In Strasbourg on last Saturday

Strasbourg, about 1h by car from my home, is a very nice city. I had the chance to study there during two years at Le Lycée Kléber. My wife was studying there during more than 8 years (…) at the Louis Pasteur University (doctor of medicine).

We are always going there with pleasure, specially to visit the “Petite France”, part of the “Grande Ile”, one of the most beautiful area of Strasbourg, and registered at the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1988.

Surrounded by two arms of the River Ill, the Grande Ile (Big Island) is the historic centre of the Alsatian capital. It has an outstanding complex of monuments within a fairly small area. The cathedral, the four ancient churches and the Palais Rohan – former residence of the prince-bishops – far from appearing as isolated monuments, form a district that is characteristic of a medieval town and illustrates Strasbourg's evolution from the 15th to the 18th century.

The Strasbourg Cathedral

Access to the whole pictures-set here.

Back from St Barth

So, we are back since last Friday. As usual, the “landing” is quite difficult after 2 weeks on this incredible island. And not just because of the jet lag…

I would like to share with you 8 pictures from our trip. And no, I don’t know why 8, but it sounds good ;-)

 

From Guadeloupe to Saint Barth, beautiful lights

 

Saint Jean Bay, the west part

 

Petite Anse, from the beach

 

Petite Anse, from the top

 

Colombier Bay

 

Grand Cul de Sac

 

Petit Cul de Sac

 

From the Gustavia lighthouse

 

Off to the ocean for one week :-)

I will be in the Cap-Ferret / France for one week.

I need to smell and to feel the ocean again ;-)

Take care!

First trip to India, Chennai...

via Wikipedia

In about one week, we will have the pleasure to go to India, and more precisely to Chennai, for a business trip. Wow :-)

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located on the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai has an estimated population of 7.5 million (2007), making it the fourth largest metropolitan city in India and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world.

The city was established in the 17th century by the British, who developed it into a major urban centre and naval base. By the 20th century, it had become an important administrative centre, as the capital of the Madras Presidency.

Chennai's economy has a broad industrial base in the automobile, technology, hardware manufacturing, and healthcare industries. The city is home to much of India's automobile industry and is the country's second-largest exporter of information technology (IT) and information-technology-enabled services (ITES), behind Bangalore. The city is served by an international airport and two major ports; it is connected to the rest of the country by five national highways and two railway terminals. Thirty-five countries have consulates in Chennai.

Absolutely impressive! This city has actually more inhabitants than Switzerland! The weather is also quite different as by us: 32°C during the day and a minimum of 20° at night. With 90% humidity...

St Barth 2007 - Part III

With some delay, the third post about our trip to St Barth in 2007. I have to go on! In now 12 (!) days, we will fly there gain.

Do not forget your sunglasses, before having a look at the pictures.

 

The beaches

 

What is interesting at St Barth is that there are so many beaches, which are so different from each other. If you stay 2 weeks, you are able to visit one different beach per day.

In 2007, we were at the following:

• St Jean Bay West (near the airport)

• St Jean Bay East (great for kids, a lot of families are present there)

• Saline

• Flamands 

• Gouverneur

• Lorient

 

• Corossol

• Shell Beach

• Colombier. It is the first time that we were there because you have to walk about 30' on a quite steep and narrow walking road. It was not really possible before because of our son (he was 5 last year). But, what for a view during the walk! And the beach is absolutely fantastic...

 

 

St Barth 2007 - Part II

I have published my last post about Saint Barth for a while... It was exactly on May 28, 2007. Quite a long time ago! On the other side, in 25 days, we will be again in Saint Barth for about 3 weeks. So, I should really now begin to enter this "period", step-by-step.

I know that I am making some of you quite nervous with my "Saint Barth" posts. Sorry guys, nobody is forcing you to read them ;-)

In the Part I, I have introduced our travel and talked about the "terrible" weather there ;-). In the coming posts, I will write about our villa (part II), the beaches (arrgggg, part III), the restaurants and the shopping (part IV), the fauna and flora (part V), the harbor and some boats (part VI), some sunsets (part VII) and a conclusion (part VIII).

If you would like to have a look at my flickr-set about this travel, you can go there. 113 pictures, also available in their original size (3072x2304).

 

The villa TEO

Last year (in 2007), we have decided not to go in a hotel as the first two times (Hotel La Banane and François Plantation). Not that these hotels were bad or something like that. This time, we wanted to test a stay with a villa renting. There are quite a lot of possibilities and different renting agencies. We have decided us for the "historical" real estate company of St Barth, called SiBarth. Huge choice of villas on the wimco website, very precise descriptions which correspond to the reality. Very good service.

We were at the villa TEO, which is quite new and absolutely beautiful.

Top ten reasons to come and stay in villa TEO:

1. It is very comfortable, charming and private
2. The views on the ocean, the boats, the Corossol Bay and the offshore islands are just TERRIFIC. We are missing them...
3. The infinity pool is just great! So cool in the afternoon after some hours on the beach.
4. The wood terrace is amazing, open, with dramatic 180° views.
5. The sunsets are just ... spectacular!And different every day.
6. The little garden is welcoming you, with beautiful and colorful flowers, and its very nice fountain.
7. The BBQ (a Weber...) is just great.
8. We have seen one iguana (a grey one) many times. As some colibris. Cool experience.
9. The kitchen and overall furnitures are modern, stylish, comfortable.
10. Thanks to the orientation of the villa, the whole terrace is "under the sun" about the whole day.