Posted on by

Le Chaudron

Le Chaudron in Cassis

Translated, Le Chaudron means The Cauldron. I didn’t see any large, metal pot with a lid, but no worries. The food is tasty, no matter how it was cooked. And, with its open kitchen, maybe you can see the chef use one of those large, metal pots.

This is home cooking in a small bistro. Located on a side street, away from the main harbor area and the port, we sat and relaxed with a glass of wine as we decided what to eat.

After watching plates of food make their way to other diners, we made our choices. And, we weren’t disappointed. My husband’s fish was fresh and cooked to perfection…meaning it fell off the bones with just a little help. My first course of the chef’s special onion tart, squash terrine, and lightly dressed frisee salad almost filled me up. Almost.

Savory, tender pieces of chicken in a spicy, whole grain mustard and peppercorn sauce followed. Again, almost filled up. Until I remembered dessert came with my three-course meal.

Mango mousse on top of a crispy, shortbread crust filled in all the spots I had left. Nicely…very nicely.

French Rose from a nearby wine area known for its Roses accompanied every bite. It didn’t overpower anything. Yet, it stood up to all the tastes we had. A wonderful combination that I’ll try to recreate at home.

Wish me luck.

If You Go: Le Chaudron is located at 4 Rue Aldophe Thiers, 13260 Cassis, France. Reservations are suggested.

Posted on by

Saint Emilion…Worth a Trip

Saint Emilion

Travel 20 or so kilometers from the bustling city of Bordeaux and you’re surrounded by vineyards. Some of the world’s most famous vineyards, these were planted here in Roman times.

Spend a day in Saint-Emilion, exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its Eglise Monolithe. This church carved out of the rocky hillside in the 11th century is now one of the largest of its kind in Europe, with its underground caverns and catacombs.

For a true wine tasting experience, set up a wine tasting class where you will learn about the subtle differences in wines where the same type of grapes are grown only a few feet from each other.

Bottom of the slopes, gravel terraces, sandy soils, limestone, high, low…all produce a slightly different taste. Cru, Grand Cru, large estates, small estates, non-classified, Premier Cru…there’s so much to learn! But, it sure is fun.

We weren’t there long…we’ll be back.

Posted on by

Flying 737 Max 8 and 9

This is what I have learned today about the 737 Max 8 and 9 planes. This was written in the Miami Herald about one hour ago.

Other travel suppliers such as hotels and cruise lines may be affected, but it’s too early to tell, said South Florida-based cruise lines Carnival and Royal Caribbean.

For those booked to travel this week, experts have these recommendations:

▪ Sign up for alerts from your airline. Even if you were originally booked on a 737 Max 8 or 9 plane that has been grounded, the airline may rebook you on another flight or substitute the type of plane. You can check to see if your flight is on a grounded plane using SeatGuru.com or FlightAware.com.

▪ If your flight on a 737 Max 8 or 9 has been canceled, contact your airline about rebooking. Southwest Airlines said it will rebook passengers on alternative flights with no charge within 14 days. American Airlines said it is providing refunds to passengers on canceled flights.

▪ If you purchased travel insurance through a third party insurer, contact the company to see if they can help you. You may be entitled to reimbursement for food and accommodations in the case of delay or cancellation.

▪ If you are continuing on to a cruise or a hotel stay, contact the cruise or hotel company to see if you have any flexibility in your reservation.

Posted on by

Is This Your First Time?

I’ve covered some of these tips before. Many of them bear repeating…especially if you happen to be a first-time traveler to Europe.

Let’s start with packing… You don’t need to overpack. Huge suitcases are no fun to drag down a cobblestone street, lug onto a train, or cram into a small car’s trunk. Heavy ones create more problems than you can imagine. Just pack the essentials. Plan your clothes around one or two colors. Take items that can be easily laundered…either by you or at a facility. If you absolutely need something you didn’t bring…go shopping.

Remember to use public transportation. Subway, Metro, The Tube…are easy to negotiate and more reasonable than taking a cab everywhere. High speed trains are an amazing way to travel.

If you are in Europe for the first time, you may think you can cover a lot of ground. After all, it looks smaller on the map. Right? Keep in mind, there is so much to see and do in almost every city, town, and village. In order to have a truly fun vacation, don’t overdo it. Decide what is most important to you. Trust me…you aren’t going to see it all in one visit.

Do your homework on local customs. Learn a few polite phrases. Understand what is acceptable or what isn’t. Learn how to read a map, street signs, and your bill at the restaurant.

Have fun…

Posted on by

The Electric Desert

Experiences in the desert are interesting. Succulents and cacti, both large and small, look different from dawn to dusk. Desert blooms offer a whole other look to the sometimes-barren landscape.

Visiting the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix promised to be interesting since we were going at night. Why at night?

For the light show.

We thought we’d see some great lights. Maybe, we’d see some spectacular cacti lit up. Oh no. It was so much more than that.

Music greeted us as we entered the garden. Soft lights led us along one of seven different paths. Rounding the first corner, giant neon cacti looked like enormous green crystals reaching for the dark, night sky.

The light and sound experience at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is like nothing we had seen before. We weren’t even sure we were still in the desert or the garden.  

More than just a show, the entire desert garden was a living canvas. Complete with music.

Down one path, light played on a forest of Organ Pipe cactus. They appeared to be swaying to the music. They weren’t.

Another path where the entire floor was covered with snakes. Not a snake fan, I had a hard time watching. They weren’t really snakes…just lights on the succulents. But…I wasn’t convinced. Moving on…

Heading over to the light show on the butte in the distance, we thought we were in the middle of a thunderstorm. Is that rain? Was that lightning? Nope. Just lights. Amazing lights.

Walking through another area, barrel cactus seemed to dance to the music right in front of us. Then, they stopped, changed colors, and danced again. Around every bend, more lights, more music, and performing plants.

Giant saguaro, many decades old, were washed in light. With over 4,000 species here, everywhere we turned we caught a glimpse of lights and plants. Imagine walking through a desert and feeling like you’re in a musical stage production. That’s kind of what we felt like.

This was truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Founded in 2003, Klip Collective is an experiential video shop that uses virtual reality, projection mapping, storytelling and soundscapes to create this captivating sensory experience. They offer these around the world.

If You Go: The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre botanical garden located in Popago at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix.

Posted on by

LugLess Info

I recently heard about this company. Has anyone used this one or one like it?

LugLess introduced the first cost-competitive alternative to checking bags at the airport by enabling travelers to ship luggage directly to their destination for as little as $15.

Problem: Carrying, checking, and reclaiming bags at the airport is inconvenient, time consuming, and increasingly expensive. Travelers will pay more than $4.5 billion in checked baggage fees this year in the US alone.

Solution: LugLess leverages existing logistics networks to make shipping luggage easier and cheaper than checking a bag. Our shipping search engine finds and compares the absolute lowest UPS and FedEx rates to generate the cheapest shipping label for any travel itinerary. If that’s all you need from us, there is no other cost to using our platform.

But if you need a little more help with your shipment, we’ve got you covered. For an additional fee, you can add extra features, like additional coverage or a doorstep pickup. You can even opt for live support, which means you’ll have access to a LugLess team member who will answer any questions you have.

Key features:

 ➔ Rates: Starting at $15/bag. Rates based on distance, size and speed of delivery. On average, people pay $28 to ship one bag or $54 to ship two bags.

➔ Model: After getting the cheapest shipping label, users can add extra features, such as additional coverage or live support, for a fee and only pay for what they use.

➔ Users: Mass market, budget conscious travelers including: families with children, golfers, skiers, students, and people making small moves.

➔ Scale: In the same way that Amazon leverages UPS and FedEx to bring the shopping experience to your front door, LugLess leverages these carriers to let travelers avoid the hassles of checking luggage.

➔ Technology: The LugLess platform is integrated with multiple carriers to find the lowest rates and generate shipping labels instantly. The LugLess API allows publishers and travel booking platforms to fetch rates and create reservations in their own environment.

➔ Geography: LugLess provides service to and from every zip code in the United States.

Team

The LugLess leadership team has worked together for fifteen years. They have launched, acquired, and operated businesses in the logistics and travel space, including Luggage Forward, which is a premium doorstep to destination luggage delivery service focused on the global luxury travel market. The introduction of LugLess’ ultra-low-cost service provides a no-frills luggage shipping solution to the frustrated traveling masses who are increasingly dissatisfied with the inconvenience and rising costs of carrying and checking luggage at the airport. www.lugless.com

Posted on by

Does Your Dog Need to Stretch His Legs?

When I travel, I see other travelers with dogs. Some are in carriers. Some on leashes. Some are definitely service dogs. Others are pets.

I’ve often wondered what you do if you have a dog in an airport terminal.

I found several airports with places for your furry pooch. There are probably more. Do you have any favorites?

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

The Pet Patch is located east of Terminal 2. The Pet Paw Pad can be found in Terminal 3, outside on the West End. The Bone Yard can be found on the west side of Terminal 4, near baggage claim.

Nearby PHX Sky train stations, pet relief areas are also available. The East Economy Park & Bark is near the East Economy parking garages and The Park ‘n Play is on the northwest corner of the 44th Street PHX Sky Train station.

San Diego International Airport

Seven different pet relief stations are available. You’ll find artificial turf and waste bags. These pet relief stations can be found throughout the terminals outside of the airport, as well as indoor at Terminal 2 West.

Philadelphia International Airport

At Philadelphia International Airport, there are seven Service Animal Relief Areas, called Pet Ports. These relief areas have a mulch surface, a bench, biodegradable pet waste bags, and a garbage can. All stations are available for both service animals and pets.

Boston Logan International Airport

In Boston, the relief areas are no-frills, but plentiful. These rest areas are located on the arrivals level curb outside every terminal. There is also a pet-relief area located in Terminal E, after security, and near Gate E7.

Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport has spots for pets with artificial turf, bags, and a sink on each concourse as well as right outside Jeppesen Terminal. After security, these are located in the center cores of A, B and C Gates. A pre-security pet restroom area is located just outside door 200 on the west side of the Jeppesen Terminal.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Indoor Service Animal Relief Areas here are available throughout the airport and can be used by service animals and other traveling pets. They can be found in every concourse. This airport also has a dog park, located in the Ground Transportation area on Domestic Terminal South. This fully fenced-in park offers biodegradable bags along with benches.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport

This airport has three dog parks available. Gate K-9 Bark Parks are fenced, ADA accessible, and have running water, mutt mitts for cleanup, and a canopied area for when the weather isn’t so great. Indoors, an area is available on the second floor of the terminal building.

Do you have others you know about?

Posted on by

We Found a Gem of a Place in France…Agay

At first glance, Agay, France could be a beach town in any number of countries.

There’s a mostly sandy beach dotted with beach towels, sun worshippers, and kids playing in the sand and water. Bright sun bounces off the clear blue water, creating a backdrop worthy of a postcard. Simple, fishing boats vie with yachts bobbing in the harbor of this sheltered natural bay.

Here’s where you know you’re not just at any beach. Dark red cliffs of the Massif de l’Esterel rise up out of the water, making the sand an interesting shade of red.

Water so clear and blue, this might give you a clue where you are. They don’t call it Cote d’Azur for no reason. This coastal resort is between Saint-Raphael and Theoule-sur-Mer. Cannes is not far away. Now, you get the picture. This is the south of France.

Village shops, cafes, restaurants, and water sports rentals line the street. This is a much smaller, quieter beach resort than its more famous neighbors up and down the coast.

Slightly off the beach is a restaurant I would recommend for lunch, dinner, drinks, dessert…or all of the above. Restaurant La Galere is worth looking for. Locals and visitors both love it here. You’ll find plenty of locals eating here. Always a good sign.

Just outside of Agay is a WWII Memorial to US soldiers involved in the defense of this part of France. Operation Dragoon is part of the forgotten invasion of Southern France. More about that in another review…

Why come to this small town along the famous coast? For starters, views here are just as magnificent as anywhere along the coast. Maybe better… For another reason, there aren’t as many tourists. Photo ops…they’re everywhere you turn. Seduction…this village will entice you to return.

Agay, France…you just have to experience it. Don’t forget to indulge at Le Galere. Trust me, it’s worth it.