On our first afternoon in Marseille, while waiting for time to check into our Airbnb, Colin and I wandered into an unassuming coffee shop in the Le Panier neighborhood. The tiny shop was empty except for the owner, who was reading quietly. After we ordered our drinks and Colin pulled out his laptop to work … Continue reading Small world: beaches edition
Travel
Exploring Marseille
On our way to celebrate the New Year in Spain, Colin and I took a trip across southern France. December is a great time to soak up some extra Mediterranean sun, so we decided we'd take the train to Marseille and drive from there to Tona, the small town where we'd be meeting our friends. … Continue reading Exploring Marseille
2019
Bonne Année! Happy New Year! Colin and I just spent a wonderful few days ringing in the new year with friends in Spain. It was a multicultural celebration—we brought our favorite French champagne, another pair of French friends brought traditional Provençal desserts, our Belgian friends brought chocolate, and our Catalan friends introduced us to the … Continue reading 2019
Back in Belgium
Well, that whole regular-routine thing didn't last long! Colin and I are traveling again, but this time we're only gone for a long weekend. He's giving a talk at the University of Antwerp, so we decided to stay in Belgium for the weekend to see our friends here. Coming back to Belgium reminded me that … Continue reading Back in Belgium
A few days in Barcelona
Well, tourist season in Paris is officially over. It's turned wintry - meaning rainy - over the last couple weeks, and our last visitors left on Wednesday. That in itself is bittersweet. It's nice to get back to a regular routine, but it's sad to realize that we'll be leaving ourselves in just a couple … Continue reading A few days in Barcelona
Bikes, boats, and beer, oh my! (Or: Amsterdam)
As if speaking French weren’t hard enough, last week Colin and I decided to try our hand at Dutch and hopped a train north to Amsterdam. Our friend Ben, who is a professional singer currently living in London, had let us know that he would be performing there, and it took us only half a … Continue reading Bikes, boats, and beer, oh my! (Or: Amsterdam)
How to be a good tourist
The past two months have been more or less continuously filled with visitors. While it's been wonderful to share our life abroad with so many friends and family members, it is a relief to have our tiny apartment back to ourselves. (For reference: 18 square meters is comfortable with two people, cozy with three, and … Continue reading How to be a good tourist
The peculiarities of eating fondue in Switzerland
Earlier this month, when we took a trip to Switzerland with our friends Beth and Will, they had one special request: fondue for dinner. (Side note: Fondue is now known as a Swiss specialty, but its popularity can actually be traced to the 1970s marketing efforts of the Swiss Cheese Union, a shadowy cartel like … Continue reading The peculiarities of eating fondue in Switzerland
Encore, the Alps
One of the hardest parts of living abroad is being so far removed from Big Important Things that are affecting friends and family in the States. Last week, that was Hurricane Michael. It's been heartbreaking to see the destruction to Mexico Beach, which has been my family's go-to beach for generations, and to the area … Continue reading Encore, the Alps
A quiet realization
I know you're all anxious for an update on my secret identity - and I promise I'll get to that soon - but the prelude to that update is actually my recent trip to Italy. I know, I know—after having just written about how this fall is jam-packed with visitors, how did I have time … Continue reading A quiet realization
Practice Makes Parfait 