A Postcard from Sun-Splashed Tuscany
It’s early morning in Tuscany and the sun is just waking up the autumn hued hills. There is faint citrus scented breeze and a lavender mist winding over the distant mountains. The birds, who believe they are the kings of the castel, are twirping. Tuscany is pretty perfect in fall. Cool mornings and sun-drenched golden days are on the calendar. The evening sunsets are spectacular!
It’s early morning in Tuscany and the sun is just waking up the autumn hued hills. There is faint citrus scented breeze and a lavender mist winding over the distant mountains. The birds, who believe they are the kings of the castel, are twirping. Tuscany is pretty perfect in fall. Cool mornings and sun-drenched golden days are on the calendar. The evening sunsets are spectacular!
Mr. C.T. and I are having a fantastic time exploring the best of Tuscany and revisiting some old favorite spots. For my travel clients in Tuscany now, and those arriving soon, this will be an unforgettable trip Italiano for you. If you are interested in learning more about travel to Italy contact me at Curated Travel.
Follow the latest of our travels on Curated Travel Instagram:
Savour: The Anticipation of Travel
I’m in that lovely space where I’m looking forward to a much anticipated trip to Tuscany but I’m not in the final frenzy of packing just yet. I’m in the phase of researching, exploring, daydreaming about my travel plans. Let’s face it, part of the joy of travel is savouring the anticipation. With travel we look forward to changing up our day to day experience, enjoying new adventures, meeting new people and treating ourselves especially well. Combined with the sensory experience of regional flavors, a cacaphony of languages, a myriad of scents and smells blending into the vibrant color palette that is travel.
I’m in that lovely space where I’m looking forward to a much anticipated trip to Tuscany but I’m not in the final frenzy of packing just yet. I’m in the phase of researching, exploring, daydreaming about my travel plans. Let’s face it, part of the joy of travel is savouring the anticipation. With travel we look forward to changing up our day to day experience, enjoying new adventures, meeting new people and treating ourselves especially well. Combined with the sensory experience of regional flavors, a cacaphony of languages, a myriad of scents and smells blending into the vibrant color palette that is travel.
As I take a few moments to savour this upcoming trip to Tuscany, I’m enjoying this glimpse of our first destination today:
Fonteverde
Fonteverde is truly one of the most outstanding destinations in Italy. Originally built as a renaissance palace for the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici, the resort overlooks the majestic rolling hills of Val d'Orcia, and is set atop the natural hot springs to fully utilize the healing power of the thermal waters.
We’ve been invited to enjoy luxury spa hotels for the first four days and the itinerary has a “pinch me I’m dreaming” vibe.
Other destinations, on this hosted trip to Tuscany, include Bagni di Pisa, Castel Monastero, a few days in Florence at Grand Hotel Cavour and our final stop at Villa il Poggiale to retrace the footsteps of our first visit to Italy back in 2003. Mr. C.T. will be joining me on this Tuscan adventure and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Along the way I will be researching the best of the best in Tuscany for my clients. I’ve been hearing interest from a number of you for Tuscany so feel free to email me with questions.
Ciao for now!
Thoughts on Tuscany….
“We walk into the olive grove and sit in the dry grass on the bluff. The monastery and the whole world lie before us. Purples, yellows, pinks and blues but all washed, hazy, indefinite, dreamy. The world was dissolving, vanishing. And if you half-closed your eyes, you could see yourself from afar, dissolving in the haze. You could see yourself turning into light.”
A Sunny Afternoon at the Parisian Flea Market - Porte Vanves
Paris is adorned with a number of colorful flea markets or brocantes as they are often called. On our first trip to Paris, in 2003, Scott and I spent an afternoon at the famed Clignancourt flea market, also known as the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, and thought to be the largest flea market in the world. We shipped home a small container filled to the brim with chandeliers, sconces, trays, perfume bottles, prints and charms from Paris long ago.
Paris is adorned with a number of colorful flea markets or brocantes as they are often called. On our first trip to Paris, in 2003, Scott and I spent an afternoon at the famed Clignancourt flea market, also known as the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen, and thought to be the largest flea market in the world. We shipped home a small container filled to the brim with chandeliers, sconces, trays, perfume bottles, prints and charms from Paris long ago. On this trip, we stopped in at the smaller scale weekend market of Porte Vanves, near the apartment where we stayed. Aside from an eclectic mix of silk scarves, china, cutlery, jewelry, watches, books, and just about anything your heart desires, the people watching was fantastique. The saxophone solo was an ambient bonus to our sunny afternoon at the brocante in Paris.
My finds from the Parisian Brocante
These are a few of the treasures I gathered at Porte Vanves. A colorful silk scarf, a jewel-encrusted mirror, a couple of cocktail rings, a gilded framed mirror and a small statue. The gilded mirror and a small statue (not pictured) remind me of the charming Parisian apartment where we stayed during this trip to Paris. The petite Porte Vanves also makes finding small gifts to carry home an easy option.
Port Vanves Brocante - Heather Lindstrom on 2017-07-05.
For more on Vanves read Treasures and Trinkets at the Vanves Flea Market on Paris Perfect.
Are you a fan of shopping at flea markets?
Which one is your favorite?
A Parisian Apartment Style Brunch
One of the most alluring reasons to stay in a Parisian apartment while visiting Paris is savoring a taste of the French way of life. With a boulangerie, fruit market, grocery, patisserie, butcher and international market on nearly every block, it’s easy to gather the freshest, tastiest ingredients each day to create memorable bites.
Our Parisian Apartment style brunch in Paris
Brunch in the Parisian Apartment
One of the most alluring reasons to stay in a Parisian apartment while visiting Paris is savoring a taste of the French way of life. With a boulangerie, fruit market, grocery, patisserie, butcher and international market on nearly every block, it's easy to gather the freshest, tastiest ingredients each day to create memorable bites.
It doesn't have to be elaborate, though it can be, for us it was simple, fresh and flavorful. These are a few of the items we collected for brunch in the Parisian apartment in July. Pain au chocolate croissants, café crèmes, asparagus quiche, juicy peaches, and fresh scrambled eggs for one morning. This was our simple, fresh, tasty le petit déjeuner in the Parisian apartment.
(Click on images for slideshow)
Where is your favorite place to brunch?
For more on this romantic Parisian apartment.
To book your dream getaway to Paris contact us - Curated Travel.
Our Stay in a Romantic Parisian Apartment
With sparkling crystal chandeliers, vintage velvet couches, luxurious linens, time-worn books, a pastel collection of vintage plates, whimsical accents like a jaunty top hat, and a touch of animal print, the details of this apartment are charming. The skeleton wall, meticulously restored, is a nod to the early history of this charming space.
parisian-apartment-stylemindchiclife
Our Stay in a Romantic Parisian Apartment
Every now and then the opportunity arises to experience something truly memorable while traveling. Our stay in this romantic Parisian apartment was just that. My blogger friend, Corey Amaro, and her French Husband, Yann, created the classic Parisian apartment, back in 2013, with their renovation of his long owned apartment. In this light-filled pied-à-terre, on Rue du Chateau in the 14th Arrondissement in Paris, you will find all the Parisian romance you are seeking.
With sparkling crystal chandeliers, vintage velvet couches, luxurious linens, time-worn books, a pastel collection of vintage plates, whimsical accents like a jaunty top hat, and a touch of animal print, the details of this apartment are charming. The skeleton wall, meticulously restored, is a nod to the early history of this charming space.
Click on an image to view in slide show mode.
Corey purchased most of the antique pieces at Porte Vanves brocante nearby. It is a picture perfect market that she encouraged us to explore during our visit and we did. I will share more of our visit to the brocante, as well as other Parisian adventures, in an upcoming post.
The elegant bathroom gleamed as though lit from within with marble and shine. There are TWO (count them!) crystal chandeliers. You can't help but feel "slightly French" preparing for the day in this beautiful space. Corey has feathered the nest with all the creature comforts of home. Fluffy, fragrant white towels, every bath essential you could imagine, and delicious smelling French toiletries. This is surely a glimpse into the elegant and well-stocked Parisian home.
The bedroom is plush with luxurious linens, light filtering curtains, romantic sconce lighting, and charming details. The often photographed 'wall of maps' was a labor of love for Corey and is the perfect accent for this quintessential Parisian apartment.
This apartment is located in a true Parisian neighborhood, just as promised. Everything you want or need is easily reached by foot. The boulangerie, the café and bars just across the street, as well as fresh fruit stands, market, butcher, bistro, wine and cheese shops are within a short stroll. The metro line, #13 Pernety, is just a couple of blocks away and it is a direct line to the Champs Elysee and central Paris. This multi-cultural neighborhood adds to the unique Parisian charm of staying in the 14th.
Our time in Paris was just what we hoped it would be. Days started with a few quick few steps to the boulangerie across the street for café crèmes and croissants, strolling the neighborhoods, catching the metro to our typical haunts in the heart of Paris. A morning at Musee D'Orsay, lunch at our favorite St. Germain Cafe, a sunset ride on the Bateau Mouche on the Seine. If we weren't out late at a local café we enjoyed the cool evenings, windows thrown wide, enjoying a glass of wine in the shadows, watching the locals gather at the neighborhood bar just across the street. Sublime Parisian life!
If you are looking for a truly Parisian life experience, a stay at this romantic Parisian apartment is all the inspiration you need. If you are planning a trip to Paris, I have a number of recommendations to make your trip picture perfect. Contact me at Curated Travel.
Thank you to Corey and Yann for making our stay at your romantic Parisian apartment unforgettable.
*All Images Heather Lindstrom
An Afternoon in Picturesque Varenna on the Shores of Lake Como, Italy
There are places you stumble upon while traveling that simply need no explanation. On a hazy summer afternoon, we arrived by boat, from Bellagio. Between flashes of sunlight, bursts of showers, and a moody mist that wound around our afternoon, we experienced Varenna, on the shores of Lake Como. These images speak for themselves. Click on the gallery to open a slide show of charming Varenna.
Varenna, on the shores of Lake Como, Italy
There are places you stumble upon while traveling that simply need no explanation. On a hazy summer afternoon, we arrived by boat, from Bellagio. Between flashes of sunlight, bursts of showers, and a moody mist that wound around our afternoon, we experienced Varenna, on the shores of Lake Como. These images speak for themselves. Click on the gallery to open a slide show of charming Varenna.
When the skies opens up and you find yourself drenched like we were, seek shelter under a covered patio. Order up some yummy comfort food, like this Northern Italian style risotto, enjoy the decadence of the chocolate mousse and enjoy that chilled bottle of sauvignon blanc. We lingered at this lakeside restaurant, enjoying the view, our conversations and making some new friends on this cozy afternoon at Varenna.
Varenna was our last stop in Italy on our summer holiday.
Next stop-- PARIS!
