Author Archives: travelbynatasha

About travelbynatasha

I am a retired attorney who loves to travel. Several years ago I began working on a Century Club membership achieved by traveling to 100 "foreign" countries. Today, at 49 years of age the count is at 82. Many were visited on land based trips. Some were cruise ports. Some were dive sites. Most have been fascinating.

Giverny, Normandy, France

Posted on July 5, 2018 by travelbynatasha

Today is Boris’ 60th Birthday. We have chosen to do an half day excursion outside of Paris to the edge of Normandy to visit Claude Monet’s farmhouse and gardens at Giverny. Giverny is just under 50 miles west of Paris. … Continue reading →

Posted in international | Tagged Claude Monet, France, Giverny, Japanese Water Garden, Jean Monet, Oscar Claude Monet | Leave a comment

Day touring in Paris Continued

Posted on July 4, 2018 by travelbynatasha

Boris and I continued our tour of Paris via the Hop-on/Hop off bus, leaving behind the Eiffel Tower. We passed by Les Invalides, more commonly known as Hotel national des Invalides, a complex of museums and monuments dedicated to the … Continue reading →

Posted in international | Tagged Alexander III Bridge, arrondissement, France, Maxim's, Notre-Dame de Paris, Pantheon, Paris, Petit Palais, Place de la Concorde, Saint-Germain des-Pres, Seine, Shakespeare and Company | 1 Comment

Day touring in Paris

Posted on July 3, 2018 by travelbynatasha

Our first full day in Paris we decided to renew our connection with the city. Both Boris and I have visited many times, even before we met. Although we recommend the hop-on/hop-off buses in whatever city they are offered, we … Continue reading →

Posted in international | Tagged Arc de Triomple du Carrousel, Eiffel Tower, France, guillotine, Luxor Obelisk, Musee d' Orsay, Palais Bourbon, Palais Royal, Paris, Parvis des Libertés et des Droits de l'Homme, Place de la Concorde, Place du Carrousel, Place du Palais Royal, Place du Trocadero, Tuileries Garden | Leave a comment

A Trip to Paris for Boris

Posted on July 2, 2018 by travelbynatasha

Yes, I know on my last series of posts we were celebrating Boris’ birthday with a trip to Cuba. However, since he needed to be in London the week after his actual birthday in May, Boris suggested a long weekend … Continue reading →

Posted in international | Tagged Arc d'Triumph, Arc de Triomphe, France, Gard Saint-Lazare, Hotel Paris Opera, Paris, Prunier, Restaurant Prunier Victor Hugo | Leave a comment

Santiago de Cuba: The Revolutionary Spirit

Posted on April 6, 2018 by travelbynatasha

As we like to do on touring days, Boris and I had breakfast on our balcony before heading out for an early tour. We were overlooking the renovated harbor area and the park there big yellow letters spell out CUBA. … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international | Tagged Antonio Maceo Monument, Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Heredia Theater, Hurricane Sandy, Jose Marti, Moncada Barracks, Plaza de Revolution, San Juan Hill, Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, Santiago de Cuba | Leave a comment

Santiago de Cuba: The Birthplace of Rum, Revolution, and Rhythm

Posted on April 5, 2018 by travelbynatasha

Our second port of call in the Republic of Cuba is Santiago de Cuba, the original capital, on the southeasterly side of the island. Cuba is part of the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean. Columbus’ trip to the new world … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international | Tagged Azamara Club Cruises, Azamazing Evening, Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption, Church of El Cobre, Cuba, El Cobre, El Cobre Church, El Sanctuario de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, Hotel Casa Granda, Santiago de Cuba Cathedral, Steel Band del Cobre | Leave a comment

Havana: Hemingway and Slightly off the Tourist Path in Cuba

Posted on April 3, 2018 by travelbynatasha

I foolishly thought I could get all of one day’s worth of touring into one post. Didn’t happen, and so I continue on my tour of Havana, Cuba. Check out yesterday’s post, Havana, Cuba: Crumbling Colonial Architecture, Classic American Cars, … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international | Tagged Aramburo, Aramburo District, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Cuba, Floridita, Habana Vieja, Havana, Hotel Ambos Mundoes, hotel Nacional de Cuba, La Floridita, Palacio de los Capitanes, Plaza de Armas, Plaza de San Francisco | 1 Comment

Havana, Cuba: Crumbling Colonial Architecture, Classic American Cars, and the Warm Cuban People

Posted on April 2, 2018 by travelbynatasha

One of the United States’ closest southern neighbors, the Republic of Cuba is a small communist nation. Cuba is an island that sits in the Caribbean Sea bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Its early history is of Spanish Conquest of the … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international | Tagged Batista, Castro, classic American car, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Floridita, Havana, health attacks, Hotel Inglaterra, hotel Nacional de Cuba, Malecon, Sangeria, yank tank | Leave a comment

Cuba: A Tale of Two Currencies

Posted on March 29, 2018 by travelbynatasha

Boris is celebrating a milestone birthday and would rather take a trip than celebrate in any other way. He challenged me to come up with a special place that he had never been. I rose to the challenge by selecting … Continue reading →

Posted in cruises, international | Tagged Azamara, Azamara Quest, convertible pesos, Cuba, daiquiri, Havana, Malecon, Tropicana | 2 Comments

Bruges at Night and Our Final Day

Posted on December 12, 2017 by travelbynatasha

This is our final night in Bruges after separate daytime touring. Our host selected a nice restaurant just off the Market Square. Walking down to the square after dark, we got to enjoy the city by night. Wonderful lighting added … Continue reading →

Posted in international | Tagged Bruges | Leave a comment