Local, Near and Far: Our journey of exploring the world.

Tag: France (Page 1 of 2)

A Day Trip to Versailles: A Photographic Stroll

The Palace of Versailles is easily the most opulent building in Europe!  What started as a hunting lodge, quickly became an extravagant home for the French royalty.  The palace and its beautiful grounds are now owned by the people of France.  Just a short train ride outside of Paris, we highly recommend a visit to this conveniently-located country estate.

When arriving, the crowds will be overwhelming.  However, the line moves quickly.  Spend some of your wait time by taking selfies, an absolute must before entering the Palace.

Rebekah & David at the Palace of Versailles

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The Art of Paris: Père Lachaise Cemetery

I proudly introduce my sister, Rachel Cabal, as a guest blogger.  Mom and Dad would would pile us in the van and take off for 1-2 week vacations across the US.  They officially gave us the travel bug.  We have spent time traveling in Texas, Belize, and recently met up in Madrid.  From Texas to Beyond is excited to bring you her unique perspectives as an incredibly talented care giver for the aging.  Rachel is a Licensed Recreational Coordinator for skilled nursing units, specializing in geriatrics.  Today Rachel is sharing her perspective on The Art of Paris.

Every day I get to go to work and encounter elders. I hear stories about spirituality, life’s work, family, loss and celebration, and TRAVEL. Reminiscing about travel is a favorite activity for our elders and they invite me to present my impressions of places they traveled years before. In my Paris presentation, I included Père Lachaise Cemetery.

You might imagine that a review of a cemetery wouldn’t be an interesting topic for folks in their later years, but I love to share that I understand death to be a part of life and that cemeteries are tangible celebrations of lives. Père Lachaise is a visual, physical, and spiritual experience not to be missed when visiting Paris.

Père Lachaise Cemetery - Jim Morrison's Grave

Jim Morrison’s Grave

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The Art of Paris: Monet’s Water Lilies at the Musée de l’Orangerie

The third art museum in The Art of Paris series is least known of the four museums we visited during our visit to Paris. Inside an old converted green house, the Musée de l’Orangerie offers Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces with less crowds.

While not as popular as the Musée d’Orsay’s Impressionist collection, l’Orangerie includes significant works by numerous French painters.

However, the headliner of the gallery is Claude Monet.

Rebekah at the Musée de l'Orangerie

Rebekah at the Musée de l’Orangerie

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The Art of Paris: The Stained Glass Windows of Sainte-Chapelle

In continuing our series, The Art of Paris, we have chosen to include the beautiful chapel, Sainte-Chapelle.  The artisans that created the stained glass windows must be celebrated and honored!  Walking into this chapel is like walking into your very own jewelry box filled with precious stones.

Upper Sanctuary Interior Sainte-ChapelleI had never heard of the destination until a cousin at a family reunion shared his experience with me.  He is an incredibly talented interior designer with exquisite taste.  Years ago, he stumbled upon this jewel and told me I had to go, so of course, I listened.

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The Art of Paris: Top 5 Experiences at the Musée d’Orsay

Continuing our ongoing series looking at Paris’ colorful art scene, the Musée d’Orsay houses France’s largest Impressionist art collection. If you love art, you absolutely need to schedule a visit to the Musée d’Orsay on your next trip to Paris.

The Orsay’s artistic focus ranges from 1848 to 1914, boasting countless works from blockbuster artists such as Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Toulouse-Lautrec, Rodin, Cézanne, Gauguin and van Gogh.

Naturally, the Orsay is a large museum, and the sheer volume of beautiful pieces of art can be overwhelming (not to mention the crowds). For example, the Musée d’Orsay owns 23 paintings by Claude Monet alone.

Musée d'Orsay - Clock Inside the Old Train Station

Clock Inside the Old Train Station

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