For centuries, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has fascinated people worldwide. It’s arguably the most famous painting in art history. Leonardo worked on it paintstakingly between 1503 and 1519 while living in Florence and Milan. Today, the Mona Lisa, measuring just 30 x 21 inches, is displayed in Paris’ Louvre. It’s placed under shatterproof glass … Read more
“I am not proud, but I am happy; and happiness blinds, I think, more than pride.” –– Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas’ home, the Chateau de Monte Cristo, is located in Le Port Marly France. The chateau is an easy day trip from Paris. In this guide, I tell you about the life of Dumas and … Read more
Listen up, culture vultures. Here’s my guide to visiting Paris’ Museum of Modern Art (or “MAM” as it is known), a bastion of modern art in Paris. I give you an overview of the museum and must know tips for visiting. I have been to many Paris museums, both large and small, in my many … Read more
Paris’ 9th arrondissement is a posh and appealing mix of glamor and on trend hidden gems. It extends from the Opera Garnier in the south to the foot of Montmartre the north. The arrondissement is a Belle Epoque beauty, dating from the early 1900s. It’s a stately area with manicured grand boulevards. Yet, it’s not … Read more
“It’s not a palace, it’s an entire city. Superb in its size, superb in its matter.” — Charles Perrault, 1687 Here’s my guide to taking a virtual tour of the Palace of Versailles. Versailles is the most ornate and famous royal chateau in France. Once hidden away behind closed doors, the palace is now yours … Read more
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” — Oscar Wilde Here’s my guide to visiting Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris’ village of the dead. It’s an off the beaten path Paris hidden gem in the 20th arrondissement. Why go to a cemetery you might be thinking? Isn’t it … Read more
“When everyone else is losing their heads, it is important to keep yours.” — Marie Antoinette Fascinated with Queen Marie Antoinette? Here’s my guide to the Marie Antoinette Trail in France. It gives you an overview of her life. And you’ll discover all the sites and attractions in and around Paris that are associated with … Read more
Scoping out some museums for art-inspired travel? Here’s my guide to the best virtual museums you can visit online at home from the comfort of your couch or computer. Many world class museums have released some or all of their collections online. Or they’ve partnered with Google Arts & Culture to make collections accessible in … Read more
Hungry for art or cultural inspiration? Do you want to see Europe’s best modern art on vacation? Look no further! This list, created with my own subjective views and the objectively immortal status of the listed artists, will satisfy your cravings. I identify the most famous and groundbreaking works of modern art in Europe and … Read more
Here’s my guide to visiting Napoleon’s Tomb and the Royal Chapel at Les Invalides in Paris. Napoleon is as splendid in death as he was in life. Located in Paris’ 7th arrondissement, Les Invalides is a cluster of monuments and museums celebrating France’s tumultuous military history. And you’ve likely clapped your eyes on it without … Read more