Paris, je t’aime
I’ll admit it. The first time I went to Paris in February 2013 I was not in love with the city. I had romanticized the city in my mind. It was cold, dark, and we were overwhelmed by the language barrier and the feeling that we were rushing around trying to check things off our tourist list. I left disappointed and confused. Where was the Paris of my dreams? When we returned again in July of 2023 I fell deeply in love with the city. What I’ve realized is that Paris is much more than checking sites off a list. It is a feeling. Paris has a soul. And you can’t quite appreciate that soul until you slow down and soak it all in.
Champagne Dreams
You’ve been to Paris before, but are drawn back to the magic of the City of Lights. Wandering along the Seine, people watching from a cafe, soaking in the vibe….this is what Paris is all about. But you have seen all the major sites and find yourself with a few open days. What to do? Why, a few days in Champagne for some bubbly of course!
Bread, Cheese, and Wine
Yep, the jeans are a little tighter after spending a month in Strasbourg. The bread. The cheese. The wine. Oh my…. While we’ve had some good food over the past year, we’ve been in countries that aren’t exactly known for their gastronomy. Portugal, the UK, Hungary. That all changed with our stay in Strasbourg. Daily fresh bread? Yes please. Delicious pastries? Of course. Sausage and cheese? All day every day. From restaurants, to grocery stores and beyond, we definitely enjoyed the food in the Alsace!
Exploring the Alsace: Part Deux (or Zwei!)
As full time travelers, we love month long stays that give us access to a broader region beyond the city where we are staying. Last week I highlighted the Alsace day trips we took from Strasbourg, all within France. You can find that post here! The beauty of the Alsace is the ability to explore other countries as well! In this post, we’ll explore day and weekend trips into Germany and Switzerland, namely Heidelberg, the Black Forest, and Basel!