sometimes life (and nature) are so unfair.

xoxo

My favorite in a while (or perhaps ever?), by the brilliant Patti Smith. I would expect nothing less; she’s basically the coolest lady ever.

I’m officially back home! Aside from a loong day on Saturday, I’ve managed to escape jetlag and woke up feeling much better on Sunday. Happy to be home with my family, and I’m headed back to NYC in a couple weeks! More on that tomorrow.

Have a great week!

Along with the moussaka, this is our favorite tapas dish to order there. Whenever we order it, the owner always asks, “Do you know what this is? Because often people order it and are surprised when they get it.” Of course, at this point, we know what we’re getting. And it’s great.

It’s not your typical smooth, creamy hummus. Consider it hummus, deconstructed, and served warm. So basically, it’s a hot dip of mashed chickpeas, cumin, and toasted pine nuts. Sounds basic, but trust me, it’s awesome. We like to have potluck parties here, and my homemade version of this dip has become a staple. Serve it with warm pita and/or veggies, and you’ve got a hit on your hands.

My trip to the famous cemetery was fairly short, but I was blown away. Not just by the fact that as you walk along, so many famous names just pop out of nowhere (David, Chopin, Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde…), but also by the beauty of the place. Thanks to a beautiful Sunday afternoon in May, the landmark was in full bloom.

I brought some flowers of my own.

The only part of the cemetery that is sectioned off is the area around Jim Morrison’s grave, for vandalism issues. I made a quick run for it. I only wanted to spread some love.

 I recommend it for an afternoon stroll, short or long. The place is huge, so you can decide.  I saw many people sitting in nooks reading and hanging out, and I wish I had more time to explore every corner, because it really is so beautiful. And keep an eye out for the stray cats- they’re everywhere!

Jacket, Catherine Malandrino. Tee, LNA. Pants, Sanctuary. Shoes, Jeffrey Campbell. Bag, Granit. Hat, vintage.

I’ve had Jim Morrison’s grave on the brain as a must-see forever, and I was happy to rock my new favorite vintage find- this gorgeous black felt hat. It makes me feel that late 60s, early 70s vibe, which was obviously appropriate. I would normally pair it with a flowy dress or slouchy boyfriend shorts, but it was a bit chilly, so I went with my favorite cargo pants and quilted leather jacket. Random, but I’ve had the t-shirt forever and I don’t think I’ve ever worn it. That’s about to change in a big way… it’s sooo so soft.

They had a fence around Jim’s grave but I obviously hopped it. Call me a rebel.

These are mixed emotions to a T. On one hand, I am so ready to go home, because there are some changes going on there that I would like to be present for, and also I have an awesome summer in NYC ahead of me. On the other, to leave this place? Really? This experience has been so incredible and going home is kind of like going back to real life.

Paris is beautiful. Travelling has been amazing. But I’m also so lucky to have met some wonderful people and have new friendships in my life. My world has become so much bigger in the past few months in so many ways. I’m blessed, and so grateful for everything.

And thank you for following along with me! I hope my journaling and photos have been somewhat interesting. And it’s not over from here… I have some big plans for the next several months and hope to see them through. Keep reading if you’re not totally bored with me yet.

Next week’s mantra will be coming to you stateside!

I am so incredibly blessed to be your daughter. Being in Paris has been so special for me these past few months, not just because it is an incredible opportunity, but also because I love knowing that you were here doing the same thing at my age.

Thank you so much for everything you do for me, and for being the rational voice in my head. I love you so much, and I can’t wait to see you on Saturday!

xoxo

Because she’s basically the coolest person I know.

One of the great things about Europe is the proximity of hundreds of incredible places to see. Getting here isn’t always the easiest (or cheapest) thing, but once you’re here, making the most of your budget can be a snap. With a little bit of research and some insider tips, you can experience so much and visit so many cities (and countries!), even if on a shoestring.

1. Getting there: traveling by air is often the cheapest option.
   In my experience, intercountry train travel is often astronomically expensive. Some bus rides are available for a decent price, but the trips are long and uncomfortable. If I’m visiting a place for just the weekend, I’d rather spend a few extra euros and get several more hours in that city!
   * My favorite travel website: Skyscanner.com. Consider it Expedia of budget European travel. It compares incredible fares from many different airlines, and even has a function that allows you to view cheaper times and days if you’re flexible.
   *My favorite budget airline: Ryanair. We lovingly refer to Ryanair as “The Magic School Bus.” Seats are unassigned and on a first-come, first-served basis. The plane literally pulls up and you get on. And then it flies you off to your destination. It’s not luxury travel, for sure (their slogan is “Fly Cheaper”), but it is the most economic airline out there: if you book far enough in advance, I’ve seen flights from Paris to Rome and Paris to Spain for as little as 30 euros. We booked our trip to Stockholm with Ryanair, and our roundtrip total was about 70 euros. Compare that to at least 200 euros on other airlines. Another option is EasyJet: not quite as cheap, but still pretty good.
   *Keep in mind: Book in advance! Most flights will increase in price exponentially about three weeks before departure. Sometimes, sometimes, they’ll go back down again if seats aren’t sold, but this is usually just one or two days before. So if you know you want to go somewhere, go ahead and lock it down right away.
   
2. Lodging: consider Airbnb over hostels.
   Hostels are sometimes a great option, but are often distant from the city center or in a sketchy neighborhood. Plus, they’re not always the cheapest option!
   *My favorite accommodation site: Airbnb! We had the best experience with Airbnb when we went to Brussels. There were three of us, and we got a gorgeous apartment to ourselves, super convenient to public transportation, for about 20 euros per person per night. It was an awesome deal, and again, if you book far enough in advance, you can find them for almost any city. Another bonus: many of the hosts are eager to give you insider tips of where to go in their hometown! Just a heads up: Airbnb puts a hold for the security deposit on your credit card, which is then returned (if you don’t trash the place) 48 hours after your stay, which can be a little annoying.
   * Keep in mind: For any hostels or Airbnb, do your research! My rule of thumb is to only consider Airbnb homes with many reviews, and to of course read any and all reviews of hostels. It’s also important to note how close your accommodations are to city center, or to public transportation. If transportation isn’t convenient or cheap, it might not be worth the money you’re saving by being a little ways outside the city.
3. Sightseeing: walk it out.
   Don’t underestimate the experience of exploring! Sightseeing doesn’t necessarily mean guided tours and paid visits. Get a good guide book (or do your research online ahead of time) and walk around the neighborhoods like a local. Stumble into places that you think look interesting. Not only will you save money, but I think it’s the best way to truly experience a new place.
   * My favorite sightseeing websites: TimeOut, Use-It, and Design Sponge are three of my favorite websites when looking for really off-the-beaten path, local places, from restaurants to bars to sites. For more central and buzzy things to see, check out TripAdvisor.
   * Keep in mind: Europe has some of the most beautiful (and diverse) landscapes in the world. Don’t be afraid to venture outside of a city and take a little hike through some nature!
   
   
4. Food and Drink: to market!
   True life: eating in restaurants is generally pretty expensive in all major cities. However, one thing that I will miss dreadfully about Europe when I return stateside is the availability of uber-fresh, local ingredients. And the best place to find these ingredients, as well as truly authentic cuisine, are the food markets. Most cities and large towns have them on weekends. Do your research to find out when and where, and prepare to have your mind blown: it’s so much fun to walk around the controlled chaos, grab some samples, and buy some incredible street food for a fraction of what you would for a sit-down meal.
   *Keep in mind: eating out is still a possibility! The sightseeing websites listed above are great resources for finding more low-key, authentic, and inexpensive places to eat. We heard about Hermans, the incredible all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffet in Stockholm, through TimeOut.  Also: if you’re flying by the seat of your pants come mealtime, just venture off the main streets, squares, and thoroughfares. These tourist-central areas tend to be overpriced, and are really just caricatures of authentic local cuisine instead of the real deal.
    
5. Shopping: it is possible!
   Even though we’re talking about saving money here, it is possible to fit in a little bit of shopping without breaking the bank.  Souvenirs are always a great thing to have, and I love looking up ahead of time which products are authentic to the place where I’m visiting. For example, whenever I go to the south of France, I make sure to pick up some dried lavender, calissons, and fresh-made jam.
   *My favorite place to shop: The market again! You’re bound to get the best deals here. Hit the food markets for sachets of spices, teas, and soaps, all of which make wonderful gifts. I’ve also found the flea markets to be phenomenal over here: rather than glorified attic junk often seen in New York for ridiculous prices (I’m looking at you, Hells Kitchen), you can really find awesome stuff here. And don’t be afraid to haggle, especially if you know the language! I’d say 90% of the time, if you’re buying more than one item or an item is a little scratched or broken, you can knock off a few euros. In London, I got these incredible cat-eye Ray-Bans from the 1960s- that are listed on ebay for around $80- for 20 euros. The arms are a little wonky, but it will be a super cheap fix at any glasses store.
   *Keep in mind: When shopping for new clothes, don’t underestimate the chain stores- many of them are based in Europe. When in Stockholm, we stopped in H&M, and found the prices to be significantly cheaper and the selection to be so much wider. A tip: Zara and Mango are based in Spain, Bennetton is Italian, and don’t even get me started on how many brands are French-born.

   

Additional tips:

1. Don’t travel alone. Seriously, don’t. Not only will you save a chunk of money by travelling with one or two buddies, but it’s also just a safety issue. Also, if you are somewhere where you don’t speak the language, things can get pretty overwhelming pretty fast.
2. Be wary of your belongings. Pack light. When exploring the city, your bag should have multiple zips and pockets, and I recommend being able to keep your arm comfortably on top of it. Pickpocketing is rampant in Europe: I’d say at least 60% of my peers at university have had something stolen since we arrived, and we’re cityfolk. Smartphones are targets in particular, so don’t- don’t- keep them in your pockets. Thieves like to snatch them as they’re leaving the metro train. I always sit with my bag on my lap, smartphone tightly in my hand. It seems like common sense, but you can never be too careful: in the major cities, many of the thieves have strategies to distract you, like fake petitions, sending children up, or- and I’m not kidding- even spilling coffee on you.
3. Have your ID with you. If you can prove you’re a student, particularly a European student, you will most likely get into a museum for landmark for a reduced tariff, or even for free. My university has a deal with the University of Paris in which we get Parisian student IDs (specifically for free museum admission), but I’ve found that the visa stamp in my passport works just as well… I got into Versailles for free using it. Museums can be pretty expensive, especially if you plan on visiting a lot of them, so saving a few euros every time really helps out in the long run. Also, it’s just smart to keep your ID with you in general.
4. Don’t stress about being fluent. The friendliness of the locals varies from city to city and country to country, as does the amount of English spoken. Most major cities are bilingual. Usually you can get around pretty well without knowing the language. However, I will say that locals will be pleasantly surprised if you make the effort to speak a few native words, even if they’re not perfect. They will almost always encourage you or help you out if you try. So I recommend at least learning a little bit of basic vocabulary… it’s fun, too!
5. Be respectful. Again, there are certain cities that are friendlier to foreigners than others. For example: In Stockholm, people are generally almost as fluent in English as they are in Swedish, and they are so incredibly friendly and eager to help. However, in Paris, while many people to speak English, they are generally unfriendly about it, which gives Parisians a snobby reputation. Yes, they could be nicer, but I think what generally annoys people here is the ignorance of tourists. Now, I have only been here for three months, and don’t claim to be a French citizen or even a local, but I can certainly see how frustrating it is when I’m in the more touristy areas of the city and people are not only eschewing French entirely, but are totally rude about it. Remember that you are in a new place with its own customs, and people are generally very proud of their culture. Again, try to speak the language a little, don’t do things like make demands at restaurants (a big no-no), and just generally be friendly and keep a smile on your face. There will be times that you will get frustrated or even feel insulted, but just keep your chin up and look at where you are!

Happy travels!

One of my best friends (Chelsey!) is studying in Italy, and my original plan was to visit her in Rome for a few days this week, but plans fell through and in all honesty, things just got too expensive. I was feeling kind of bummed about it- I’ve never been to Italy, and I’m dying to see Chels and her awesome friends- but mapping out everything yesterday was like a perspective-smack to the head. It’s amazing that I’ve travelled everywhere I have, especially in this semester alone, and I am so, so happy and thankful I’ve been able to do so.

Aside from experiencing incredible landmarks, different cultures, awesome food, and bonding with my friends here, these trips have just cultivated my love for travel even more. It’s sad to think that there probably won’t be another time in my life that I can just pick up and pop over to another country for the weekend, as I’ll be back in the States, graduating, and, ya know, facing real life. But even if convenience and price will be bigger factors looking forward, I’m certainly not calling it quits. I want to see the world, and I intend to continue doing so.

Without further ado, a list of all the cities I’ve been to since January (aside from Paris, obviously!):

London, U.K.

Brussels, Belgium

Dublin, Ireland

Aix-en-Provence and Arles, France

Geneva and Montreux, Switzerland

Stockholm, Sweden

Barcelona, Spain

There you have it. It has been a pretty amazing ride.

In the meantime, I’m soaking up my last week and a half in the Parisian homebase. Then it’s back to the airport… for New York!

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