Author: James Hathaway

Prague 3

Yesterday was our last full day in Prague.  We spent the day exploring the Prague Castle and it’s many neighborhoods.

St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle
Close up of Gargoyle on the rear of the Cathedral.
View of Prague from Castle Hill.
Charles Bridge over the Vltava River. The bridge was built in 1347, and is the second oldest bridge in Czech Republic.
Tram line to Prague Castle from City Center.

Travel: Prague 2

Greetings to all from the Czech Republic!

It’s been a couple of very busy and cold/wet days exploring Prague.  Nonetheless, Prague has rewarded us with gorgeous architecture beautiful monuments and delicious food.

Here are some of our favorite photos to date.  Our hotel room is on the 6th floor.  It’s high enough to yield some interesting shots above many of the rooftops.  Some are interesting, others a chuckle.  Enjoy!
J&J

What’s a guy gotta do around here to get a bite to eat!
Honey…Did you feed the cat today?
Er…no I thought it was your turn to feed it!
A pair of turrets from a distant church.
A lone clock tower on the skyline.
A little of this, a dash of that, mix together and viola!

Travel: Prague 1

Greetings from Prague, Czech Republic!

It was an interesting travel day yesterday.  We had an early wake up call and a 9 a.m. Uber pickup from the apartment.  SURPRISE!  Our street was closed due to street repaving.  We left the apartment early to see if our Uber pickup was in sight.  Long story short, Uber canceled our order.  Surprisingly a local taxi was both faster and cheaper…

We had a pleasant Air France flight from Paris to Prague in 1 hour, 20 minutes.  The big surprise arriving in Prague was the cab ride to the city center took longer than the flight due to massive traffic.

This morning we took a quick walk around the old town city center.  Here are some of our photos.

Within the next few hours we will check into our new hotel and meet the rest of our travel companions for the next two weeks.

One of many churches in the city center.
Peek-a-boo view of the spires from our hotel.
City Center
Concert Hall

Travel: Paris 5

The Rodin home and gardens.

Today brings our first week in Paris to an end.  As always that means getting reacquainted with the familiar and making new discoveries at the same time.

We decided to explore the Rodin museum after we calculated it’s been over 25 years since we had been there.  We did not recognize it at first glance.

His former home (a mansion actually) is now a museum along with the estate’s grounds.

Here are some of our favorite photos from the day.

Six rare paintings by Rodin.
The Kiss
The Thinker in pastel. Van Gogh
Toes…
Handy…
Van Gogh
Van Gogh 2
Van Gogh 3
The Thinker
Domed church where Napoleon is buried.

 

 

 

Travel: Paris 4

Each visit to Paris reminds us why we keep coming back. It’s the ever changing, always evolving, never disappointing Paris we have grown to love.

There is an energy here that is hard to describe. It is reminiscent of the US of our younger days. THANK YOU Paris for opening your heart to those seeking a safe and caring place to thrive.

Here are some of our favorite photos from yesterday.

A beautiful day and great perspective of the Eiffel Tower.


Fontaine de Mars located near the Eiffel Tower has been one of our ‘GO TO’ restaurants for over 35 years. Great classic French cuisine and world class service that does not disappoint!

The Gargoyles of St.-Germain-des-Pres have watched over Paris’ oldest Church, dating from the 11th Century.

The surviving towers of the great fire that all but destroyed Notre Dame await the reconstruction already well underway.
Every direction has a good possibility of a great view. (Or Restaurant…)
Afternoon sun on the Ile St. Louis.

Movies: A Rainy Day in New York, Rambo: Last Blood, Port Authority

Movie 1: A Rainy Day in New York

This romantic comedy was written and directed by Woody Allen. It was completed in 2017 and about to be released by Amazon Studios when halted over controversy regarding Allen and the ME TOO movement.

It’s set in New York, its lead character, Timothée Chalamet is the son of a wealthy family struggling to find his own way in life. This includes the relationship with his girlfriend and his parents.

We had not heard about this film but it was recently released in multiple countries in Europe, South America and some Asian countries.

Our theater was one in a 37 theater multiplex packed on a rainy afternoon.

Rating


Movie 2: Rambo: Last Blood

Apparently this is the last film in the Franchise. It’s classic Rambo/Stallone series. Rambo’s only daughter is taken South of the border…seemingly because she is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Rambo goes ballistic as he plans her rescue knowing the bad guys will retaliate. What comes next is impressive but exhausting.

Rating 

Movie 3: Port Authority

This is an interesting film about a young drifter who leaves Pittsburgh for New York in hopes of a better future.

He finds work as a mover who seeks and evicts poor folks from their homes in Harlem. Not the best way to meet people.

Rating   

Travel: Paris 3

The weather is slowly changing with only an occasional drizzle and just enough sunshine to make Paris glow.

Yesterday was filled walks through Les Halles and the Beaubourg neighborhood, followed by a movie and a casual walk home the Marais.

 

St. Eustache Church, construction period, 1532 to 1640 is a massive structure in the 1st Arrondissement of Paris. It’s well worth a visit!
St. Eustache is a massive structure with over a dozen chapels.
The original organ was built in 1854. It has been restored and upgraded many times and is regarded as one of the finest instruments in the Capital.
We stumbled upon a quiet little park dedicated to the 500 infants that were murdered at the end of World War 2…
Place Des Vosges
After our 6 mile walk, time for an Aperol Spritz!

Travel: Paris 2

Today we explored the 9th Arrondissement known for its covered shopping passages, varied shops, the famous Follies Bergeres and a relatively low tourist presence.

We enjoyed a lunch of  Moules Marinieres (mussels in a garlicky wine sauce) and Frites with a nice bottle of French Sancerre wine.

It was a delightful day getting reacquainted with a part of the city we have not visited in recent years.

The weather cooperated again today as we racked up 5.3 miles on our health meter.  Here are some of our discoveries.  

The Bourse is France’s Stock Market.
A typical street in the 9th Arrondissement
The Follies Bergere is a famous theater venue dating back decades.
La Mere de Famille is a gourmet food shop founded in 1761. The store is packed with goodies, especially chocolates. Not to be missed if you are in the area!
Hotel de Ville (City Hall)
Approaching Notre Dame. Our first look since the devastating fire. The good news is restoration has begun.
Near Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle boasts fantastic stained glass windows dating to the medieval days.

Nearby is the turreted prison where Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned before execution.
Hello from the Ile St. Louis!

Travel: Paris 2019

We arrived in Paris midday yesterday via the Eurostar fast train after a pleasant 2-1/2 hour ride from London!  What a nice and affordable way to travel from the UK to Europe.

Today we started one of several walking tours on our agenda including the Viaduct des Arts, Bastille to Les Halles, a movie at Les Halles shopping center and entertainment complex.  And finally back to our base  near the Bastille (11th arrondissement). 

Golden angel in the morning sun atop the Place de la Bastille column.
Once an elevated Railway, now a welcomed walking pathway.
A unique glass facade in the morning sun.
A classic bakery from the 1800s
A unique interior crucifix in a 17th century church,
Paroisse Saint Antoine Des Quinze Vingts
Place des Vosges is as splendid as ever.
Sunny morning in the 12 Arrondissement
This Israeli restaurant in the Marais has been popular for decades. We enjoyed falafels, hummus, three salads and a tasty black beer.
The massive Eataly is another favorite restaurant where a lunch is on today’s agenda,

Movies: Ad Astra, Ms. Purple, Rojo

Movie 1: Ad Astra

What a remarkable film. It’s about space, an astronaut and his father, also an astronaut who is lost in space. It’s powerful, beautiful, challenging, occasionally confusing and arguable the best space film in quite some time. We saw it in a massive IMAX theater with a great Dolby sound system, well worth the extra cost.

Rating  


Movie 2: Ms. Purple

Set in Koreatown, Los Angeles, sister Kasie and brother Carey come together and struggle to care for their dying father.

Both under employed and struggling under weighty demands as caretakers, the two manage to keep their heads above water. It’s a unique story and a hit at both Sundance and the 2019 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. English and Korean with English subtitles.

Bonus! Our screening included a Q & A with the lead actress Tiffany Chu.

Rating   

Movie 3: Rojo

It was a unique view of pre-coup Argentina in the 1970s. South America of the era was struggling with establishing a ‘new world’ society.

It delivers its story as an unraveled thriller. It’s also a bio on the corruption and chaos of the time. Spanish with English subtitles.

Rating   

Special note: A hearty HELLO to all our viewers! First, we so appreciate your support. We value your comments and feedback.

Our big news of the day is…tomorrow we depart for London and destinations beyond. We will explore much of Europe for the next 5 weeks, including visiting long time friends in Switzerland.

When and if we are able to view films, we will send reviews. If possible we will send pictures along the way. Love to all and cheers! J&J