I'll be gone until the fourth of July (actually, I'll be back before then, but I'm giving myself some jet lag time to recover)! And when I come back, I'll have lots of European adventures to relate, as well as an EPIC contest that I KNOW you peeps will love (hint below), and I promise to visit every single one of y'alls blogs by the end of July. I've dropped the ball on that lately, and HATE it, so you can expect a (virtual) visit from me soon!
In case you're a curious thing like me, the cities I'm going to: Zurich, Lucerne, Verona, Pisa, Venice, Rome, Eze, Nice, Monaco, and Paris. Whew! (And in Paris, I get to meet my French publishers...for which I am EXTRAORDINARILY nervous.)
(PS: Anyone got any favorites to do in theses places? I'm going to Mt Pilatus in Lucerne and WILL get macarons in Paris, and we're doing all the touristy stuff--but any off-the-path suggestions?)
39 comments:
I went to Paris and London before high school. I remember Paris was very fun. I loved the art and the catacombs and the river. I remember the food was very good and the statues are worth checking out.
Take lots of pictures!
Mt Pilatus is beautiful! I loved Lucerne. When I took my trips to Europe, I always thought Switzerland was the most enchanting. Hope you have a lot of fun. Oh and you must eat a crepe in Paris next to the Eiffel Tower!
I`ve never been to Europe but I`m dying to go! This sounds like an amazing vacation.
Good luck on meeting your French publishers. I`m sure it`ll go great.
Have fun.
Yay! I'm so glad you're going to Europe. What a treat.
Italy has such fabulous art. Try to get to as many museums and churches you can. In Rome, keep your valuables secure (lot of pickpockets everywhere). I don't know where to start since I don't know how long you'll be there. Don't forget to eat crepes and gelato in Italy!!! And, of course, the bakeries in Paris are divine. My fav was a fresh baguette with slabs of brie in it.
OK! If you're near Rome's Termini station, I have 2 recs:
On Via Marsala (the side of the street that isn't the station), on the north corner at via Milazzo, there's a coffee shop whose barista serves the best cappuccino I've ever tasted. She is a goddess with the coffee. I hope the place is still there. If not, try cappuccino anywhere -- it's bound to be amazing.
In the same area, for a fantastic place to eat dinner, follow Via Milazzo away from Termini station 2 short blocks to Via dei Mille. Make a right. There's a trattoria next to Hotel Assisi. If it's the one we went to, the owner is Turkish, the chef is East Asian, and the Italian food is stunning. I loved the oil + garlic spaghetti (olio i aglio), and the owner's wife makes the tiramisu. The house red is WAY too drinkable.
Also in Rome, we liked the Baths of Caracalla. Lots of mosaic in tact, and you can wander all over it.
In Paris, be sure you grab a crepe from a street cart - I like banana-Nutella, but you'll see one you like.
When you are in Monaco, I think you should play one of those James Bond style card games....baccarat or chemin de fer or something like that.
And have a Martini....shaken not stirred.
Shelley
Meeting your French publishers -- don't you get chills just writing that down? So cool!!
This is so, so amazing. I hope you'll have a wonderful time!
Eat a dessert in every city for me, please! And fruit doesn't count as dessert ;-)
And bring back pictures of the desserts for us to drool over!
This is awesome, Beth. Have fun!
Wow - that's awesome. We're going to Rome next week too! Thankfully, it's only supposed to be around 80 degrees, yay! I've heard that when in Rome, do as the Romans do (Ha, didn't even realize I was writing that), which is get up early, take a nap, and then go out late. Also, tours are worth it, because they may cost more, but they get you past those four hour lines getting into the Coloseum and the Vatican.
And in Paris? Pain au Chocolate may LOOK like it's just a croissant stuffed with chocolate (okay, that's what it is) but it is absolutely delicious. And croissant amande? Almond croissants? Also fantastic. But what you MUST get (:D) is a nutella and banana crepe. MMM!Tipping in France is unnecessary, the tip is almost always included in the check. The Louvre is prettiest at sunset (yes, it should be open) and there are no public bathrooms ANYWHERE. Go to a cafe, get an espresso, use their bathrooms. Carry a water bottle, cause there aren't drinking fountains either. :) Also, in Italy, there are a lot of people who sell knock-off purses in the street for 10 euros. Technically, it's illegal, and you won't get arrested if you buy one, but you may have the purse confiscated.
WOW, sorry for the essay. I hope it helps! Living in France has been a great experience, but I'm not kidding about the bathrooms part. You have to pay to use any restrooms in Paris, and sometimes you may find you just spent fifty centimes (50 cents) to use a grate in the floor. ECK. (It can't hurt to carry around a bunch of tissues)
I've never been to Europe - can't wait to see your photos so I can dream a little! Enjoy! :)
Enjoy your trip, Beth! I've visited a number of those cities at one point or other during my life (I'm English/Finnish and my husband's family is from Germany).
I am so fantastically jealous! I loved Paris when I went, and I've always wanted to see those other places. Have a wonderful trip!!!
I am so very jealous!! :D One day I'm going to Venice, dang it. Have such a fun time!! And I can't wait to see pictures.
Seconding Bethany rec for an almond croissant in Paris. We're still trying to find a similar one here.
I just saw you're headed to Verona. The museum at Castelvecchio is neat -- very much an open-air space, and full of antiquities. I visited when I was 18 and was amazed that things were just sitting out, some of them where they could be rained on. Pretty cool.
Have fun - remember to do the walks in the Paris' Latin Quarter.
Oh, that sounds like so much fun! Can't wait to see your pics:)
No advice -- I've never been -- but have a fantastic time.
Wow! You are going to have a wonderful time - I'm so jealous! I have never been anywhere in Europe, so I'm no help. but keep us posted so I can live vicariously through you! :-)
Have fun! I am excited for you!
Have a great weekend, all,
Karen
You absolutely have to eat mussels at one of the touristy beach side restaurants in Nice. Normally I hate mussels, but not in Nice. It must be the air or something. And eat Tiramusu Gelato. Buckets of it. And drink loads of wine and just drink everything in. Nothing is more inspiring than a cafe in Rome or Paris.
My best friend and I made a pact when we were 21 that we'd go back when we're 40 and wear clothes that are far too young for us and drink wine like we're back in our 20's. Now that I type this I realize that my poor middle aged body probably won't be able to withstand that kind of abuse.
Have a wonderful time! After university we went inter-railing round Europe which was amazing. We were so strapped for cash by the time we got parIs wechad to walk upbthe Effiel Tower because we couldn't afford the lift! Worth it though.
Wahhhh??? jealous! Love that first picture, all the memories of when I visited there came flooding back. Just be sure to have a fantastic time and take lots of pictures! And it doesn't hurt to, like you said, go off the beaten track and just wander down random streets. That's sometimes how you find the best stuff. :)
Don't do this:
http://all-thats-interesting.tumblr.com/post/697430512/the-same-photograph-at-the-leaning-tower-of-pisa
Sounds like a great trip. Have fun.
Wow, that looks like an amazing trip. I hope you have a fantastic time.
If you're a big fan of chocolate you should try the hot chocolate at Angelina (in Paris near the Louvre). It's an experience in decadence. That sounds like a fabulous trip.
take the train from Zurich to Luzerne. It's an adventure but wonderful landscape
So jealous! I'm sure it will be an amazing trip! If you have time to stop by my blog before you leave, I have an announcement (yay!) and a contest starting tomorrow!
Have fun on your trip! :)
Good luck on meeting your French publishers. I`m sure it`ll go great.
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Wow! Have fun! :)
HAVE FUN IN EUROPE! I'm about 3% jealous but, remarkably, I'm 97% really happy for you. I hope you have a blast.
When you come back, there's an award for you on my blog.
http://mavieenviolet.blogspot.com/2010/06/thanks.html
Wow - hope you're having a great time in Europe. I don't know if you're an art fan, but I would definitely recommend the Musee d'Orsay in Paris and the Guggenheim in Venice. My favourite site in Rome is the Forum - so much history! I don't think you can go wrong with food as long as you avoid the obviously touristy places near major attractions. They're usually expensive and of poorer quality.
Have fun, Beth. :-D Hope to see lots of pictures when you get back. ;-)
You better be eating chocolate croissants for me. You are, aren't you? And they need to be hot and fresh. I insist.
Have a great time on your trip. My dream vacation would be to go to New Zealand. Sigh. One day. Roland
Rue Cler in Paris. Delicious bread for 1 euro, fun coffee shops for watching, and some great cheese shops! (don't even ask me to spell fromagerie. That's the best you're getting). Have fun!
That is so cool. Have fun on your trip!!
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