[:: el doogie ::]: paris match

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had a nice easy jaunt round paris thanks to paris metro app and tripwolf and its offline maps.

highlights were the cafe from amelie [>], the top of the eiffel and jim morrison's tacky grave.

the thing that struck me was how pristine the city is - one bonus of not taking on the nazis head on

Source: http://eldoogie.blogspot.com/2011/05/paris-match.html

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Top Recommended for the best places to eat in Georgia.

Atlanta, Georgia is a wonderful city that has a lot of great attributes for people living there as well as the many tourists that visit there annually. With the Summer Olympics having been held in Atlanta a little over a decade ago, more attention was made to improve many various elements about the city and the surrounding areas too. One thing that people can count on getting in southern cities like Atlanta, is delicious food says a prominent personal injury lawyer and personal injury attorney. Not all of the food found in Atlanta, however are cooked southern style. There are many great restaurants located in the city and this article will offer some of those recommendations for some of the best there.

The top rated restaurant in Atlanta is the Ritz Carlton Dining Room located in the fine hotel. It is a five star restaurant that is a fusion of Asian, French and Mediterranean dishes making it a delicious and unique blend of choices which features a setting that is luxurious which is fitting for a five star dining experience and the average entrée on the menu is quite pricey at $110. The wine list is as exotic as the food choices with selections being offered from all around the world. The Ritz-Carlton hotel is located in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta and if you want a fancy dining experience and are willing to pay for it, then the dining room there is the place for you.

Another top rated restaurant in Atlanta is named Nam and it specializes in Asian and Vietnamese cuisine and is located in Midtown Atlanta. The setting is actually quite romantic with candles, fresh flowers and beautiful artwork giving it a sensual feel. Nam is a family owned and run establishment that has a loyal clientele who love the fresh ingredients used in the exotic Asian dishes. The staff is excellent and understands that many Americans may not be familiar with the items on the menu and are quite helpful in describing the different choices. Some of the things you may order there are lotus root salad and a steamed sea bass in a banana parcel as well as shaking Kobe beef. The restaurant also offers a patio for outdoor seating too.

The third restaurant recommendation is Aria which has an American type of food that is prepared and done in creative ways by Chef Gerry Klaskala. This restaurant opened up in the Buckhead neighborhood in 2000 and has been a favorite of the area ever since with it's sleek décor and style inside the restaurant and what is referred to as slow food in the area. Some of the favorite selections on the menu are Georgia mountain trout with crab smashed potatoes and green beans or the zinfandel braised beef short ribs with celery whipped potatoes and sugar snap peas. The desserts made by the pastry chef are also infamous in their taste and presentation.

These were the three top rated eateries in Atlanta. There are obviously many more great restaurants to be found There

Source: http://manhattanpersonalinjuryattorney.blogspot.com/2010/08/top-recommended-for-best-places-to-eat.html

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America's Most Expensive Homes

Things may be looking up for luxury real estate in the U.S. This year the most expensive homes on the market are commanding higher prices, on average, than last year, with a price range between $65 million and $150 million. The bold pricing suggests seller confidence in the upper stratosphere of real estate. The coasts dominate our list, with four homes in California and three in New York. Click to view the most steeply priced homes in America.

 

The Manor

$150 million
Holmby Hills, Calif.
The home that Candy Spelling, widow of television giant Aaron, put on the market in 2008, out-prices every other property in the U.S. The 56,500 square-foot English-style mansion has a bowling alley, wine cellar, rooms for gift-wrapping and silver and china display, a library, gym and media room. Its 4.6 acres includes pools, a spa, landscaped gardens, a waterfall and parking for over 100 cars. Jeff Hyland from Hilton & Hyland Real Estate and Sally Forster Jones from Coldwell Banker Previews International have the listing.

Fleur de Lys

$125 million
Beverly Hills, Calif.
This 35,000-square-foot home, listed in 2007, is said to be modeled after Versailles, and the mansion makes no attempt at understatement. Its 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, 50-seat screening room, Italian marble and gold-embossed leather walls ooze wealth. Owner Suzanne Saperstein hasn't compromised on the price in three years. After all, it's a relative bargain compared to the manor, just a few blocks away. Joyce Rey at Coldwell Banker Previews International has the listing.

Tranquility Estate

$100 million
Lake Tahoe, Nev.
Tommy Hilfiger cofounder Joel Horowitz's 210-acre spread features the third-highest price tag in America. The 20,000-square-foot main house has extras like a cigar lounge, art studio and sports gym, while its grounds feature a golf course, boathouse and views of Lake Tahoe. A staircase in the home replicates the stairs of the S.S. Titanic. The home has been on the market for almost four years. Shari Chase at Chase International has the listing.

Kaiser Estate

$80 million
Honolulu, Hawaii
Separately, the three coastal parcels that comprise the former estate of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser wouldn't make this year's list, but together, the 5.5-acre property becomes one of the country's most expensive. The island getaway offers coastal views and a sleek mid-century style 15,000-square-foot home, extensively landscaped tropical grounds and a 12,000-square-foot boathouse and marina. Tech tycoon Fred Chan and his wife, Annie, put the home on the market in January 2009. Mary Worell of Sotheby's International Realty has the listing.

Humming Bird Nest Ranch

$75 million
Simi Valley, Calif.
Though it's named after the tiniest of birds, this property spans 123 acres. In addition to a 17,000-square-foot Spanish-Revival-style main house, six guest homes and 10 townhouses grace the estate, as does a fully equipped equestrian center and parking for 200 vehicles. If driving doesn't suit you, there's also a helicopter pad. It has been on the market since late 2007. The home is co-listed with Drew Mandile and Brooke Knapp at Sotheby’s International Realty and Joyce Rey at Coldwell Banker Previews International.

Former Julius Forstmann House

$75 million
New York, N.Y.
Historic, spacious and well-located Upper East Side townhouses don't come on the market very often. When they do, they typically command attention with a jaw-dropping price tag, and this 21,000-square-foot limestone mansion on 71st Street, off Fifth Avenue is no exception. It has been on the market since 2008. Built in 1922 for Forstmann, a wealthy German merchant, the landmarked building offers five stories packed with original details like a sweeping marble staircase, marble fireplace and hand-carved moldings. It listed with Serena Boardman of Sotheby's International Realty. 

Porcupine Creek

$75 million
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Golf enthusiasts with deep pockets might swing by Porcupine Creek, a residence that features a 19-hole course that won acclaim from Golf Digest magazine and was put on the market early this year. Its 249 acres outside of Palm Springs are also home to a 25,000-square-foot main house, a spa, gym, pool and grotto. Edra Blixseth, who got the property in a divorce settlement with her husband, Tim Blixeth, is selling the home out of bankruptcy. It is co-listed with Jeff Hyland of Hilton & Hyland and Tyler Morgan of Pacific Union GMAC Real Estate in Palm Springs.

1016 Madison Ave.

$72 million
New York, N.Y.
Another well-preserved Upper East Side mansion joins our list for a slightly lower price than its neighbor six blocks north. This 12,000-square-foot, seven-story mansion features a fireplace, original details, sweeping central staircase and elevator that add to its prestige, and a ground-floor storefront lends itself to a high-end retail space. Michael Pellegrino at Sotheby's International Realty has the listing, which was put on the market in 2006.

Three Ponds Farm

$68 million
Bridgehampton, N.Y.
This bucolic 60-acre farm in New York's Hamptons includes 14 painstakingly landscaped gardens, an 18-hole golf course, tennis court and pool that frame the show piece of the compound: a 20,000-square-foot classical mansion. If all that's not enough, the waterfront property's outbuildings include a pool house, barns, golf shop and storage silos. The home, which has been waiting to sell since 2003, is listed with Susan Breitenbach of Breitenbach Hamptons Real Estate.

Robert Taylor Ranch

$65 million
Brentwood, Calif.
One of only two homes that don't crack the $70 million mark, and the cheapest on our list, this ranch in tony Brentwood still doesn't skimp on the amenities. Its 112 verdant acres include a 17-bedroom home designed by Robert Byrd, a stable and five other buildings that total more than 22,000 square feet. It is listed with Joyce Rey at Coldwell Banker. 

Source: http://oddyfunny.blogspot.com/2010/08/americas-most-expensive-homes.html

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