Trying to discover the world one experience at a time
I climbed every step on the way up to this ancient, wall-enclosed city with reverence. The sun was just barely above the horizon. With each step, I tried to remember the facts I had read about the long history of the city. Over time, the Celts, Romans, Visigoths, Saracens, and Franks took, fortified, and strengthened... Continue Reading →
Today I want to dive a little bit into my process in planning my trip to France. There are a ton of factors that go into choosing a location, a route, where to stay, etc, but I think plotting out my options beforehand had to be one of the most helpful things I've ever done... Continue Reading →
It's no secret that I loved France. When I started looking through pictures of Montreal and Quebec, I realized that it's entirely possible to step into a little piece of French culture and history here in America. I'm more than excited for my next opportunity to cross the Atlantic but my budget is very tight... Continue Reading →
Travel stories make for some of the most interesting memories. Mishaps, unexpected adventures, detours, you never know where a trip is going to take you. Sometimes, these experiences are thrilling and memorable for all the right reasons. However, I'm a firm believer in relaying the bad things as well as the good ones and this... Continue Reading →
Normandy, home of the Northmen. Vikings from Scandinavia led by Rollo were offered a vast amount of land here by the king Charles the Simple. In the coming years, these particular raiders were assimilated by the French, though they maintained a distinct cultural identity. The line of Norman rulers eventually led to William the Conqueror... Continue Reading →
One of the most important lessons I learned on this particular trip was not to judge a city by its first impression. Despite all of the historic hype given to the once Papal city of Avignon, it was not an immediate favorite of mine. For some reason, my first impression just lacked that wow factor.... Continue Reading →
Clisson, France is a small town located just a few hours outside of Paris and only about 20 minutes from Nantes. Easily accessible by car or train, this cute little city is a nice quiet getaway. A slow moving river cuts the town in half, like many French cities, that can be crossed via an... Continue Reading →
There are a ton of factors that go into making a decision on when to travel. Prices, hours, activities, crowds, and weather can all heavily affect your decision. I figured it would be helpful to share what went into my decision to travel during France's high tourist season as well as what I found were... Continue Reading →
This is the story of how I screwed up (one of many) and how you can avoid making the same mistakes I did. Feel free to have a laugh at my expense while I describe my misadventures. Anyone who may travel with me in the future will find out very quickly that I don't like... Continue Reading →
Everyone has seen pictures of Mont-Saint-Michel, right? The beautiful, picturesque island looming out of the sea off the Norman coast topped with a towering monastery, the foundation of which stretches back to the late 10th century. As enthralling as all of the pictures make it look, the island is even more magical in person. I... Continue Reading →
The Soul Knows No Borders 