Blog posts from France
Euro Christmas Markets 2022: Lille sights

Euro Christmas Markets 2022: Lille sights

Sunday The main train station, Lille Europe, had some nice indoor and outdoor art.   I went back out after lunch to explore the fort area but couldn't see much. Instead, I headed back to the center,...

Euro Christmas Markets 2022: Lille food & drink

Euro Christmas Markets 2022: Lille food & drink

Sunday After dropping our bags off at the apartment, our first destination was the Marché de Wazemmes which closes at 3p on Sundays, and wouldn't be open on Monday. It took about a 15 min walk from...

Euro Christmas Markets 2022: introduction

Euro Christmas Markets 2022: introduction

In 2020 we had planned on a Thanksgiving trip centered on European Christmas markets, as it had been 6 years since we were last in Europe late in the year. Of course, all of our 2020 plans were...

Alsace: Strasbourg

Alsace: Strasbourg

Using our parking ticket / tram pass we took the train into town and disembarked at the central Grand Rue stop - less than a ten minute journey from the hotel. We needed a snack, so our first order...

Alsace: Colmar food + drink

Alsace: Colmar food + drink

It will come as no surprise that we ate well across Alsace! Thursday After settling into to our apartment we walked over to the Casino Supermarket for some groceries - orange juice, milk, granola...

Alsace: Day 3 – Riquewihr + Obernai

Alsace: Day 3 – Riquewihr + Obernai

Riquewihr This little village really looked promising on the drive into town... However, once we parked (car lots were 3€ for two hours with no option for less time) and noticed bus loads of (mostly...

Alsace: a brief stop in Metz

Alsace: a brief stop in Metz

After sailing through customs, collecting our luggage (that we were forced to check for no good reason due to an inconsistent/jerk BA gate agent) and picking up the rental car in Luxembourg, we...

Paris 2017: food & drink

Paris 2017: food & drink

Thursday Lunch @ Le Petit Marche -  Having just landed and dropped off our bags we needed lunch, quickly! Even at 1:30p this restaurant was packed, but they managed to squeeze us into a small table....

Paris 2017: picnic in Luxembourg Gardens

Paris 2017: picnic in Luxembourg Gardens

After visiting the Musée de l'Orangerie and several other sights on Sunday, we took the metro down to the Saint Germain area and picked up picnic supplies for a relaxing lunch in the Luxembourg...

Paris 2017: sights

Paris 2017: sights

On this trip we spent a lot of time inside the major museums and a palace, which will have their own posts. In between we wandered around the city enjoying the many Parisian sights, taking full...

Paris 2017: museums

Paris 2017: museums

Musée d'Orsay Wow. Just - wow. The Orsay covers mid-19th century to early 20th century, and simply has so many masterpieces. We visited on Thursday evening when they are open late until 9:45p, and...

Paris 2017: Château de Fontainebleau

Paris 2017: Château de Fontainebleau

We decided to skip the uber-famous Versailles in favor of Fontainebleau in the hopes of much smaller crowds, and it worked out well for us. The trickiest part may have been figuring out the trains...

Paris 2017: introduction

Paris 2017: introduction

In February 2017 I had an important decision to make - should I share a good deal ($385) on flights from Raleigh to Paris with Leandra? If I did, it would mean returning, and while it was nice...

France Nov 2014: Bordeaux food and drink

France Nov 2014: Bordeaux food and drink

Bordeaux Beer Shop - walking down Rue des Faures toward the Basilica of St. Michael I noticed the word 'beer' out of the corner of my eye. Leandra was across the street and chatting with the...

Our Itinerary

2023 Trips

San Diego (Jan)
Orlando (Feb)
Richmond, VA (Apr)
Northern Italy (Apr)
NC Mountains (May)
Long Island (Jul)
Wisconsin (Aug)
Chicago (Aug)
Bordeaux (Sep)
Rugby World Cup (Sep)

Castile and León (Sep)
Seychelles (Nov)

Willamette Valley (Dec)

2022 Trips

Florida (Feb)
NC Mountains (Apr)
Washington DC (Apr)
Valencia, Spain (May)
Hilton Head, SC (May)
Pacific NW (Jun)
Long Island (Jul)
Florida (Sept)
Chicago (Sept)
Poland (Sept)
NC Mountains (Nov)
Euro Xmas Markets (Dec)