Puebleando the Pyrenees: Spain and France

A summary (then you can skip to the photos)

The viejo monasterio de San Juan de la Peña
(sounds better than the old monastery of Saint John of the big rock)

Ainhoa's parents have loaned us their van and we put a makeshift bed in the back and plan to camp each night on our trip as we tour around the Pyrenees mountains. We plan to circle around the mountain range into France, and then cross through it on our way back into Spain.

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This American's Basketball Career in Europe

So, I've lived in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and have visited many of the countries in Europe. But how did I come to live in Europe? Basketball. 

For those too lazy or uninterested to read the entire post, here is an infographic that sums it all up:

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Guest Blog: Discover the Magic of Provence

By Nicole Noel, You can find her on Twitter and FB


Van Gogh and Paul Cézanne were just a couple of amazing artists that were inspired by the glorious Provence. The Mediterranean Sea, Cote D’Azur and the Alpes are all the amazing gems of this amazing place. However, gorgeous nature is not the only thing that makes Provence remarkable. This entire region is peppered by the beautiful and charming towns, which are swarming with the vibrant Provençal spirit. Here are some of the places that are worth looking into if you want to feel the Provençal magic.

Verdon Gorge

The Verdon river cuts through limestone, with its beautifully blue waters and end up in the lake Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon. This 25km long gorge promises fun times in the nature. You can go kayaking, hiking and even climbing those amazing limestone cliffs. It is possible to have a boat ride along the river, observing the remarkable cliffs and ending up in a gorgeous artificial lake.

Valensole Plateau

If there is one thing that needs to be said about this lovely plateau, then it is that all that lavender will leave you breathless. The gentle purple haze of Lavender flowers above the green fields and the heavy and soothing scent in the air will follow you everywhere in the Valensole Plateau. This region carries the name “the breadbasket of France”, so make sure you try the pastry and see if it justifies the name.

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This American's Favorites (100th Post)

This is definitely the hardest post I've done. I already have trouble committing to live in one place, do one job, have one personality...

But, in honor of my 100th post, I would like to finally decide and share what are some of my favorites, based on the questions people have asked me over the years. So, knowing that I can declare these as my favorites, and then later change my mind, I finally, reluctantly, undecidedly, present to you, my favorites, so far.

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A Salute to Great Friends

Emcee: Thank you all for coming. We will now hear remarks from their closest friend, the TMax.

TMax: A pair of greats are no longer with us. They supported me through so much. They were always working together, each carrying their share of the burden. They always made me feel so comfortable. Of course, I'm referring to my former everyday/travel shoes.

Walking the city walls in Dubrovnik, Croatia

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Aix-en-Provence and Southern France: Rollin' with Le Mistral

Synopsis: I've been searching for somewhere to go to immerse myself in the French language and truly put my language skills to the test. Stephanie just so happens to have an aunt who married a frenchman and had some french kids who had french grandkids. And they will let us stay with them and give us the real french way of living. We need enough time to do some touristy stuff, me practice my french, and Stephanie to catch up with family. So, 18 days should cover all of that.

Trip Overview:

Day 1: We take the bus down to Charleroi for our early Ryanair flight to Marseille. Sally and Pierre, Stephanie's aunt and uncle, meet us at the airport. Sally speaks French and English, while Pierre only speaks French. We get to their house and sit out on the patio for an aperitif just before we eat lunch. Stephanie and I venture out into the city a bit...which turns into traversing the entire city, twice.

Thoughts: We are so excited to be here that we tried to do everything in one day. Sally and Pierre are very nice and excellent hosts. They make traditional southern french food and as long as I don't ask the ingredients, I'll keep eating it.

Pierre, Stephanie, and Sally

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Champagne Region, France: Celebratory Drinks

Synopsis: Fresh off my vacation from the states, and Staša recommends we go to the Champagne region. I cannot turn down a legitimate reason to celebrate, so why not learn about the most popular celebratory drink in the world? Cheers! Santé! Salut! Na zdravje!

Trip Overview:

Day 1: Jump in the car and head down friday after work. We get there in no time and walk around the town of Epernay. Interestingly enough, the town seems abandoned on this lovely friday evening. Makes it so much easier to take pictures.

Thoughts: It is so peaceful driving through the French countryside...when you aren't the one driving.

This is going on Instagram

Walking through the Saint Martin portal

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Multi Throwback: Germany, Italy, France, England, Austria, Spain, Malta, Belgium, Czech, and the Netherlands

Synopsis: I did quite a bit of traveling from 2008 to 2012, but I only have a few photos and sporadic memories. So, here are some pics from each trip and the random memories I have that serve as captions.

Trip Overview:

Speyer Cathedral, Germany - Dec 2008 - Then go to the Speyer Technical Museum

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Skiing in Garmisch, Germany - Jan 2009 - Dad has a bad fall and pulls a muscle in his chest

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Rothenberg, Germany - Feb 2009 - Quaint little fortified town where I learn about medieval living and torture

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European Road Trip: Summer 2009

Synopsis: My mom has invited out my god-brother and god-sister, along with two of my cousins, to come experience Europe with us for two weeks. She has planned a road trip around Germany, France, and Italy. My dad will be taking off to provide us excellent chauffeur support, and I will be the witty narrator of videos and photo-taker. 

Trip Overview:

The whole gang in Stuttgart, Germany ready to roll

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Paris, France: New Year's 2009

Synopsis: Who can want to experience France without going to it's capital, Paris? My parents and I want to spend New Year's in the city of lights and bring in the year correctement. We will for sure see all the big sites like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, on this go round, and hopefully I'll move here one day and I can see all the other ins and outs, then.

Trip Overview:
Day 1: We set out shortly after traffic subsides, on our second trip to France. Every road sign we pass, my mom is asking me what is says. I really need to improve my french because I have no idea what any of these signs are saying. We approach the city and we can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance. We drive toward the hotel and my dad drops my mom and me off to check in, while he finds parking. After we check-in, we go straight out for dinner and grab some kebaps.

Because it's New Year's Eve, all the public transportation is free, and we hop on the metro to the Eiffel Tower, where we will bring in the new year. There are hundreds, if not thousands of people around the monument, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. Africans are selling trinkets everywhere! Soon, everyone is screaming and cheering as there are 12 stars on the side of the tower and we all count down the last 12 seconds. There are no fireworks, which is strange to me, but a few bottle rockets and black cats, that people brought themselves.

Heading back to the hotel via the free metro is madness. There are so many people crowding to get on the metro, that at one point my feet are not even touching the ground, thanks to the people pushing from behind and there only being two turnstiles to let people through the gates. Finally we do get on the metro and head back to the hotel and call it a night.

Thoughts: So far, every french person we had to talk to has spoken english, which alleviated a lot of pressure off of me, because I am not comfortable with the language yet. We have a Toyota Sequoia, so my dad took about 30 minutes to find a parking spot big enough for it. Celebrating New Year's in a foreign city is exciting all by itself, which mitigated my discontent from lack of fireworks. The whole metro ordeal was just insane. I hope no one got hurt, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Tiny bathroom in the hotel

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Strasbourg, France: Français First Hand

Synopsis: I just moved to Germany and I have been trying to get to France to test my American-school French. Mom recommends a day trip to Strasbourg, France, just the two of us. Sorry, Pop! In Strasbourg, they speak french and german, so I'll get to butcher two languages in one try! This is also my first road trip anywhere in Europe.

Trip Overview:
Day 1: Hop on the tour bus and head toward Strasbourg. We stop at a rest stop in Germany, to use the bathroom and get drinks. I go to use the restroom and there is a lady in front of the door with a sign that says "W.C. ,50€" Wait, what, the bathroom costs? Hearing that I had to pay for the toilet was like Spongebob when he found out Squidward didn't like Krabby Patties.

After the whole toilet fiasco, we get back on the bus and drive to Strasbourg. Upon arrival, it doesn't look like what I thought France would look like. It has a fairy tale look, I imagine because of the german influence, but also a dutch feel, especially when walking through the Tanner's District. Of course, my years of architecht history and world georgraphy knowledge (from cartoons and stereotypes) are how I know what this place looks like and what it should look like, being a french town.

Our guide takes us throughout the city and we see the major monuments like the covered bridges, the Cathedral, the Tanner's House, and much more. We do all this by foot, as there are no cars, or streets big enough for cars, in the center of the town. On the way back to the bus, we stop at a grocery store to get some snacks and I buy the food using the colorful euro that I got in Germany, and engage in my first french conversation with the cashier. Jump back on the bus to Stuttgart, fired up for my next trip to France.

Thoughts: This is amazing and everything is in french and german. I am reading the signs in french and hearing the people talk french, and I'm just overwhelmed. This is not like class at all. I have no idea what they are saying, unless they talk directly to me.

So, my first cathedral. The first of hundreds, that I will see. I see there will be quite a bit that I will need to adapt to living here. My first french interaction went well and I was able to communicate, despite all the butterflies and sweating. I think I'm really going to like Europe.

My first rest stop in Germany

Our german, french, and english speaking tour guide

Strasbourg Cathedral, the world's tallest building in the 1700's

Mom and I in the Tanner's District

Pont Saint-Martin in La Petite France

My first interaction speaking French with a real native

Nice government building

All tuckered out after a long day

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