France is the most visited country in the world. A majority of those visitors are heading to Paris, the most visited city in the world, but there is much to discover for travellers who venture into the French countryside – which is defined as anywhere outside of Paris’ city limits, according to Parisians. French cuisine was the first cuisine to enter the UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a “world intangible heritage”, and French culture has been the fascination of the English speaking world since the English and French began sparring across the channel.
This summer, we had our first big international trip post-pandemic. As always, there are a million places we want to go around the word, but this time it had to be Europe. I still can’t quite believe how wonderful this trip was. Our itinerary was full of destinations that felt so different from one another, yet we didn’t spend too much time travelling and we … Continue reading Itinerary & Highlights: 1 Month in the UK & Europe
The 2nd arrondissement is one of Paris‘ best kept secrets. Home to the neighbourhoods of Bourse, Sentier and Montorgueil, this elegant and charming arrondissement manages to fly under the radar despite it’s central location. It was one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Paris on my most recent visit, and one I’d previously overlooked. Located in the heart of Paris, it’s the city’s smallest neighbourhood. Despite … Continue reading Paris’ 2nd Arrondissement Guide: Bourse, Sentier & Montorgueil
The elegant dome of the Pantheon is an iconic fixture of the Parisian skyline. I was excited to see inside, when I was in Paris for the first time, with my family. The Pantheon’s purpose is to serve history, but the building itself is also a legacy of Paris’ tumultuous history. Paris is a city that celebrates and honours the past better than any other city … Continue reading The Pantheon, Paris: Home of France’s Heroes
The L’Hotel National des Invalides in Paris is a French military museum and memorial complex, as well as the final resting place of the Emperor Napoleon. A military museum is usually the last place you’d find me, but I was spending the morning with my Dad, whose passion for history is so infectious that he made it interesting. My sister, Georgie, had just returned from her student … Continue reading A Visit to Napoleon’s Tomb at L’Hotel des Invalides, Paris
Three million people visit the Chateau de Versailles every year. A successful visit will include an early start even in winter, patience in queues and battling the inevitable, year-round crowds. The zoo-like atmosphere inside the palace dampens the magic and it will take up one of your precious holiday days in Paris. So why bother with Versailles? Even if you’re not a history buff, the … Continue reading Why visit Versailles? Exploring France’s last royal residence
If there was a day during our trip from Paris-Athens that we didn’t each gelato, it evidently wasn’t worth remembering. Gelato, sorbet and on one occasion, plain old ice cream, was an essential party of our daily diet because this is what you do when you’re it’s summer, you’re in Europe with your best friend and you’re twenty years old. Sorbet at Berthillon, Paris On my … Continue reading The Gelato Diaries: France, Italy & Greece
Contiki Tours may be a lot of things, but I have to give them this much: They introduced me to Nice. Before my tour, Nice wasn’t on my radar. We had arrived for a few sunny days, in the middle of a cold European winter and I fell in love. It was the only place during the trip, apart from Barcelona, where we saw blue … Continue reading Postcards: Why I love Nice
Avignon, the capital of Provence, is full of local specialties and quirks that jumped out at sorbet stands, in restaurant menus and in the Les Halles markets – the perfect place for a wandering foodie to spend a few days. If my photos are anything to go by, most of my time in Avignon was spent eating, at the Parc des Rocher Doms or being lost. … Continue reading A Quick Guide to Eating in Avignon
Our last day in Paris was already here. It was another cold, wet day in Paris but for most of the time, the grey skies only added to the city’s charm. Trust Paris to always look good, even in the rain. Continue reading Paris Day 4: Going out with a bang
We almost skipped Tour Montparnasse, but had a change of heart at the last minute – literally… Continue reading Paris Day 3: Icons & Underdogs