Summer Abroad | Paris, Amsterdam, Germany

Canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands — Messy, travel-worn hair. The best kind. 🙂

Hello! I admit, I have been M.I.A. for a minute, but lots of good changes have happened in my life over the last few months. The most significant is that I finally moved from Atlanta to my hometown of New Orleans. The most recent is that I spent two wonderful weeks abroad in Europe!

Traveling – somewhere, anywhere – is a passion of mine, and I truly do get the travel bug every few months, even if it means getting in the car and driving for a few hours to a part of the state I’ve never been before. And I get that international travel itch at least every two years.

So this year, my husband and I decided to make a Europe trip. We decided on Paris, Amsterdam, and the Bavarian region of Germany. I studied in Paris as a college student, and my hubby had travelled there as a youngster, but we’d never been together – and it is, after all, the most romantic city in the world. I’d also been to Amsterdam, but it was a quick weekend jaunt from Paris when I was a student, so I didn’t remember much (go figure). So it was on the wish list. I have family living in Germany, so it made sense to visit them since we’d be so close.

To save money, we flew into Frankfurt, Germany, then took the international train to Paris – about a five-hour ride. I enjoy train rides – whether in the states or abroad. They take time, which means they force you to slow down and observe. Or read. Or meditate. Or listen to music.

I could really devote an entire post to each area of my travels (and maybe I will), so what I’ll do here is attempt to tell the story through some of my pictures. I didn’t take a lot in Paris or Germany – Paris because it kinda felt like home, and Germany probably just because we were there the shortest amount of time, but here are my favorites:

Paris

We booked our accommodations for Paris and Amsterdam through AirBnB. It was the first time I’d used their service, and I must say I enjoyed the experience! The process was easy and the hosts were friendly and responsive.

AirBnB apartment in Paris — When visiting Paris, one doesn’t need much in terms of accommodations. Just somewhere to lay your head and take a shower.

travel hair — When traveling, I don’t let my hair get in the way. Two French braids (of course!) was a go-to style.

Pont des Arts, Paris. Where lovers seal their commitment with lock and key.

Le Jardin du Luxembourg, where children still play with toy sailboats using wooden sticks, and Parisians flock for summer sun.

Canal St. Martin, Paris — The neighborhood of Canal St. Martin – laid back, cool, eclectic. (Hair in two reverse french braids and pinned on top of my head. It was hot!)

Irrueption Music Festival, Paris — Irrueption Music Festival at Parc de Belleville. This jazz band was jammin!

Beautiful Sacré Coeur, located just steps from where we stayed in Montmartre.

meal in Paris — Steak, potatoes and salad – a typical but oh-so-good French meal! Meat is raised according to much healthier (and more ethical) standards than in the U.S., and you can taste the difference!

Sunset in Paris — Our last sunset in Paris, taken from the window of our 6th floor apartment in Montmontre. Paris – je t’aime!

Amsterdam

Upon arrival in Amsterdam, we were greeted by the Heineken horses out for some exercise.

I have to say here that I absolutely fell in love with Amsterdam. It’s a city that’s built to a human scale and just makes sense. Public transportation is easy and efficient, many people opt for bikes rather than cars, food is fresh and healthy, thought is generally progressive, certain vices are legal but regulated and therefore decriminalized. Society works; people are happy. How refreshing!

canals and bikes — Canals, bikes and quaint buildings

bikes in Amsterdam — Bikes – the preferred method of transportation in Amsterdam

fresh food in Amsterdam — The food! We ate some marvelous, fresh, healthy food in Amsterdam – pressed juice, Dutch pancakes make with Belgian-milled flour, amazing Nepalese cuisine, and these open-faced sandwiches.

Amstel beer — Of course, beer is big. My beer connoisseur husband was in heaven.

Anna and Nina, Amsterdam — Life’s to-do list.

small cars in Amsterdam — Quite possibly the smallest car I’ve ever seen. Keep in mind, i am barely 5 ft.!

herring in Amsterdam — So apparently we were in Amsterdam right around the time of the June herring harvest. They eat it fresh (raw) with chopped onions and sweet pickles. I kinda liked it!

Amsterdam street market — Pop-up street markets are everywhere in Amsterdam. They sell prepared food, fresh produce, clothing, shoes, sweets, electronics – I love a good street market!

Germany

German countryside — Clean, green Germany. (Photo taken from the window of the ICE train from Amsterdam to Frankfurt.)

We started our trip in Frankfurt, then caught trains to Paris, Amsterdam, then back to Frankfurt. Our final destination was Ansbach, located about 150 miles from Frankfurt.

pine tree in Bruckberg, Germany — Not sure if this was blue spruce or what, but it was huge! I can only image how beautiful it must be covered in snow. Bruckberg, Germany

View from the top of the walled city of Rothenburg, Germany

St. Lorenz, Nuremberg, Germany — The imposing, medieval church of St. Lorenz in Nuremberg, Germany

travel weary — Nearing the end of the road. Zoned out, lost in my own thoughts, absorbing it all.

Well folks, I hope you enjoyed my little travel journal as much as I enjoyed my trip. Travel opens the mind and stimulates the senses. I encourage everyone to go as far as they can, as often as they can. All it takes is some savings, planning, and determination. Do you have questions about international travel? Let me know in the comments below!

Paris

Amsterdam

Germany

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