Deauville: The Parisian Riviera

Before my trip to France I'd never heard of Deauville but that's probably because I'm neither a wealthy Parisienne nor a Hollywood film star. This chic, upscale resort on the coast of Normandy boasts the nearest beach to Paris (two hours away) and it's also home of the annual Deauville American Film Festival, thus earning its nickname as the Parisian Riviera.

Deauville, France

Bridget Jones's London

Are you a fan of the Bridget Jones novels by Helen Fielding or the movies starring Renée Zellweger? If so, you’re probably looking forward to the latest film in the franchise, Bridget Jones’s Baby, which opens in North American theatres on Friday. I’m taking a slight detour from my planned posts to share some photos of London filming locations from the first two movies, Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001) and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004).

Bridget Jones's Door

Campo San Barnaba, Venice

It's Oscar time! The 88^th Annual Academy Awards are coming up on Sunday night. In keeping with this yearly celebration of excellence in film, my post this week features a small square in Venice with a large presence on the silver screen: Campo San Barnaba.

England in Books and Film

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over. I spent a few lazy evenings catching up on episodes of some wonderful British programs that have aired on PBS recently. And I've realized how much my reading and TV viewing have influenced my travel plans. So, as promised, here's a preview of some places I'm going to visit in England next year.

"J" is for Juliet

You’re probably familiar with William Shakespeare’s story of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. The play is set in the northern Italian city of Verona and, though the characters are fictional, the city has happily adopted this tragic couple. Visitors now flock to a bronze statue of Juliet in the tiny courtyard of Casa di Giulietta and gaze up at her balcony as Romeo himself would have done.

Statue of Juliet, Verona

Classic Films for Armchair Travellers

In a previous post about my favourite movies for armchair travellers I promised another with classic films from the 1950s and 60s. European cities like Paris and Rome were popular settings and the biggest stars of the day were cast in these films: Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Gregory Peck and Cary Grant to name a few. Film production was thriving in Rome but movies set in Paris were often filmed on a Hollywood set. Perhaps that’s why so many of my favourites are those shot in Italian locales. And most films were shot in black and white.

Spanish Steps, Rome

My Favourite Films for Armchair Travel

I’ve been thinking a lot about movies lately, probably because it’s awards season. And the cold winter weather makes we want to curl up on the couch and escape, preferably to someplace warm. My DVD collection satisfies my wanderlust with sunny scenes from the south of France and intrigue in the shadowy alleyways of Venice. Here are my top picks from the last ten years with links to the movie trailers.

French Riviera

5 Film Remedies for Holiday Burnout

The holiday season is over and credit cards bills will soon follow. Many of us have already seen more than enough snow for one winter. Or maybe you're on tech overload. I'd like to recommend five movies that can slow life down and take you away to a simpler time and place. No car chases or nail-biters in these films; their appeal is enchanting scenery and brilliant cinematography. Pour a cup of tea (or glass of wine), put your feet up and dream of sunny skies in Italy or France.

The Via Veneto, Rome

La dolce vita. The sweet life.

You're probably familiar with the phrase even if you've never seen the iconic Fellini film of the same name. La Dolce Vita depicts the hedonism of 1950s Rome. It also made the Via Veneto famous.

Tossing a Coin in the Trevi Fountain

The film Three Coins in the Fountain popularized the custom of throwing a coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain and thus ensuring your return to the Eternal City. The first time I tried my luck, the currency was the lira; more recently I used a euro coin. And now I've  planned another trip to Italy, so I'd say the ritual works.

The Trevi Fountain, Rome

Monte Carlo

St. Remy de Provence, July 2012 - We boarded our motor coach this morning at 9:00 a.m. and reunited with our cruise director to say farewell to Provence. We were about to embark on the final leg of our journey with Avalon Waterways enroute to the French Riviera and the tiny principality of Monaco.

A couple of hours later, Mont St. Victoire rose in the distance as we approached the city of Aix-en Provence for a mid-day lunch stop.

Mont St. Victoire

Rome and the Vatican

Roma, May 2010 - We had been travelling through England, France and Italy with Trafalgar's Contrasts of Europe train tour. Now in Rome, this would be the group's final day together.

Visitors line up along the Vatican Wall

Grand Tour Rome

Firenze, May 2010 - We were about to embark on the final leg of our journey with Trafalgar's Contrasts of Europe train tour through England, France and Italy with a short trip from Florence to Rome's Termini station.

Before checking into our hotel, we took an orientation tour of those same ancient sights that had attracted earlier travellers on their Grand Tours of Europe. We drove past the Baths of Diocletian and the ruins of the Roman Forum to arrive near the Arch of Constantine for a tour of the Colosseum.

Arch of Constantine