With Thanksgiving officially over, it's time to decorate for Christmas! I was all for putting up our Christmas tree as soon as possible, but Jordan convinced me we should wait and keep our christmas ornaments stored until after Thanksgiving. No skipping holidays in this house! That, and the fact we spent the previous two weeks … Continue reading Travel Traditions: Christmas Ornaments
A few months went by before we were able to take our second trip to Belgium. We made sure to find a city with a little more character than "Manneken Pis." We landed on Bruges, a medieval town with narrow cobblestone streets lined with guild houses and the faint smell of chocolate in the air. Bruges, located … Continue reading Discovering Belgium: Walking our way through Bruges
After a tough year of restrictions and event cancelations, the Bastille Day events would recommence this year throughout France. I planned to take Bastille Day off instead of the Fourth of July this year at work. We then made plans to travel to Paris and experience the celebrated events on July 14. Even though many … Continue reading Bastille Day in Paris
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to learn how to surf. The Disney Channel original movies Johnny Tsunami or Rip Girls released in my pre-teen years were my sources of inspiration. I loved the ocean and was pretty good at boogie boarding, but I wanted to do more. Well, fast-forward twenty-one years, and … Continue reading Surfs Up in Lisbon
With a little bit of freedom and a full tank of gas, we were off to explore more of the country we have lived in for over a year. The curfew in France moved to 9:00 pm, outdoor dining had just reopened, and we had a long three-day weekend ahead of us. Our destination? The … Continue reading Pink Salt Flats in the Camargue
If there's one thing for sure, the French enjoy their holidays. Particularly in May. It feels like France has a holiday every other week in May, and maybe that's because it does. There's May Day (Labor Day) on May 1, WWII Victory Day on May 8, Ascension Day on May 13, Whit Monday on May 24, … Continue reading Faire Le Pont: Long Weekend in Barcelona
Happy Easter and Joyeuse Pâques! My Easter update this year looks eerily similar to the one I posted last year. This time last year, France announced the extension of the first lockdown to May 11. Today, the entire country officially enters the third lockdown until May 2. It's hard to comprehend what is happening in France, … Continue reading Easter Update 2021
Can you believe it? This weekend marks one year since we started our expat journey in France. So what has it been like as an American living in France for one year? Scary, challenging, exciting, and delicious are the first words that come to our minds. According to Jordan, "fortunately, I've been able to mask my emotions." … Continue reading Living in France for a Year
February 2 is a day rooted in different traditions all over the world. It's a day for many that determine the outlook for the upcoming year. Americans look forward to February 2 every year to see if winter will be extended or determine if spring is on the way. Certain religions celebrate this day as … Continue reading French Traditions: Chandeleur and Crepes
The pandemic is raging on in France. News outlets remind us of the grim situation. Confirmed cases are higher than they should be, a third lockdown is looming, and vaccinations are delayed. The death count is high, and the number of beds available in hospitals is decreasing. Each day, we are required to be in … Continue reading Living With a Curfew in France
