Views from the top of Pey-Berland belltower in Bordeaux

Pey-Berland belltower, Bordeaux, France / Kimberly Sullivan

The views from the top of this 66 meter/216 feet tall  belltower are spectacular – well worth the 231 steps you must climb to get up there. Construction on this clock tower began in 1440. It was physically separated from its cathedral, Saint Andre, to protect the church structure from the vibrations caused by daily…

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Bordeaux’ stunning Place de la Bourse

Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux, France / Kimberly Sullivan

Last November, I visited Bordeaux, France for the first time. It’s a city I’d been “meaning to visit” for many years, but it was such a pleasure to finally make it to this beautiful city. One of the first places to visit when you’re in Bordeaux is the spectacular Place de la Bourse. This is…

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The wonderful Cité du vin, in Bordeaux

Cité du Vin, Bordeaux, France / Kimberly Sullivan

I had a wonderful time on my recent trip to Bordeaux, France. There was so much to enjoy about this city, but one can’t visit Bordeaux without learning about one of its most important industries – fine wines. Luckily, there’s a fabulous museum you can visit to learn all about wine – Bordeaux’ Cité du…

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My In The Shadow of The Apennines is on sale

Elaine Aucoin Schroller and Kimberly Sullivan novels

For the past few years, my author friend Elaine Aucoin Schroller and I have run sales on our World War I novels. We do this for a week, honoring both Indie Author’s Day on 5 November and Armistice Day on 11 November. You can pick up my In The Shadow of The Apennines and Elaine’s…

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Art theft robs us all: The Louvre heist

Napoleon's jewels, Louvre, Paris / Kimberly Sullivan

In a normal world, it would go without saying that theft is bad. But today, with the insane “reimagine justice” movements, I realize we can’t take anything for granted. But museum thefts have always struck me as particularly pernicious. Well-known art works and priceless objects are, by their very nature, impossible to resell. They are…

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Enjoying a performance at Paris’ Opéra Bastille

Opéra Bastille, Paris / Kimberly Sullivan

I’ve already written about Paris’ stunning Opéra Garnier. But when I was in Paris earlier this year, I did attend an opera, but at Paris’ much larger, and more modern, opera house at the Bastille. Opéra Bastille is – not surprisingly – located on Place de la Bastille. It was commissioned in 1981 by then…

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The glamour of Paris’ Opera Garnier

Opera Garnier, Paris, France/ Kimberly Sullivan

I was in Paris a few months ago, and I decided to stop off to visit the Opera Garnier – a place I hadn’t visited in years (decades?). Musical afficionados will know the Palais Garnier as the inspitration for The Phantom of The Opera. And the self-guided audiotour does speak about the tales of the…

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Paris is always a good idea…

Louvre, Paris, France / Kimberly Sullivan

I was in Paris for a weekend last month. Although I’ve been many times to Paris, it’s always a pleasure to get back. I left early on a Friday, and had three days in the City of Lights, and I was eager to get in as much as I could – great walks, music, art,…

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When in Paris … Shakespeare and Company

Shakespeare and Company, Paris / Kimberly Sullivan

When a writer and avid reader finds herself in Paris, it is almost sacrilege not to pay a visit to Shakespeare and Company. It was also close to my hotel, so made for an easy trip. The original bookstore opened in Paris in 1919 (in a different location in the Left Bank) by Sylvia Beach.…

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