So, our trip to Paris was nothing short of amazing! Although we missed the Louvre because our plane was very late, we were able to go to Musee d’Orsay which is the home of the impressionist artists. We viewed the works of my favorite artists including Van Gogh and Degas. We saw the most famous paintings and sculptures along with lesser-known pieces. I know Degas mainly from his sculpture, and it was wonderful to see so many paintings that he created.

We also got to spend time at the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysees. Wandering around, we stumbled upon the famous La Fouquet’s restaurant. Our server, Renaud, was a delight and the cheeseboard he brought us was out of this world. We also visited the world-famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore. We happened by a movie set that was filming which was exciting to watch. The Eiffel Tower was beautiful, particularly at night when it would light and sparkle every hour. Versailles was just a train ride away, and it was exciting to see the architecture, parlors, and bedrooms in the palace. The hall of mirrors was eye catching. The gardens were breathtaking.

It’s incredible what a walkable city Paris is. We walked everywhere. Our hotel, Le Jardins d’ Eiffel, was so quaint – what you might call a boutique hotel. Every morning, we would walk across the street to the Notre Patisserie to get pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants). We were a short walking distance to a grocery store and pharmacy. We were also surrounded by cafes everywhere. And the food was unbelievable. Everything tastes better in Paris. One of our many memorable meals took place at La Campanella. Stef had the lamb, and I had the roast duck with pear sauce. We will definitely be going back there on our next trip to Paris.

I was surprised just how many French people speak English. All i had to say was,”Parles-tu anglais?”They would often say, “Just a little.” It turns out their “little” bit of English was a lot! They were also all super nice. Many people say that the French don’t like Americans, but that was not my experience. Every person we encountered was delightful.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Seine river. Artists, and merchants all have bouquinistes or booths to sell their wares. We found two small oil on canvas paintings of the Eiffel Tower and a street in Paris. We had them framed, and they now adorn the wall next to the front door.

We had such a wonderful time in Paris, that we plan to return…Maybe even this year!

Stay Groovy…

Susie

So I’ve been traveling for a few days, and I had the pleasure of going to the Meininger Family Reunion in Melbourne Beach. Shout out to Dad, Mom, Tammy, and Bob for all of their hard work. It was an amazing weekend. I’ll be writing more about it in forthcoming posts.

But today I had coffee on the brain because we are out of it here at home. This means my son, Ethan, is walking around none too happy. I suggested a coffee run…

So we’re at the Melbourne Beach Hilton which we visit every year. Everything about this hotel is fantastic, but I found one area they can improve. We had yet to make the in-room coffee, so I suggested Ethan give it a try. Bad idea…Bad…Bad…

There was an odd little coffee maker on top of the refrigerator. It came with these coffee filled disks, cream, sugar…the works. Ethan anticipated his coffee jones would be met by this little machine. It was not…To quote Ethan: “Mom, it looks and tastes like murky water.”

We headed to the lobby with the plan to drive around and find a cup when we ran into some of our family: Debbie, Katie, Danny, and our good friend Robin. They were holding steaming cups of the best smelling coffee. Turns out there is a coffee bar in the lobby. Ethan was extremely happy!

So Melbourne Beach Hilton, since everything else about your establishment is top-notch, I say ditch the in-room coffee makers and just direct everyone to the lobby. It’s a great place to meet up and catch your morning cup o’ joe.

 

Stay groovy…

–Susie

(Copyright 2019 Susie Krivacic)

 

 

So my passport arrived today. And I was jumping up and down and squealing like a child on the playground of a schoolyard. So why does this official document hold so much joy for me?

I think it’s what a passport represents…

Freedom…

I can now travel…out of the country…

I can visit anywhere I have dreamed of…

Paris…

 

Stay groovy…

–Susie

(Copyright 2019 Susie Krivacic)

 

 

A recent survey revealed that “Sand is thicker than blood: Summer travelers prefer beach over family…”

For your summer excursions, ”…you might be starting to plan that big trip to visit the folks or other family. Unless, that is, you’re like many travelers and you’re planning on hitting the beach instead. That’s among the findings of the 2012 Flip Flop Report, a global survey sponsored by Expedia.com… When asked if they could take only one holiday, 33 percent of respondents said they’d prefer the beach vs. 10 percent who said they’d want to visit family or relatives.”

Referenced: (https://www.today.com/money/sand-thicker-blood-summer-travelers-prefer-beach-over-family-survey-775242)

Well my family has discovered a wonderful way to have the best of both worlds. For a long weekend each summer, the 37 of us gather at the Hilton Melbourne Beach (https://hilton.hiltonwifi.com/MLBHIHF/) for some family fun in the sun.

When we were all young, gathering was far easier. My parents had what we call the original six kids. Over the years, we have all become adults, married, had children, and now our children are having children. The group has grown larger every year. We’re scattered not only throughout Florida, but in Georgia, Washington DC, and New York.

We try to meet up during the holidays, but often some or many can’t make it. Therefore the Family Reunion has become our touchstone. The date is set far in advance and we visit the same Hilton each year. My sister, Tammy, makes the magic happen.

So each summer we gather at the beach, boogie board, build sand castles, fish, enjoy delicious cuisine, imbibe in “adult beverages” (only for those over 21), visit, talk, and laugh…oh we do laugh!! We catch up on the events of our lives whether major or minor, enjoy our photos in matching shirts, and bask in the joy of family. And one of my favorite moments is when we receive our memory book from the previous reunion. It’s a beautiful chronology of our lives.

So if you’re debating over whether to visit family or go to the beach this summer, I say do both. Time flies; we don’t know how long we have. So make the calls, make the reservations, and make the memories.

Stay Groovy…

–Susie