Looking for a quieter getaway as the year draws to an end? Escape the rush of daily life and consider one of these five extremely idyllic destinations to visit during your next trip abroad. The Seychelles This archipelago situated in the Indian Ocean really is a dream destination. The Seychelles are the closest thing to […]
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Expat Struggles & Culture Shock in France
I sent some photos of my new neighborhood to an old friend recently. He commented that I now “live in an impressionist painting”. And he’s right, the beauty of my surroundings still amazes me every day. But if those impressionist paintings could come to life, they’d tell tales of little bits and pieces of culture […]
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European House Sitting – My Top 5 Bucket List Cities
A few years ago, I discovered the wonderful world of house sitting and became addicted to Trusted Housesitter’s website and the daily email listing the newest available house sits. I created my profile, applied for tons of house sits, and finally got my first gig in Bristol, England. It opened the door to European house sitting […]
A New Life in Nice, France – One Year Later
One year ago today, I woke up in a friend’s guest bedroom in Nice. As I wiped the sleep from my tired eyes, I looked up at the ceiling trying to remember exactly where I was. After enduring a torturous month of house sitting in Guatemala, I felt a wave of relief wash over me […]
8 Things to do on an Alassio Holiday – the Italian Riviera
“…one of the loveliest town beaches I’ve seen in Italy. Its wide expanse of smooth sand is framed by typically Ligurian terracotta and green-shuttered ochre houses and sheltered from the wind by mountains to north and west.” This description from an article in The Guardian convinces me to plan my Alassio holiday! I had never […]
How to Apply for a French Long-Stay Visa – Part Deux
Last year I applied for a French long-stay visa and I really screwed it up! As a result of my stupidity, I was approved for only a nine-month visa in my one-year restricted passport. However, this long-stay visa also came with restrictions, the most important being it’s not eligible for “Cart de Sejour” – meaning the […]
On Anthony Bourdain and Illusions of a “Perfect Life”
I flew through the night and arrived the same day, winging my way from my new life in Nice to the familiarity of my previous life in Minnesota. I opened up Facebook to kill time while waiting for my ride from the airport, and it slaps me in the face: “Anthony Bourdain – RIP”. This one […]
Nice to Eze Village – a Fascinating Day Trip
Located just down the road from Nice is an enchanting medieval village perched high on a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. As you look to the left from this “eagle’s nest”, you get a glimpse of Italy in the distance. To the right, the Rothschild’s estate stands out on Cap Ferrat and, beyond that, Mont […]