“…no one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.” –Julia Child, My Life in France Living in the rainforest of Costa Rica, life moves at a slower pace, which means I’ve had more time to spend writing and reading. In fact, in the 16-months I’ve been here I’ve read nearly 30 books. While … [Read more…]
As a twenty-something traveler, it’s rare that the thought of glamour and luxury crosses my mind in my travel planning. I usually prefer to focus on seeing unique places, historical sights and interacting with locals and spend very little time in my chosen accommodations anyway. But once in awhile, when I’m soaked through, tired and weary, … [Read more…]
Solo traveler Veronica Beaver, an English teacher in Madrid, talks solo travel in Turkey and working on an organic farm with WWOOF in France, while sharing her solo travel tips and advice.
Ratatouille Land, Disneyland Paris Welcome to Ratatouille Land, Disneyland Paris! This past summer a new rodent came to Disneyland Paris, giving Mickey Mouse some rat-sized companionship. Ratatouille Land, Disneyland Paris’ latest addition, is chocked full of fun for the whole family. Rémy, the rat protagonist of the 2007 Disney-Pixar film Ratatouille, is the central focus … [Read more…]
From the smart streets of downtown, up winding hills lined with palm trees and the finest examples of French architecture, the yellow L’Open Tour bus rolls through the city. The warm sun beams bright, filling my mom and I with warmth as we sit atop the open top bus and take in the sights of … [Read more…]
Some hostels are so loved by travelers they have a reputation that precedes them on the road. Such is the case with the Villa Saint Exupéry Hostels in Nice, France. As I made my way by rail through Southern France, the buzz around these hostels grew as more and more travelers raved about their stay … [Read more…]
Planning a trip to Europe? Montpellier, France is a worthy addition to any itinerary. Located in the south of France, Montpellier is the eighth largest city in the country and the third largest on the French Mediterranean coast. Montpellier is booming these days– it’s the fastest growing city in France. While its name may not … [Read more…]
Though my time here was filled with moving sites of incredible beauty and importance, it was also interlaced with moments of frustration.
From accidentally ordering duck pate (ewww) to the lack of public restrooms (an inalienable American right I will never again take for granted) to encounters with Parisians who breathed the stereotype that the French are rude to life (the rudest ones always come out when you are in desperate search for a restroom), I was beginning to feel less than love for the city.
Some of my favorite movies, Casablanca, Silver Linnings Playbook, Gone With the Wind, I haven’t liked right away. But these movies stick with me and long past watching them I dwell on their scenes, themes and characters and fall in love. Paris is like this. There is something about Paris that sticks with you. I am sure I will come to appreciate the city more and more as time passes.I’ve come to realize that leaving Paris is never a good idea. Though my time here was filled with moving sites of incredible beauty and importance, it was also interlaced with moments of frustration. From accidentally ordering duck pate (ewww) to the lack of public restrooms (an inalienable American right I will never again take for … [Read more…]
Biking along the Seine through the French countryside to the town of Giverny, it feels surreal to be in the landscape made famous by so many artists of the 1800’s. Pedaling through the hills, past quaint shops selling flower seeds and soap products to the house of Claude Monet, founder of the impressionist movement, I … [Read more…]
Just a 40-minute and 8,40 Euro train ride away from the center of Paris is the Chateau de Versailles, one of the most famous royal palaces in the world. Originally constructed as a hunting lodge by King Louis XIII in 1624, Louis XIV, expanded the chateau during four building campaigns over 50 years. Under his … [Read more…]