Europe
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Best of Bordeaux, France: A Walking Guide
Bordeaux is situated in Aquitane, the South-western region of France. This is a prominent area for the wine industry – the region began producing wine in the 8th Century! Bordeaux is a beautiful city to visit, with tons of wine-tasting opportunities for my fellow vinos.Β This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. If you’re planning a trip, check out my hotel recommendations for some great places to stay in Bordeaux. Now grab your walking shoes and come for a tour of Bordeaux with me! This city has the second-highest number of preserved historical buildings of any city in France, behind Paris!…
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Following Paul CΓ©zanne’s Footsteps in Aix-en-Provence, France
Aix-en-Provence is a beautiful town in the Provence-Alpes-CΓ΄te d’Azur region of France. It’s about 20-30 minutes by train from Marseille, with tickets averaging $15 one-way. Aix-en-Provence (or Aix for short) is the home town of Paul CΓ©zanne and offers many attractions relating to the artist and his paintings. Aix-en-provence is incredibly charming with a wonderful small-town feel, very contrasting to the large city of Marseille. The word Aix originates from Aqua + Sextius. Sextius was the name of an important military figure in the area, and water is very important and prevalent in the city. Aix-en-Provence was at one time part of Catalonia, and they still fly the “blood and…
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5 Can’t Miss Attractions in Marseille, France for First Time Visitors
Marseille is the oldest city in France and the second largest city, behind Paris!Β The city was founded in 600 BC by the Greeks.Β This is one of the most stunning coastal cities I have ever visited!Β As a port city, Marseille has a bit of a seedy reputation but overall it is a great destination to visit. This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.Β Here is a list of the five can’t miss attractions in Marseille for first time visitors: Vieux Port The old port is beautiful from all angles!Β The marina is very lively with waterfront restaurants, markets, and…
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Nice, La Belle: Exploring the Jewel of the French Riviera
In my recent post about Monaco, I mentioned that it is an easy day-trip from Nice! It only seemed natural then to write about Nice as well.Β Nice is a beautiful coastal town in CΓ΄te d’Azur, the French Riviera. There is so much to do and see in Nice, from it’s pebbled beach up to the MonastΓ¨re de Cimiez!Β Β This is the first place that I ever took a solo overnight trip!Β There are cheap TGV tickets using Ouigo if booking ahead of time with flexible dates. Β Throughout my stay, I met many generous and kind locals who gave me great advice and directions! Here are some of the highlights…
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Top Two Can’t-Miss Sites in Monaco
The Principality of Monaco is the second-smallest country in the world – behind Vatican City!Β The country is in the French Riviera, along the Mediterranean Sea.Β I popped over to Monaco for a day while spending a long weekend in Nice, France.Β Monaco is a very quick (and scenic) train-ride from Nice.Β Β Most people associate Monaco with the Monte Carlo Casino and the Grand Prix, but the destination has a lot more to offer.Β It’s like visiting a city, but you get to add a whole new country to your list!Β If you’re short on time, I recommend visiting two highlights – Le Palais des Princes and Jardin Exotique de…
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Day Trip from Barcelona: Girona and the DalΓ Theatre-Museum
I always recommend visiting local Tourist Offices when traveling. They offer a lot of great resources, including (free!) maps and advice. I like to take a look at the available tours to nearby destinations for ideas and suggestions. Sometimes I book day-trips through tourist offices, but a lot of times I use the tours as an idea to plan a trip myself!Β At the Barcelona Tourist Office, I noticed tours for day-trips to Girona and Figueres. I took a pamphlet with me, did a little research myself, and I found it was easy to book train tickets and visit the cities by myself. Figueres is a popular destination due to the…
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3 Days in Barcelona: The Ultimate Itinerary
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, the Northeastern region in Spain.Β This city has so much to offer between the art, architecture, delicious food, and the beach!Β To this day, Barcelona is one of my top favorite cities that I have visited.Β Β Here are the can’t miss spots when visiting Barcelona for three days: Day 1 Barri GΓ²tic – Gothic Quarter The Gothic Quarter is incredibly charming – I spent much of my first day wandering this area. The narrow streets are filled with cathedrals, restaurants, and clubs. It is a stark contrast to…
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Discover Lille, Ma Ville: The Heart of Northern France
I lived in Lille, France for 8 months between 2016-2017 while I was a Teaching Assistant.Β Lille is the capital of Hauts-de-France, the northernmost region of France. This region is relatively new, combining the two former regions of Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy. Lille is specifically located in French Flanders, close to the France/Belgium border. Β When applying to the TAPIF program, candidates select three of their top choices of regions where they hope to be assigned. Luckily for me, I wasn’t assigned to any of my choices! I was assigned to the Lille region, and I immediately fell in love with it!Β The city has so much charm!Β This post contains…
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An Afternoon in Honfleur, France
When I visited Γtretat last month, we rented an Airbnb in Le Havre. Β Apparently, my landlady grew up in that town! During an afternoon apΓ©ritif with my family at their home next door, she recommended that we stop in Honfleur! She said it was a beautiful and historic french town.Β Β It turned out to be great advice, as Honfleur is only ten minutes out of the way driving from Le Havre to Paris. Β We decided to spend a quick afternoon there, before heading to Paris for the weekend. Honfleur is in the French Department of Calvados. Β It sits rightΒ at the estuary that connects the Seine to the English Channel, just…
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Γtretat, Normandy: My Return Visit
When I was 16 years old, I had an opportunity to go on a ten day trip to Northern France through my high school! Though I feel like I wasn’t old/mature enough to truly appreciate it, the trip was amazing. Β We went to Paris (of course!) and then proceeded to other areas in the north. Β There are bits that I remember more vividly than others. The one town that absolutely stuck out to me was Γtretat! In this town we had a lot of free time. Β I broke off from the group with a couple friends and we climbed up to the top of one of the falaises and explored!…
