Five Days in the South of France

Photos by K. Mears

Following our 5 days in Spain, we headed to the south of France for a little relaxation at a slower pace. We were so used to the go-go-go pace of Barcelona, it took us a day or so to get accustomed to the sitting-at-the-beach-all-day attitude. But once we adjusted, we were happy to have some very restful days. 

We stayed in a little town a few miles from Cannes called Theoule sur Mer at a hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It was gorgeous (why doesn't the Pacific Ocean look like this?). We spent lazy mornings eating croissants on our balcony followed by lazy afternoons at the beach. After a few days of this we decided to check out a some of the inland hill towns, so we rented a car and visited Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup and Gourdon for a day trip. These little towns were so cute and picturesque, it seemed like each building belonged on a postcard. 

After our week of lounging, reading and eating, we were about ready to head home and get back to our regular routines. I know that travel will become much more complicated in a few months, but I look forward to sharing and exploring travels in a new way. I can't wait until our first overseas trip with our baby some day in the future!

Five Days in Spain

Photos by K. Mears

We are back in San Francisco after our two week vacation in Spain and France! It was an amazing trip but it's also good to be back. I was able to relax while we were on vacation but now I feel like I have a gigantic to-do list to attend to before our little boy's arrival. I was putting a lot of things off until after the vacation so now it's time to get to it! But before I launch into the everyday, I wanted to share a few tidbits about our trip while it's still fresh in my mind.

It was my first time to Spain and I must say, I just loved the vibe in Barcelona. We spent most of our time there aside from a quick day trip to Cadaqués where we lounged by the beach. We also visited the former home of Salvador Dalí in nearby Port Lligat which has since been converted into a museum.

As I mentioned here, Gaudi was the theme in Barcelona. We probably visited one of his creations in architecture almost every day. It's amazing that one single person had such influence on the look and feel of a city.

We stayed right on La Rambla which I would highly recommend because it's very central to much of the museums and major city sites and is also close to many metro stops. One of my favorite things to do was to walk down La Rambla and discover little neighborhoods in the Barri Gòtic down narrow winding streets to the left or right of the main street. La Rambla is also great for people watching.

Barcelona was full of energy day and night, which is why I think we enjoyed our time there so much. There was hustle and bustle all day long which made us constantly feel like we were always in the right place.

While I loved visiting sites such as La Pedrera and Sagrada Família, some of our most fun was taking breaks at cute little cafes such as El Bitxo for a quick drink and tapas. Anytime we would find ourselves a little tired of the crowds and heat, we would just stumble into an inviting cafe to reflect on our afternoon. I think that's probably what I will remember the most!

One Night in Siena

Photos by J. Mears

Siena was one of my most favorite places on our trip to Italy, and we were only there for one night!

After the fast pace in Rome, the slower more scenic Siena was a nice change. Plus, this was where we met up with our friends SP and HK right before the Florence leg of our trip.

We spent the day exploring the town and having a sunset picnic in Piazza del Campo with an amazing wine, meat and cheese spread from Pizzicheria de Miccoli. If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, we highly recommend a stop in Siena, it will provide exactly the relaxing atmosphere you are looking for!

Roman Holiday

Photos by J. Mears

What can I say about Rome that you don't already know. It truly is amazing. History, art, food, hustle and bustle, it really has everything you would expect and more.

Being a first timer to Rome, I was captivated by all the sights: the Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, the list goes on and on. But what I will remember the most is la passeggiata. I loved strolling around the city in the evening with Jay, it was my favorite part of each day. It's such a wonderful Italian tradition. I would love to bring it back to San Francisco, a nice pause in the evening to just stop and smell the roses.

When we left Rome, I was certain we would return someday. I look forward to our next visit!

Three Days in Vienna

Photos by J. Mears

Before we headed to Italy, we made a pit stop in Vienna to visit some more friends who had recently relocated. It seems to be a bit of a trend among our circle of friends lately, to make a bold move overseas!

Vienna was beautiful. Honestly, it's not a city I would have picked to explore had I not had someone to visit there. But I am glad we had the opportunity or I never would have had the chance to participate in Vienna's Oktoberfest or go boating on the Danube river!

Our goal upon arrival was really to just hang out with our dear friends S + C. They are our very best travel partners. We made it to India and back with those two and are still close friends. That's saying a lot in my book since travel can really be stressful if you aren't with the correct company.

Things that I will now associate with Vienna should I come across them include krasekrainer (sausage with cheese inside, surprisingly delicious), lederhosen and plenty of beer!

Thanks again S + C for the amazing weekend in Wien! Until our next adventure!

Eight Hours in Amsterdam

Photos by J. Mears

It's our first week back from our vacation to Europe and I find myself feeling like our trip was already ages ago. I don't want to forget all the fun and adventure from our trip, so this week I'll be posting a few snippets from some the cities we visited. Our first stop, Amsterdam.

We only had an eight hour layover in Amsterdam but took advantage of the time by visiting our friends who had recently relocated to this very beautiful and bike friendly city. Thanks again R + N for showing us around!

We spent the afternoon taking in the city and visiting their local market sampling treats such as stroopwafels and fries with mayonnaise (sprinkled with paprika). We obviously spent what little time we had, eating our way through the city!

Before this quick visit, I had never stepped foot outside the Schiphol airport which I had been inside about eight or nine times on my way to India. I'm glad I finally had a chance to experience a little of what's been a mystery to me for years! I look forward to another visit, next time giving Amsterdam a bit more time so we can truly explore and get to know it even better!

Hello Peoria, Illinois!

Photo by K. Mears

It's been a short but hectic week! We've been tying up loose ends so we can completely relax on our mini break to Peoria, Illinois. We are headed there today for our dear friends' wedding celebration!

It's already been a long day since we left our apartment at 4:00am this morning. Now we are on our final leg, just a few more minutes on our Detroit layover and we are off to our first visit to Peoria!

Our first stop will be the Peoria mall to pick up Justin's tux (he's a groomsmen!) and also a few new shirts. In my rush home from work last night, I completely forgot to pickup the dry cleaning. The dry cleaning that I was not to forget (even had a reminder on my calendar) because it had Jay's shirts for the wedding festivities, including the rehearsal. Argh! I suppose we now have an excuse to buy something new!

It feels good to be back in the Midwest, even if just for a few days. Let the festivities begin!

Ciao a tutti!

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I'm so excited! Jay and I just finished booking our trip to Italy for the fall! 

We'll have two weeks to explore Rome and Florence, with a quick stop in Vienna and Amsterdam first to visit with our expat friends. We'll also be meeting up with a few California friends in Florence, we've all gone in on a gorgeous apartment together through airbnb.

The flights are booked and accommodations reserved. Next up, is reserving tickets to museums. I heard there are some tickets that can be booked online to save you from lengthy lines at entrances.

This will be my first time in Italy (and Vienna for that matter). I would love to hear your advice on what should not be missed and helpful tips for navigating through Rome and Florence! Oh, restaurant suggestions are also much appreciated! Grazie!

Northern Michigan, Here We Come!

Photos by J. Mears

It's been a busy week of wrapping things up so we can enjoy a week off at Jay's family cottage in northern Michigan!

The cottage has been in Jay's family for over 40 years and as the family expands so does the cottage. We spend the morning lazily waking up, sipping on coffee, and taking in the view. Followed by an afternoon at the lake, reading books or taking naps on the boat. 

And to top it off, we have huge family dinners in the evening (my parents will be visiting too, so it's a mix of classic American and Indian food!) and sunset cruises. If we are feeling ambitious, you could possibly find us running around the lake for our personal 10K challenge, but we make no promises.

It's really a privilege to visit such a beautiful piece of land in what feels like our little private corner of earth. Thanks to Jay's grandpa Mears' foresight, it's become a family tradition to spend as much of the summer at the cottage as we can muster!

I will be completely off the grid with spotty cell phone service and no internet access. It is surprisingly easy to get used to! After the first evening, I stop worrying about when I last saw my iPhone.

Have a wonderful weekend! See you in a week few weeks!