3. PARIS, FRANCE JANUARY 2014
After we left Geneva, we set off to Paris! I have always wanted to visit Paris, and since one of my good friends that I lived with in Australia is from Paris, we decided to pay him a visit :) We were very fortunate to be able to stay with him while we were there because shit is EXPENSIVE! I couldn't believe how much things were compared to Spain. The only thing that was cheaper was shopping, so of course I had to take advantage of that as well. We explored all of the tourist traps, and by traps, I mean every sense of the word. I swear each monument had a least an hour or two of waiting before you could actually get in to see it. We decided to say to hell with it and opted out of spending half our time in Paris looking at the back of the head of the person in front of us. Sure we probably missed out seeing the grand entrance of the Notre Dame, or the exquisite detail of the Palais de Versaille where King Louis the XIV probably had a number of kick ass parties, but we still took many pictures of the outside :) Sometimes I think that these monuments are overrated. Sure they are amazing and the history that they portray is unlike anything else on earth, but should I really forfeit half of my vacation waiting in line to see it? I don´t think so. There are plenty of other things to do in Paris besides the typical experience that everyone says you MUST do. Instead I prefer to admire the monument afar, away from the colossal crowds and picture what it might have been like hundreds of years ago when they were first constructed. The simple Parisians in their sleek attire probably perfecting their immaculate cuisine that the rest of the world will gawk at, or just sipping away at their grand vino while gazing into the open space of no people to disappoint their views. Oh the good ol´days... They would probably be disgusted at the amount of rubbish and trash that litters the city streets today, and the selfish tourists who probably contribute to most of it. Good thing they aren´t here to see it. When we weren't running around and dodging the crowds, we were relaxing in a café or dining on the fantastic French cuisine that I couldn't get enough of. I would definitely recommend Paris to anyone who wants to go. It was a great city with a lot to do, but you just need to be aware of what you are getting yourself into. It is more work than you might actually think. But once you look past the crowds, the rubbish, and handful of locals trying to nickel-and-dime you, you see why this city is one of the most visited destinations in the world. Parisians are known for their wine, cuisine, and of course their
2. GRENOBLE, FRANCE DECEMBER 2013
Once again we were off! This time we arrived in Grenoble, France to celebrate Christmas together and find some sweet snow in the French Alps. It has been a dream of mine to ski in the Rhône-Alpes, and it did not disappoint. Of course we were somewhat disappointed by the snow conditions, but we can only imagine what it would be like to float down those steep pistes. Good times...Grenbole was a fantastic city. There are a lot of local shops and eateries and we found it fantastic. It is difficult in Spain to find dynamic and ethic foods, so it was great for us to get our fix of Indian and Asian cuisine...and of course French cuisine! There is nothing better than a hot delicious pot of fondue on a cold day! mmm...The ski resorts that we visited were:
Les 7 Laux, Chamrousse, and Alpe d´Huez. Les 7 Laux probably had the best pre-season terrain and snow conditions, but Alpe d'Huez would probably be super awesome once the snow allowed for skiiers to take advantage of the massive steeps. Chamrousse was a bust. I wouldn't really recommend this resort. The conditions were poor. Nothing was open. The workers at the resort weren't really friendly, and that led to our bitterness. Once we found the local super market though we discovered Hors Piste beer. That, I would definitely recommend. We found Les 7 Laux to be our favorite destination. They had the best conditions while we were there and it also supported our demand for good beer and food. Although the others did as well, Les 7 Laux seemed a little bit more budget friendly. Overall, Grenoble was an incredible experience, and I will never forget snowboarding in one the most amazing destinations in the world.
Les 7 Laux, Chamrousse, and Alpe d´Huez. Les 7 Laux probably had the best pre-season terrain and snow conditions, but Alpe d'Huez would probably be super awesome once the snow allowed for skiiers to take advantage of the massive steeps. Chamrousse was a bust. I wouldn't really recommend this resort. The conditions were poor. Nothing was open. The workers at the resort weren't really friendly, and that led to our bitterness. Once we found the local super market though we discovered Hors Piste beer. That, I would definitely recommend. We found Les 7 Laux to be our favorite destination. They had the best conditions while we were there and it also supported our demand for good beer and food. Although the others did as well, Les 7 Laux seemed a little bit more budget friendly. Overall, Grenoble was an incredible experience, and I will never forget snowboarding in one the most amazing destinations in the world.
1. BIARRITZ, FRANCE OCTOBER 2013
Ryan and I decided to celebrate our anniversary in France! So we bought a bus ticket and headed out of Spain and into France. The bus was only a couple hours from Bilbao, so why not?! We walked our happy butts to the bus terminal, and said, "Adios!" We made it a point to do the top 5 things everyone must do in France on a short time frame (and by short I mean before the last bus goes back to Spain).
So if I may mention Anthony Bourdain's hit series "The Layover", this little rendition will be dubbed "The Bus-Over". In only a matter of five hours I have to say that we successfully pulled out all the stops. We like to make sure that we do as much as we can wherever we go so we made it our top priority to hit all the of the best things one must accomplish when in France.
So if I may mention Anthony Bourdain's hit series "The Layover", this little rendition will be dubbed "The Bus-Over". In only a matter of five hours I have to say that we successfully pulled out all the stops. We like to make sure that we do as much as we can wherever we go so we made it our top priority to hit all the of the best things one must accomplish when in France.
So without further or do, our top things to do were... (que drum roll please)
Side Note: There was also an old man who began speaking to us in French, and after four years of high school French, all I could muster up the courage to say was, "Je parle un peu français". Madame Code would not be happy with that one. Sorry Madame, it's been about five years...Anyway, he then asked if we spoke English, and for that we were eager to respond "Oui!". He then told us in perfect English all the history of Biarritz, or at least a quick summary. He explained how the architecture was founded by the Normandy regime and the immaculate detail was to sway royalty to visit and retreat in to this blissful beachside paradise. He also informed us that Biarritz used to be a whaling community. They would trade whale fat with other people because they used it for fuel to warm their homes and other useful things that whale fat is used for. What a nice man.
We are currently planning our Christmas vacation this year to go skiing in the French Alps in Grenoble and then New Year's in Paris, so there will be more French adventures to come! So tune in next month for more!
- Do I have to say it? Crêpes. Yummy delicious little pancakes with, you guessed, Nutella. If you don't know what Nutella is, just ask Ryan. He will more than likely explain it as "heaven on Earth".
- Must it also be said? Wine. France is world famous for its wine, and we had no problem double-checking. You know. Just to make sure.
- Architecture. France has some of the most amazing and well preserved buildings. Especially in Biarritz. It was so impressive to see such detail and craftsmanship in their buildings. I love all the history that accompanies these structures. It's like walking through time and visualizing the people centuries before us meandering down the very same street.
- More food. We gave in to pizza. I mean how can you not when the smell is just wafting through the alleys? It was just too delicious. I can't wait for Italy. I think Ryan and I have successfully tried pizza in every country we have visited. I think we have a problem.
- The beach. Biarritz is famous for its surfing. They have hosted many competitions and events over the years. So we had to watch the massive amount of surfers who battled the cold water in search for a perfect wave. It was awesome, to say the least. Although it started to rain toward the end of our journey, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect anniversary with my favorite guy :)
Side Note: There was also an old man who began speaking to us in French, and after four years of high school French, all I could muster up the courage to say was, "Je parle un peu français". Madame Code would not be happy with that one. Sorry Madame, it's been about five years...Anyway, he then asked if we spoke English, and for that we were eager to respond "Oui!". He then told us in perfect English all the history of Biarritz, or at least a quick summary. He explained how the architecture was founded by the Normandy regime and the immaculate detail was to sway royalty to visit and retreat in to this blissful beachside paradise. He also informed us that Biarritz used to be a whaling community. They would trade whale fat with other people because they used it for fuel to warm their homes and other useful things that whale fat is used for. What a nice man.
We are currently planning our Christmas vacation this year to go skiing in the French Alps in Grenoble and then New Year's in Paris, so there will be more French adventures to come! So tune in next month for more!