This part of Paris is where artists used to enjoy a more comfortable part of life and display their works, but the prices have increase. I am sure there are some
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My most recent visit back to Manchester, New Hampshire gave me the opportunity to visit the Currier Museum of Art Through a guided docent tour, one can enjoy the mixture of European and American art, photograph, and sculpture displayed in this art museum. These works include such renewed artist at Hopper, Picasso, Monet, O’Keffe, Wyeth, and LeWitt. In addition, a
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Cinco de Mayo or the fifth of May This is an extremely popular holiday in the U.S. with its roots within Mexico. The holiday is a rather minor holiday in Mexico. In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo is a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, especially between Mexican-American families. This holiday dates back to the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican
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A visit to India is often not complete without a tour of the famous Taj Mahal in Agra. This mausoleum sitting on the banks of the Yamuna river was commissioned in 1632 and continues to be one of the most celebrated sites of India’s history. The Taj Mahal was planned by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, to house the tomb
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One can get away from what some may consider the urban jungle of Houston to find a tranquil and beautiful oasis just a few minutes away. The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens was once a grand family estate of Ima Hogg from 1882 until 1975. The estate is now part of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and still houses
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Airplane Etiquette Sometimes the stress of travel can often lead to forgetting a few common travel etiquettes. Do you wish to have hundreds of people look to you as the enemy while in a long tube? I would think this would not be the case. Here are five common etiquettes to avoid violating during your next flight Wrestling for the
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Earth day is fast approaching and during each trip we see many animals. The little critters we come across can be someone’s pet, a poor stray one, or an exotic creature that requires a second or third glance. The first photo is one of my favorites from our trip to Costa Rica. The bulging eyes just make me laugh. We
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Galveston Island, Texas Have you ever had the itch to travel and just booked something a couple of weeks or days in advance? We recently did this for a trip to the great state of Texas. The historic island of Galveston is where we spent three of our five day adventure. There are many opportunities for exploration while on this
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The idiom ‘here today, (and) gone tomorrow’ is a reminder of the tragedy that unfolded in Paris yesterday. This rings true even with such centuries old icon places, that can be damaged in such a short period of time either by natural disaster or man-made events. In fact, many of the places one wishes to visit today just may not
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Gloucester, Massachusetts & the Cape Ann Museum by Angelina & Mike Chute (2019, January 7) The holidays are over. Our roses are dormant, sound asleep for the next three months. This is the time when Angelina and I catch up on other things that we like to do, like frequent day-trips to somewhere — eclectic destinations that catch our fancy. We recently
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A recent trip to Houston and Galveston included a short drive to West Columbia to visit the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site. The site is now part of the Texas Historical Commission site and there is a connection to the old Three-hundred settlers. These settlers received land grants from Stephen E. Austin’s first colony. An interesting fact about this former sugar plantation
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Galveston Island, Texas Galveston Island has some wonderful historical sites including the Moody Mansion, the Bishop’s Palace, St. Joseph Church, and of course, the Pleasure Pier just to name a few. I will be exploring each of these in upcoming posts. There is still more to learn about this wonderful island. Galveston Island has experienced its share of natural disasters through
Read moreThe reason for why one first chooses to travel may be easy to answer and includes: taking the summer off from college, wishing to get out of that small town you grew up in, or having that adventurous spirit to see this beautiful planet. Why did you first choose to travel? My Reasons for Traveling: If I have to first
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When you decide on a journey, do you consider this a travel, trip or journey? Perhaps something else? Today, travel is not often an easy adventure for many reasons. Many barriers often stand in your way including cost, the flight schedule, and sometimes the cultural at your new destination. I recommend the following as means to assist in travel insurance
Read moreSpring has sprung and festivals planning is in full swing here in Coastal North Carolina. The largest and one my favorite festivals that is fast approaching this season of festivals is the NC Azalea Festival happening here in Wilmington, NC. This years festival occurs the first weekend of April; April 3 through 7. Book your stay now. Expect a lively festival
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A couple of years ago, we visited Portugal that included Lisbon and Porto. For one of our trips this year, I have scheduled another trip back to Lisbon for a stopover option offered via TAP Air Portugal . I highly recommend considering this option to explore two countries and more during your stay. Today’s blog post is reviewing this past trip,
Read moreAs I remember the tragedy at the 3 mosques in New Zealand, this had me been thinking back to my travels and the many beautiful mosques we visited. One country that comes to mind is Egypt. This country has a wealth of beautiful, historical, and famous mosque that offer a chance under why this city is known as the city
Read moreDuring our visit through Louisiana, we drove to the town of Saint Francisville. A town of just under 2,000 people, is located about 30 miles north of the capital Baton Rouge. It is a hidden gem worth a visit. Greenwood Plantation Unfortunately, the original Greenwood Plantation from 1830 built by William R. Barrow in Greek Revival Style with its 28
Read moreDuring my most recent visit to France, I wanted to visit Normandy and decided to visit the Canadian memorial to D- Day on June 6, 1944. The Juno Beach Centre is dedicated as a museum to honor the sacrifice of some 45,000 young Canadian men and women who fought alongside Allied forces to liberate France during World War II. “The Juno
Read moreHoumas House Plantation & Gardens Adding to the list of plantations visited during our visit to the New Orlean’s area, is Houmas House Plantation. This Greek Revival plantation that sits in lush gardens that are well maintained. The house is really two homes connected by a carriageway with the older home dating back to around 1775 per the docent during
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I recently read the Louisiana Plantation Guide as a means to assist me in planning a trip to New Orleans. We weren’t able to visit all of the plantations in this wonderful guide, but did manage to cover quite a few ground along Louisiana’s River Road, which parallels the east and west banks of the Mississippi River for about 70 miles
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As promised, here is part two of my previous post titled: A Few Travel Essentials . Now, that you have planned and booked your trip. It is time to be sure to include some important items as you pack for the next adventure. Below are a few more essentials to consider as you begin to prepare for your next travel adventure.
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French Quarter Greetings, fellow travelers! After a long, exciting, and fun long weekend in New Orleans, I am back home. If you have plans to visit New Orleans, Louisiana; a visit of the French Quarter, also known as the Quarter, the Vieux Carré, or Vieux Carré; should be on your list. There is a wonderful history to this district dating back
Read moreAs I continue to travel each year, I find myself frequently doing the same routine things to pre-plan for these new adventures including: visiting key websites, developing my own itinerary, and following other bloggers advice. Best of all of this information is free. Please let me share some of my travel essentials and feel free to share your own with
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Bruges, Belgium Our journey begins on a sunny, but cold day in Bruges. This quaint city that is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’ due to its many canals should not be ignored during your visit to Belgium. This small city offers a relaxing vibe and a more leisurely pace than the larger city and more industrial
Read moreOriginal Post By: beatricetravels This morning we set sail for Aswan which was the southern frontier of ancient Egypt and provided a gateway to Africa. It is here that granite quarries are found and supplied the rest of Egypt in the building of temples and pyramids. The Ptolemies ruled here from 323-30 BC and built the remarkable Philae Temple dedicated
Read moreThe Eiffel Tower A few facts that you may or may not know about this mammoth structure that stands out among the buildings in its own park are as follows: Built in 1889 as part of the grand entrance to the Paris World Exposition. The Tower is 986-feet tall and was the world’s tallest building until New York’s Chrysler Building
Read moreWe visited this château during the 2018 Christmas season, but 2019 marks the 500 year anniversary of the Estate of Chambord. Located in the Loire Valley, the estate contains the largest and most recognized châteaux, the Château de Chambord. It has a very distinctive French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. The château, which was never completed,
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Atlanta, Georgia If you are planning to visit this southern city, consider a visit to the Birth Home of Martin Luther King, Jr. Thanks to funding from Delta Airlines this site is open through February 3rd during the partial government shutdown. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, is actually a cluster of sites operated by the National Park Service.
Read moreDuring our visit in Paris, we wanted to visit the Loire Valley and we made a stop via the SNCF train system to explore the Château de Chenonceau This Ladies’ château or castle, is worthy of your time during your visit in the Loire valley. There is a nicely chronological details of the history of this second castle over the Cher
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During your visit to Paris, the Palace of Versailles is a must-see as it is just a short and easy train trip at about 12 miles (20 kilometers) outside of Paris. I visited this fascinated and opulent place with its over-the-top decorations during the Christmas season. As you walk through the Palace, you can explore the grounds including: the Royal
Read moreFor this year’s Christmas season, we decided to spend time in Paris. This holiday season the city has been marred by weekly citywide violence that unfortunately became a regular part f the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) protests. This did not stop us from continuing to enjoy Paris, but with more caution this time around. One can see the effects the
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