Back Bay Boston



Hello from beautiful Boston, Massachusetts!  I have been here since Monday attending an international design conference but haven't managed to take many snaps of the lovely city as yet other than a few on my iPhone of the Copley Square Hotel where I stayed intially.  The main reason is that the weather is really quite warm at the moment and stopping for photos on the street in the middle of the day makes for hot work!  I'm staying in the Back Bay district near Copley Square and love the area's wide tree-lined avenues and beautiful brownstone buildings.  I especially like Newbury Street where I managed to pop in to Kate Spade, Jonathan Adler, American Apparel etc for some retail therapy.  Boylston Street had Anthropologie and Frette!  My little plastic card is not doing well at all. I really hope to post up some pics soon of all the picturesque areas like Commonwealth Avenue leading into the Boston Common and Beacon Hill.  I managed to visit Harvard Square yesterday to take a stroll through historic Harvard Yard where all of the famous university's most lovely buildings are located... more on that soon!

Postcards of Paris - Part 2

Arc de Triomphe

Pont d'Arcole

La Defense

Musée du quai Branly

Rue Foyatier

Sacré-Coeur Basilica

Ok, one last retrospective from our recent holiday...  The next post will be well and truly grounded in Brisbane.

Avignon et le Fort Saint-André

We arrived in Avignon late in the afternoon having meandered across from the Luberon.  It was the last stop of the day before returning to Aix.  We took a brisk walk through the walled city exploring the narrow streets and picking up some baguette, camembert de Normandy and caramels along the way.  The ancient city walls insulated the streets in the old city from the modern highway traffic beyond. Avignon is wonderfully atmospheric with beautiful buildings and interesting vistas at every turn.  We made our way up to Fort Saint Andre to gain a better vantage point overlooking the city and surrounds.  The last rays of the sun cast a golden glow over the city below.

Les Montagnes en Provence

During our stay in Aix en Provence we decided to hire a car for a few days so that we could explore the surrounding countryside.  We headed east toward Montagne Sainte Victoire, northward through Montagne du Lubéron and west to Avignon.  The villages of Bonnieux, Lacoste and Ménerbes were so picturesque perching on hillsides overlooking wine country below.  The streets were quiet when we passed through so we simply stopped here and there to have a peek and then meander on.  While we throughly enjoyed the beautiful countryside bathed in soft winter light it made me wonder how vibrant Provence would be in late spring.  Something to come back for, perhaps next year.

Aix en Provence

We spent a couple of days winding our way through the narrow cobbled streets of Aix en Provence simply enjoying the atmosphere that is so unique to the south of France.  We loved happening upon unexpected squares and fountains, tiny shops selling French linen, local olive oil, teas and spices. I bought some végétale wax candles scented with savon de Marseille. The worn patina of faded facades and their contrast against the azure skies made for picturesque wanderings.  Rue d'Italie was one of my favourite bustling streets lined with cafes and sucrecutiers. We wondered who lived behind the house with the ivy walls and white shutters and whether there was a beautiful provencal garden beyond...

Sunny South

For the second week of our holiday we decided to head south to Provence, Marseille and the Mediterranean.  It was a few degrees warmer in the south and the vast blue skies made winter fade quickly in my mind.  While in Marseille we wandered in markets, explored numerous colourful (and hilly) streets, visited Notre-Dame de la Garde, and strolled along the waterfront soaking up the fresh air and warm sun.  It was the first time we had been to see the Mediterranean Sea.  The contrast between magnificently clear and blue sea and rugged coastline was perfect in the afternoon sun.

Grand Trianon at Versailles

The Grand Trianon situated a short distance from the main chateau of Versailles was a much more intimate series of spaces although no less beautiful.  It was where Louis XIV and his guests retreated to away from the strict court etiquette.  I love the mainly white interiors accented with brightly coloured textiles.  The yellow room was so unexpected and the French certainly love their tassels... I admit I now love them too! Most visitors seemed to be more interested in the main palace at the time so it was beautifully quiet on our wanderings through the manicured grounds on a misty, cold Versailles morning...