Real Travel Adventures
International
NEW Articles
Adventure Travels
Stories & Photos
by Bonnie & Bill Neely
by Patty Burness, Photos by
Bo Links
By Victoria L. Cooksey
by Ron Kapon
by Alvin Starkman
Some of the trips described in RealTravelAdventures.com were free "fam" trips. However, as professional writers, we never write what, in our opinion, is not a true evaluation of a place. If we do not like a place we visit we say so, or we simply do not write about it.
Enjoy our past features below:
INTERNATIONAL
MAGAZINE
Paid ads below:
Timeshares can be found in almost every adventure travel
destination in the world. Whether you're looking for underwater exploration or extreme mountain climbing,
there's a timeshare resort that's perfect for you. Staying in a
timeshare
is the perfect way to enjoy comfort and relaxation after a long day of outdoor adventures.
International
Travel Adventures
Stories & Photos
We average nearly a half million unique visitors a year.
Advertise on our site. We have the best rates on the Internet!
We average over 1,000 unique visitors a DAY.
If you travel for more that just a look-see, visit the excellent new Philosophical Traveller for indepth perspectives on places around the world. Click here . You'll find our podcasts there also to listen while you do other work on your computer.
Your FREE online travel magazine e-zine of exciting travel adventures, travel reviews, travel photos from all ages and lifestyles of real travel in US and the world. International travel adventure - travel adventure magazine - travel reviews - trip planner - road trip planner - travel news - Real Travel Adventures Ezine with Book Review and Travel Guides for good reads and good listens on your trips and international travel adventures.
Sharing Travel Adventures & Adventure Travel
Discover Great get-aways, budget stays, and luxury travel to Dream About .Choose from Hundreds of Travel Reviews and and book reviews Outdoor and Nature Photos
Get Your Travel Review Published here!
INTERNATIONAL
MAGAZINE
Walking in Marie's Steps
© 2010 By Victoria L. Cooksey
Though the Illinois snow tried to cancel my flight, I still made it safe once more across the Atlantic to Paris, France, just in time to welcome 2010. Parisian food, art and architecture are all pluses to bring visitors to this city, but there is also the opportunity to literally walk where kings and queens have, especially a certain queen known for her fashion sense and losing her head, Marie Antoinette.
Marie Antoinette was born Maria Antonia in Austria the year 1755. (Her name was changed to sound more French). In 1770 she married Louis XVI, in 1774 she became queen. (The same year another fashion icon, Georgiana, became the Duchess of Devonshire in England and a short time later, in 1775, our George Washington assumed command of the militia). In 1793 Marie went to the guillotine.
We shall begin tracing her steps backwards from the place she met her end, to where she spent her remaining days and finish by relishing in the full splendor of the ultimate pleasure Chateau, Versailles. Don't worry. It's not all about history. We will also find time to shop and
eat, bien sur!
First stop: Place du la Concorde where Marie and over a thousand others lost their heads. In fact the obelisk of Luxor marks the exact spot where Louis the XVI met his end. Metro stop Concorde will take you directly to this area. Turn one way and the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe awaits, the opposite reveals the Tuileries and the Louvre whereMona Lisa awaits your arrival behind bullet proof glass. (That's one lady who knows how to protect herself). If walking is not your thing, but shopping is, take metro Concorde to metro Madeline for happy little nibbles and gorgeous things at Fauchon, Hediard, La Maison du Truffle and most important, Laduree at 16 rue Royale to purchase enough macaroons and pastries to fill one of their coveted green signature bags.
Next stop: the Conciergerie a former prison which looks like a castle on the outside, but was the last place Marie called home. Cite is the closet metro stop. The Conciergerie rests on the Ile de la Cite, the same island as Notre Dame. For an energy boost take the small bridge (behind Notre Dame) connecting Ile de la Cite to Ile St. Louis for a cone of the famous Berthillon ice cream All their flavors rock, but I highly recommend the white chocolate or salted caramel. The cherry sorbet will give a pleasant pucker. On the same Rue de St. Louis en Lâ'TIle stop by Cacao et Chocolat for cocoa covered roasted cocoa beans, chocolate covered candied orange peel and luscious hot chocolate to go.Marie had a small cell in the Conciergerie where a replica now stands where a mannequin Marie dressed in mourning garb bows it's head in respect for Louis XVI who proceeded Marie to the guillotine. Marie insisted on wearing the colors of mourning even though it was considered
a sign of her attempt to hold onto her aristocratic position. It was her wish to wear these colors to the end, but it was forbidden. Instead she wore a simple white dress. Another area reveals a small courtyard where a patch of sky taunted prisoners who would never be free again. While looking up notice the inner courtyard is lined with spikes to dissipate thoughts of escape.
If saving money appeals to you, purchase a combo ticket for both the Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle to save a couple euro. Be warned, the line to Sainte Chapelle (a Gothic chapel) takes awhile because of asecurity check. If you are hungry after both visits, and you know you will be, cross the street, boulevard du Palais, to find a lovely cafe, Les Deux Palais, awaiting you with delicious, and actually quick, steak and fries.
Our final stop is Versailles. Originally, Versailles began life as a hunting lodge of sorts, and grew into a place that when you visit you will think to yourself "These people had more money than they knew what to do with." Grass not pleasing enough? Marble the outside courtyard. Look as far as you can see; that's just the garden. To get to
Versailles you will need to take a RER train (Rick Steve's Paris map shows all metro and RER stops throughout the city) Purchase a roundtrip ticket, and save those tickets, you will need them to get back out. (Mine required validation at the beginning, but when I returned I needed the second ticket to get out of the turnstile at my original starting point). Go early. Go early. Go early. Got the hint? Be there at 9 a.m. for opening time, or wait in an insanely long line. My favorite spot is the Hall of Mirrors. Marie walked through here on her way to her wedding, and even the treaty to end the First World War was signed in this room in 1919. To me it is pure decadence, which is the way I prefer to remember Marie Antoinette living her life.
For more information
www.chateauversailles.fr,
www.cacaoetchocolat.com,
read Queen of Fashion by Caroline Weber to see how fashion can bring about both power and destruction,
watch the DVD Marie Antoinette starring Kirsten Dunst before and after your visit to Versailles.
Victoria L. Cooksey is the author of three cookbooks including Cooking
with Cooksey. She travels as often as possible. Contact Victoria at
Find the best cheap cruise deal along with cruise reviews, news and opinions at cruiselinefans.com
Wherever you plan to go on your travel adventures, be sure to purchase
the right travel insurance If you plan to be away for a few months then you will need a backpacker travel insurance policy, most of which now include up to two weeks ski or winter sports cover.
_____________________________________________________
 |
 |
 |
|
||
 |
|
 |
|
||
Book & Audio Reviews For Your Travels
Subscribers:So that your free subscription is not mistaken for spam,
Please copy & paste our E-mail address into your address book: mail@realtraveladventures.com
It's that simple!
Real Travel Adventures International Magazine
Adventure Travels in your Free Ezine
If any links don't work
Thanks for visiting us!
Real Travel Adventures International Magazine
Real and Armchair Travelers: Enjoy best trip reviews, travel features, and excellent travel photos in RealTravelAdventures.com, your FREE on-line international magazine. Send your funny or outrageous travel experiences & photos and get published!
Visit or dream of fascintating places with Real Travel Adventures e-zine! This site offers travel humor, photos, stories, helpful guidebooks, and more. Visit for fun or to seek tips for your next travel adventure...and then share your own stories with us here at
realtraveladventures.com, your free online travel magazine, where you'll find great book reviews, international travel adventures magazine, airline tickets, real travel adventures, camping, RV travel, RV's, Cruises, restaurant reviews, RVing, FamilyTrips, traveling with kids and children, Nature and eco trips, ecology, international travel, Ski Trips, Spas, Spiritual Retreats, interviews with Special People, Travel Humor, Travel News, Unbelievable, WeddingTrips, restaurant reviews and advisor, traveling adventures, adventure travels, travel, virtual and armchair travel, Back Roads, off the beaten path, where to go Camping and enjoy RV trips, where to Dine and Sleep, fun Family Trips, our Favorite Finds, Arts and Crafts, cruises and cruise vacations, romantic trips, traveling tips, travel stories, audio book reviews for your travels, books reviews, good books for a trip, wedding trip planner, wedding Trips, Honeymoons, Unbelievable adventures, Travel News, humorous travel stories, spas and retreats, spiritual retreats, meditation retreats, ski trips, week-end trips Near You, nature's Best places, ecology trips, travel guide books, traveling with children, e-zines, FREE Ezines, Free travel magazines, magazine, free online magazines, internet magazines, free magazine subscriptions, web magazines, true stories, humorous articles, funny features, human interest features, nature photos, environment photographs, photos, adventurous stories, real true stories, true adventrues, camping gear, vacation, holidays, safaris, Caribbean vacations, cheap hotels, great places to go, nature hikes, nature photography, family vacations, family holidays, trip planner, great trips, scenic photos, holiday vacations, holidays, holiday stories, foreign destinations, International travel trips. And you can Get published here too! Send us your travel stories and pictures.
© 2010 Bonita Productions Inc.
If you wish to use our features or photos you must first contact us