If you're spending more than a few days in Paris (and you're American!), I would bet that visiting the D-Day beaches is on your bucket list. With the closest beaches being a 3+ hour drive from the city, you might wonder if it's possible to do a day trip or how to best squeeze everything … Continue reading D-Day Beaches Day Trip from Paris
Category: france
Jazzy Paris
One of our first weekends in Paris, some of our new friends invited us to join them for Saturday afternoon jazz at a hip but classically Parisian coffee and wine bar. We loved the music, and it felt like the most Paris thing to do ever, crowded around a few tiny tables, enjoying good company … Continue reading Jazzy Paris
paris essentials: a love story
Alright. I've put it off long enough. I'm one of those people who starts a million different things and then leaves them unfinished because I get excited about something else in the meantime, or I feel overwhelmed that I don't have enough time to do it justice (aka perfectly), so I put it off until … Continue reading paris essentials: a love story
sainte chapelle
Located just around the corner from Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle seems unsuspecting. First of all, it's located in the middle of the block. If you look for it, you can see the gothic spire towering above the government buildings it's surrounded by. If you actually know about it and decide to go in, your first … Continue reading sainte chapelle
macarons and makeup
There's no treat in Paris as unique, elegant, and ubiquitous as the macaron. You can find hundreds of specimens in practically every corner patisserie. The edges may not be perfectly smooth, but you can find the dessert with the classic fillings - chocolate, coffee, vanilla, raspberry, pistachio - anywhere. Of course, there are the luxury … Continue reading macarons and makeup
a visit with friends
Last week, some of our best friends from college came to visit. Bryan and Whit were roommates from sophomore to senior year, and while Adam and Whit didn't live together until they were both interns at Tech, they were close friends and the best man at each other's weddings. The trip started as Adam and … Continue reading a visit with friends
sunset in the tuileries
If you've ever seen a sunset in Paris, then you understand why Monet devoted his entire life to painting the light in this marvelous city. The way that light reflects from the sea-foam green Seine river to the cream-colored buildings, the way it bounces off pebble paths onto marble statues, is simply dreamy. Standing on … Continue reading sunset in the tuileries
life lately
Looks like our weekly updates are going to be more like monthly updates! Here is what's been going on lately... As I had anticipated, having a routine again has been SO nice. The third or fourth day of my French classes (which are every day from 9am-1pm), I realized that the last time I had … Continue reading life lately
paris in the snow
Nothing makes the whole world serene like snow falling quietly, covering everything high and low in one shade of white. I adore hot summer sun and bright shades of blue and green, but there's nothing quite as peacefully beautiful as a fresh snowfall. Usually I see snow covering fields, bushes, trees, and suburban houses. … Continue reading paris in the snow
christmas in paris: part ii
This is the second half of my parents' visit to Paris at Christmastime. If you missed the first part, you can find it here. Strasbourg Two days before Christmas, we boarded our (very first!) European rail and headed to Strasbourg, the Capital of Christmas. We devoured our way through the Christmas markets, took lots of … Continue reading christmas in paris: part ii