Welcome to WeeklyWilson.com, where author/film critic Connie (Corcoran) Wilson avoids totally losing her marbles in semi-retirement by writing about film (see the Chicago Film Festival reviews and SXSW), politics and books----her own books and those of other people. You'll also find her diverging frequently to share humorous (or not-so-humorous) anecdotes and concerns. Try it! You'll like it!

Tag: France

Birthday Cruise to Italy, France & Spain Concludes

 

The Norwegian "Epic" (holds 6,000 travelers).

The Norwegian “Epic” (holds 6,000 travelers).

Our trip to Spain, Italy and France began with a journey on Lufthansa to Munich and Barcelona. Then we set off on the ship pictured above, which held roughly 6,000 people (5,000 tourists and 1,000 staff) and is the 4th largest at sea.

I would have posted as we traveled to Pompeii, Rome, Florence, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Monaco and Mallorca, but I only had the wireless on the ship to use, so I could not upload the pictures, which I’ll do now with some comment, for my first post(s) since the “Rolling Stones” on the Fourth of July in Indianapolis.

I am still recommending to one and all that they celebrate their birthday MONTH, not just their birth day. If you live to be 100, that only gives you 100 days of specialness. If you live to be 100 and celebrate the entire month in some small way, you exponentially expand your chances for fun (100 x 31 = 3100).

Give it some thought. It doesn’t have to be a BIG celebration (although this one was); it could be something as simple as having a Starbucks or a massage or some special “perk” that you allow yourself to enjoy.

So far, it’s been working out well for me, and I will conclude by listening to Paul McCartney sing from 7:45 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Lollapalooza in Chicago and by taking delivery of 2 new couches there.

My thanks to all who wished me well on my “day(s)” and please be aware that I hope you have as happy a day/week/month as I have had.

Notre Dame de Strasbourg

The Notre Dame cathedral in Strasbourg. France is so closely bordered by shops, hotels and restaurants that it was impossible for me to get a photo showing the church in its entirety.   This magnificent structure completely dominates its surroundings.  Strasbourg is a lovely city, the ninth largest in France. 

The Rhine River, Strasbourg, France

The Rhine River flowing through Strasbourg, France

Barre d’Etel, Bretagne, France

A lovely day in August on the western coast of France

“An American in Paris” by Pamela: Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau is a beautiful château located near Paris.  It is a cluster of styles from different periods.  Louis VII built an abbey here that was consecrated by Thomas Beckett in 1169.  A medieval tower survives, but the present château dates to François I.

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Aerial views…

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Interior…

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“An American in Paris” by Pamela: Cannes

Why did I go to France?  For most of my life I have wanted to be able to speak French.  I studied French in high school and I majored in French at the University of Iowa but even after all that study, I could not speak French, at least, not very well.  I enrolled in the American Institute for Foreign Study and on September 14, 1997, I arrived in Cannes, France to begin a two week orientation before my trip to Paris and the beginning of my great adventure. Here are some views from my room at the International College of Cannes and across the street on the beach of the French Riviera.

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