Margo Lestz's Blog, page 23
November 6, 2015
Marie Antoinette’s Cats and an American Rescue Attempt
Did you know that Marie Antoinette almost escaped the guillotine and ended up in Maine, USA? Of course, we all know she didn’t make it – but some say her cats might have. The Maine Coon An unusual breed of large, long-haired cat hails from the state of Maine. Because of its ample size and…
October 29, 2015
Margo’s Musings and Jack-o’-lanterns
Autumn is definitely in the air where I am. The evenings are getting cooler and the days are growing shorter. The drop in temperature makes me want to cocoon – to curl up beside my (imaginary) fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book. And speaking of books… I was so honored…
October 16, 2015
London Beer Flood: Too Much of a Good Thing
On October 17, 1814, tragedy struck central London. A flood tore through the streets, knocking down buildings and sweeping people away. But the liquid causing the havoc wasn’t water… it was beer!...
October 2, 2015
Berets, Onions, and Stereotypes
In the mid 1900s, if you had asked nearly any British person what a Frenchman looked like, you would have gotten this description: He wears a beret, and he rides a bike with onions hanging on the handlebars...
September 19, 2015
French Beret: A Hat with Attitude
The French beret, that little pancake of a hat, has become the recognized symbol of all things French – at least among those outside of France...
September 9, 2015
God Save the Royal Derriere
Queen Elizabeth II is now officially the longest reigning monarch in British history. The 89 year old Queen has broken the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria who reigned 63 years and 7 months. Hearty congratulations to the Queen! Now on to today’s (somewhat related) story… The British National Anthem, “God Save the Queen”…
August 29, 2015
September News
Ahh September! I always love this month because it makes me think about going back to school and it seems like a time of new beginnings.
August 14, 2015
Mosaics on the Hill
In the last post we looked at Homer’s Odyssey mosaics in the park on the Colline du Chateau or “Castle Hill” in Nice, France. But have a look around the park and you will find many more lovely mosaics, like Athena and the sea creatures above. They were all designed by Charles Catherin, the city…
August 7, 2015
Homer’s Odyssey in 13 Easy Steps
If it’s been a while since you’ve read the Greek classics (or if you just never got around to it) no worries! There’s no need to pull out the books. In Nice, France you can take a quick 13-step refresher course on a hilltop overlooking the sea, the city, and the port. This lovely park…
July 24, 2015
The King is no Match for the Women of Paris
The 14th of July is the National Holiday in France and it commemorates the start of the French Revolution. Everyone knows about the storming of the Bastille, but there was another important, but lesser known, moment in the Revolution that was led by the ladies. Many people get cranky when they’re hungry, but these Parisian…
