The sun is shining, and the wide boulevards are full of people. They walk slowly, smiling, never seeming to be in a hurry. I stroll past beautiful stone buildings, pausing to admire them, stopping here and there to watch the joggers, the skateboarders, the picnickers. The river moves past as slowly as the Bordelais themselves.…
Bordeaux is a wonderful city. It has broad boulevards lined with trees, charming eighteenth century architecture, a wealth of tasty restaurants and wine bars, and cute parks and squares to lose oneself to one's thoughts. I love it here. And yet, there is so much to do just outside the city boundaries, as well, and…
Well, February just flew by. My time in Bordeaux is already coming to an end, and it is now a chance to look ahead to next month, my last in France (for now). March sees me traveling to Lyon, the culinary hub of France and, of course, some side trips to better explore the region.…
It is my second full day in Oslo, and I find myself on a boat tour of the Oslofjord, the narrow inlet along which the Norwegian capital is laid out. It is cold, especially for a kid from California. We are given thin blankets as we board, which help, but even those, my thick winter…
The first view of Carcassonne comes from the highway. Just a flash of walls and towers off to the side, it is enough to make me incredibly excited, and I know at once that this is going to be a very good day. We park the car and walk slowly up the hill toward one…
Bordeaux is a city known for its culture. Eighteenth century architectural gems line the boulevards. Museums abound. Wine and tapas are ubiquitous, and everywhere you look, you can find the Bordelaise out enjoying these simple aspects of life here. But there is one place unlike all the others. Across the river Garonne, just a short…
"I'm headed to Andorra!" I told my friends in Europe. "Oh, you're going skiing," they would respond. Well, no, I wasn't. (I have, in fact, never been skiing - though it's on my bucket list at some point so please don't yell at me.) "Then you must be going for the duty-free shopping," they would…
Camp des Milles isn’t exactly the image one has in mind of southern France. A former tile factory just minutes from the center of Aix-en-Provence, the complex was requisitioned by the French government during World War Two, first to house those suspected of fascist sympathies and later, after the fall of France, as a depot…
Marseille is France's second largest city, its most important economically throughout history, and perhaps also its most misunderstood. It has a reputation for being gritty, working-class, and unsafe. The history drew me here, and I fell in love with the city. Don't miss the rest of our content on Marseille and the surrounding area by…
February is nearly upon us, and with the changing of the month, my time in Marseille is drawing to a close. Up next: the wine capital of France - and the city voted most livable in the country - Bordeaux. However, as with my itinerary here in the south, I won't be confined to just…