"My World Travels!!" wanderlust23's Profile

Coliseum

ROME is a wonderful city to visit. Though touted as a large city, one does not have the feeling that the city is overpowering or too metropolitan. The central areas seem small and easy to navigate, while the outlying areas are nice and residential. Walking the streets of Rome, a traveller will walk past ancient ruins, still in the process of excavation, as well as modern additions to the city.

Rome is best when viewed while walking, as one can find all kinds of great places tucked away into all the secret corners of this fabulous city!

Sunset over the Arno, Florence

To see great pics of Florence, visit my travelogues on my FLORENCE page.

Florence is so beautiful, so breathtaking and so full of this passion for life. Its narrow streets and Duomos are thousands of years old, and the city feels unchanged by time. One evening I went to the top of the hill overlooking the city. From the Piazza di Michel Angelo I saw the entire city, from the Church of Santa Maria Novella, to the Duomo with it magnificent dome, to Santa Croce and the hills beyond. In the center, nestled between the two sides of town runs the Arno which flows under the oldest bridge in Florence, the famed Ponte Vechio. The beauty of the city was enhanced by witnessing a breathtaking sunset that seemed to turn the city's rooftops a fiery orange that I had only seen before in postcards. Florence did not disapoint. It was every bit as picturesque as it seemed in "A Room With a View" the movie that made me want to go there in the first place.

Amiens Cathedral transept

Amiens is a city often overlooked by tourists travelling through France, many just satisfied to see all the monuments, and check off the list of 'places to see' found in their 'Michelin' or 'Lonely Planet' guides. Described by critics and travel guide writers as 'not a beautiful city', Amiens is quite charming and is home to the most breathtaking cathedral in France. The Cathedral boasts the tallest completed nave in France and is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. Though most of the stained glass windows have been destroyed by time and war, it is still beautiful to behold and gives one a sense of wonder that a single structure can be so immense.
The city offers the charming St. Leu quarter that has retained many buildings that date to the 17th century. Tourists can also take a boat ride on the Somme river in the Hortillonnages, experience regional art in the Musee de Picardie, and take a stroll through the city's many parks and walkways.
All in all, if only to see the Cathedral, tourists should take some time out from flitting from one monument to the next in Paris to take the 1-1.5 hour train ride to Amiens. You will be glad you made the effort.

Chenonceau as seen from Diane de Poitier's garden

If you're looking for some great pics, you have to check out my France travelogues:
1. LOIRE VALLEY
2. COMPIEGNE
3. PIERREFOND

My favorite of these is the Loire Valley. Characterized by France's most beautiful and beloved castles, the valley brings to mind castles like Chambord, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau, Amboise, and Blois. One has only to drive a few kilometers and a new castle is discovered. Many have fascinating histories of mistresses, war-time stories, and extravagence exercised by the French kings who commisioned them. Some contain secret passageways (Amboise), another has been the border between 'free' and 'occupied' terrritories in war (Chenonceau), and still others are famed for their ingenious architectural designs (Chambord). Each chateau is unique and retains its own charm and allure.
Take time to participate in the tours offered at each chateau. They will provide you with the secrets of the castle, its history and a portrait of its owners.
There are many many chateaux to visit in this region. It would take far more than a 3 day tour to cover them all sufficiently. However, visiting just one is worth the travel time.

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"I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world."
~Mary Ann Radmacher-Hershey

"Ton devoir reel est de sauver ton reve."
~Amadeo Modigliani

"On ne nait pas femme: on le devient."
~Simone de Beauvoir

"De temps en temps, il faut se reposer de ne rien faire."
~Jean Cocteau

"Chacun sa methode... Moi, je travaille en dormant -
la solution de tous les problemes, je la trouve en
revant..."
~Jacques Prevert
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