What a year 2018 was! Even as I’m getting used to living in the US again, I still miss France more than I can say. It’s strange not to be able to hop on a train in the morning and be in a different country by lunchtime. It’s strange not to buy fresh bread at … Continue reading 2018 by the numbers
France
The grand finale: Mont Saint Michel
For our final trip in France, Colin and I went to Mont Saint Michel. We didn't intentionally plan for this to be our last trip, but we'd heard that Mont Saint Michel is overwhelmed by tourists year-round, "except maybe December or January," according to our landlady. December was busy with travel to Belgium, Marseille, Carcassonne, … Continue reading The grand finale: Mont Saint Michel
A road trip through southern France
After two nights in Marseille, Colin and I rented a car and drove ourselves across southern France into Spain, where we celebrated the New Year with friends. The road trip had been sort of an impulse decision after we'd realized that our friend's parents' vacation house (where we'd be staying) was an hour outside of … Continue reading A road trip through southern France
Small world: beaches edition
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
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
Beaujolais Nouveau: il est arrivé!
Yesterday - Thursday, November 15th - was a totally French holiday. Not the kind of holiday that gets you out of work but the kind that warrants drinking wine just because. It was Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which is the day - always the third Thursday of November - when that year's vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau … Continue reading Beaujolais Nouveau: il est arrivé!
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
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
Tourist season, take two (it’s better with champagne)
Summer is definitely tourist season in Paris, unless - apparently - you're living here, in which case all your friends and family prefer to come in the fall. For the first six months, we had exactly two houseguests: (1) my mom, who works in an elementary school and thus can only get away during the … Continue reading Tourist season, take two (it’s better with champagne)
The mountains were calling
In the words of John Muir: the mountains were calling, and I had to go. Last week, Colin and I returned to my new favorite place in France - the Alps - this time with his brother and brother's girlfriend, who were the first in a long string of visitors we have coming this fall. We … Continue reading The mountains were calling
