ROAD TRIP

Baker Library at Dartmouth College

We took a much anticipated drive yesterday to visit our son who started his first year of college last month. I couldn't wait to see Carter and I wasn't sure how I was going to quell my excitement during the monotonous five hour drive up to Hanover, New Hampshire.  Lucky for me, autumn was in full bloom-a gorgeous display of reds and shades of gold lined the highway.  There is nothing better than New England in the fall I mused-or was there?  Here's a look at autumn around the world. Pretty fantastic where ever you land!

Amsterdam

Chateau de Chambord, France

Provence, France

Stockholm

Venice

London's Richmond Park

Swiss Alps

Paris

Moscow

and of course, New York's Central Park

How's the view from your window today?  Hope it's lovely!  Remember, today is the last day to enter the giveaway for Exotic Taste-Orientalist Interiors.  Winner will be announced tomorrow!

photos from tumblr

TRAVEL TUESDAY-THE SWEDISH ARCHIPELAGO

I recently revisited some photos from our trip to Sweden two summers ago and was struck by the beautiful, rustic simplicity of the Stockholm Archipelago. The 24,000 tiny Baltic islands were formed at the end of the ice age and you can still feel the history of the steely, rocky landscape. We stayed with friends in the quaint town of Dolero, situated on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Our charming little red cottage was perched on the edge of the water with both a sail boat and motor boat ready for our daily morning trips. The Swedes relish the opportunity to be close to nature and expect their guests to be "sporty" too. "Sporty" was a catch-all phrase for a daily list of athletic exploits which ranged from taking a morning swim in the bracing sea (yes) to scaling a mountain and jumping off a cliff (no way). Our days were spent traveling from island to island by boat, picnicking on the rocks and surveying the local landscape of cheery red and yellow cottages. By nightfall, our hungry and exhausted group enjoyed local fish and simply prepared vegetables-bedtime was welcomed by all!

 It must be heaven to spend Christmas in Dolera, amongst the tall, whispering pines, nestled in a cosy cottage with a roaring fire-no swimming in the sea but a nice, hot sauna would do!