The Eiffel Tower - can never get enough of those twinkling lights

I love the Eiffel Tower. Not everyone does, not even every French person. I can't understand anyone not being mesmerised by its sheer presence, its domination of the Paris skyline day or night. It has so many personalities - every photo you take can be different, depending on the sky, the clouds, the light.

I love the history of the Eiffel Tower engineered by Gustave Eiffel, how it was supposed to be a temporary edifice erected for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 (Paris Expo.) Its dimensions are stupendous. At 300 meters (320.75 m including antenna), and 7,000 tons, it was the world's tallest building until 1930. The tower was almost torn down in 1909 after the Expo was over, but there was a decision made amongst great controversy (we are talking French people!) to keep the tower, despite quite a large groundswell of negativity. The fact that Gustave Eiffel began to fit the peak of the tower as an observation station to measure the speed of wind, along with encouraging other scientific experiments, helped le Tour Eiffel's case for standing tall. Read more...

I, for  one, am glad the tower stands today. Judging by the number of tourists jostling in the queues to ascend the tower, I'm not the only one. On my first trip I stood in the light rain for hours, hoping to get up to see the sunset. It was more like sunrise! But I'll never forget laughing along with the crowd and munching on chocolate crepes and drinking filthy coffee while I waited for my turn to go up. I'll also never forget my first sight of Paris by night, with all the landmarks clear and bright - Champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe, the streets, even the 'lipstick,' the Monparnasse tower.

Eiffel Tower, you rock!

A Photo a Day - Farewell from the wine caves of Epernay

A Photo a Day - Epernay, Champagne Region of France

I have such fond memories of my time in Epernay - wine caves, wine tastings and ogling the opulent wine houses - Pol Roger, Moet & Chandon, Mercier, Pommerey, Jouet...

A Photo a day - Wine cave - Champagne Mercier

A good view inside a wine cave.

A trip to the champagne region - Epernay, NE of Paris - wine castles, wine caves and kilometres of vineyards and bubbles

Who is Pichets in Paris? Paris as 'muse.'

Paris as muse

Who is Pichets in Paris?


By now most of you know I’m an Aussie who loves to travel, and especially travel to Paris. Paris is my ‘muse.’


As writers we have an ability to find stories in what we see, hear, experience and imagine. Historically this has been considered a product of some external force – can’t we be creative on our own? Did you know Greek mythology includes nine muses who are responsible for all creative endeavours? These sisters had the power both to inspire and to remove the ability for creative thought.


Many writers credit their muses with the spark that makes a creative work move beyond the ordinary into the extraordinary. I often come across the term 'muse' in the blogosphere. Personally I feel the muse is the part of writers that maintains a supersensitive awareness of our environment. I believe anything can be a source of story ideas, whether large or small. Maybe something as simple as an overheard fragment of a conversation, the way the light falls on a tree's leaves, or how a wine tastes on the tongue, or some amazing food to savour, or simply the feel of a fabric on your fingers.


Paris has been considered a ‘muse’ by artistic types for centuries, and my first trip to this breathtaking city showed me why. It’s not just the architectural beauty, the setting along the Seine, or the way Paris has been romanticised on paper and film. Paris, for me, heightens emotions; there is a story on every street, in every courtyard, in every museum. I feel it soaking into my pores every time I visit.


As a writer I use my senses to absorb information. And I like to be alone with my thoughts as hidden beneath is a pool of images, ideas and fragments that surface when needed to form stories that I hope readers will enjoy.


This is the Paris I want to share with you – in pictures and words. I hope you enjoy the journey.


Wherever I’m travelling in the world, or whether I’m sitting at my computer in Brisbane, the thought of sipping pichetsinparis (a measure of wine) is never far from my mind.