Christian Dior Museum

This elegant villa where haute-couturier Christian Dior spent his childhood and now turns into a musée having been consecrated to him. Located at Rue, Estouville, Granville, France.

The park-line garden with lawns surrounded with trees, roses and colourful bed plants. The house is also overlooking the sea from the north side of the Lower Town.

What to expect inside the museum and jardin Christian Dior?

• The musée exhibits an eye-popping collection of Dior’s work as well as poster, publicity photographs and other memorabilia.
• Shops (They sell Christian Diors products)
• Every summer they have special exhibition in the garden.

How to get there?

View Larger Map

How much it cost?

Going in to the garden is free but there is an entrance fee in the museum tariff 7 euros per guest (musée tarif Plein: 7 Euros) For more information about the dates and opening times click here.

Important Reminders for every guest:

Camera is not allowed to use inside the museum.

How was our experience?

Amazing the garden is beautiful, clean and there are too many posters and signage printed with facts about his creations. It was educational going to the garden and very relaxing place go and to live as well. The museum is very pretty loads of beautiful memorabilia. His life, family, education and work are there. If you pay for a visit you’ll discover so many things inside the museum. It’s worth a visit especially if you are keen on fashion and lifestyle. You will get more inspirations from him.

She's not yet ready for a pose.

Back garden

Mother and daughter (Behind is the head statue of Christian Dior)

Things to see and read whilst walking in his beautiful garden. Facts and history of his creation.

What a beautiful place to live over-looking the seaside.

Perfume of course!

pond with fountain another view of his garden

Opening dates, times contact numbers and tarif.

Jenny O'Toole

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Visit Normandy, France: Day 1 – Gavray

After a long journey we finally reached our destination. We stayed at Le Louverie near Gavray. It was glorious afternoon when we arrive in the gite. After check-in we decided to go in and around town of Gavray. We parked near the church and walk to find some café to have something to eat then we went for quick shopping for food to store in our fridge during our stay. 

My husband can’t wait to have a good splash in the swimming pool and my daughter is so excited to play in the playground. Whilst I’m having my first cheeky drink cider and marinated the chicken for our dinner.

It was sunny outside, but the wind is a bit cold. I can tell the temperature of the water in the swimming pool is probably the same as cold water from the fridge. My husband enjoyed it I don’t think my daughter she didn’t we were surprise at that time my 22 months toddler says this “out now, towel please” that was her 2 longest words aside from “Where is Daddy gone?” I think she stay for 60 seconds. It was freezing. I can’t imagine myself to have a splash.

Everyone is inside the house watching telly whilst, I was preparing our starter fresh raw oyster delight and I start the barbeque. We decide to eat outside with bottle of champagne. 

We had a lovely start of our holiday, everything is perfect. This was our dream holiday; by the way we plan this for years. Although the plan was change and we couldn’t make any booking in the vine yard as it was holiday seasons, we expect for full bookings. Even though it was not in the vine yard, were all having fun and satisfied for what we booked.

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Beautiful Gîte in Normandy

Beautiful self-catering country cottages or Gîte in French – are found all over Normandie in the most rural area from €350 - €800 a week per property with swimming pool.

We stayed at La Louverie located at Le Mesnil Amand near Gavray, North West of France. 

• Beautiful cottage
• 3 bedrooms,
•  Barbecue
• Beautiful garden
• Play area,
•  Swimming pool and scenic views. 

How was our stay?

When we arrived we certainly love the gite it’s very pretty. It was glorious but the wind is a bit cold. My husband and daughter were so excited to have a splash in the swimming pool. We stayed for 10 days there enough to visit most attractions in the region. Everything you need in the house is available except the food. The gite is close to the market and town centre in Gavray. The place is peaceful perfect for relaxing. The host Chris and Bridget are very nice and helpful. We had a lovely holiday.

If you’re planning a long and unique holiday with your family and friends including your pet gîtes is the answer. For more information visit http://frenchconnection.co.uk

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Canal St-Martin Paris

Taken from the bridge

One of its best tourist attractions in Bastille, Paris is the Canal St-Martin. Strolling along the three-lined canal foot path or you can go for a boat trips along the Siene. An additional option to do in 

 Canal St-Martin is dining experience there are several restaurants and bars along it.

The Canal St-Martin is located in the eastern part of the city. According to the history the Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte (Emperor of the French) ordered the construction of the canal in 1802, in order to create a stilted waterway for supplying Paris with fresh water to support a growing population and to help avoid diseases such as cholera and dysentery.

The canal was open in 1825, with 4.5 long in Paris connects the Canal de l'Ourcq to the river Seine.

Today, the canal is most visited by locals and tourist especially students they like to hang-out with their mates and to keep a watchful eye on the barges navigate the series of locks and road bridges. 

Rose garden along the Canal St-Martin

How to get there?

Metro:

·        

République

·         Jaurés

·         Jacques

·         Bonsergent

·         Goncourt

Bus:

·          26, 46, 75

Here is the map:

View Larger Map

Tips for your trip:

Best time to visit on spring and summer.  Best time for stroll and cycling is morning whilst everyone is still in bed. For boat trips afternoon is the best time or during rush hours. It’s the best time to set-back and relax sipping nice wine whilst enjoying the views.

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Wedding photoshoot in Eiffel Tower Paris

Seriously speaking these Japanese couple took our attention when we leave the Eiffel tower. I took this photo at Parc du Champ de Mars. The photographer is facing the iconic tower which behind the couple to captured perfect angle.

 

The bride looks stunning and the groom looks very smart. The dress and the suit they wore look very expensive in my eyes. How much more the cost of the wedding in Paris? Must be dead expensive! They take travelling seriously, aren’t they?

That's us!

I’ve heard few love stories of couples going to Paris for engagement, honeymoon, climbing up the top of the tower and made promises to each other and etc. I confess to you my brothers and sisters that my husband and I climb up to the top and had champagne and made promises in front of our ever dear daughter Pearl.

When I look back on my wedding photos and and recieve positive comments I tell them “Everyone has the right to be bride and there are only few brides are destined to become a princess”. Is that you Kate Middleton? No, it's me Inday Jenny Jayon - O'Toole.

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Where to stay in Paris?

Paris is a favourite tourist destination in Europe, there is a wide range of accommodation options luxury hotels, chain hotels to low cost hostels. Every region has its good points and bad points choosing which place to stay depends on your priorities.

Paris is divided into five regions.

1.    Tour Eiffel
2.    Latin Quarter, St. Germain and Islands
3.    Marias and Bastille
4.    Lourve an Champs-Élyées
5.    Montmatre

For visit purposes decided which region do you want to stay.

To help you to decided jot down all tourist attraction you wish to visit. These will help you to choose which region you should stay, which closer to the attractions you wish to visit. 

Need Map?

Maps credit to Grand Hotel Lévéque

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Notre Dame Paris

Our lady of Paris

One summer afternoon at Notre Dame de Paris with The O'Tooles

Notre Dame de Paris in French located at 6 Parvis Notre-Dame, Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France. 

Taken from the boat.

That's stunning except the 2 tourist standing.

Some nice architectural details of the cathedral.

A gothic, Roman Catholic Cathedral and one of the world’s famous, historic and most visited cathedrals. Its finest French gothic architecture attracts more tourists to visit the said cathedral.

I can’t imagine myself going there as I know Paris, France is one of the most expensive cities in the world to visit. I have no budget to go there.

Yet, when I married to Ian who was a devoted catholic, who been in that cathedral many times singing in the choirs, when he was in primary school with his brother and best mates.

He took us (my daughter and I) last summer (2011) he was our tour guide. He says to me every time he comes in the cathedral he will cry especially to see Mother Theresa. By the way he went St. Teresa primary school in England. It makes sense to me why he cried for Mother Theresa in Notre dame.  

My Ian and Pearl

And another Ian and Pearl outside plus 1 tourist who don't want to move out.

And agian yours truly with exusted Pearl on the boat with fantastic views.

I, myself is devoted catholic who wish to come and see some stunning cathedral like Notre dame. It was a dream comes true for me. We wish to attend at least one mass. But we couldn’t make it because we haven’t enough time to stay in Paris, 4 days isn’t enough to do things like going to the mass. As thousands of attractions and sceneries is waiting for us out-side. 

The dimly lit interior.

My camera don't work well in the dark.

If you wish to visit Paris don’t forget to visit the Notre dame its worth of visiting it’s absolutely free unless you wanted to purchase coin souvenir inside the church or drop few coins for your donations it would be helpful for the parishioner and their chosen charity. It was a great day for the three of us.

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Winter Holiday: Day 2

To start our day 2 winter holiday we all get up early and get ready to kick-off. We left the house at 8:30 walking to the Farmers Pub and Restaurant for breakfast.

The Farmers Restaurant

Nice colours and style for a country-side restaurant.

I always start my day with coffee. My husband and I ordered 2 medium size cappuccino, a full English breakfast for myself and to share with Pearl and a continental breakfast for him.

Whilst waiting for the food we ordered, sipping the coffee gives us an idea of what we are going to do for the rest of the day. Since we are not yet finish for our Christmas shopping. We decided to do it on that day.

cappuccino

Full-English Breakfast

The breakfast was lovely. The ambiance of the restaurant is beautiful and fab.
It start raining when were about to leave The Farmers, from the farmers we walk on the way to the market of Ulverston.

When we get there it’s nice and warm, the market smells aromatic coffee from the coffee shop inside the market.

Ulverston Market

We found a book shop when we entered the market and I found a traveller’s book from the old travellers with old maps. My husband likes it we both think it is perfect Christmas gift to his dad and we buy children books for Pearl.

Pearl start wriggling and complaining she wants to get out and run and go for a ride. We let her have a go for ride just to keep her entertain and so my husband can read the book properly and buy them as well.

When we left the market we were wandering around the town of Ulverston I don’t see nice shops were I can get Christmas gifts for my in-laws, my husband nephews and nieces. So we decided to go back in the house to get the car and drive to Bowness-on-Windemere.

Fat Face Bowness-on-Windemere, Cumbria

We park the car, Pearl on the buggy and we start walking up hill the shops. We went first to Fat Face shops I get 3 items for 3 people. Opposite to the shops is Joules very nice shops it breaks my heart when I saw nice twiggy jackets for young lads and for myself lovely winter boots. Since it wasn’t in my list I better go out and do more shopping for family and friends gifts.

There are loads of nice shops in and around Bowness-on-Windemere. It was the perfect destination for lovely Christmas gift, definitely!

Gift Shops Bowness-on-Winderemere

Joules Bowness-on-Windemere

After long hours of walking and shopping we decided to have an afternoon tea at Byron’s Shop and Tearoom in Royal Square, Bowness-on-Windemere, Cumbria.

We had a pot of Bryson’s own Cumbria blend. It was absolutely divine, great taste, smooth and aromatic perfect match with Victoria sponge cake.

Cakes and confectioneries to go.

 Byron’s Shop and Tearoom in Royal Square, Bowness-on-Windemere, Cumbria.

Byron’s Tearoom in Royal Square, Bowness-on-Windemere, Cumbria.

Byron’s Shop and Tearoom in Royal Square, Bowness-on-Windemere, Cumbria.

It’s was 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon and its gone dark, Oh well, that’s winter brings.
We are on our way to the car park to get the car and got home about half an hour drive. Stay for 2 hours in the house to get some rest then wait till dinner time.

My husband decided to go for pub hopping. Pearl and I stay in the house and watch some Christmas program. Unfortunately, I left my phone in our house. We agreed to meet in The Farmers for tea at 7:00 enough time for me and Pearl to get ready.

Pearl is getting ready to go out.

Pearl and I left the house at 6:45pm enough time for travelling. The pub and restaurant are busy, as we get in The Farmers my husband wasn’t there. I was dead worried of him. I stay outside the restaurant to get some fresh air.

The road is slippery as the snow starts melting from rain showers. It’s windy and freezing. I sat on a cold stainless chair outside the restaurant after 3 minutes there I saw my husband on his way to the restaurant.

I shouted “Mr. O’Toole look here!” I wave my hand and smile. He saw me and smile back. C’mon we’ve been here for about a quarter. I was dead worried about you.
So we get in I feel a bit hungry. I looked at the board on the top of the gas fire restaurant special. Reading the menu makes me starving.

We spoke to the manager. We haven’t booked a table. Unfortunately, we can’t dine in the restaurant. The manager gives us some recommendations of restaurant that is closed to the area and similar menus.

We stayed in the pub have some hot cider and look each other. I said to my husband go speak to them and book a table for tomorrow night at half seven.We finish the cider and start walking to the restaurant and pub as the manager suggested.

Thai curry with rice, chips and salad

 Mussels and prawns in cream sauce serve with chips.

It was 17th century style of pub and restaurant not very nice as I expected but it was alright.
We had drinks first whilst waiting for the food. The food is unbelievable. The portion is massive. It was absolutely nice. I really enjoyed my main course which is duck green Thai curry with rice, chips and salad to share with Pearl.
My husband had some mussels and prawns in cream sauce serve with chips. Honestly, because of the portion they serve we couldn’t eat chips with bottle of white wine.
Finish with dessert. I couldn’t ask for more. We walk on the way home full and knackered.
Pearl goes straight to bed and we had a bottle of red in the living room whilst watching Michael Bubblé on the telly on his Christmas specials.

 

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