The Manolo Valdés Exhibit : Château de Chambord, France

Like Deredia in Rome, people usually either love or hate this kind of exhibit where modern art meets an old settings. Personally, I love it. I thought the Manolo Valdés exhibit at the Château de Chambord in France was dynamic because of the setting in this historical Loire Valley Château.

My visit to the Manolo Valdés exhibit at the Château de Chambord

Kids’ Book Review: The Very Funny “Miss Lisa”

As a short departure from my usual stories, I will be putting up reviews of kids’ books that I think are entertaining for adults and kids as well as educational. If you’re not interested or don’t have kids, don’t worry, I will be back to my typical posts next time. But for those with your own kids or have kids in your family, I think you will find these books very entertaining.

FYI-I didn’t receive any compensation for this book review. I personally stumbled upon this book and think that it is something parents as well as kids will find entertaining as well as being educational.

The book is called Miss Lisa and it’s from the Musée du Louvre publishing. The French edition is called Mademoiselle Lisa. The text and illustrations are by Delphine Perret and for kids approximately 3-35 years old.

It’s so clever and hilarious, your kids will love it and so will you!

Bastille Day Celebration in Paris 2010

Bastille Day in Paris kicked off with a parade down the Champs Élysées...

As it got closer to 11pm, massive crowds (even larger than I saw on New Year's Eve) started to form around the Eiffel Tower and on the bridges for a clear view of the Trocadéro, where the fireworks would be displayed. The video I shot of the fireworks finale doesn't do the show justice. The whole show was about 30 minutes long with theatrical displays of music, lights and a tremendous amount of fireworks. It was the best fireworks display I've ever seen.

My first Bastille Day celebration in Paris

Road Trip Loire Valley France!- Château de Chambord

Planning for my spring road trip through France's Loire Valley began with the Château de Chambord. The famous Château de Chambord was the reason I got in a Smart Car and took off through the sprawling fields of poppies and pastures, along the way waving at the superb butter producing cows. Mr. MuseumChick was in it for the wine.

See the Château de Chambord with me!

Charles de Gaulle at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris

The other day I was in Paris, venturing to the Musée de Louvre's late night opening. Walking from the artsy Marais district to the Louvre I passed the Hôtel de Ville. The regal Hôtel de Ville usually has people gathered around in front enjoying the weather and this time I spotted a picture of Charles de Gaulle done in a collage of small portraits to make the one big portrait of de Gaulle.

Showing Patriotism on the 4th of July with French Wine and Cheese (and a US Capitol Building Post)

When everybody at home is gorging themselves on BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs while waiting for fireworks, I'll be celebrating the United States Independence Day from Paris with wine and cheese (because hotdogs are hard to find).

Thinking of home during the Fourth of July prompted me to recall my visit last February to Washington DC and the Capitol Building with my aunt and cousin. My history buff cousin organized getting us a tour of the Capitol Building (my first time there) and later that day we museum hopped at the largest museum complex in the world, the Smithsonian.

My visit the US Capitol Building...

Bordier's Maison du Beurre in St. Malo France

Posting about butter and cheese may be a stretch for a MuseumChick blog post but the topic is about culture (pun intended). Besides, it's my blog and I'll derail if I want to! But, I'm not posting about my awesome French butter experience just because I want to. I also know you would like to hear about where the best butter in the world is found and how it is made (who doesn't like to talk about great food?). I don't have to test all the butter in the world to know that Jean Yves Bordier is the master of butter making and I found a whole Maison du Beurre of his amazing lactose products in St Malo, France.