Reset search
France - Olympics
  • Empty Nest Will Travel
  • Empty Nest Will Travel

France - Olympics

A trip two years in the planning to be part of the Paris Olympics, as well as getting to Champagne, Dijon, Mont St. Michel, and Beaches of Normandy to pay our respects. Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Soccer

    August 3, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Good news - we got to see US Women play. Bad news - our seats were way at the top and the women played horrible. They won, but it was ugly.

    The Parc de Princes was really odd - very urban and bathrooms were shared - no separate men and women.Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler
    View through the porthole in the restroom!BurrataSmoked SalmonThese girls were interesting to watch. Everyone else was in couples.Touching the bridge as we went under

    VIP Paris Cruise

    August 3, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Our VIP dinner cruise was not exactly what I thought but it was fun. The food was better than expected and, although it rained some, it was a lovely night.

    There were mostly French people so it really wasn’t a tour boat so I had to point things out, as much as I knew! Seeing the Eiffel Tower with the rings from the water was pretty cool.Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Eiffel Tower

    August 4, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    What’s not to love about the Eiffel Tower? We went visited all three levels and had stunning views of Paris, the cauldron, beach volleyball taking place below us. Always amazing to see that far and on this occasion to pick out the Olympic venues from up above was extra fun. Having been on the water and looking up the night before and then being up so high looking down offered a neat perspective.Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler
    Monster block!Monster block!The wave lives on in France.

    Beach Volleyball Cuba - Sweden

    August 4, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    This was a fun set. You would think Cuba had the advantage because of their height, but Sweden out smarted them in the first match. The Cuban team loved the crowd and got us fired up. Also the announcer was pretty biased for Cuba.
    Second match went to Cuba after running up to 27 points - the teams were really matched there. Sweden came back to dominate the third match. Even tho the crowd loved Cuba, they cheered for Sweden too. Fun fun event.

    Also the French really love the wave still.    Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Rodin Museum

    August 4, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    I think we are both moved by sculpture and how an artist brings form out of a block. So we went to the Rodin museum. The inside is a little disappointing because the light is really bad to try to admire, but the garden is stunning if disturbing.

    So many of the pieces are for Dante’s Inferno and are truly frightening. The lovely pool of water with Ugolin - the story of a father who eats his kids. Ugh.

    At the end here, life imitates art.    Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    La Coupole

    August 4, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    We had a dinner reservation snafu at La Vie et La Bourse. So we pivoted and went to La Coupole… turned out to be a wonderful meal and experience in Montparnasse.

    Moules gratinée, poulet rôti, carnard, and gelato.

    The guys next to us were from a Nordic country (couldn’t tell which) and spoke in their language to each other and in English to the waiter. Then they switched to English to each other to talk about Olive Garden and Red Lobster…. It felt like they were trying to engage us or annoy us but we just ignored them.    Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Taittinger

    August 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Our first champagne tasting was at Taittinger and was lovely and a little formal. The first views of the UNESCO caves was overwhelming. That these go back to the 4th century is humbling. And to know hundreds of miles of these caves exist and that billions of bottles of champagne are stored in them across the region is mind boggling.

    We got to talk to a mother and son from Chicago during the tasting. He rowed in high school and at Stanford and had a friend on the Olympic team who medaled! He was so proud of his friend!    Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Veuve Cliquot

    August 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Second visit was Veuve Cliquot. The story of a woman going to bat with her father-in-law to take over the House was pretty good. All the advances she made in creating the riddling system and expanding distribution around the world was bad ass.

    Our guide was hilarious on her use of the flashlight and finger puppets.    Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Pommery

    August 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    Pommeau was more art than champagne house. We did the self guided tour which was kind of fun to be by ourselves down there.

    Part of the same limestone caves, but creating unique art spaces. The champagne wasn’t that great but the experience was!Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Pol Couronne & Notre Dame

    August 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Our last tasting was at a small place in centre ville. The place was popular and busy and we met some Americans from Chattanooga who had done the sabering thing. Lol.

    After we tried for a brewery. It it wasn’t open and then took the street car to the train station which was small and hot and had very few services!Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Les Halles de Dijon - market

    August 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    I made sure we came to Dijon on a market day. It is so vibrant and full of so many things. The Halles - the covered market is so modern and chi chi now! Much more upscale foods and professional set ups. Most of the produce is outside now. Man the colors and vibrancy of the food. I so wish we had been staying and could have bought some!Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    La Chouette!

    August 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Thai little owl was carved into Notre Dame by a workman hundreds of years ago. It is said to bring you luck if you rub it with your left hand (close to your heart). I always wondered if it would be rubbed away at some point.

    Now, they have taken this one little owl and turned it into the Route des Chouettes - a trail of owls around the center ville that leads you to the touristy places. Tres chouette!    Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Mulot & Petit Jean

    August 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Dijon, or Burgundy in general, is known for the pain d’épice or spice bread/gingerbread. Mulot et Petit Jean is the most well known. They used to do these beautiful window displays for different holidays. This one was for the Tour de France and also the Olympic rings.Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    St Begnine

    August 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    There is a lot of god in Dijon. So many old churches - many turned into other things now, like theaters. St Begnine dates from the year 1000 and has a crypt with the Saints remains. I visited many times during my year here and always felt like it was spooky and haunted. You can’t just walk into the church so freely now.Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Cite de la Gastronomie

    August 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Celebrating the amazing food and wines of Burgundy, this center was opened in 2022. There are exhibits about food in the broad sense and well as about the creation and evolution of restaurants.

    There is a cave, many restaurants, shops, and even a brewery.

    It is impressive.    Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Vins de Bourgogne - terroir

    August 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    We did a workshop on the wines of Burgundy, and more particularly the terroir that makes the wines in small parcels so different from one another.

    We tasted a Chardonnay from the Macon region in the south of Burgundy and one from the Chablis region. The earth is more rocky in Chablis and more clay in Macon. You could definitely taste the minerality in the Chablis and more fruit and floral in the Macon.

    We tasted two reds from vineyards/ parcels right next to each other, one at the top of the hill near a forest and just across a little road and a bit down the hill another Pinot noir. Again, differences. Oh it is an art!    Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Caves de la Cite

    August 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    We next visited the caves de la Cite where we got to taste 4 wines from different villages. The class was good and our guide was nice.

    But then

    We got to go a little crazy tasting other wines from Burgundy (there were other regions but we stuck with Burgundy) they had Grand Crus that were 40euro for the small taste! We enjoyed our $50 worth of many tastes and called it a great day.Read more

  • Empty Nest Will TravelFrance - OlympicsTraveler

    Beautiful dinner near Palace

    August 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    We had a beautiful relaxed dinner looking at the Palace of the Dukes. Kids were playing in the fountain, people out strolling, folks of all ages just out and enjoying a beautiful night and each others company.

    We had a family next to us with two young boys and you could see mom struggling - I wanted to hug her and tell her it gets better.

    This older couple actually promenaded by - they looked like they were dancing.

    Dogs were lapping at and jumping through the fountains.

    It was just a perfect night. (Yeah - I may have gotten a little sappy and weepy lol. Wine, great memories, a wonderful partner, and a beautiful setting will do that to you!).    Read more

  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice