Braden Land

Paris

Sun, 20 May 2012 02:08:51 -0500

No other country in the world enjoy mealtimes more than theFrench. With style and finesse, this national pastime unearthssome exquisite dishes unmatched anywhere else on the planet. Thetop chefs parade round town like Hollywood movies stars, safe inthe knowledge their culinary talents have blessed them with alifestyle reserved for the rich and famous. Whilst eating out can be expensive, a little common sense can goa long way to saving you a euro or two. Every budget is cateredfor in Paris, and should you wish to pay the same size bill asBrad Pitt then that can easily be arranged. However, avoidingtourist hotspots and seeking backstreet restaurants can yieldlesser damage to your wallet. The Au Virage Lepic offers a basic menu, though the food is ofgood quality. The friendly ambience provides a pleasant eatingexperience, and all at a reasonable price. Diners chatter away,conveying their thoughts and episodes of the day, whilst waitersscurry around feeding their hungry gue...

A wave from the Tour

Sat, 19 May 2012 02:15:35 -0500

IT takes hours of map reading and meticulous attention to detailto ensure a successful Tour de France, and that's just thespectators. I had prepared and planned out a route that wouldland me close to the end of stage of the Tour, a km tripfor the cyclists from Saint Flour to Figeac. But thousands ofother people had the same idea so it was a slow crawl throughthe streets of Figeac, in the Lot, before I found myself aboutkm from the end of the race. The village of Saint Jean Mirabelhad come out in force with good luck messages and flags set upbeside the route, and even a giant poster suspended betweenthree tractors. Then as the leader approached, with helicoptersbuzzing in the air, the cheers from the spectators began togrow. A small figure, hunched over his bicycle suddenly cameinto view at the top of the road, dwarfed by the policemotorcycles, television cameras and official cars beside him.And before my camera could focus he was gliding by in a bubbleof complete...

Loire Valley- 5 Great Venues East of Tours

Fri, 18 May 2012 02:07:54 -0500

p>The Loire Valley of France is famous for its many romanticchateaux and its wines. Here are five excellent venues to befound east of the city of Tours. They are in relatively closeproximity and can be visited in a quick two days or a leisurelythree by car. One can visit these sites in the order listedgoing in a generally easterly direction. These are all top-notchattractions, and a visit to the Loire Valley is not completewithout seeing them all. Each of these chateaux have regularlyscheduled guided tours.Amboise The impressive chateau which overlooks theLoire river from the top of a cliff was a royal residence in theth and th centuries. Famous French kings and royalty wereraised here, including Francois I, who later as king invitedLeonardo da Vinci to live in Amboise. Leonardo spent the lastfew years of his life living and working close by at Clos Luce.He is buried in the small chapel of Saint-Hubert, just outsidethe chateau walls. At Clos Luce an interesting m...

Preparing For a Long Trip Home

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:04:22 -0500

Preparing for a long trip home can be a lot of fun, but it can also present a somewhat daunting task to those who really don't like long car rides. Every year, thousands of people make the hike from New York to Florida without even blinking an eye. And what's more is that most of these people are above the age of sixty years old! If you can afford it, most people nowadays prefer to take an hour long flight versus having to drive - hours. In fact, the thought of having to drive such a distance has driven no pun intended many people to turn towards other alternatives such as auto shipping or car transportation services so that they will still have their cars once they arrive.If you don't have the luxury of being able to ship your car, then you'll just have to grin and bear it when it comes to making the drive. Similar to running a marathon, it's best if you have the right mentality when it comes to driving. Provide yourself with healthy distractions in the form of little mi...

Get Trip Cancellation Insurance To Protect Your Investment

Wed, 16 May 2012 02:02:39 -0500

Just have a look at the world around you and it will be surprising to see the number of people with some sort of insurance policy. There was a time when people were not completely aware of the benefits that are associated with health insurance, but now things have changed to a remarkable extent. In fact, now people are no longer restricted to health insurance or medical insurance, but they go for different types of plans to live a carefree life. One great example is trip cancellation insurance. In today's world, it has become important to find some time from your busy schedule to have fun with your family. Or, it is also a good idea to travel to different places on your own, to recharge your batteries. In either situation, you will have to spend some money to get different things done. For instance, you are required to spend money to get airline tickets, hotel resort reservations, tours, or cruise bookings. It means a lot of money is to be given away even before you pack your luggage f...