Ciaotraveler

Imagine my surprise to see these doggies with their "buddy" riding down a country highway in Central California...they are way too cute aren't they?? 

          Historic   Stone Villa in Tuscany                               AD photos                       See photos...

French Inspired Chateau du Sureau I was sorry to see that Chateau du Sureau and The Elderberry House (restaurant) are both up for sale.  I'm featuring it because it's nearby and has  a long standing tradition for being a 5 Star  hotel-restaurant rating.   Nestled at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada (Oakhurst), at the gateway to Yosemite National Park lies The Estate by the Elderberries, which is comprised of: The Elderberry House, Chateau du Sureau, Villa du Sureau, and Spa du Sureau...a destination of choice for discriminating patrons.  Continue...

Pillow Talk Give me a couple of pillows and I'm happy! Warm and cozy, cool or crisp, pillows are a home's way to provide comfort.  Mixing fabrics in pillow groupings increases visual interest in a room.  Stripes, florals, checks in similar hues make rooms feel comfortable and welcoming.   I still have pillows that I've made from over 30 years ago, they don't ever wear out, as long as you take care of them. Pillows can be made from old lace or new designer place napkins. See more...

 Previously, I featured a post on Rochefort en Terre , Brittany, France which is possibly the prettiest town in France.  Here are more photos of the Brittany region in France.  More...

The 68th Venice Film Festival boasts a strong line-up in 2011. The world première films include Tomas Alfredson's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy , starring Gary Oldman and Colin Firth; David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method starring Keira Knightley and Michael Fassbender, plus George Clooney's The Ides Of March which features Clooney himself, with Marisa Tomei and Philip Seymour Hoffman.  Continue...

I snapped these photos just several weeks before the 9/11/2001 disaster while I was vacationing in the East with my son. God Bless America The Memorial More photos ...

Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris  (Dior Spa) This posh hotel is where BIG reunited with Carrie in the first Sex and the City movie.

These are really Painted Rocks!   (See Artist Shana's work on my  Tromp l'Oeil  post) continue...

    Etsy finds for Parties and Gifts today: Cupcake papers: Cupcake Social;  Cupcake box, polka dot box, placecards: the Posh Event;  Fortunes:Lisa Chun See more...

and counting...thanks for reading and hope you view many more of my posts... more photos...

Top: Portugal, Ireland, France and Britain Who Drinks the Most? From country to country around the world, people’s relationship with alcohol varies greatly. In some places it serves as a point of national identity, and in others it has become detrimental to a country's overall health.   This data is presented by average annual per capita alcohol consumption (in liters of pure alcohol), drawing from both recorded sales figures and estimates of unrecorded usage, as well as further breaking it down by type of alcohol consumed.   As far as alcohol consumption goes, the United States is middle-of-the-pack , consuming only 9.44 liters of alcohol per person, per year, which is approximately half of the most heavily drinking countries.  One major trend: males consume more than females. This fact may not surprise most people, but there is only one county where this trend is reversed: Ecuador. See the list...

Europeans love their fresh brewed coffee and brewing it is as much of an art as it is a science.  Most coffee lovers say t he best way to control the time and temperature is to use a French press coffee maker , thus making it the best coffee making process.  The French press offers unparalleled flavor due to perfect extraction time and delivery of the volatile oils that are often trapped in paper filters. A French press is also the least expensive coffee brewer available.  To Make French Press Coffee read on...

From Italy Mag This is standard fare all over Italy after a hot summer meal. The wine is usually the red that was served with the meal, preferably a fruity one. At dinner parties, peach wedges are often presented on a large bowl of ice cubes. An easy but delicious "peach sangria" Italian style! Ingredients (per glass) 2-3 very ripe peaches A glass of chilled fruity red Italian wine such as Bardolino, Montepulciano D’Abbruzzo or Cerasualo di Vittoria. Slice the peaches into big wedges and place them in a glass. Pour in some wine until peach slices are covered and allow to soak for about 10 minutes, then use a fork to lift the marinated peaches from the wine and eat them …simply a beautiful habit!

Villa Toscana  is a popular name for all sorts of establishments around the US and Europe.  It can be anything from a restaurant, inn, clinic, plaza...  I love the name but don't want to feature every VT around the nation so here' s  Villa Toscana  in  Paso Robles , CA. and the  Villa Toscana , near Florence in  Italy .  Read on...

Upper left: Rustic in Rockport, Maine  Upper Right: Contemporary in Beverly Hills Lower left:   New England charmer Lower right:   Southern Stonecroft remodel from Hooked on Houses.                                                                               Thanks HonH; Curbed; WSJ Which one do you like the most?  Comment at end of post.

This infinity pool would be scary but exciting to use at least once.   Find this at the  Joule Hotel in Dallas Texas  (So.Living Mag) Californians have enjoyed the gorgeous  Neptune Pool at Hearst's Castle  (below) while touring Hearst Castle but did you know it's one of the 10 most extraordinary pools in the world?   I do like the old world design and Hearst flew in all of the Grecian and Roman columns, re-doing it several times before it was right.  Read on...

  The Maze at Leed's Castle ("The Loveliest Castle") i Kent, Eng. Hedge mazes were first gardens of decorative designs, edged with small hedges. Between the hedges was gravel, or flowers, or herbs, or grass.      It's a pleasant feeling to wander between the hedges. But as the hedges were made higher, it meant that you couldn't grow flowers or herbs any more. Finally, you have a full-size maze, where you can get lost (as I did).   Mazes are fun but can be very frustrating if you don't know where you're going, read on...

I've only been to Barcelona and Pamplona, Spain for the Bullfights and the Running of the Bulls (San Fermin Festival) but the food is very memorable...we ate paella every night to be exact.  However, in many of the larger cities, p eople gather in the streets to "food crawl" for tapas and wines late into the evening.   Tapas is more than a food, it's a "lifestyle" in Spain.  A nnie Sibonney  (above) knows Spain. After starting her own culinary tour company, she's spent the past five years eating her way through the rich cooking history of the country in search of the most memorable meals and culinary pleasures.  I love her show on Sunday mornings.  She recently featured Tapas on her show, read on...

Clips by ala-Parisienne The  Via Fillungo, Lucca, IT. The last time we visited Lucca, the fashionable window dressings along the Via Fillungo (main street) were filled with purple clothing and accessories.  When it's hot it's hot.  Cousin Nina even bought a purple leather purse!  That was cool...but the new Euro Pink is somewhere between muted salmon, fuchsia and a great raspberry tea --whichever you prefer. See more...