Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Chasing Ruins in France - Chateau Gaillard


Hello There Lovelies!

Today I'm coming to you with some more scenes from France. Today brings one of my favorite things to see in Europe; ruins! Coming from America, a much younger country, huge, stately ruins are not something we see every day. Roman ruins are always one of my favorite things to explore in Italy, and while I didn't make it to see any Roman ruins in France, medieval ruins in an idyllic setting suited me just fine!





Not far from Paris, Chateau Gaillard was a consolation stop for me because I knew I wouldn't get to see the famed ruins of Jumièges Abbey. Settled on a cliff, over a picturesque tiny town and a bend in the Seine river, Chateau Gaillard did NOT disappoint!









If you are planning a road trip through France, I can't recommend stopping at one of the many ruins enough. These places usually don't even make it into tourist books, but a little research and about an hour of your time makes for such unique and memorable pit stops, especially to American eyes!

Well there you have it! What's your favorite off-beat type of attraction in Europe? Let me know in the comments below!

With Love, Katie.



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Tuesday, January 30, 2018

The Perfect Paris Day Trip - A Quick Visit to Monet's Garden


 Hello there lovelies!

After a bit of a break I'm back with more scenes from France! Today I'm talking about one of the most idyllic (and most popular) day trips you can take from Paris: a visit to Monet's gardens. I highly recommend a visit to the Orangerie museum in Paris before you visit the gardens; seeing the real life inspiration for the awe-inspiring Waterlilly canvases is truly an experience you will never forget!




Just about an hour outside of Paris, Monet's Gardens in Giverny is completely jaw-dropping in spring and summer. Much more wild than manicured, it's so easy to see how these gardens lent themselves to impressionist painting.





You can visit both the gardens and Monet's house, which is filled with his personal collection of art (very cool to see). One word of caution though, while the experience will be filled with flowers and greenery, it won't be tranquil. The paths winding through the wildflowers are very small and it's very unlikely that you will be alone!









While it's usually best practice to steer clear of restaurants that are very close to tourist attractions when traveling, a moment of hunger despiration lead us to lunch at Les Nympheas, a restaurant with a lovely outdoor garden setting that was right next to the entrance. To our surprise, we loved the food and couldn't recommend the setting enough!




If impressionist work tends to be your favorite type of art to see in Paris, you will absolutely love this day trip out to Monet's Gardens!

Have you been on any adventures recently? Maybe you were on an adventure over the summer that you'd like to re-live (like me!). Let me know in the comments below!

With Love, Katie.
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