Netherlands: Amsterdam

This summer my brother and his two college roommates got to come travel around Europe together. Talk about a perfect graduation celebration, right? So I got to join them for a few legs of the journey. They started and ended in Paris, all four of us cozied right up in my little mini apartment. Their trip went something like - Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Munich, Prague, and back to Paris. Not bad.

I got to meet up with them in Amsterdam and it was such a great time. When Brandon and I were backpacking in the summer of 2008 we tried so hard to make our way to this city but we simply didn't have time for it. Not that I'm complaining, that trip was incredible. So I was very excited to finally explore.

Amsterdam is one beautiful place. It is so clean! Its wide main streets, extremely friendly people and beautiful canals were enough for me to want to stay forever. We explored the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum - which was my favorite. We had some delicious Dutch pancakes at a place simply named: Pancakes! and of course we had our fair share of french fries. Healthy, I know.

We visited the famous Red Light District which is not nearly as crazy as I was expecting but still, seeing the girls working in the windows and doors was shocking and for me, sad. 

I could spend some more time hanging out along those canals. 

La Pêche

This summer season I rediscovered my love for peaches. White peaches in particular. They are so much more sophisticated than those canned and cubed yellow peaches I used to eat as a kid in my lunch box. Not that I didn't love those too.

I wish I had started eating them earlier in the season so I could have enjoyed even more but of course my stubborn mind thought I didn't really like them and didn't want to give them another try. Stupid. I love them! They are so beautiful too so I just had to make something with them.

The fruit deserves to be the star of the show so I went with a simple baked peach tart and nestled the juicy slices of peach into hazelnut cream. Wow, was it good. I wish I had some whole roasted hazelnuts to scatter on top for some extra flavor and crunch but I guess I'll have to wait until next time.

What is your favorite summer fruit or dessert?? Now its the time for apples, pears and figs!

Paris: best day trip

If you are in Paris (especially in spring or summer time) then I highly recommend heading out of town and spending the day in Giverny. I've been there twice now and I loved it so much both times. I've also been to Versailles which is beautiful and magnificent but I like Giverny just a little bit more. I think it is more unique.

My mom saw my photos from when Stephanie and I went to Giverny and she wanted to go so we spent one of her days there and it was still just as beautiful as it was in springtime. We took the train and then rode bikes into town. Halfway through our visit to the Monet house and gardens I discovered the beloved "flower" setting on my mom's fancy camera. It was over. I went to town taking pictures of flowers. Literally, its embarrassing. I have more photos of flowers than of our entire trip I think.

So, now that its out in the open I am going to post the gallery of floral photos in another post because its just too much for one.

Tomorrow my friend Megan and her hubbs get into Paris and I am so happy! I haven't seen her since January! Cross your fingers for us that this miserable rain takes it easy on us.

What have you all been up to lately? Are you ready for fall?
Can someone please send me a pumpkin spice latte? Many thanks :)

France: Avignon

Provence is a magical part of France. I wish that we had more time to spend here and explore more of the little towns around Provence. This is the area of France that is known for its beautiful lavender fields in July. I wish we had gotten to see them but we were just behind the season.

Avignon is a perfectly lovely town. It has a small town, countryside town feel and has some of the best food that I've had this year! We loved this one restaurant so much that we went there twice in two days.     Avignon is also the home of the Palais de Papes. I had no idea about this (raised Catholic...oops!) but it was extremely interesting. When a French pope was elected he didn't think that Rome was an appropriate place to house the Catholic church so he began building the Palais de Papes in Avignon. It took 30 years to build and housed 9 popes.

One of the best things of Avignon was the shopping. There are so many adorable stores a lot of them selling things for your home, kitchen or bath products. I bought lavender lotion made with real lavender from the fields in Provence and it is definitely the best lotion I've had to date. My favorite store was full of different food products like house made speculoos, nutella, caramels, and honey. You can also bottle your own oils and vinegars. Best idea ever. The weather was perfect and we spoiled ourselves by getting massages one morning at the hotel. It was a perfect end to our vacation traveling. 

 Zucchini and parmesan crumble, quinoa and salad. Baked mango tart.

so long sweet summer

Fall is officially upon us here in Paris. The air is crisp and chilly (cold for me!), the leaves are changing and falling and the days are getting shorter. Like I said, this is the first time in my entire 24 years of life that I have seen the seasons change. Seeing it change from winter to spring was beautiful and exciting because of the sunshine and warmth that was finally coming through. From spring to summer it wasn't a big change because I'm still not sure summer really ever came to Paris. I don't count a one week heat wave as summer. So here we are, going into fall and so far its lovely.

I'm already pulling out my heavier jackets and scarves but my heart is always laying on a beach in the middle of summer. Here are some photos from the last little bit of "summer" here in Paris!

 biggest lemon meringue pie ever madeeee