Having read some mixed reviews before coming to Athens, it’s been such a pleasant surprise. My neighbourhood is green, walkable and incredibly quiet at night. Even the metro is more orderly and spotless clean than I expected. I wandered through the lush and leafy National Gardens Then into the Psyri neighbourhood Little Kooks is an…
The Acropolis (high city) is very much the centre of Athens figuratively and literally. Standing for 2500 years on a rocky outcrop it has endured through the centuries. In more recent years they have opened its own museum which is useful in better understanding the site, its history and the decorative elements that were part…
As my time here comes to a close, a few last places to wander and explore. The charming suburb of Puteaux. Also turns out there is an original thumb – located at La Defense Along the Champs Élysées, the Louis Vuitton hotel, slated to open in 2026 The Cluny Museum Until next time dear Paris…
An early start to the day and the shining brightly on the obligatory Eiffel Tower shot. Hiding behind me was a short but intense burst of rain, coming up behind Trocadero Fortunately once it cleared it was blue skies again and a great chance to wander the left bank without any particular destination in mind…
The Jardin D’Accilmatation sits between the Arc de Triomphe and La Defense and just above the large wooded Bois de Boulogne. It’s a lovely park, and I hadn’t realized also an amusement park. Getting ready for the day of the dead Sitting on the edge of the park is Foundation Louis Vuitton, a modern art…
Located not far from the Paris city limits (where height restrictions wear off) is an area called La Defense. It has a history as a business centre dating back to 1958. According to Wikipedia: La Défense is Europe’s largest purpose-built business district, covering 560 hectares (1,400 acres), for 180,000 daily workers, with 72 glass and steel…
Two different galleries – both for shopping rather than art. Starting with Gallerie Vivienne a covered set of shops dating back to 1826. Next up, Galleries Lafayette, probably the largest department store known outside France. I took a guided tour that allowed access an hour before the store opened to learn all about the history…
The Museum of Carnavalet is an excellent museum in the Marais detailing the history of Paris. Even more remarkable as a city run museum its permanent collections are free to visit. Just down the street is the parish church of St Paul and St Louis As well as the Church of Saint Gervais It’s just…
A former railway, turned into park, two and a half stories above ground. Just across the river near the Gare D’Austrelitz is this interesting building. Though the clouds were rolling in, there was still some time in the afternoon to get a few external shots of the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens.
