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Brigitte Aflalo-Calderon

Brigitte Aflalo-Calderon was born and raised in Rabat, Morocco. She now divides her time between France and the US where she became a US citizen on September 11, 2001. She is an artist through and through, not only enriching the world with words but also with her paintings.

Ajaccio: Napoleonic Sights in Corsica

  The names of the streets, the monuments, the statues, everything in Ajaccio, Corsica evokes the memory of Napoleon Bonaparte. Furthermore, a few kilometers outside of Ajaccio, you may discover sites where Napoleon lived or passed by. One of the best ways to explore them is by car. Napoleonic Sights in Ajaccio La Chapelle des Grecs On your way …

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Notre Dame de La Garde: Marseille’s Bonne Mer

When in Marseille, you can’t miss her: Notre Dame de La Garde. Whether you are emerging from St. Charles train station, heading toward the Pharo beaches, or taking an evening stroll around the harbor, she is there. Notre-Dame de La Garde, the Roman-Byzantine Basilica built in 1854, watches incessantly over the city and its inhabitants. Located on the city’s …

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A Cultural Pause in Sète France

Unlike its big sisters – Nimes or Narbonne, Sète doesn’t have a Roman past to brag about. In fact, this Mediterranean city is a relative youngster in historical terms. It was built three centuries ago — yesterday, by French standards. In the XVIIth century, to improve the economic situation of his kingdom, Louis XIV decided to develop …

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Guide to Marseille, France

Marseille, the second most populated city in France after Paris, was founded in 600 BC by Greek sailors. They named it Massalia. Under Roman rule, Massalia became Marsala, which, eventually turned into Marseille. With such a rich legacy, it should not come as a surprise that Marseille has been elected the European Capital of Culture …

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The Islands of Venice, Italy

  Venice, the island jewel of the Renaissance, offers visitors more than high culture, a combative history and exquisite art.  A brief trip on a vaporetto (passenger boat) or a ferry from Italy’s mainland can lead to one of the freestanding islands within the Venetian Lagoon.  Despite the tourist trade, many of these islands have …

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France’s Southern Alps Snow Train

France’s Southern Alps Snow Train Touristic trains are a great way to discover non-mainstream France.  During the ski season, they take you to relatively lesser-known ski destinations—which means shorter lines at the ski lift. Every week-end from mid-January to mid-March the Train des Neiges, Alpes-Sud proposes to take skiers to 24 different resorts.  The train …

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