“If I am not good to myself
how can I expect anyone else to be good to me?” … Maya Angelou
A woman who knows what she brings to the table is not afraid to eat alone.
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
I left Barcelona on a quick flight for my two-night stay in Paris, before heading on to the Chateaux of the Loire Valley. Paris is always a good idea and the perfect wandering city. I dropped my bags at the tiny hotel I had chosen, close to Gare Montparnasse to make it easy to catch the train to the Loire. I arrived kind of late in the day, so I took a metro ride over to the Trocadero to catch the Iron Lady light up the night. It was a chilly, drizzly, night and I was too late for the 7pm spectacular, so I tucked into a cozy warm cafe across the street for a hot bowl of gratinée à l’oignon (French onion soup) and a glass of wine. People watching from a bistro/cafe window is so entertaining while you’re dining.
I stayed for about 45 minutes and then walked across the street for the top-of-the-hour light show. It did not disappoint … and it never gets old. I even love all the people that are taking the same pictures as me, enjoying a shared love of Paris and their gift from Gustav Eiffel.
After the dazzling light show, I headed over to my favorite little cafe, the St. Regis on the Ile St Louis. I went here on my first solo trip back in 2012 and I’ve gone back every time I visit, always at night for a beautiful walk along the Seine, glass of wine and some frites or escargot, before heading back to my place.
For me, no trip to Paris is complete without a walk through the Tuileries. I always bring a book and hope to sit and enjoy this beautiful space in the middle of the city. Yes, there are other great parks, but this one captured my heart the first time I visited. This day was a bit windy and cold, so I didn’t get to sit and read, but I relished in the visual promises of Spring … singing birds, flowers & trees budding … and the beautiful architecture that surrounds you as you walk towards the Louvre.
From here I made my way over to Bd Saint Germain and lunch at Les Deux Magots, another favorite place to sit for awhile. Yes, the places I love are very “Paris” and can be somewhat touristy, but I love the familiarity I have with them and it doesn’t mean I’m not exploring and finding new, exciting places along the way.
From there it was a quick stop at Monoprix (kind of the French equivalent of Target) for a few things and a walk in and around the Rodin Museum, one of my favorites. It’s not huge, has beautiful grounds & gardens, and the building is so enchanting.
I didn’t have a reservation for dinner, so I took some time to just wander back towards my hotel, stopped at Le Bon Marche and then saw a little place that looked promising. The menu looked tasty, they had a 36 euro prix fixe meal (amuse bouche, starter & main), and it had a distinction of Bib Gourmand (side note: If you’re traveling and want a good meal, do a search for the Bib Gourmand places near you. They’re usually pretty darn good, under $49 … so much less expensive than their Michelin star cousins.) The place I found, Bistrotters, lived up to it’s Bib Gourmand status.
Well, that was my quick sojourn in Paris! On to the Chateaux of the Loire Valley …
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
THE DASH by Linda Ellis (written in 1996, but worth repeating)
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning…to the end
He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth
For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars…the house…the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while
So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
This was going to be a continuation of my recent trip, highlighting Paris and the Loire Valley, but after watching POTUS travel to Ireland this past week, I decided to do a “Best of Dublin” for those of you that may be traveling there in the coming months.
When Biden said, “I feel like I’m home!” it truly made me homesick for Ireland and I can’t wait to get back later this year. Here are some touristy must do’s, some of my favorites and some from Gina …
Places to stay & see …
Restaurants and Pubs …
There are a so many more places to discover and meals to be eaten, but as always, please leave plenty of time for wandering to discover your own special places!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Don’t
Lose
The
Spark
That
Makes
You …
YOU!!
(don’t dim your light for anyone!)
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Stop using your energy to worry. Use your energy to believe, create, love, glow, grow, manifest, and heal.
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
5 planes, 4 high speed trains, 5 days in a rental car & numerous metro/subway/funicular journeys on my 25 day NYC/Spain/France trip. I think my body is still adjusting from all the walking and stairs I did!
I arrived in Barcelona after an overnight flight … slept almost the whole flight … and had an easy ride from the airport to my apartment in the Gracia area. It’s a quaint area with multiple “squares”, with little cafes, children playing and people congregating after work. It was such a nice place, that felt safe, as I walked home each night after taking their amazing public transport system. (side note…I think I say this every time I come home from NYC & Europe…WTF, why do I have to get in my car to go anywhere in California…ugh!)
When in Barcelona, you have to do the obligatory Gaudi tourist sites … Sagrada Familia, Casa Batllo, & Park Güell … which were quite impressive, but, as I’ve said before, I just love wandering and discovering random beautiful architecture and hidden gems.
After all the tourist spots, and wandering, I have to mention the great food! My best evening in Barcelona was due to the recommendations I got from my Dublin friend, Gina. It started with a visit to McCarthy’s Bar (Gina’s friend, Liz, who I know, knows the owner). Irish bars never disappoint, and meeting the owner and his wife was great craic!! We called Liz while I was there and their hospitality was unmatched. The perfect start to a fun, delicious evening!
I walked up the road a bit for my Michelin Star meal at Caelis. I had reserved a spot at the kitchen bar, soooo, besides amazing food, I was treated to a culinary show that was spectacular. My reservation was at 8 and I assumed it would be a couple of hours. I didn’t get back to my apartment until 11:15.
Some other highlights of my trip, and things I’d recommend are … a meal at Ciutat Comtal, recommendation from my kids, who went years ago when they were in Barcelona (it’s been there a looong time, good food and so cheap!); a cool flea market Mercat del Encants just to browse/find some treasures; and Boqueria Market (a quintessential European market off Las Ramblas with an array of cheese/pastry/fresh fruit/empanadas/charcuterie vendors); and enjoying your market haul on the patio as the sun set. You will not go hungry in Barcelona!
Next up … Paris and the Loire Valley!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
Sit down, close your eyes, and think of your favorite memory or person. Take a deep breath and allow a little smile to form.
Happy Monday!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
The only trip you will regret
is the trip you didn’t take!
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!
“It is a great work to seek to know ourselves as we are; but then we must work to know ourselves as we should be. These two sciences are linked and must continually occupy us. A third science comes after these two, and is perhaps the most difficult of all. It is that once we have come to know what we should be, we must work unceasingly to become it.” … Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin (18th century philosopher)
(I happen to be staying in the childhood home where Saint-Martin lived … so cool!)
You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails!