When people ask me how my trip to Italy was, I often find myself using the word "magical" to describe my perspective of the country. From the narrow cobblestone alleys lined with boutiques to the sweeping, picture-perfect views of cliffside villages along the southern coast, there are so many gems that make Italy so special…
The Colosseum It's a strange and almost incomprehensible feeling when you see something up close and personal that you've only seen on TV or read about in your textbooks. I've experienced it a few times in my life: Once in Paris, when I saw the Eiffel Tower, and once in Beijing, when I stood on…
Continue reading ➞ Postcard 26.3: The Colosseum & Trevi Fountain
I probably refer to my bucket list far too often in this blog, but I'm not exaggerating when I say visiting Italy probably took the top spot on the list. In fact, it was so prominent on the list that I had to divide it into several bullet points: make a wish at the Trevi…
Our last full day in Paris started with a day trip to Versailles -- just outside of Paris -- to visit the Palace of Versailles and ended with a quiet evening wandering Montmartre. Palace of Versailles Built in the 1600s, the historic and monumental chateau was the center of royalty, starting as Louis XIII's hunting…
Continue reading ➞ Postcard 24.6: Palace of Versailles, France
Like many others in the early 2000s, I had jumped on the "Da Vinci Code" bandwagon. I remember plopping on my couch and spending countless hours with my nose behind that more than 450-page red book, immersed in Robert Langdon's quest to uncover the mysteries behind famous paintings within the ever-famous Louvre museum in Paris.…
I'd be lying if I said my first impression of Paris teemed with rainbows and butterflies, because it didn't. When someone tells you Parisians are rude, don't disregard that person's opinion -- because it's true to a certain extent, at least in my experience. I mean, I wouldn't say they're the scum of the Earth…
Out of State • Out of Mind 