Category: Travel Planning

Diocletian Palace map

Split from cathedral tower

Split is a vast coastal city with a vibrant, atmospheric Old Town at its heart….a maze of narrow alleys, little squares, boutiques, galleries and restaurants. In the 4^th century Roman Emperor Diocletian wanted to retire to his native Dalmatia and built a vast palace here, a palace that forms the nucleus of Split’s sightseeing today. We happily spent two days puttering around before taking a ferry to Hvar and on to Korčula.

Bura apartment

Bura apartment bedroom

While staying in the heart of the old town would have been convenient we found it no hardship to walk the extra couple of blocks to Sperun (street). Jalena and Ana Bura have done an excellent job converting this tiny three-storey house into a lovely apartment. Climb the steep narrow stairs to the second floor living room and kitchen then up a narrow spiral staircase to the bedroom and bathroom under the eaves. BURA APARTMENT, €130, Ana & Jelena Bura, Senjska 3, Split, tel:  915 839 931, buraivan@gmail.com.

Sperun Restaurant

Sperun Bistro

Just steps away from our accommodation we found SPERUN BISTRO the ideal place to eat breakfast offering everything from healthy fruit and yogurt to vast cooked breakfasts. All presided over by friendly owner Zdravko Banovic. Lunch and excellent value for money dinners are also served. Across the street is the more up market SPERUN PRESTAURANT. We so enjoyed dinner on our first night that we kept coming back. Sperun Restaurant & Sperun Bistro, Sperun 3, Split, Tel 021 346 999, Mob 098 449 515, Owner Zdravko Banovic

Highlights of our stay in Split were:

Riva

Riva

WATERFRONT– the RIVA: Strolling the pedestrian promenade along the waterfront is a popular pastime for residents as well as visitors. If you are tired after a day of sightseeing there is no shortage of outdoor cafes where you can sit and people watch.

People's Square

Fish Market

PEOPLES SQUARE (Narodni Trg): Just outside the town walls this most attractive square is called Pjaca (pronounced like the Italian piazza). Here you find the “Iron Gate” into the city, the Gradska Kavana a longtime meeting place for locals (great ambiance, disappointing food) and the onetime City Hall that now host exhibitions.

FISH MARKET: Fancy your fish fresh, this is the place to buy it, come early in the day. In the evening the little square outside the market building is a casual fish restaurant—choose your fish and have it cooked.

FRUIT SQUARE (Vocni Trg): This little square fronting onto the Riva at the roundabout is named for the produce that was once sold here.

Fruit Square

DIOCLETIAN PALACE: Split’s old town is built on the remains of a Roman Palace built for Emperor Diocletian’s retirement (died AD 316). Split’s premier activity is touring the remains of this huge complex in the heart of the city. You can self-tour with a guide book or take one of the many walking tours. Orient yourself by studying the large model of the town at the ferry end of the Riva.

DIOCLETIAN PALACE CELLARS: These massive cellars with their stout pillars were built to even out the palace’s foundation. Over the years they were used for water storage, sewers, the town dump, shelter from marauders and latterly a portion has become the town market with a vast array of mostly tacky souvenirs. Before you go shopping buy a ticket to explore the impressive maze of cellars.

Diocletian Palace Cellars

Diocletian Palace cellars ceiling

DIOCLETIAN PALACE PERISTYLE (Peristil): This impressive square with its red granite pillars is the heart of the palace. Here you find the Cathedral of St Dominus-formerly Diocletian’s mausoleum, the stairs that lead to the domed Entry Vestibule and the entrance to the narrow alley that brings you to Jupiter’s Temple. You’ll find the café on the square offers live music on warm evenings.

Diocletian Palace Peristyle

Diocletian Palace Peristyle

Diocletian Palace entry vestibule

DIOCLETIAN PALACE ENTRY VESTIBULE: The entrance to Diocletian’s living quarters was built to impress. The hole in the ceiling was once covered by a dome and the ceiling decorated with frescoes. The acoustics are perfect for klapa singers who are often found here performing capella harmonies.

DIOCLETIAN PALACE CATHEDRAL OF ST DOMNUS: Climb the steep steps to the top of the bell tower and be rewarded with sweeping views of Split. The tiny cathedral is housed in what was Diocletian’s tomb. You need separate tickets for the cathedral and the bell tower.

DIOCLETIAN PALACE JUPITER’S TEMPLE: Found down a narrow alley off the Peristyle. Diocletian believed himself to be Jupiter reincarnated so opposite his tomb (no houses cluttering the view in those days) he built Jupiter’s Temple. It later converted to a baptistery with a massive 12^th century baptismal font.  Above the font is a statue of John the Baptist by Ivan Mestrovic, Croatia’s answer to Rodin (1883-1962).

DIOCLETIAN PALACE GOLDEN GATE (Zlatna Vrata): This was the main entry into Diocletian’s Palace. It’s double door design kept the palace safe. From the outside of the gate you get an unobstructed view of how the palace walls looked before so many buildings were tacked onto them. The big statue is by Ivan Mestrovic, Croatia’s answer to Rodin, of Bishop Gregory of Nin. People rub his toe for good luck.

Diocletian Palace Cathedral

Diocletian Palace Cathedral Tower

Diocletian Palace Temple of Jupiter

Diocletian Palace Temple of Jupiter

Diocletian Palace Golden Gate

Gregory of Nin outside Golden Gate

Portland dragon boats

Portland is a very easy city to get around in. There are many inexpensive parking lots in the downtown area, so park your car and venture out on foot. Maps and self-guided tours are available at the Visitor Information and Services Center located in the Pioneer Courthouse Square complex. When visiting neighborhoods, you can drive, park, walk, or consider public transportation. A good bus (Tri-Met), light-rail (MAX), and a vintage trolley system work in tandem so that you can use tickets interchangeably, and it’s free in the downtown area.

This is a city that goes to great lengths to ensure that nature plays an active part in daily life. Over 200 parks grace the city and an ordinance prohibiting the construction of buildings higher than 40 stories guarantees that the Cascade and Coastal mountain ranges are never obscured by “progress.” Take a drive up to Council Crest Park set over 1,000 feet above the city and accessed via Fairmount Blvd, it’s a wonderful spot for viewing all five Cascade peaks—weather permitting, of course.

Powell's Books

No self-respecting lover of books would consider missing a turn of several hours at Powell’s City of Books, 1005 W. Burnside Street. It takes up an entire city block (in a building that once served as a used-car dealership and car repair shop) and holds a computerized inventory of over one million titles—the largest used and new book selection under one roof in the world. Color-coded maps are available at the front desk for making your way through literally thousands of sections. The Seattle Times has aptly called Powell’s “a place of staggering ambition, hidden in the very humble wrapper of a worn-out warehouse.”

Take a self-guided tour through the Portland! exhibit at the Oregon History Center located at 1200 SW Park Avenue. It’s a marvelous orientation to the area’s history, beginning with the 1840s when the first European and American settlers arrived, and continuing to the present day. Notice the “copper” displayed at the exhibit entrance. It was used in the now-famous coin toss of 1845, by which city builders Asa Lovejoy of Boston, Massachusetts and Francis Pettygrove of Portland, Maine decided the name of their new city!

Pioneer Square

Art lovers will enjoy the renovated Portland Art Museum at 1219 SW Park Avenue. Founded in 1892, the museum has (over many loving years) amassed a diverse collection numbering over 32,000 works of art. A $45-million renovation and construction project resulted in over 50,000 square feet dedicated to the Centers for Native American Art and Northwest Art. Additional renovation projects account for new permanent galleries, a community education center, a new museum shop, and a café.

Washington Park can easily occupy the better part of a day if you’re inclined to enjoy all it has to offer: an arboretum, a zoo, a forestry center, and much, much more. Two gardens in particular make for rejuvenating contemplative strolls. The enchanting Japanese Garden (611 SW Kingston Avenue) occupies nearly 6 undulating acres and provides an authentic look at the genius of Japanese landscape masters. Enjoy the Tea Garden, the Strolling Pond Garden, and the Zen-inspired Sand and Stone Garden. Also worth the time is the International Rose Test Garden, on Kingston Avenue, where more than 8,000 roses representing hundreds of species grow in terraces overlooking the city and Mount Hood.

Washington Park rose garden

One of our favorite picnic/viewing spots is the lawn area in front of Pittock Mansion (head west up Burnside, turn right on NW Barnes, then follow the signs). Completed in 1914, this fine home was built for Henry Pittock who came west on the Oregon Trail in 1853. Pittock made his fortune through a variety of wise and timely investments and became publisher of the Oregonian. On a good day, the views of Mount Hood and the city from this spot are wonderful.

The Lan Su Chinese Gardens (formerly the Portland Classical Chinese Gardens) occupies an entire city block between NW Third Avenue and NW Everett Street. It’s a unique urban garden patterned in a 15^th-century Ming style and designed by architects and artisans from the Chinese city of Suzhou. Created to inspire residents living in busy cities, Chinese gardens were meant to offer respite in the center of activity. Today’s visitors to this setting will find a garden little changed from what would have greeted them more than 500 years ago in dynastic China.

For over one hundred years the city has adopted the rose as a symbol of its continuing growth and renewal. If you’re visiting in June, find a schedule of Rose Festival activities, which start with the coronation of the Rose Festival Queen on or around May 31^st. Fireworks, parades, boat races, musical performances, and special art exhibits make for a month-long celebration of the city’s favorite time of year.

Want to tour Oregon wineries without leaving downtown? Then the place to go is Oregon Wines on Broadway at 515 SW Broadway. It’s a charming wine bar where you can sample two dozen or more of the state’s finest wines. Beer aficionados may want to find out how Portland got its title of “Microbrewery Capital of the World.” On Saturday afternoons, Brewbus offers a four-hour, behind-the-scenes tour of various breweries in town.

Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park gives you the chance to stroll alongside the Willamette River for an easy mile and a half, with a view of eight Portland bridges if you walk from one end to the other. This park is often the venue for summertime concerts.

Reserve a spot on a Portland Spirit River Cruise from the Salmon Street Springs dock along the waterfront walk. It’s a fun, two-hour cruise on a 150-foot yacht. You’ll sail up the Willamette and past Ross Island, home to bald eagles, great blue herons, ospreys, and private riverside estates. Choose from sightseeing rides as well as lunch and dinner cruises.

The Pearl District, bounded by W Burnside, NW Lovejoy, NW 8^th Avenue, and NW 15^th Avenue, is getting a great deal of attention these days. Formerly an industrial area, it has been transformed in the last ten years into a popular spot for upscale lofts, art galleries, boutique shops, great restaurants, and sidewalk cafés.

The neighboring Nob Hill District bordered by NW 15^th Avenue, NW 23^rd Avenue, W Burnside, and NW Lovejoy, is absolutely charming, especially for its mid-19^th-century homes. Wander in and among these neighborhood streets, pausing when something takes your fancy. Make your way down NW 23^rd and NW 21^st Streets.

Forest Park offers some 50 miles of interconnected trails that wind up and down the slopes of this 5,000-acre wonderland, the largest urban park in North America. Maps are available to give you options. The Wildwood Trail extends for 33 miles from Forest Park to Washington Park.

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry at 1945 SE Water Street offers excellent exhibits in a contemporary building right on the Willamette River. It features the Murdock Planetarium, an Omnimax Theater, and tours of the submarine used in the movie The Hunt for Red October.

Stringing along Highway 49 through the Sierra Foothills, the quaint, nostalgic towns of the California Gold Country are a wonderful destination any time of the year although the heat of summer dissipating and the changing of the seasonal colors makes fall a special time. These quaint towns date back to 1848 when the cry went up that gold had been found at Sutter Creek, thus starting the ‘Gold Fever’ which overtook many a hearty soul eager to make their fortune. Boom towns sprang up overnight to service and supply the prospectors.

Today, the towns of Jamestown, Sonora, Twain Harte, Columbia, Murphy’s, Sutter Creek and Coloma are home to antique shops, art galleries, nifty boutiques, and wonderful small restaurants. These towns along Highway 49 (named for the gold seeking miners known as the Forty-Niners) are also home to some of the most appealing Bed and Breakfast Inns and small Hotels many of which are located in old Victorian houses lining bucolic sleepy streets.

Travel on Highway 49 can either start at the north end in the quiet town of Coloma where John Marshall first discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill and continue in a southerly direction to Jamestown with its main street lined with    wooden boardwalks, balconies and old-style storefronts. It you are traveling from Lake Tahoe or  San Francisco you will want to start at the Coloma end and if you are traveling from Yosemite your launch will be from Jamestown in the south. Whichever is your starting point plan on a leisurely trip of 2-4 days through this colorful region.

The charming town of Sutter Creek offers two delightful Bed and Breakfast Inns at which to stay. Either the idyllic Foxes Inn or the pretty soft-gray-blue Grey Gables Inn make a wonderful choice for an overnight stay. Just above the town of Sonora on a hilltop lies the bucolic victorian, Barretta Gardens Inn. One of our favorite Gold Country towns, Murphy’s is home to two wonderful Inns. The Victoria Inn with a wonderful wraparound porch and the handsome victorian, Dunbar Inn, are great choices for places to stay. The 1859 National Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in California,is a fantastic choice to overnight and even offers a resident ghost adding to your overnight experience.

Ballyvolane House, Castleyton, Ireland

Fishing on the River Blackwater

A great Irish country house, the Ballyvolane House in Castelyons, County Cork, is not only a fabulous place to stay but also a incredible place to fish!  The property boasts seven kilometers of privately managed salmon fishing on the renowned River Blackwater!  We consider them angling experts and so are pleased to share with you an excerpt from their recent July 2010 newsletter:

Latest Fishing News!
Although the water is low at the moment, there are still lots of fish running. We have been placing anglers on the lower catchment as the salmon are coming in on the high tide and the conditions are proving ideal for fly fishing. Large summer salmon up to 12lb and grilse up to 5lb have been taken on the fly in the last week. Shrimp flies such as Cascade Shrimp and Ally’s Shrimp have been the most effective flies this season this. When more rain comes, the fishing will get even better!

FISHING SCHOOL
Why not take some time out this summer to learn or to hone your skills in the craft of fly fishing for salmon? We’re offering a fantastic opportunity to learn to fly fish on the renowned River Blackwater with one of its most experienced and talented fishing guides, Norman Gillett. We are running a variety of residential and non-residential courses until 30 September. All tackle and kit is provided. Click here for more information and prices.

We recently received an inquiry through Facebook about handicap facilites.  I thought the discussion might prove of interest to other Karen Brown Travelers and so I decided to include it as a blog.

COMMENT FROM A KB TRAVELER:

KBT travel helped me plan a fantastic trip to Italy 10 years ago and now I want to go to Paris and Provence. anybody with info re wheelchair friendly accommodations in these places, please post. thanks.

OUR RESPONSE:

We do ask the properties we recommend to let us know if they have handicap facilities. If they have indicated that they do, a wheelchair icon will appear with the list of service icons under their description in our printed guides as well as on our website pages. The important thing to consider is that everyone’s needs are specific and since regulations in Europe are not standardized as they are in the United States, if a hotel in Europe says they can accommodate a handicapped guest – it might simply be that they have a ground floor room. So it is very important as the traveler to contact the properties directly to communicate your specific needs and to make sure that your stay will be comfortable.

That being said, I have a wonderful story to share! A close friend who does require a wheelchair selected a property from our guide on the basis of the Wheelchair icon. When she got there and checked in the owner indicated that they didn’t have any ground floor rooms, nor did they have an elevator. Her assigned room, in fact was on the third floor! She then panicked and questioned why they said they were handicap-friendly and HOW was she to get to and from her room. He admitted to identifying their hotel as handicap friendly and he said his reasoning was that he is so strong that he can carry any guest…which in fact he did. He carried our dear friend on his back up and down the stairs!!!  This might make some uncomfortable – which again is why it is important as the traveler to communicate our needs – but, not for our dear friend who has returned to this wonderful hotel numerous times. As she said to me I have to go while he still has his strength!!!

Thank you for using our recommendations and I hope with time we can get even better and more specific as to the facilities offered by hotels.

Karen

Sorry to share this with you so last minute, but a fellow member of Society of American Travel Writers just sent out a reminder that U.S. Passport fees are set to jump dramatically on July 13, 2010.

If you don’t currently have a passport; if your passport is about to expire, or if you simply need to add additional pages and you have plans to travel this might be of interest!

As of July 13, 2010 the cost of New passports is increasing from $100 to $135.

Passport renewals will go from $75 to $110, a 47 percent increase.

These represent the third increase in the last five years.

Also new is that frequent travelers who need to add pages to an existing passport will now be charged $82 for this service.  This service is currently free — but only until July 13.

If your passport has a few years remaining on it but the pages are brimming with stamps, now is the time to request extra pages.  Old schedule of fees: http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_837.html.  Fees effective July 13, 2010: http://travel.state.gov/passport/fees/fees_5079.html

We have just learned from our friends at the Lodge at Moosehead Lake that it is indeed “Moose Time” in Maine – cleverly referred to as “Moose Mainea”!  They inform us that in late spring and early summer, cow moose seem to move to lower-lying areas near water sources to calve; yearling or older offspring that have followed Mom around are now on their own. And according to Ed, their Moose Guide, “New calves can lie absolutely still where their mother has left them soon after they’ve been born. She will spend an inordinate amount of time licking the newborn so any downwind predators can’t pick up the scent.  This is why you can easily bisect the path between a mom and baby. We are careful to not get between a cow and her calf since they are extremely protective!” The Lodge has also kindly shared special events taking place in the region to celebrate this wonderful season. (Please see the end of this blog for a listing of events.)

We were captivated by the beauty of the region and honestly took a few detours from our scheduled research route in hopes of siting some Moose.  We didn’t see any on our last trip – but, their information has definitely inspired us to return and we will time our next trip accordingly!

We would like to share with you our own recommendation for the region and information about Moose. The following is excerpted from our guide to New England (Karen Brown’s New England: Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries):

The Moosehead Lake Region is just one district of the Maine Highlands and its natural beauty, many rivers, lakes and mountains make it an outdoorsman’s paradise and provide the traveler with unique experiences. At the heart of the region is a lake of the same name, whose outline when viewed on a map, remarkably does indeed look like a moose head with those distinctive antlers! Maine’s largest lake, Moosehead Lake is forty miles long and 420 miles around and has an intricate shoreline that weaves in and out to afford some spectacular bays, coves, beaches and even embraces a few islands. At the southern tip of the lake is Greenville—the closest to a metropolis for miles around! In fact approximately 20 miles north of Greenville when traveling north on either side of the lake, roads are gated and there is restricted access into the wilderness area. There is actually talk of converting and preserving this magnificent region of northern Maine into one of the nation’s largest national parks.

There is no doubt that a visit, and a stay in the Moosehead Lake Region with Greenville as a base would provide the traveler with unique experiences. From here you can venture forth to explore the region. Where else can you stay in one locale and go dog sledding, ice fishing, whitewater rafting, snowmobiling, cross-country or downhill skiing, canoeing, kayaking, participate in a moose safari, and have a guide instruct you in the fine art of fly fishing? Seaplanes are a popular mode of transportation in these northern parts, but if you are driving in the back woods on unpaved roads, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is good insurance that you will arrive at your destination.

We were intrigued by the notion of moose sightings and happened to be traveling at the prime time—late spring, early summer. Moose are famous for making unexpected, cameo appearances and if you are lucky, you just might see one with or without the aid of binoculars. Moose are definitely prevalent as is evidenced by the over 1,000 accidents and fatalities attributed last year to cars colliding with moose… so be careful! Part of the blame falls on the moose whose vision is limited to about 25 feet. Also, in the Moosehead Lake Region, moose outnumber people (tourists!) by 3 to 1. Nevertheless, if you are determined as we were, there are a few key guidelines to enhance your chances of a sighting.

With the exception of the lighthouse, there is no other image more symbolic of Maine than the moose. The fact that it is the state animal and appears as on the state seal is proof that the local residents are also enamored by this adorable, gangly creature. A large male may measure as long as 10 feet, stand 7 feet tall and weigh three-quarters of a ton. Cute and big, they are the largest antlered animal in North America and the largest member of the deer family in the world.

Observing moose in their natural habitat is exciting. Luckily for the moose-seeking traveler, the best times for sightings are also the best times for visiting Maine—late spring/early summer and in the fall. In the springtime, craving sodium that has been depleted from their bodies after the long winter, moose are attracted to the roadsides where salt remains from winter spreading; and with a weakness for tender, sodium-rich aquatic plants they are often seen at a pond or body of water. In late September and early October moose are on the prowl because it is mating season and because the bulls can also be very aggressive in their pursuit and mistake anything moving for an alluring cow a good zoom lens might be the preferred and conservative means of a “close up” viewing.

In general, Moose are nocturnal animals and the best times to sight them are early mornings or at dusk. You can venture forth to inlets and wooded areas by private car. In pursuit of moose it is possible to go off-road on many of the logging roads, but be alert for logging trucks, who like moose are bigger than you are! It is also possible to hire a guide and explore by canoe, kayak or seaplane. Regardless of the means of pursuit, remember to be careful. Although, moose are not considered dangerous, they are massive and you do not want to startle them. It is important to note that cows are very protective of their young and bulls are very aggressive in the mating season.

As a recommendation for the best areas considered for sightings are to simply explore the main roads and back roads around Moosehead Lake. From Greenville take Route 6 and then 15 to Route 201 in Jackman and follow it to Sandy Bay township at the Canadian border. Or, travel Lily Bay Road from Greenville, traveling northeast, for approximately 20 miles and watch for moose at any point along the way. If you have gotten to Kokadjo and still have not seen any or enough, head to lazy Tom Bog just past Kokadjo—this bog is very popular with local moose! If you want to make a day of moose watching, drive to Rockwood, a town north of Greenville, from which you can then venture to Mount Kineo for some hiking, exploring and moose watching.

As a final note, moose definitely prefer shady, wet areas and so definitely focus your search around beaver flowages, marshes and swampy areas; logging areas where there is young growth as well as broccoli fields. Get a good map; pack binoculars and a picnic and hopefully, along with some patience, you will be well rewarded. However, even if you are not fortunate to see a moose, in the pursuit it is guaranteed that you will see and experience some absolutely gorgeous wilderness. Although, centuries have passed since this region was settled by the Penobscot tribes and this was where early European settlers first landed in the mid-1700s it remains rugged, untouched and wild.

The Lodge at Moosehead Lake Greenville, Maine

Thank you Lodge at Moosehead Lake for the following information on 2010 events in celebration of “Moose”! The Moosehead Lake area celebrates “Moose Mainea 2010″ from May 15 – June.  Here are some of the highlights you won’t want to miss:

May 15 – June 12 -Moose Mainea Photo Contest; Submit your snapshots of the Moosehead Region’s favorite residents – The Moose! The winning photo will be used in next year’s Vacation Guide. Great prize!

June 12 – Moosterpiece Craft Fair; From 9:00 AM – 4:00 P.M. in the Camden National Bank Parking Area in downtown Greenville. Annual Crafts Fair with lots of local artists displaying their wares.

June 19 – Moosetails; Beginning at  4:00 P.M. at the Center for Moosehead History (formerly the Community House) in downtown Greenville. Regional Wildlife Biologist, Doug Kane, presents an entertaining slide show and discussion about moose habits, habitat and lore. Participants will also enjoy a demonstration of moose calling. Then back to the Lodge for a relaxing dinner and sunset.

And don’t forget a private trip with Ed, our Registered Maine Moose Guide, to the remote and special ponds in the Moosehead area to observe Moose against a gorgeous North woods backdrop. This is a great way to capture those Photo Contest entries!

Air travel is a mess at the moment. Flights to, from and around Europe are up in the air (pun intended).

The Chateau

Hopefully this will soon blow over (sorry, couldn’t resist).  The travelers and all the service industries tied to tourism are suffering and anything we can do to help would be appreciated.  One thought would be to try and travel off-season this year when the properties and people are less busy to make up for the vacant rooms and cancellations they are now experiencing. They gain by the additional business and you the traveler benefit usually by better service and in many cases better prices. I would encourage anyone thinking of a trip to Europe, particularly in the next few years, to do so this year if possible. I think that starting in 2011 travel and consequently prices will start to rise dramatically with improving economies.  So save a dollar and help small businesses by traveling this year.

Many of the properties affected by the volcano are offering specials for visitors in the near term. It never hurts to ask for best rates. We just received an email from Chateau de la Barre, a wonderful Chateau in the Loire Valley, owned by the Comte and Comtesse de Vanssay. The Chateau is offering three nights for the price of two and complimentary champagne for those that are stranded because of the lack of air travel. The Chateau de la Barre is accessible in less than 90 minutes by taking the TGV to Le Mans from the airport. For more information about the Chateau and to contact them please visit the Chateau de la Barre page on the Karen Brown Travel Website.