16 Sunday Dec 2012
Tags
Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Gaudi, La Pedrera, Spain
Mr. Selfish and I really enjoyed Casa Milà, so we decided to go to Casa Batlló as well. It is another apartment building that was remodeled by Gaudi from 1904-06. Although Casa Batlló was a bit flashier, we enjoyed the views from Casa Milà more.
15 Saturday Dec 2012
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Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Gaudi, La Pedrera, Spain
Mr. Selfish and I spent the week of Thanksgiving in Barcelona. We stayed in a lovely apartment with his parents and his sister. It was nice to have some family time during our selfish year.
Barcelona is known for its Gaudi architecture. I found it interesting that Antoni Gaudi died from his injuries from a tram accident. He was dressed like a bum and no one recognized him at the hospital until it was too late. Gaudi was certainly a character, and his architecture showed his crazy way of thinking.
My favorite work of Gaudi is Casa Milà (better known as La Pedrera). It is an apartment building that was built from 1905-1910 and was designed for a married couple – the Milàs. It was innovative since the façade is self-supporting and an underground car garage was built. I particularly liked the wrought iron decoration of the balconies and windows.
14 Friday Dec 2012
Posted in Flashback, Food & Drinks, North America
Tags
Flashback, Florida, Orange Juice, Orange Tree, Oranges, Orlando, Winter Park
Prior to leaving on our selfish year, Mr. Selfish and I moved out of house in Winter Park, Florida and rented it for a year. We had an orange tree in the backyard that would produce dozens of oranges during November and December. We would harvest the oranges and make delicious, sweet orange juice every year.
Unfortunately, we just heard word that our orange tree has died and needs to be taken down. We loved that orange tree, and it was one of the things I really missed about having a home in Florida – fresh orange juice. This flashback post is dedicated to our orange tree.
13 Thursday Dec 2012
Posted in Europe, Food & Drinks
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Mr. Selfish and I took a day trip from Nice, France to Monaco. It was a simple and cheap twenty-minute train ride from Nice. Monaco is the second smallest country in the world. The following photos are our first views of Monaco as we left the train station. Right away, I knew it was going to be a good day.
13 Thursday Dec 2012
Mr. Selfish and I have arrived in Lisbon. This is our 26th and last city on our European/North African tour. We are here for four days in Lisbon and then we leave for the States. We are quite excited to be going home. Can’t wait to see everyone for the holidays!
For those of you interested, here’s the map of our last four months:
12 Wednesday Dec 2012
Posted in Europe, Food & Drinks, France
Tags
Castle Hill, Fenocchio, France, Henri Matisse, Ma Yucca, Monastère de Cimiez, Musée Matisse, Nice, Place Rossetti
After our culinary adventures in Lyon were over, Mr. Selfish and I took the four-hour train to Nice. Nice sits on the French Rivera and, during the summer time, is the playground of the rich. Elton John and even Paul Allen own homes in Nice. However, when we were there, it was low season and pretty deserted, which is how we like it.
11 Tuesday Dec 2012
Posted in Europe, Food & Drinks, France
Mr. Selfish and I wanted to explore the wine regions around Lyon, but we didn’t have a car. Instead, we had to settle on taking a day trip to the Beaujolais region. The drive from Lyon to Beaujolais was quite lovely.
10 Monday Dec 2012
Posted in Europe, Food & Drinks, France
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I had read that Lyon was the gastronomic capital of France (and possibly the world). After spending six weeks in Paris and very much enjoying the food there, I had high hopes for Lyon, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The most memorable food that I ate in Lyon was the pink pralines. Mr. Selfish and I were wandering the old town of Lyon and came upon a long line. We have taken to joining these long lines because there is usually a reason for the line. This time, the line was for a bakery, which specialized in Lyonnaise pralines. These Lyonnaise pralines are different from the pralines that we are used to in the States. Although they are still almonds in sugar, they are not caramelized (unlike the American counterparts), which makes the texture nice and crumbly. We had some bread with pralines and it was divine.
09 Sunday Dec 2012
Although the weather was a bit chilly, Mr. Selfish and I enjoyed Lyon. We particularly enjoyed the Roman ruins and the Parc de la Tête d’Or.
The Roman ruins are on the hilltop near the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière. They may not be as impressive as the ruins in Rome but they were free and pretty empty.
08 Saturday Dec 2012
Mr. Selfish and I took the four-hour train from Paris to Lyon and stayed in Lyon for four days. There are two very beautiful churches in Lyon – the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon.
Upon our arrival in Lyon, we saw the Basilica from afar. It was nighttime and the Basilica was all lit up. Interestingly, Lyon has a miniature tower just like Paris. I didn’t tire of this view and kept photographing it in different light.
07 Friday Dec 2012
Posted in Europe, Flashback, Food & Drinks
Tags
Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge, Czech Republic, Old Royal Palace, Old Town, Prague, Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral
In 2008, after stopping in Budapest for a couple of days, Mr. Selfish and I took a train to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Mr. Selfish had previously visited Prague and had assured me that I would love it.
I particularly enjoyed Old Town and the Charles Bridge. Old Town has the main square and the Astronomical Clock. Right next to the main square was the first time that I can remember having truly thick hot chocolate and loving it.
06 Thursday Dec 2012
After a relaxing day in Nantes, my aunt and I took a road trip around the beachy areas of Brittany. First, we stopped at a beach near Pornic called La Bernerie en Retz.
05 Wednesday Dec 2012
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Biscuit Lu, Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, Cathédrale Saint Pierre, Château des ducs de Bretagne, Day Trip, France, Jardin des Plantes, Nantes
My aunt graciously invited me to visit her in Nantes, France. I gladly took the two hour train from Paris to get to know my aunt better and see the beautiful city of Nantes.
Nantes is located in the Brittany area of France, which is the western corner of France. In 2004, Nantes was rated as the “most liveable city in Europe” by Times magazine. It was indeed a very liveable and lovely city.
First, my aunt took me to the Château des ducs de Bretagne (Castle of the Dukes of Brittany). It was the residence of the Dukes of Brittany between the 13th and 16th centuries.
04 Tuesday Dec 2012
Posted in Europe, Food & Drinks, France, Paris
Mr. Selfish and I had our best meal in Paris in the 17th Arrondissement at Le Relais de Venise. The line outside is always ridiculously long and they don’t take reservations, but it’s worth of the wait.
03 Monday Dec 2012
Posted in Europe, Food & Drinks, France, Paris
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I previously posted about the night life in the 18th Arrondissement, which is the red light district of Paris, but you can also spend your daylight hours in the 18th. Of course, the Sacre Coeur is beautiful, and it always fun to lounge about and enjoy the view. We even saw an amazing dancer/acrobat/street performer right in front.
The Selfish Years 
