Inspiration and Tips for Traveling the World

Canal de L'Ourcq Paris

Canal de L’Ourcq, Paris

September 4, 2020

We flew into Paris after spending a week in the South of France. The plan was to meet three of our adult children who were flying into to Paris from California.  We arrived in Paris a half-day early, checked into the hotel and headed up to the 19th Arrondissement to have lunch at the Paname Brewing Company.  We had met the owner on a previous trip to Paris and wanted to check it out. ⁣⁣The restaurant overlooks Canal de l’Ourcq and was busy on this Spring day in May.  After lunch we strolled along the walking path and made a stop at Le […]

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water Taxi venice italy

Water Taxi in Venice, Italy (Quick Video)

August 27, 2020

On a past trip to Venice we took a water taxi as we left for the train station.  We were picked up at the Hotel Gritti and had a memorable boat ride as we left towards our next destination: Firenze.  Here’s a quick video.

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piazza san marcos

Piazza San Marcos, Venice, Italy

August 22, 2020

On a past trip to Venice we made a stop at Piazza San Marco, or Saint Mark’s Square.  Yes, it can be overcrowded, but it’s a must see in Venice.  Here’s a quick video to give you the feel for an afternoon in May.

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cereal killer cafe Dubai

Video – Cereal Killer Cafe in Dubai

August 13, 2020

Looking for a bowl of cereal in the middle of the day? Cereal Killer Cafe can make that happen. We are familiar with Cereal Killer Cafe from our trips to the East End of London, but it was fun to spot a location in Dubai. Here’s a quick video from our trip to Dubai and the Maldives in February of this year. Notice the tables and benches which are beds with old school designs.

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Gritti Palace Venice

July 18, 2020

Our trip to Venice included a stay at the Gritti Palace hotel, situated on the Grand Canal.  The building dates back to the 1400’s and is part of Marriott’s Luxury Collection.  Rooms run over $1000 a night, but we booked it with points.   The following is a pictorial overview of the stay.  We arrived at the Marco Polo Airport and caught a shared water taxi to the hotel.   Travelers can walk from the terminal to the where the water taxis depart.  This was one of the most memorable hotels we’ve visited. If we visit Venice again, this would be the hotel we would want […]

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Giftcardmall

Giftcardmall no longer offering $500 Visa Gift Cards?

July 3, 2020

Giftcardmall recently took two negative steps for those who earn points and miles via Visa gift cards. This includes: 1) Eliminating free shipping. 2) Limiting portal payouts to $2000 of purchases a month. Has Giftcardmall taken another limiting step? The website currently shows that the maximum value for a Visa Gift card is $250. The fee stays the same at $5.95. Is this a glitch, or a permanent change? We’ll keep our eyes out regarding this development. P.S. Thanks to Chris K for pointing this out.

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Ordinary People Traveling to Extraordinary Places

cafes and alleyways about us

Our passion to travel takes us to cafes and alleyways around the world. From neighborhood cafes in Paris to a street market in London, we’ll take the road less traveled to hidden gems, new experiences and mouth watering eateries.

Whether it’s your first time abroad or you’re an accomplished traveler, we’ll share inspiration and tips for traveling the world.  Let’s pack our bags, grab our passports, relax in our seats…we’re now ready for take off!

 Mike and  Mariah