West Palm Beach, Florida

Just days before Christmas as most people are out in the shopping madness, I was in the lap of luxury and relaxation in West Palm Beach, Florida. After a pleasant 1.5 hour plane ride from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, I found myself on Singer Island in West Palm Beach on December 18.

 This was my view from an outdoor lounge that resembled a daybed. It was magnificent! As you can see, there's hardly a soul out this time of year!

Weather:
It was immediately obvious why 'snow birds' migrate there during the winter months to escape harsh weather. Shorts and a light sweater were all that I needed to maintain comfort. During my 4 day stint here, the weather stayed around mid-70s to mid-80s. Dawn and dusk were a little chilly, especially if by the ocean, but by noon I was relaxing by the pool in a bathing suit. I even got a little red from the sun!

Where to Stay
We stayed at the Marriott on Singer Island- a short drive over a bridge from WPB (West Palm Beach) takes you to Singer Island (a quaint island with beautiful scenery and great shopping). The Marriott resort is a mix of residential condos and luxurious suites for guests. Upon walking into the resort, I was greeted with a gigantic Christmas tree situated in front of a wall of windows that amplified the picturesque view-- beautiful gardens, a pergola, cozy fireplaces surrounded by big, comfy outdoor furniture.

Suites
The luxurious feeling emitted in the lobby flows seamlessly into the guest suites. A smooth ride in the elevator (I am not an elevator person, but I had no problem at all with this) takes you up to my suite on the 17th floor. Upon entering, my eyes are met with the sparkling marble floors of a sleek, modern apartment (some even call these immaculate abodes home all year long). Floor to ceiling windows in the living and bedroom allow you to feast your eyes on the perfect view- the bay of Singer Island (including marina and bridge) from the living room and ocean as far as the eye can see from the bedroom. The rest of the apartment does not disappoint-- walk in closet with dark cherry, built-in organizers, washer/dryer combo, spacious living and bedroom, well-equipped kitchen with granite and a fully stocked mini-bar, and then there's the best part... the bathroom. Picture this: wall to wall marble so shiny it reflects light, a super-modern and practical sink and vanity, a huge walk-in shower made of rock and..... the most relaxing spa tub ever!

What to Do
If you're looking for a Spring Break '08, riding the strip in the back of Billy Bob's pickup while throwing mardi gras beads kind of vacation... this is not the place for you. WPB has tons to do in the way of shopping, entertainment, and...my favorite.. eating!

Shop: Downtown CityPlace is a great place to start. It is a newly renovated area with two blocks full of high-end boutiques and shops. Francesca's, White House Black Market, etc. They even have a Macy's! Clematis street, a few short steps from CityPlace, has a mixture of eclectic shops and name brand boutiques (such as Ann Taylor).  Also, I should mention that people here carry their dogs everywhere...even inside the stores.

Entertainment: WPB has a plethora of amenities that appeal to a wide range of people. Deep sea fishing, 40 miles of beautiful beaches, National Parks, bicycle paths, snorkeling, golf... you name it, it's probably there! One activity I read about was watching space shuttles launch. Cape Kennedy launches shuttles throughout the day and they can easily be seen from the beach! Definitely putting that on my to-do list for next time!

Dining:  Not only does CityPlace have great shopping, they have restaurants as well. My recommendation is to go to Rocco's Tacos. It can be a bit pricey, but the combination of excitement and relaxation make this a place I plan to frequent again. It's a high-end Mexican restaurant known for their delicious grilled corn (it's $5 for an ear of corn, but trust me- you won't regret it!!)

Bayeux, France

PortenBessin: check!
Next stop, Bayeux- a small town centered around the medieval cathedral (see Bayeux Cathedral post). It just so happened that we were in Bayeux for their yearly Renaissance festival. The streets were crowded with patrons adorned in authentic medieval attire who were selling their handmade goods. Browsing the vendors, I found everything from blacksmiths to jewelers to bakers. Which brings me to my next point... lunch. Having known enough French to confuse myself (and others) we decided to grab a quick lunch before heading back to the hostel. There were a few fancy restaurants around, but we decided to take advantage of the festival and eat authentic French cuisine (which I would equate to a burger or some type of sandwhich in the US). So, I waited in a very long line to get, what I though was, a smoked sausage on a baguette. It looked and smelled great. Andouillette. It even had a beautiful French name. They cooked in fresh to order, I was excited to be trying something new (as you can tell from the picture) and for only 3 euros. Due to the sheer size, we decided to share. Best. Decision. Ever.
Thank goodness we were sharing- which required us to split the baguette in half. We found a shady area, sat down, and began breaking it in half. As soon as the middle split open, things I am unsure of began pouring out of the middle. Since I still don't know what they were, I will give you some adjectives that came to my mind when I saw it-- juicy, chunky, jiggly, abnormal, scary... I couldn't even eat the bread it came on. However, it was entertaining to see my group attempt to eat it, without success. In attempt to be portrayed as well-mannered tourists, we waited until there were no French people around us to promptly chunk our baguettes in the nearest trashcan (this will be one of many baguettes that find their way to the trash). After speaking with our leader (who is French) we discover that we were eating intestines in their natural form- straight from the pig. This became the running joke of the trip and made me all the more thankful for everything else I ate.
Lesson learned: Try something new. You may... or may not like it.

PortenBessin, France

PortenBessin, a town located in the region of Normandy, France. Among the many (understatement) places I visited on my trip to Europe, the French countryside (area in and around PortenBessin) resignated the most. It was not at all what I expected of France. Lush, rolling hills... stone cottages with open windows.. cobblestone streets.. and 15th century mansions/castles.

Throughout  my study abroad travels, we stayed at hostel-type locations in various towns. Pictured here is an 18th century farmhouse (formerly used for making cider, etc) that has been converted into a hostel. The host, Stella, opens her doors to various groups of students desiring to study abroad. Every morning we woke to clean, crisp air (which my hair loved by the way). There was no need for air conditioning. No busy streets, police sirens, or neighbors for miles away. It was perfect.


Stella's place (as we called it- you know come to think of it, I don't know the actual name of the hostel..) had been renovated on the inside. I was intrigued to find that the outside of the old farm had not been touched. It had so much charm and looked like something straight out of a magazine. Anyway, we slept 3 to a room (bunk-bed style) and each room had its own restroom-shower included. Super clean and super comfortable. There was also a 'lab' which she typically uses to teach French to students from UK, but it served as a computer lab for us. Although there was only one working computer, the grounds had a decent wi-fi connection.

One of the coolest things about Stella's place is that it was only about a 15 minute walk through the most adorable village (filled with quaint cottages) to the coast. Once you reach the coast, you are presented with a breathtaking view of Utah Beach- part of where WWII occurred. You can walk all the way up to the edge of the cliff overlooking the coast. Later in the evening, the tide is up and there seems to be no 'beach' below- just mild waves crashing on the rocks. However, if you go at the right time, you can scale down the side of the cliff by following a very steep, zig-zagging cliff all the way to the bottom which turns into a beach. The tide goes out a little over a hundred yards.. you can carefully, walk over the moss-covered rocks and get to the bottom of the ocean that is usually covered with water. Great place to find sea shells!

On your way back the long, steep trek up the side of the cliff, you might find adventurous cliff gliders-- search in google images.. WOW! I would NEVER do that, but it is amazing to watch..

Stella has one chef on staff to help prepare fresh meals for the guests. We stayed in Stella's place for 2 nights.
To give you an idea of authentic French cuisine, a list of our meals were as follows:

Saturday - late arrival
dinner
baguettes to snack on as appetizers
fresh baked fish with some kind of gravy & roasted whole golden potatoes

*While I am not a fan of seafood, I tried the fish (an act of respect for the chef) and it was... ok. Some people really liked it though.

Sunday- breakfast- croissants/baguettes, instant coffee, hot chocolate (unsweetened), orange juice, and/or water (all at room temp)
*The croissants in France were the absolute best I've ever had.

Lunch- eaten in town

Dinner- Baguette to snack on as appetizer (I have since temporarily boycotted baguettes)
            duck spaghetti (it looked like chicken legs over chicken noodle soup)
*Now, I wouldn't consider myself an extremely picky eater, but I do like to keep it rather simple. Duck was a stretch for me..although it had a decent flavor.

Monday- breakfast- you guessed it, baguettes... and a croissant!

 After breakfast we left Stella's hostel for the town of Bayeux. (post to come)


The daylight hours are fantastic- the sun rises around 4 am and sets around 11pm. Georgia is 6 hours behind France. Between the time difference and our 9 1/2 hour flight over, it took me about 4 days to get adjusted to their 'daytime'. After that, it was smooth sailing.

                          

It's Better in the... Bahamas

My absolute favorite aspect of the Bahamas is the beach. In all my travels, the Bahamas have some of the best beaches around... hands down. The picture above was taken from my beach chair. As you can see, the color of the water graduates from crystal clear to piercing blue and even a hint of green in some areas. There are very few sections in which you cannot see the bottom of the ocean. The reefs here are abundant with life and some of the best I've seen. You'll see a variety of sealife ranging from coral to tropical fish to gigantic lobsters!

I recently made my third trip to the islands of the Bahamas. I must say, I get more impressed each time I go. I've been to Nassau and Coco Cay (an island owned by Royal Carribean). Each place has a lot to offer.

Nassau- Nassau has a lot to offer in the way of shopping and things to do. If possible, I'd recommend staying at Atlantis. It is a bit more pricey but I think it's worth the extra spendature in the end. It is a resort-style hotel that has every ammenity imaginable- restaurants, water parks, an aquarium, private beach, and even a casino! As far as shopping, there are a few boutique here and there that you can get local goods at- rum cake, apparel, coffee, etc. You must visit the straw market. Located by Senor Frogs' restaurant, this market resembles an indoor flea market. Here you will find items handmade by locals, shirts, and odds and ins. The biggest seller that EVERY booth will have is imitation designer bags and jewelry/accessories. They have everything from Coach and Louis Vuitton to Chanel and Gucci. The best part is: prices are negotiable.


Coco Cay- This island is only available to those cruising with Royal Carribean. To be honest, when I saw it on our cruise itenerary I was less than thrilled. I don't like the idea of the cruise line I'm already paying for taking me to an island they own and spending all day there expecting me to buy more things. However, I was wrong. We spent the whole day laying out and playing in the ocean. The landscape did not disappoint. The small island was engraved with multiple little coves of clear blue water. The cruise line also provides plenty of entertainment- full lunch buffet (free- well it's included in the total cruise price), live reggae band, photographers (you can have your own photo shoot on the beach with no obligation to buy pics), and servers walking around taking drink orders (you do have to pay for these but you can charge it to your cabin on board- how convenient!)

Watch Out:

Vendors can be pushy. Just let them know up front that you are 'just looking' or simply walk away if it gets too annoying. Chances are the booth right next door has the same thing, maybe even for a better price.

Be aware of people inside the market selling illegal drugs. It's usually not blatantly obvious, but they've been known to walk by and slyly hint that they have 'other items'...if you get my drift. Just sternly tell them no, and go about your business.

As with all trips, keep your personal belongings with you and never go off alone.

I recommend walking almost everywhere but if you have to take a taxi, make sure it's legit (sign on the car, proof of taxi permit, etc) and always go with a group.

Overall, I would go back to stay at an all inclusive resort- just to make things easier and safer.

Start Spreading the News... Quick Guide to NYC

Depending on your niche', NYC has something for everyone...literally. You'll find many diverse faces amidst the hustle and bustle of people you're destined to encounter. Here are a few tips I picked up while in the Big Apple. Remember, strictly speaking from personal experience here people...

1. Walk, talk, eat, breathe and think fast. Everyone and everything in NYC is fast-paced. It's just their way of life, so to avoid getting trampled (in every sense of the word) I advise you to 'pick up the pace' a bit. If you're from a large metropolis you are probably use to it, but it's the small town-ers that seem to have trouble-- including myself at times. However, this can be done without feeling like you aren't enjoying your trip. Simply immerse yourself in with the 'locals' and you'll be just fine.. When in Rome, right?

2. Get accustomed to sharing some of your personal space. Again, it's just part of the charm. NYC has some 22 million people inhabiting 6,720 miles of land- things can get a little crowded at times. This rings especially true when you are in the touristy districts - Times Square, etc. However, there are a few large portions of land devoted to parks, such as Central Park (shown in the picture). This picture was taken atop the Belvedere Castle in Central Park. I was pleasantly surprised that climbing the narrow, 16th century spiral staircase (without handrails, might I add) would lead up to this view! It was almost like another world-to go from the chaotic streets of NYC to this quiet, relaxing oasis. It was quite beautiful.

3. Wear good shoes- Seriously. Trust me I know how hard it is to sacrifice fashion for comfort-but in this case, it's worth it. In NYC, most people don't own cars- #1 they're too expensive to park and #2 in most cases, it's quicker to walk to your destination. And for a tourist who will be visiting a LOT of places, cab fare can drain your pockets. So that means you'll be walking or taking the Subway (which is a diff blog for another day). One occasion in particular comes to mind in which my sister did not wear the correct shoes. By the end of the day, her feet were in a lot of pain and so dirty a shower wouldn't help. I would definitely look like a total 'tourist' with my tennis shoes than have my trip ruined because my feet hurt. FYI: At night, the shoe rules change! ;)

My Jot List of Favorite Things to Do in NYC:
Catch a Broadway Show (like Wicked)
Musuem of Natural History (at least once, it's actually pretty neat)
Times Square (even if its just to shop there!)
Carnegie Deli (expensive but a NY staple)
Central Park (you can even take a horse & carriage ride through)
Movie Tour (takes you to tons of locations where famous movies have been filmed)
Shop on 5th Avenue (Tiffany's, Saks, Harry Winston, etc)
Rockefeller Plaza (Go to the top)


Post in the comments section if you have further questions!











4.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Maple.
Hockey.
How I Met Your Mother.
Canadian bacon.
Saying the word 'about' funny.
Ay??

This list is just a few of the things that pop in my head when talk about vacationing in Canada surfaced. Canada? In June? ugh. Where's the beach, ay? The tropical drink in hand, toes in the sand?? Not in Canada. HOWEVER, I must say I was oh-so-pleasantly surprised to find that Canada has much more to offer than..... hockey and funny accents.

I took this picture at Peggy's Cove, a quick 1 hour (note the sarcasm) taxi ride up a very winding road and... voila! All joking aside, I was mesmerized at the natural beauty in Halifax, Nova Scotia. If you've seen the movie The Proposal, you kind've have an idea of the landscape here. Crisp, cool wind coupled with the warm sun makes for perfect weather. If you're looking for a relaxing destination with a multitude of scenery and history, Halifax is your place!

FranceTop Five: #1 Versailles Palace

Coming in at # 1, Versailles Palace went beyond my wildest dreams. No picture, description, or person ,for that matter, could have ever prepared me for the majesty of this place. Almost every square inch inside this palace is adorned with the finest materials and architecture. While the Hall of Mirrors boasts much historical fame, I found our behind the scenes tour to be just as intriguing. Through a pre-booked arrangement, we were able to see the King’s Private Apartment (belonging to King Louis XVI , I believe). It was as if another world existed behind the walls of Versailles. King Louis XVI’s office, desk, documents, dining room, and bedroom were available for us to view. The palace itself is grand, however the most elusive part of Versailles Palace were the gardens. They were simply magnificent. At one point, I recall stopping in my tracks to allow my eyes ample time to soak in all that surrounded me. From the labyrinth of grass to the beautiful lake spreading across land that seemed never-ending, I immediately fell in love with the gardens of Versailles Palace. A short twenty minute walk, or hike, took us to Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet. The Hamlet was built to allow Marie Antoinette more privacy while living in Versailles. Upon entering the grounds of the Hamlet, I was so intrigued and a bit taken aback. It was as if I had entered another world. The not-so-small Hamlet was a beautiful, rustic, flower-covered cottage. It seemed like the perfect place for Marie Antoinette to have quiet time.


It still seems unbelievable to have seen such profound relics and wonders of the world. Although I am not an Art major, this experience has led me to a greater appreciation of art in every form. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to see, smell, taste, hear, and feel new traditions and ways of life of the European culture. We lived more in two weeks than most people do in their lifetime. I will never forget how France and London impacted me as an individual and changed my life forever.