Sunday, July 31, 2011

Gorgeous Greece!


The second part of our holiday was in Greece where we went to a traditional Greek wedding ... two beautiful Australians with Greek heritage married on Paros and it was spectacular!  Alexander was best man and it was the experience of a lifetime ....



beautiful sunsets .......


Paros Poros beach ....


anyone for a little tennis?


we went to this beautiful restaurant on our last night in Paros and it was just wonderful ... I loved the interiors ... so beachy, clean lines, the rope artwork and timber floors ....






This was our bed in our Mykonos hotel .... YUM!!!!! 



another gorgeous sunset whilst having dinner on Mykonos ... I had the risotto and it was wonderful!  Lisa at Hamptontoes loves my risotto but Lisa I  think you would have loved this one!



Dominic and Georgiana at dinner ....


I am loving this wicker chair ......



Cycladic architecture is beautiful with white buildings, blue domed roof-tops ....


Whilst at our hotel we met a relative purely by chance from Ireland .... it was incredible ....my maiden name is O'Driscoll (very Irish ~ County Cork) .... Patrick had his cap on which read "Pat O'Driscoll" Real Estate as he has them for advertising ... we met these lovely people and decided that we must be related as Lisa's parents hailed from County Cork as well!   

what can I say ... pink wicker!!!!


pink sunbeds!!!!!


just a little bit of orange to throw into the mix ....
perfection!!!!!  Hope you all had a great week-end!

best wishes always
M.A. the 2nd

 photo signature-29_zps152a2019.png

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Thank-you and Sorry!

I just wanted to thank-you you all for such lovely comments on our holiday and it was an absolute pleasure to share it with you!

Also, I wanted to say sorry as I am still unable to comment on many blogs and I am listing them below ~ there may be others as well but these are the ones I have identified.  I am still reading your blogs and loving them .... I just need a computer technician!

http://www.chicprovence.blogspot.com/  Kit good luck with the wedding ... I know it will be fabulous!  You will do a wonderful job!

http://www.victoriainteriors.blogspot.com/  Victoria I have loved reading about your beautiful southern holiday and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" is one of my favourite books and movies!  Have a wonderful time!  Was that sunrise or sunset .... it was perfect!

http://www.theenchantedhome.blogspot.com/ Tina ... thank-you for your gorgeous comments on our trip to Paris ... it was magical and it was a pleasure sharing them with you all ..... I know that we all love these incredible buildings of history and architecture and to be there and see them and live it is overwhelming! 

http://www.chateaudelille.blogspot.com/  Fiona I am so sorry as it is impossible for me to comment on your beautiful blog!  I thought of you in Paris and knew immediately that you would love it all!  P.S. love the shoes!

http://www.belgianpearls.blogspot.com/  Greet I hope you have a wonderful holiday in your beautiful part of the world!  I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!  Love the cabinetry you are working on for the office/library and then putting a table in there for a more relaxed feel!

http://www.karinagentinetta.blogspot.com/  Dear Karina ... after talking to you last week it cemented in me how far away we are but by a phone call we connected!  We will meet dear friend!  Keep up all your beautiful work as it is so inspiring.

http://www.mademoiselle-poirot.com/ I am so sorry also for not commenting as I am struggling with blogger .... however, it is so lovely to see your work as always.

I know this hasn't covered everyone but I will keep trying to rectify the situation .... have a great night and my best wishes to you all ......

hugs
M.A. the 2nd
 photo signature-29_zps152a2019.png

Monday, July 25, 2011

Versailles, Le Petite Trianon and Gordon Ramsay!


I am so sorry but I have to give you some more of France ...... this was a trip to Versailles and the Chateau incorporating Le Petite Trianon ... above is the gorgeous stairway in Le Petite Trianon which has Marie Antoinette's initials carved into the black iron balustrading .....


I was very excited to see this room at Le Petite Trianon ... it was Marie Antoinette's private rooms behind her bedroom and the blues, the architectural detailing and the gilded sconces are perfect ....


the parquet flooring and the little round table ....


the panelling is exquisite .... notice the egg and dart motif at dado level ...


please sit and rest awhile .......


the incomparable Versailles Gardens ....


we found Laduree at Versailles as well .... heaven!


do you remember in the movie "Marie Antoinette" ... this is where she arrived .....


Alexander and I waiting for a buggy to explore the gardens ....






bust of Marie Antoinette in Le Petite Trianon ...





the music room in Le Petite Trianon ....








Alex enjoying the view ... all the other boys were playing golf!


Le Petite Trianon .... side view ...


I am waiting for my call .... are they missing a Marie Antoinette in the dressing room!!!!! 



Andrew and Dominic at Gordon Ramsay ... beautiful boys!


now this is a dessert .... yum!


The French Boys were amazing ... what a wonderful experience ....


the "Blues Brothers"  ......
Pat and Andrew
Thank-you Paris for a life-time of magical memories ....
bon nuit ....
 photo signature-29_zps152a2019.png

Sunday, July 17, 2011

"Laduree, Luxembourg Gardens and Le Grand Colbert!"


A trip to Paris is not complete without a visit or many to the famous Laduree!  This time we visited and partook of a late lunch at the Laduree on the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. 


as you know I have said many times how exquisite the confections are and they are just as breathtaking to see and taste them ..... they are truly works of art and the attention to detail and packaging complete an artform that I admire so much .....




a trip to Paris in the summer is not complete without a visit to the Tuileries Gardens and the accompanying carnivale!  Georgiana absolutely loved it and the best part was the giant ferris wheel where we were treated to some of the best views in Paris .... above the Louvre and the "Pyramids" designed by I.M. Pei.



we also had dinner at Le Grand Colbert in Rue Vivienne ... made famous from the movie "Something's Gotta Give".  The restaurant is the scene where Keanu Reeves and Diane Keaton are having dinner and Jack Nicholson walks in and joins them!  It is a great scene and a fabulous restaurant!  Apparantly, they told us that Diane Keaton eats there frequently when she is in Paris and once said to them the next movie I do I am going to put the restaurant in it!  This is my sister-in-law, Cathy and my neice, Brigid.



we did a great deal of walking which is the best way to see Paris .... then when you get too tired you jump on the open top buses which are also great for information and views above the street line.  The Eiffel Tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel to celebrate the anniversary of the French Revolution and built in 1889.  It is located on the Champs des Mars.  It has become the icon of Paris and every night in summer on the hour it lights up and looks like a glittering diamond....


Brigid and Georgiana enjoying divine ice-creams on our walk to Luxembourg Gardens ....


I absolutely just had to take a photo of this gorgeous building ..... look at the architectural detailing of the stonework, the black iron Juliet balcony and the "PINK DRAPES"  ... I so wanted to go inside and imagine what it would be like to live there .....


                                   Luxembourg Gardens .......


More Laduree ....... but of course .... who can resist ...



I just had to get this picture of Andrew sitting in Laduree in in his pink polo!  How perfect .... colour co-ordinated to perfection!



I promised I would drink a toast to Kristin and I did indeed with this chardonnay ....


and the ladies room ..... perfect pink and grey ..... I did get some odd looks but I explained .... Australian interior designer in Paris .... they understood immediately .... look at the marble skirtings!






and of course we took some treats back to our hotel .....





this gorgeous chambre maid was so sweet and I asked her if she would have a photo with me to which she willingly obliged ......



just a couple of the hotel Georges V courtyard .... I am still drooling at the tents with stripe lining ... it actually is a Manuel Canovas fabric that I can get so I am inspired  ..... I am thinking poolside at our place perhaps!





we called Andrew and Pat the "blues brothers" ....





the Church of the Dome at les Invalides ....



Sacre Coeur or "Sacred Heart"


view of the beginning of "The Tuileries" with the Eiffel Tower in the background ...... as they say Paris is always a good idea .... how true .... once it is in your heart it is in your heart forever!

ps I just also wanted to say that I am still having trouble commenting on blogs that ask for a profile ... I am still coming up as anonymous so I am so sorry.  Victoria from Art House Design, Kit from Chic Provence, Fiona from Chateau de Lille and others I cannot comment on so I just want you to know that I am still reading and enjoying your beautiful blogs .... I am going to make a list and post so you all know! 

 photo signature-29_zps152a2019.png
Related Posts with Thumbnails