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Adventure Rowing Down the Ebro: Chiprana – Mar de Aragon
The seed for my second international rowing tour was planted during my first one. I had made two new friends from Cologne, Germany on that trip and they told me that they had organized a tour through Spain that previous spring. And, they were planning on doing it again the following May. Of course I told them that I was interested. So, a short ten months later, we set out adventure rowing down the Ebro river together. Preparation I headed over to Europe during the last week of April, reuniting with my Cologne friends in their fascinating city. They had already put a tremendous amount of effort into the planning…
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Saving Notre Dame: An Epic Endeavour – Part 2
I continued my return visit to Notre Dame by crossing le Pont de l’Archevêché and making my way down to the riverbank. I wanted to recreate the scene I had discovered two years earlier while passing under le Pont de la Tournelle. And while the spot remained a place for youthful gatherings, the view from it had changed drastically. And I was to get a little closer look a few days later when I had the privilege of rowing ‘La Traversée de Paris‘. The Treasures of Notre Dame In the meantime though, my mind went to recalling my visit to the Treasury of Notre Dame three years earlier. And I…
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Saving Notre Dame: An Epic Endeavour – Part 1
We are currently living through a distressing period of history. And as April 15th approaches, I am reminded of another heart-wrenching episode that made the world stand still a year ago. I recall being glued to the TV that afternoon, unable to take my eyes off the flames engulfing the much loved cathedral of Paris. I remember too, the relief I felt when I awoke the next morning to see that the heroic efforts the firefighters had put into saving Notre Dame had paid off. Our Lady was still standing, although severely damaged. Revisiting Our Lady I was further relieved when I had the opportunity to revisit Notre Dame during…
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A Parisian Antique Shop To Love: l’Objet qui Parle
Last September, I returned to Paris with the primary purpose of rowing through the City of Love. And a few days after fulfilling that dream, I happily achieved another. For I happened to chance upon the captivating Parisian antique shop or brocante: l’Objet qui Parle. A Stroll Through Montmartre I had spent a sunny afternoon strolling through the rambling streets of Montmartre. If you’re familiar with the enchanting movie Amelie, you will likely recognize this neighbourhood with the shining Sacre Cœur at its heart. After saying a little prayer in the Basilica, I made my way to visit Le Mur de Je t’aime – The ‘I Love You’ Wall –…
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Napoleon at Malmaison: Heart of an Emperor
Continuing my tour of this beautiful French château, let’s step out of the domain of Empress Josephine and take a look into that of Napoleon at Malmaison. For it is a peak into the heart of Josephine’s second husband, the first emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte I. As I mentioned in Josephine at Malmaison: Retreat of an Empress, the Josephine spent a fortune on the house. Expecting Bonaparte to return with riches from the Egyptian campaign, which he was fighting at the time, she spared no expense. Unfortunately, he did not return victorious and so was not happy with her extravagance. A Militaristic Fashion Despite this, he came to find…
