Bringing Down the White Picket Fence
A Couple's Quest to Live Globally
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We are not your typical cruisers. We don’t own cruise wear, we cringe at the amount of food consumed at the buffet, we don’t quite get port shopping, and we will never be caught standing on or near a treadmill or running on “the track” while on vacation. What we do love is lounge chairs, cocktails, unobstructed views, fancy dinners, and naps. We cruise when we are tired, stressed, and completely drained from… Read More
“We’ve Got Cheese Shops” In July of 2010, Paul and I spent our honeymoon in Sorrento, Italy. Our hotel sat high upon a cliff overlooking the magnificent Bay of Naples, and everyday after relaxing at the pool, we would walk to town down a long, dusty, quiet, lemon-tree lined path. Occasionally, a scooter would pass us by, motor off, using only the natural force of gravity to make its way down to the bustling streets… Read More
Yesterday, we began our day quietly sipping coffee at America’s Cup and ended the day with an order of pasta fagioli and a Dizzy Dame sandwich from The Speakeatery. In between, I got my locks pampered at Hot Mess Salon while Paul took his camera out in the cold morning air to grab a photo. Later, we enjoyed our favorite Firecracker Roll at Taka’s new and trendy Cookman location. There we met and… Read More
With big French plans in our future, we took it easy this winter break and took a short trip to Baltimore, Maryland and Alexandria, Virginia. In Baltimore, I got to wear my Raven’s purple and Paul got to see Connor Shaw make his rookie start for the Cleveland Browns. It was one of those things where the stars aligned with the moon and the Baltimore Ravens, and as a result, Paul was able to… Read More
I remember sitting on the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon one early July morning, coffee in hand, while the sun made its way above the jagged rocks and ledges, falling in love with the colors, the deep reds and oranges, the beautiful glow of the American West. With the elk grazing nearby, I couldn’t imagine a more peaceful place on Earth. In a setting like this, it is easy to… Read More
Raindrops are more beautiful in Paris. On dreary, chilly days like today, I yearn for these images. Paul captured some of my most vivid and gorgeous memories: the elegance that never escapes Paris, even beneath a dull gray sky. © Paul and Michelle Shappirio and Bringing Down the White Picket Fence, 2007-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts… Read More
We have a dear friend who has a spectacular vegetable garden in his backyard. A visit to his house in the summer guarantees that we’ll leave with a bag of the most beautiful, crisp, and green collard greens we’ve ever had the pleasure of bringing into our kitchen. When we asked him recently if he ever grew kale, his response was, “I was eating kale before you healthy people discovered kale was cool.”… Read More
Oh Robert Wiedmaier, you’ve done it again. First, we fell in love with Brasserie Beck in D.C., and then, just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we’re now head over heels for the Brabo Tasting Room in Old Town. In our past two weekend getaways to Alexandria, Virginia, we’ve dined at Brabo Tasting Room four times! This cozy little restaurant is phenomenal, from the incredibly delicious food to the delightful and hardworking staff, you’ll never leave hungry… Read More
Notre Dame at Night Make sure to capture Notre Dame at night. Some of the best views are from the river and the nearby bridges. Sit by the Seine and watch this beautiful building light up the Paris sky. © Paul and Michelle Shappirio and Bringing Down the White Picket Fence, 2007-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly… Read More
Bringing Down the White Picket Fence 