Czech it out: Prague wonderland

my friends and I in Prague

Bonjour à tous! (Or should I say Dobry den, which means hello in Czech?)

I just came back to Paris from a four-day trip to Prague, Czech Republic, and I'm already missing that beautiful city like crazy. Seriously, I didn't expect half as much when I got off the train, yet Prague got me head over heels smitten. If it were a person I'd marry it tomorrow.

autumn leaves

First of all, look at this GORGEOUS weather. The temperature is perfectly chilly, the leaves are turning golden, and the air is crisp. It just makes you want to layer up in cute sweaters, scarves, and sip chai latte. It also makes finding cafes and restaurants that much more exciting, because - warmth! Entering an interior always makes you feel cozy.

view of Prague from Charles Bridge tower

Now let's talk about this gem of a city. What I love about it is its historic feel. Most of the ancient buildings are pretty well-preserved, and form a very uniform outlook. Red roofs, mellow yellow facades, and Baroque decor abound throughout the narrow, winding alleyways. On the city square, there are little wooden huts with vendors of traditional local foods, performances of Medieval music, violin, and sometimes keyboard. From tourists to guides to the vendors, everyone seems to have a smile on their face, because joy is contagious! It is hard not to smile when there is just so much beauty around you.

view of Prague street from Charles Bridge tower

view of Prague from Charles Bridge tower

Another reason why I loved Prague is because of my host, also my high school good friend, Stan. During my stay, I lived with his family, and I've never met a kinder, more accommodating family! He has a very cute dog named Lavender, who likes to kiss me in the morning. His parents say "thank you" in so many occasions where I felt like I was the one who should say the words. We also had a night wine tasting with Czech potato snacks and lots of good talking about Europe, America, and China. Being with the family suddenly made me miss my own home, because they were so kind to me they remind me a lot of my own parents.

cathedral in Prague

Because I was with a local family, most of the time I felt more like a local than a tourist. Sure we did some tourist musts - the old city square, tastings of the traditional food, the cathedrals and the royal palace... But we spent more time just strolling through the streets looking for a cozy cafe to have some hot cinnamon apple cider, or a cave restaurant with mountains of candles and a menu full of Medieval vocab. One afternoon we just walked along the old city walls, until we found ourselves in a beautiful park overlooking the old town part of Prague. We chanced upon a mirror maze and took a lot of crazy selfies there. And we talked and talked and talked. This might sound very obvious, but it is just so good to see friends, especially those that you haven't seen in years!

There is a saying about friends that I really like, and I think I will end this post with it: "Friends are like stars: you don't always see them, but you know they are always there."

xx

Vanessa :]

Being Parisian: 5 not-touristy things to do in the City of Lights

wanna see the Eiffel Tower like this?

Bonjour à tous!

Finally, after almost a month, I feel like I am settled in enough to call myself a Parisian in the making. I'm all moved in, have been cooking on my own, working out regularly, got internet in my room (FINALLY), and most of all been exploring Paris day and night!

So today I came prepared with a list of 5 things that almost no tourist knows to do - read attentively if you want to know the secret to being truly Parisian...

1. Do not shop at Galeries Lafayette or on the Boulevard des Champs-Elysees. Go to Rue de la Paix instead! Obviously the Galeries and Champs-Elysees are still charming for their architecture and view, but the stores there are ridiculously crowded, full of tourists (thus bad service), and never fully stocked. Instead, take an afternoon promenade on Rue de la Paix not too far away. There, you will find a variety of stores from luxury brands to chic boutiques to satisfy your shopping appetite!

2. Go to the Louvre on a Wednesday after 6PM. During the day, the Louvre is notorious for its insane amount of visitors, mostly thanks to foreign tourist groups who hustle through the museum just to see Mona Lisa. Do not, and I repeat here, do NOT be that tourist! Of course, if you're a first time comer in Paris, you gotta see the Mona Lisa, but keep in mind that the Louvre offers so, so, so much more than that. Every Wednesday, the museum has late opening until 9PM, which is a great time to visit because then you can literally lie down on the bench in front of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People (1830) and marvel at it without disruption!

3. Go to a local market. So far I've only been to the Bastille Market, it's open every Sunday morning till noon. The vegetables and fruits are so fresh there, sometimes the lettuce even comes with its roots still in the dirt! Also, there you will see many typically French things such as arrays of cheeses, wines, olive oils, etc. Definitely a gem.

4. Drink a glass of Kir before dinner. This thing doesn't seem to exist outside of France (okay, maybe outside of Europe). So what is it exactly? It's white wine with cassis syrup, and it tastes simply heavenly - a little sour, a little sweet, with an aroma that makes you seriously want to marry it.

5. See the Notre Dame at night. Yes, during the day it is lovely and grand, but at night it has a special charm. Hear the Seine water lap quietly, take a little stroll along its banks, and watch Notre Dame in all its mystic glory. Sometimes there are amazing spectacles by street artists if you are lucky enough! I can guarantee you it is an experience of a lifetime.

xx

Vanessa :]