Stevie Jewel

I’m on a River Boat Cruise!

River boat River boatI love boating, I think it’s so relaxing to be out on the water.  Especially on a river boat cruise!

I love boating on the lake, taking a ferry, or crossing the English Channel.  It’s so peaceful out on the water and the view as you depart and arrive is just so beautiful, especially if you’re talking about a big boat or a city with a skyline like New York City.  I’ve been on dinner cruises before, but this river boat cruise in New Orleans was such a great time!
 River boat River boat

It was so much fun, and while the food was decent, it was really the experience that made it worthwhile.

Actually, the gumbo on the cruise was DELICIOUS, the rest of the food was pretty typical.  However, the stories from the captain, the views, the history of the city, it was all such a beautiful way to take in another side of New Orleans. The cruise is a couple hours long and you boat out on the Natchez River and then dinner commences in two sessions.
River boat River boat
There is a Dixieland Jazz band that plays great music (as one would expect in New Orleans) while your out on the water.  The captain also gives all sorts of educational information about landmarks and sites, one being the Domino sugar factory.  The boat has lots of historic older elements that the captain talks about as well.  However, the real gem of these tourist attraction is watching the sunset over the city of New Orleans. We were there in May and so the sun was setting behind the French Quarter which made for some stunning views of the city.

River boat

Once we were docked back at shore we were in the perfect location to talk the nightlife of the French Quarter; specifically Jackson Square and Bourbon Street.  While the nightlife of the French Quarter isn’t my typical cup of tea, it’s still an experience that most should see when visiting New Orleans.
Have you been on a boat cruise? What was your favorite part?

Markets of Monaco

We stumbled into this market just before leaving Monte Carlo, and I was so excited because I love the fruit markets of Europe, especially France, Italy, and now Monaco!

The experience of holding fresh produce typically from a local farm is such a contrast from buying fruit or vegetables in the grocery store.  It also allows you to pay for it right then and walk around the market taking in the rest of the wares while indulging in nature’s candy!

We sampled some raspberries that were packed full of flavor, minus a lot of the pesticides that are banned in Europe but permitted in North America.  Have you been to a produce market abroad or at home, and if so, what did you think?

La Maree in Monaco

This spot was so wonderful that I had to dedicate a post to it.  La Maree was a phenomenal seafood restaurant overlooking the Monaco yacht harbor.  It was our last night in Monaco so it was the perfect experience to be able to take in some of the scenic beauty that this small but extraordinary country offers.  We had several small dishes and each one was delectable, but I have to say I was a major fan of the dessert.  Although it took extra time to prepare it gave us more time to take in the ambience and when it finally did arrive, it was well worth the wait.

Monte Carlo Casino and a Day in Monaco

We began the day with a leisurely breakfast and then strolled around the city exploring the beach, dipping our toes in the mediterranean, and then went to Nice, France for a few hours.

When we came back we got ready for a night out going to the very chic Yoshi for dinner after visiting the famous (and infamous) Monte Carlo Casino.  The casino was worth visiting just for the history and the architecture given that it was built in the late 1800s and remains much the same today.

The frescos on the ceilings and the plasterwork even have nods to the casino within them.  Yoshi was a Michelin star Japanese restaurant and everything we ate was beyond compare. The chefs were so friendly and the atmosphere and design were both works of art.  I definitely recommend visiting both Yoshi and the Casino.  Yoshi was connected to our hotel, Hotel Metropole, which makes it a great option if you’re staying there as well!  You can check out my thoughts on Metropole here.

Monaco

I dreamed about Monaco and what it would be like to visit. After riding through France from Paris and having seen lavender fields, and free roaming herds of cattle, and pink trees that I’m still trying to find a name for, I was so excited to experience Monaco.

Arriving on the train I felt like Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl when she’s finally a Ziegfeld girl.  The train station alone set the tone for what our time in Monaco would be like, it was beautifully designed, had an incredible view, and was so clean!

Monaco is so small that we were able to walk from the train to the hotel.  The architecture, the atmosphere, everything was so inspiring!  Once we arrived at Hotel Metropole we were enchanted with how lovely it was, and the bar downstairs had some of the most creative drinks.

We Strolled around on our first afternoon and took in the views and some excellent food at Brasserie le Cafe de Paris.

Guide to 14 hours in Paris

Paris

I love Paris.  It’s such a beautiful city with so much history.  On this trip Paris was a stop over between Dublin and Monaco but we packed as much into 14 hours as we possibly could, so I’m going to share our itinerary so you can get the most out of Paris as well.

We stayed within walking distance of the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel tower so that we could see both fairly easily and walk around the areas that we enjoy the most, including strolling on the Champs-Elysees.

It’s not right to go to Paris and not try as many of their pastries as possible.  Everything we had was unbelievably delicious especially the Drop from a La Petite Marquis.

We also explored the area around the Louvre, which was a haven for all the french designers; well known and obscure.  We’ve visited the Louvre before which is why we didn’t go this time, and I would suggest choosing specific pieces you want to see before going because you really could spend multiple days inside the Louvre taking in all the artwork.  If you have a passion for fashion you can stroll the entirety of Rue Saint Honore and indulge in the finest haute couture houses known to man.

We went on a riverboat cruise down the Siene and while we’ve done the bus tours before this river cruise was a real treat.  Tons of information, seeing the whole city by water, and getting a new perspective on the famous and infamous locations around Paris, such as Notre Dame.

We went to one of our favorite spots for dinner the roundabout adjacent to the Eiffel tower across the river.  There are several great restaurants in this vicinity and Cafe Le Malakoff is one of the best for people watching, enjoying the view, and sampling excellent french cuisine.

The next morning we boarded the train for Monaco and waved Paris farewell for now!

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