TravelswithCharie

In front of the Hotel the Ville the children were playing in the skating rink with their teachers watching them. Some of the kids didn't know how to or couldn't skate well but they all seemed happy to be outside after snow and rain swept Paris on Monday. The Chinese tourists asked the kids to smile for their cameras. They're such naturals. They were having a great time despite falling and sliding awkwardly and painfully at times. How touching to observe the helping hand. While the women were frantically shopping to get the best discounts of the year, I saw these men playing boules at the Jardin des Tuileries. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed living outdoors if only for a day, including these ducks at the courtyard of the Louvre museum. La vie est belle, n'est pas? * * * Photos by Charie

Sale, Sale, Sale! All the stores in Paris are having their annual sales promising from 10% to as much as 70% off on clothes and accessories, home goods, and other items I have yet to discover. The stores are a haven right now not only for the discounts they offer but also for temporary shelter (while shopping or dining) from the chilling temperature outside. The balconies at Galeries Lafayette I checked out my favorite department at Galeries Lafayette - that is the handbag section. I was astounded at the prices even with the 30-50% discount. Thank goodness I didn't find anything that begged "buy me". I decided to splurge on lunch instead. On the sixth floor of the Galeries Lafayette on Bd. Haussman, there are three restaurants -Le Café Sushi, Restaurant Sichuan and the self service Lafayette Restaurant. At the latter, you can choose from pasta, grilled dishes, salads or a selection of hot entrées of the day. The pavé de saumon with vegetables (string beans, broccoli, red

Alimango in garlic sauce At Alimango (crab) restaurant in San Mateo, California, there are at least five different ways to savor alimango. The alimango in garlic butter sauce we ordered was both meaty and juicy. I was surprised that a large alimango would be as tasty as the freshly caught crabs we were served at home in the islands. But the crab dish was not my favorite. I liked the sautéed ampalaya (bitter melon) with fish and the boneless bangus (milkfish) which was marinated with tamarind. The large crab has a $35.00 price tag. For more information about Alimango and their menu, visit http://www.alimangorestaurant.com/ . Address: 3708 S. El Camino Real San Mateo, California UPDATE:  RESTAURANT CLOSED * * * Photo by Charie

White Beach, Boracay, Philippines Number 26 on the list of New York Times' 2009 Destinations is Boracay Island in the Philippines. The Times refers to Boracay as the "next Phuket". Phuket is Number 12 on this list while the top spot goes to Beirut followed by Washington D.C. The 44th position goes to Zambia. For more on this list follow this link: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/11/travel/20090111_DESTINATIONS.html * * * Photo by Rosario Charie Albar

Step pyramid in Saqqara, Egypt Here are the selections of Frommer's editorial staff for 2009: Cartagena, Colombia Cape Town, South Africa Saqqara, Egypt Washington, D.C., United States Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada Civil Rights Trail from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, United States Lassen Volcano National Park, California, United States Berlin, Germany Belfast, Northern Ireland Istanbul, Turkey Cambodia (But Not Angkor Wat) Waiheke Island, New Zealand How about you? Where are you off to in 2009? Let us know by clicking on the survey button below the video bar. Wishing you safe travels. * * * Photo by Rosario Charie Albar

New Year's Day at Baybay Beach, Roxas City Wishing you good health, exciting travel discoveries and a prosperous 2009. Happy New Year! * * * Photo by Rosario Charie Albar

White Christmas , Sung by The Drifters, Cartoon by Joshua Held, Video by Joshua Held at www.youtube.com/thenosedotcom May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white