Month: April 2018

Paris…The Lazy way

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To err is human, to loaf is Parisian.—Victor Hugo

This quote summed up two of our days in Paris.

The first full day in Paris, we decided to let the Big Bus take us around the city so we could get an overall view of the city.  These buses have an open upper deck and ear phones to let you hear about what you are seeing.

The last full day in Paris, we were tired and hot, so we rode the Bat-o-bus (water taxi).  We viewed the city atop the gentle refreshing waters of the Seine.  Both of these experiences are highly recommended, especially by two middle-aged tourists during a hot week in July.

I wouldn’t recommend going to Paris in July because of the above mentioned heat and the height of the tourist season, but this was the only week we could go due to other circumstances. Nevertheless, the two modes of transportation around the city were very enjoyable and gave us a good view of Paris. It helps to get your bearings when visiting Paris for the first time.  We did a lot of walking and exploring on our own and I will save those adventures for upcoming blogs.

Normally, I avoid these touristy methods.  However, I can now see the advantage of doing this if you only have a limited time to see the city or if you have a week-long stay as we did and want to take some time to relax and still see the sights of Paris.

The following are photos I took while on board these methods of transportation around Paris.

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The Louvre from the Big Bus.

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Notre Dame from the Bat-o-Bus.

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Towers of Notre Dame from the Big Bus.

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Arc de Triomphe from the Big Bus.

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The Moulin Rouge from the Big Bus.

 

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The Eiffel Tower from the Bat-o-Bus.

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Bridges on the Seine from the Bat-o-Bus.

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Cafe de Flore from the Big Bus.

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A cafe in shadows on a Paris street taken from the Big Bus.

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One more cafe on the streets of Paris, taken from the Big Bus.

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Parisians on the steps by the Seine, taken from the Bat-o-Bus.

 

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Church steeples from the Bat-o-Bus.

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Buildings overlooking the Seine from the Bat-o-Bus.

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One of the many cathedral towers in Paris, taken from the Big Bus.

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I had to post an artsy shot from Paris, a little impressionism of the city street from the Big Bus.

Ode to the Mont Joli Hotel…Cap-Haitien, Haiti

 

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People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.—Maya Angelou

This quote is how I think of the Mont Joli Hotel in Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

I have a short-lived homance (hotel romance) with this hotel that sits high on a hill on the west side of Cap-Haitien overlooking both the city and the bay.  I have stayed here on four visits to Haiti.  It never changes…and that is a good thing.

The staff has always been friendly and the service has always been very good.  Could it use a fresh coat of paint? Sure.  Could it use a plumbing overhaul? Sure.  But there is something special about this place that always captured my heart.  Maybe it is the history, built in 1954 and changed very little, that gives it depth.  Maybe it is the location that gives it soul.  I believe it is the romantic spirit of this hotel I feel whenever I sit on the veranda or at the open bar and gaze on the city and the bay, always feeling a cool breeze waft up from below.

I think about the time when Haiti maybe wasn’t so poor and it was actually a tourist destination.  Cap-Haitien was once called “Paris of the Antilles”.

I apologize for the many photos.

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The veranda, a perfect place to relax.

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Morning sunrise over Cap-Haitien Bay, seen from the pool.

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A seat at the bar with the original wood craftsmanship.

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The most recent view out of my window.

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The courtyard of the Mont Joli Hotel.

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The open air dining room ready for the evening meal.

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Tiled pillar outside the dining area.

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Tiled wall in the dining area.

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Appetizers of hot slaw, cheese balls, and bruschetta.

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Breakfast usually has some sort of eggs, spaghetti, fresh fruit, fresh juice, and coffee.

There are often pancakes and french toast served for breakfast.

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This evening meal consisted of goat in a delicious sauce, a salad, some cooked root vegetables and french fries.

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Artwork is everywhere.

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Many flowers are evident on the grounds.

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Comfortable sitting rooms abound at the hotel.

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Open air lobby at the Mont Joli Hotel.

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Upstairs open sitting room.

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A stairway up to another open area for sitting.

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Coffee on the upstairs porch, a most relaxing place.

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A final view of Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral before departing.