It's Bastille Day in France and last night, celebratory fireworks lit up the sky in Paris. Today, there's a parade down the Champs Elysee. To help celebrate the joys of summer, I'm delighted to announce that CSN Stores is offering a prize to one lucky Paris Parfait reader.
The winner will receive a National Geographic Adventure Travel Globe! I selected the prize from among the Boston-based CSN Stores' vast collection of home decor, stylish futons and travel items. So many choices, I could spend days browsing their selection of merchandise. So I went with the travel theme.
Only a US-based resident is eligible to win this particular globe. But I also am offering a French brocante find. If you live outside the US, you still have an opportunity to win a nice prize.
Just leave a brief comment here about your summer holiday plans. Do you go to the same place every year or are you headed for points unknown? Do you have a special travel tip?
Winning names will be drawn for the globe and a brocante treasure on Tuesday, July 21st. Bon chance!
So what was your day like ???
Popping to say we took our daughter to Paris that evening... The Eiffel Tower being 120 years old this year, it had to be celebrated "decently"... So we were in the massive crowd and the 30-minute firework show was fabulous !!!
now your question - We'll spend a fortnight in August on the "Côte d'Azur", between Marseille and Toulon, not far from les Calanques...
My daughter and husband will go scubadiving a lot, my son will probably go "beaching", I myself shall try to find a good balance with rest, sea, sightseeing, ...
We do not like being in the same place twice, so we change every year...
Besides, as our children are now teenagers, we have given up remote places and try to find some satisfying all of us ... A lot of energy when browsing rental sites !!!
Posted by: Marie-Noëlle | 19 July 2009 at 11:07
This summer, when the love of my life needs my support and we can't afford those tickets abroad anyway, I am staying put and continuing to travel through hopes and dreams (but mostly dreams). Each week I'm putting money into savings - as much as I can; for a trip to France, or Italy, or Switzerland, or Germany, for a wedding some day (soon, hopefully), and for that first house we would love to own and make our own. In the meantime, I'm dreaming about adventures abroad as I revisit and try to expand the French I once knew so well using a teach-yourself verb review book. It's not much, and it's not the same, but it will certainly help when that fortunate day for traveling again arises!
Posted by: Alissa | 19 July 2009 at 05:30
Your posts are so very gorgeous, they tantalise me with a desire to spend my summer near where you are ... not this summer but soon! Right now we're in winter, a bearable winter of sixteen dregrees celcius. The complainers do as they do when our summer hits the forties. The whingers don't penetrate. Thoughts and images of that summer, via your blog for now, are too tantalising!
Posted by: Redness | 17 July 2009 at 14:51
oh! your posts are fabulous! we are planning our yearly trip to the coast-near fort bragg,ca....hunting for jade and sea glass...would you like a little bag? the treasures are delightful.as we lay on our bellies we talk about the history behind our finds...so much fun making memories...ann-marie
Posted by: ann-marie | 17 July 2009 at 09:07
No plans to travel until fall when I will go to Yosemite to work on some watercolors. Until then I am going to explore museums close to home (the LA area) that I have never been to. The Southwest Museum is at the top of my list.
Hope le 14 juillet was very enjoyable for you!
Posted by: Sue | 17 July 2009 at 06:38
Well, you know part of my travel plans -- they've already happened and you were a part of them! (My tip from that one: good shoes, pack light so you can shop more!). The rest? Many weekends at the cottage in Northern Michigan and a week at Myrtle Beach at the end of the month (part of this is helping Rick with his trade show but most of it for me is vacation!)
Posted by: Jeanie | 16 July 2009 at 22:42
Not doing a big summer vacation this year--hoping to get something in in the fall. But we'll drive up into the Colorado mountain country for a long weekend of relaxing by a river or lake and hiking through the beautiful scenery. Really needing it!
Posted by: RD | 16 July 2009 at 18:59
Happy belated holiday.
I rarely take summer holidays & now that I live in rural America some of those wonderful weekend adventures have ceased in favour of just looking out my studio window.
But I am thinking of visiting the Isle of Forgetfulness (Tunisia) as a backdrop for a story I am writing come Fall.
As for that lovely globe, if I did win, it would make a hasty trip to my granddaughters' room.
Warm regards,
Posted by: Zoe | 16 July 2009 at 18:22
oh my...
i just tried to sent you some
hearts
and my comment was deleted...
YIKEES!
{{well these things happen, i suppose,
"""what is that funny looking thing?"""
the Blog police say?}}
anyway,
i will try again without the hearts
but they are IMPLIED!
:-)
how thoughtful of you to give away
The World!
Me?
i generally travel in the spring
as i am impatient
and cannot wait that long
for a summer vacation...
So,
for the summer i am going here----> florida!
ok
ok
ok
i know this is my HomeBase,
still it is one fine place to summer
so you will find me collecting seashells...
{{plus they are FREE!
and come is so many wonderfully shades of White,
which i do love. }}
Bon chance! to every one!
Posted by: somepinkflowers | 16 July 2009 at 16:37
Friday morning we are jumping in the car and driving around Mt. Hood until we find a place to camp for the night. We'll probably wander into Portland, and then plan to finish up the weekend on the Oregon coast. It's going to be a lazy weekend!
Posted by: Marilyn | 16 July 2009 at 02:45
I'll be joining an old, dear friend traveling to Inverness, Scotland to attend the wedding of her darling daughter to a Scotsman and fellow anthropology professor at a beautiful country estate/hotel. The second half of this sentimental journey will be spent with my friend on a driving tour of the Scottish countryside - look out sheep!
Posted by: toseewhatshecouldsee | 15 July 2009 at 23:30
We'll be working hard this summer to save up for 2 weeks in France in October. Even our holidays are work! But, still fun, we will be shooting a wedding in MT for 2 days next week, and stretch it into a 5 day weekend with some time at a lake house.
Posted by: Vanessa Hutchinson | 15 July 2009 at 23:01
we don't really do summer holidays specifically - more like lots of little trips to new places all year round...
we have got a weekend away planned for next weekend, off to the WOMAD festival in england (Peter Gabriel is one of my biggest music crushes ever) and, in the autumn, we are heading to boston/new hampshire for a few days before i head to squam!
hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying summer too my friend
xo
Posted by: postcards from... | 15 July 2009 at 21:54
i wish it were paris or st tropez or....but i'll probably stay close to home and enjoy the weather, the ocean, the museums, the GLOBE...hope i win.
Posted by: renee fleming | 15 July 2009 at 19:42
OoooH A globe..perfect for a gypsy..hah. How are you this ete!?
Posted by: Pam aries | 15 July 2009 at 19:15
happy bastille day, sweet one. every summer we take our children back to my hometown in kentucky for two weeks of swimming, family reunions, frog watching, fireworks, woods walking, and an overflowing abundance of joy in the slow lane. i will offer a travel trip for going with little children. i will hit the dollar store and get a few very small toys that can be enjoyed on the plane. i will gift wrap them so they are a surprise and seem special. the kids can have one every hour of the trip. little cars, modeling clay, a small activity book are all good. they are inexpensive, small, and won't be cried over if they are lost. the surprise keeps them entertained. so for about five dollars a child i can read a book on the plane with a smile. xoxo!
Posted by: kelly snelling | 15 July 2009 at 17:58
Hope you had a happy Bastille day! I am searching for a cabin on a river that we can spend a few days...looking at either Ouray or Marble...we're doing a Colorado vacation this year.
Posted by: Stephanie | 15 July 2009 at 16:26
Bon Bastille! I miss having our French friend here with us this summer. I'll never forget Bastille Day because it is the day before my first-born son's birthday!!! We have had my niece here from Balitmore and have been on a road trip through TN, GA, FL and AL. Now back in Nashville where we are enjoying each other tremendously. She goes home tomorrow though. Sniffle. Thanks for all your suggestions in Savannah. It was a delightful trip and we plan on going back next year and spending a little longer there!! xoxo
Posted by: Rosa | 15 July 2009 at 02:54
I want Yoli to have my globe if I win it:) (as you know i have so
many as i adore them)
this summer
i surrendering to new beginnings (and adventures and collaborations:)
i am going to light many backyard fires and find time to
sip wine and enjoy friendships and love and new abodes:)
Posted by: maddie | 15 July 2009 at 02:18
I would love that globe for my children, as we are now teaching them about geography. We are traveling this fall or early next year to China. As for a tip. Make sure you take sensible shoes that you can slip off and on without holding up a line. Wear comfortable clothes that will still look put together after a 12+ hour flight.
Posted by: Yoli | 15 July 2009 at 00:42
We are not traveling this summer as we've done quite a bit of traveling in the spring. Thanks to you Tara when I went to Paris for the first time I did something non touristy and visited the Antiquites Brocante at Bastille along the Canal St. Martin. I had such a wonderful time and wished I could have been there longer. I picked up some wonderful religious medals to use in my jewelry pieces. I really wanted to purchase more of them but my French was rusty and I could not get across "how much does this cost!" LOL
Anyhow, I'm hoping to come back to Paris again next year and plan to stay longer and also see more of France. Wish I could live there like you do! I love your blog and your photography and stop by to read often. Happy Bastille Day!
Posted by: Gena | 15 July 2009 at 00:33
We go to the East coast, Prince Edward Island every year. I've been going since I was 7 and now I take my kids! The Island is absolute paradise and we get some really good downtime! It's a very special place for us. It's a 2 day drive to get there and my tip is to make the drive part of the trip...we take our time, stop frequently and enjoy.
Posted by: Jennifer | 14 July 2009 at 21:45
Ooooo I like that!! And so would the boy. So here it is-- we are PACKING and MOVING into our new house. Those are our big plans this summer. LOL! I am sooo excited for it to happen, but boy to I long for a trip about ANYwhere on that globe right about now.
Paris would be my first choice, however. ;)
;)
Posted by: amber | 14 July 2009 at 18:57
Carla, you live in such a beautiful area; no doubt many people would gladly trade to have a holiday in B.C.!
Posted by: Paris Parfait | 14 July 2009 at 18:55
One can never have too many globes Helen! LOl :)
I love them...!!!
Don't enter me in anything...your blog is gift enough for me! :) Seriously. I plan to take the children camping and hopefully to the Outer Banks...and then I have some solo trips planned. Julian is heading to Phoenix for a golf getaway...and between now and then we are doing nothing except trying to get through. :)
Happy Bastille Day! Enjoy yourself over there miss!!! xoxo Love you!
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 14 July 2009 at 18:11
Happy Bastille Day! We decided to go to a Bastille Day concert at a local wine shop on Saturday to celebrate, but couldn't get in the door it was so full of people.
Thanks for leaving comments at Delights of the Heart. I always feel so honored when you visit me.
Oregon is so beautiful in the summer months we like to stay close to home and enjoy our own surroundings with trips to the beach or to Mt. Hood. We will travel in September to Paris and France. My travel tip is to get a good travel book to guide you. I love and trust Rick Steves suggestions totally and have never gone wrong with his books.
Posted by: Marilyn | 14 July 2009 at 17:38
Happy Bastille Day. I just came back from the Rockies. Thoroughly relaxing. I'm a bit spontaneous, so I haven't yet decided where my summer will take me. It's so beautiful in this area in the summer that I really don't mind hanging out here for awhile.
Posted by: Carla | 14 July 2009 at 16:55
PS: Happy Bastille Day, my dear friend.
xo
Posted by: Christina | 14 July 2009 at 16:42
We are planning on hoping in the car and just heading out. We are ready to see "Gods country". Feel the fresh air and get away from the city. Me the girl who has to plan everything. I'm ready to just go!
xo
Posted by: Christina | 14 July 2009 at 16:41
We own a gallery/art studio in a village in a National Park, so our plans for the summer are to stay here. We have a wonderful garden---22 foot mandala garden at home, which is a lovely place to be.
We will be taking our youngest daughter to a camp at the end of September. It's in VT and should be a beautiful drive.
Posted by: debra | 14 July 2009 at 16:05
I won't sign up for your generous giveaway because we already own a globe. But, I will answer your question.
For several years now, do "stay-cations." Like many people we know, we no longer can afford vacations. We compensate by going out all weekend, every weekend. in any weather, for day trips in beautiful New England. We had planned on extensive travel upon retiring but that is no longer an option. (Retiring is not an option either.)
I will admit it would have been nice to have had the retirement we planned with the option to travel, but day trips are an endless affordable option: picnics, hiking, local attractions. We cannot wait for weekends and often drive out into the country in the evenings during the week. We have been having a lot of fun and had some excellent adventures. It is like that old quote, "happiness isn't a destination arrived at but a manner of traveling."
Posted by: Helen | 14 July 2009 at 13:51