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Home » Archives for September 2013

Archives for September 2013

Big Island Snorkeling: Guide to Snorkeling on the Big Island of Hawaii

September 23, 2013 - Written by Jessica Norah 26 Comments

Big Island snorkeling Hawaii

Snorkeling on the Big Island of Hawaii is perhaps the best in the state, and many would say that snorkeling here may be the best in the country. The waters are clearer and calmer here than the other Hawaiian islands, and there are several excellent Big Island snorkeling sites. There are tons of tropical fish and marine life to be discovered in these clear blue waters—it can be a bit like having your own natural aquarium! So if you are thinking about snorkeling on the Big Island, read on. We’ll give our advice on the top Big Island snorkeling sites, discuss the pros and cons of doing it on your own versus going on a boat tour, provide tips about where to get your snorkeling gear, and share our own experiences snorkeling on the Big Island. Best Big Island Snorkeling Sites  While everyone has their favorite snorkeling spots, we would venture… Read the rest

The Great Paris Macaron Debate: Ladurée versus Pierre Hermé

September 18, 2013 - Written by Jessica Norah 31 Comments

Ladurée versus Pierre Hermé macarons Laduree Pierre Herme Paris macaroons

Ladurée is a famous pâtisserie, or pasty shop, in Paris that is well-known for its yummy, rainbow-colored assortment of macarons. Many visitors flock to the main Ladurée store along the Champs-Elysées, but have you heard about the second most famous macaron stop in Paris: Pierre Hermé? Pierre Hermé actually worked at Paris competitors Fauchon and Ladurée before striking it out on his own and now has a number of locations named after himself. Whereas Ladurée is known for its Belle Époque store décor and more traditional offerings, Pierre Hermé is known for innovative and creative flavors combinations. For instance, one of the current seasonal macaron flavors at Pierre Hermé is olive oil with mandarin orange and cucumber water! Now, if you’ve been reading my blog you’ll know we already discussed our discovery of macarons at Ladurée during our 2012 Paris visit which you read about here. But on our subsequent visit this past… Read the rest

Visiting Hearst Castle: An American “Castle” along California’s Central Coast

September 15, 2013 - Written by Jessica Norah 27 Comments

Casa del Sol Hearst Castle San Simeon California Central Coast American Castle William Randolph Hearst home La Cuesta Encantada

Hearst Castle, a hilltop mansion built by William Randolph Hearst, is located along the beautiful Central Coast of California in the tiny town of San Simeon. The infamous newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst with the aid of San Francisco architect Julia Morgan began construction of his dream mansion in 1919, a project that would continue for the next 30 years. Hearst named the property “La Cuesta Encantada” (Spanish for “The Enchanted Hill”). The architecturally eclectic property, now known as Heart Castle, had a private airfield, two giant swimming pools, a movie theater, tennis courts, over 100 acres of gardens, two greenhouses, and the world’s largest private zoo. The property was once open only by invitation to A-list celebrities and politicians, such as Clark Gable, Joan Crawford, Charlie Chaplin, and Winston Churchill. But today Hearst Castle is a historical landmark offering tours to the public. We’ll tell you everything you need… Read the rest

Shopping at Free’P’Star: Cheap Vintage Clothing in Paris

September 12, 2013 - Written by Jessica Norah 19 Comments

Free'P'Star vintage clothing in Paris

If you are interested in buying some clothes in Paris, but don’t have too much money to spend, Free P Star may be a great store to check out. Free’P’Star is a Parisian vintage store that currently has three locations in the Marais. While many vintage clothing shops in Paris have me saying “C’est trop cher”, prices at Free’P’Star begin at just 1€! We happened upon the store on Rue de Rivoli while doing some exploring in the Marais this past Spring and thought we’d share our discovery for those of you searching for some cheap vintage fashion finds in Paris. Our stop here turned out to be a little shopping adventure. Basic Info on Free’P’Star Store Locations: All three Paris store locations are in the Marais in the 4th arrondissement so you could actually hit all three in an afternoon if you are ambitious. Addresses: 1) 8 rue Sainte… Read the rest

Travel History: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland Race Around the World in Less than 80 Days

September 10, 2013 - Written by Jessica Norah 22 Comments

Nelly Bly Elizabeth Bisland

In November 1889, two young female journalists, Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland, set out for the journey of a lifetime—both with the goal to try to travel around the world in less than 80 days. These two very different women were sponsored by competing newspapers to beat the record of Jules Verne’s fictional Phileas Fogg from his novel Around the World in 80 Days. Such a feat had never been undertaken before and it was not even known if it was indeed possible at the time. Certainly many people at the time believed that it was impossible for a woman to do so. This race around the world made daily headlines and people from around the country (and indeed the world) closely followed these women’s journeys around the world. I stumbled across the names of these two American women on a random Internet search and became intrigued as I had… Read the rest

A Guide to Shopping in Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Best Souvenirs from Rothenburg Germany

September 8, 2013 - Written by Jessica Norah 28 Comments

Rothenburg ob der Tauber Rothenburg Germany

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a shopping mecca for many visitors to Germany, and we want to share some of our favorite souvenir ideas from our time in Rothenburg. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small medieval town along Germany’s Romantic Road. The little town offers picture perfect medieval views, but it can also be overrun with hordes of tourists, especially in December and during the Summer months. While there are a number of interesting things to do in Rothenburg that should not be missed, this post will focus  on shopping in Rothenburg. In all honestly, neither Ethan nor I are big shoppers when we travel, but we happened to be in Germany at the same time as two loved one’s birthdays and a wedding so we ended up needing to do a bit of shopping during our time in Rothenburg. During our hunt for some perfect gifts, we discovered a… Read the rest

Bavarian Castle Pass: Is Buying the Bavaria Palace Pass a Good Deal for you?

September 4, 2013 - Written by Jessica Norah 45 Comments

Bavarian Castle Pass

If your next trip to Germany is going to involve visiting castles in Bavaria, you may want to consider purchasing the Bavarian Castle Pass (also known as the Bavarian Palace Pass or the Bayern Schloss Pass). These passes sold by the Bavarian Palace Department cover the admission to over 40 palaces, castles, and other sites within the region of Bavaria. This article will provide you with all the information you need to know about the sites covered by the Bavarian Castle Pass, the different types of passes, how to buy the passes, and how to decide whether or not this would be a good deal for you or not. We’ll also share our personal experience of buying and using the Bavarian Castle Pass. What Castles and Palaces are Included in the Bavarian Castle Pass? Currently, free admission to over 40 palaces, fortresses, castles, and other sites is granted to pass… Read the rest

Laurence and Jessica Norah Independent Travel Cats
Welcome! We're Laurence and Jessica Norah, a travel blogging couple sharing our adventures from all over the world. We hope you'll stick around for our travel advice, tips, and stories. Find out more about us here.

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