Diddy Spends Thousands on Private Jet for Luggage

by Adrienne Wilson on

Usually, I wouldn’t bother opening the forwarded crap my friends feel the need to flood my email with, but this one caught my eye. Why? Because it is travel related and I thought even if I didn’t want to know or care there is someone out there drooling and waiting for this type of material to pop up in the blogosphere. In other words it is my loyal duty to Diddy lovers across the planet to spread the news.

So where was I? Ah, Yes…If all the world could have the luxury of spending $16,200 dollars on a private jet to have their excess Louis Vuitton luggage transported from France to Rome, what might the world be like? Apparently Diddy (also known as P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, & Sean Combs) dropped this kind of dough on a private jet when he was informed there wasn’t enough room on his private flight to lug it all.

Lifestyles of the rich and famous – I just don’t get it at times. Diddy if you’re out there listening or reading I’d love to skate off to France and Rome. I’m more than willing to stay in hostels and pay my airfare over if you’d like to donate $16,200 to SallieMae, my sweet student loan provider – yeah. Um, call me.

via AOL Black Voices

Travel Works & Art of Aurélie Pedrajas

by Adrienne Wilson on

Stumbled upon this pleasant looking site while I was hunting for a globe image and it makes me wish that I could really, really speak French for once. Thank goodness there are images and artwork to assist me in my inability to communicate through words. Aurélie Pedrajas’ website is fully in French and from what I gather she travels the world and makes beautiful artwork from her experiences. In my own opinion they’re quite whimsical. This Sri Lanka inspired piece makes me long to go to the tear-drop shaped island and leaves a lot to fantasize about.

Very, very nice!

Le REX Hotel

by Adrienne Wilson on

A lucky little poot of a friend of mine gets whisked away to France for the Jazz in Marciac festival to play with Wynton Marsalis and does me the favor of sending this link to Le REX Hôtel where he is presently camping out. Hisssss… Boo! Puh! No, no, what I mean is I’m happy for him. Really! With the link he states that the hotel is some thing rather amazing and from that point I found myself whisked away with the link.

Le REX Hôtel looks like one of those ultra design pads with neon glowing lights, see-through bathrooms, and extremely chic furniture from the bedroom to the lobby. If I were strolling along the outside the exterior would certainly have me wondering what the interior was like. Located at 10, cours Gambetta in Tarbes (the heart of the Pyrenees) other amenities and room features include sound-proof rooms, flat-screen TV, satellite channels, ADSL & WiFi, minibar, around the clock room service and shoe-shining service just to give you an idea.

Although virtually traveling to the place wasn’t so bad, I’d definitely say it seems worth checking out online and checking in if/when/while in France.

France Reclaims Culinary Namesake

by Neil Woodburn on

The entire nation of France breathed a collective sigh of relief last week when the cafeteria at the U.S. House of Representatives finally ended three years of culinary disrespect and changed Freedom Fries back to their original Franco moniker.

In 2003, when France opposed the war in Iraq, a couple of hapless congressmen with nothing better to do petitioned for France’s namesake finger food to be renamed Freedom Fries. The nom de guerre failed to last as long as the war itself, however, and the fatty, cholesterol filled wedges eventually reverted back to their original name.

No word if the policy will also affect “Freedom Kissing” on Capitol Hill.

Je Pense Que ce Vin a Déjà Ete Bu (I Think This Wine has Been Drunk Before)

by Neil Woodburn on

Most every guidebook has a list of “Useful Phrases” that help find you the bathroom, get you the bill, locate the subway, and tell the police you’ve been mugged.

Sure, such phrases are useful in their own way, but I’ve learned over time that the things I really want to say to a local are never found translated in the Useful Phrases chapter.

Thankfully, Conrad Leviston has stepped in to fill this void, at least for those of us visiting France.

Leviston has thoughtfully organized his selection of Useful French Phrases under such categories as Greetings, where one can learn how to say “You’ve put on weight” (Tu as grossi) or “Haven’t the police found you yet?” (La police, ne t’a pas encore trouvé?). The Eating Out section is particularly relevant. Next time I’m in some fancy French Bistro, I can’t wait to blurt out, “Ce restaurant n’est pas aussi bon que le Mc.Donalds” (This restaurant isn’t as good as Mc.Donald’s) or “Votre grenouille a mangé mon dejeuner” (Your frog has eaten my lunch).

Communication is all about bringing the world together; I, for one, think this is a step in the right direction. Vive l’Algerie!