Jun 8, 2011

The Pont du Gard

Highest Roman Aqueduct Bridge...Ever

By Lisa T. Bergren

I’ll admit it. I have a serious fascination with the Roman Empire and their mad architecture skills. So when I had a chance, while visiting Avignon, I leaped at the chance to tour the Pont du Gard, one of France’s most popular tourist destinations, as well as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Continue reading

Jun 3, 2011

Les-Baux-des-Provence

Picturesque Village in Provence, France

By Lisa T. Bergren

The town had me the first time I heard the phrase, “The Lords of Les Baux.” Is that loaded with instance romance, or what? I immediately pictured heroic men, swords at their sides, surveying the land from some high precipice. Add in that this picturesque little village is located in Provence, France, and I was researching for an epic novel, and yeah, I was in love before I arrived. Continue reading

Jun 1, 2011

The Palais-des-Papes

Avignon, France

By Lisa T. Bergren

Avignon is a lovely, central place to explore Provence—two of my favorites being the Pont du Gard and Les Baux—and includes the famous Palais des Papes (“Palace of the Popes”). Continue reading

Mar 17, 2010

French People Are Nice & Paris is Safe

Don't Fear France

By Lisa T. Bergren

On the eve of leaving for Mexico, people are looking at me in dismay as if to say How Could You Take Children THERE?!?…They don’t seem to realize the extreme violence of Ciudad Juarez is fourteen hundred MILES away from my blissful, completely safe resort in Cancun. I don’t have a moment of hesitation.

When I told people I was taking my girls to Paris for Spring break last year, some reacted with envy…a lifting of the eyebrows, accompanied by a wistful, far-off, dreamy look. And yeah, it was that great. Definitely worth the trip. (Here are our reports on Paris with Teens and Versailles). But I was surprised by the number of people who asked me the following two questions: Are French people mean? Did you feel safe in Paris? Continue reading

Mar 17, 2010

Versailles with Teens

700 rooms with a view!

By Lisa T. Bergren

Are the traffic and crowds of Paris getting to you? Head ten miles out of town to the country escape/palace for Louis XIV and later his heirs, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.  Continue reading

Mar 16, 2010

Paris with Teens

France for the family

By Lisa T. Bergren

Are you heading out on a family vacation to Paris? Over Spring break 2009, I took my daughters, ages 13 and 10, to Paris after a sojourn in London. Here is a quick list of recommendations if you’re traveling with kids of your own: Continue reading

Mar 16, 2010

Ferry Over to Calais via Dover

Spring Break with Teens

By Lisa T. Bergren

After a week in London, we spent a week in Paris, just us girls (me and my daughters, ages 13 and 10). We took a train from London to Dover in order to cross the Channel via ferry. I was researching an 1880s novel series, so I wanted to experience what it was like to see the famous white cliffs fading in the distance and the rolling, grass-covered dunes of Calais greeting us, even if we were on a modern day, high speed ferry. Continue reading

Feb 13, 2010

Eating on a Budget in Paris

"Bon appetit" eating without breaking the bank

By Lisa T. Bergren

Trying to keep to a budget—and still eat—is no easy feat in Paris. Be advised that you might encounter what is the equivalent of $10 Cokes if you sit down in some of the more famous cafes. It’s pretty typical to spend $4-6 on a drink for kids (or coffee for you), which can bring up your food bill really fast. Continue reading