Art in Le Marais

Around the Place des Vosges and on Rue de Turenne are a string of small independent galleries that features some unique pieces. In one gallery was an exhibition focusing on Mickey Mouse. Paris, much like New York with the SoHo and Chelsea areas, have wonderful smaller galleries that you stumble across while walking the streets. It is always amazing to turn the corner and see this level of quality art. 

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Australian Abroad and Champagne

My first day trip out of Paris was to the Champagne region to visit both the Mumm and Moët & Chandon cellars. The first stop was into the town of Riems to do the tour of the Mumm caves. The tour lasts for about an hour and includes a tasting of either their demi sec or brut champagne.

Following this it was off to Épernay to visit the Moët & Chandon caves. The tour is quite similar to the Mumm one where you watch a video followed by a tour of the caves. Moët & Chandon are a much larger wine company with over 25kilometres of caves. 

Both the tours were extremely informative. I learnt a lot about the process of making champagne as well as storage tips and food pairings. From the gift shops I also picked up a 1998 vintage magnum Mumm and 2002 vintage Moët & Chandon rose for 74 and 43euros respectively, which is a bargain. I thoroughly recommend the tours if you're a Champagne lover like myself.

Australian Abroad and Belfast

Last stop on my day trip into Northern Ireland was to the capital Belfast. The city is a lot smaller than Dublin and didn't have a whole lot to see. I was only there for a short time and was happy that I didn't devote a whole day to going there. I did however see the Belfast City Hall, River Lagan, Waterfront Hall, Spirit of Belfast sculpture and the famed Europa Hotel, which during the Troubles suffered 28 bombing attacks making it the most bombed hotel in the world.

Memories of Last Year Come 'Flooding' Back

Last year I was in New York during Hurricane Irene. It was at the time hyped to be one of the biggest storms to hit NYC in decades. Luckily enough it didn't turn out as badly as was expected. I went out during the high tide to capture some of the storm surge along the banks of the Hudson River around SoHo. I was interviewed by a German and Canadian tv crew while I was out. While it could have been a terrible tradegy, the experience was actually quite fun and exciting for me.

Hope everyone in Sandy's way is staying safe especially those in Atlantic City. The photos of the Casino and Boardwalk zone streets completely covered in water are amazing.

The Nation's Capital. DC

I went to DC last week after getting return bus tickets for $2.5 with Megabus. If you book early enough they have fares starting at $1 plus 50cent booking fee. I arrived at 6am into Union Station which is just to the left of the Capital Building and the start of the National Mall.

I walked along the National Mall past the National Gallery and Smithsonian Museums. I had been to them on my trip last November so didn't revisit them again even though at that time they weren't open.

The Washington Monument is at the end of the National Mall. The Monument was damaged by an earthquake that occurred in 2011 which I actually felt when I was in NY. It is known as the Virginian Earthquake.

Last time I was in DC the reflecting pool was being repaired and was empty so I was rather excited to see it had been fixed and reopened. The reflection with the National Monument is really amazing.

The Lincoln Memorial was were Martin Luther King Jnr gave his famous I have a Dream speech. The Lincoln memorial features a museum below the statue that details event surrounding that speech.

From there I walked up past the infamous Watergate Complex from Richard Nixon's presidency to the White House. In this light it doesn't look that white but at night it is extremely white. Previously I had seen Secret Service forces on the roof. 

Right next to the White House is the United State Department of Treasury. Finally I walked past Ford Theatre where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.