Congratulations on being pregnant with your first child... Having children doesn't have to curtail your travels...yu just do it differently! I also try to follow Dave Ramsey's financial advice. You've given very good advice for saving money on trips.
:) :) :) :) Thank you Bob!! That's great that you also follow Dave Ramsey's advice. Victor and I are proof that his financial methods are very effective, and if it weren't for that, I know we wouldn't have been able to travel as much as we have. I am really excited about being a parent and I'm looking forward to the challenge of travelling with my new trio!
Your comment on India Hi
My name is Vivek. I'm from Bangalore. Southern part of India. My family was planning on a north India tour and google happened to pop your blog right on. It was funny. yes, your initial description of Indian driving and traffic was really funny. Well I let out a lot of chuckle. Anyway, thanks for having few good words about my country. Yes, I feel glad about it. Visit South India sometime. Its a different experience all together, though I guarantee you about the Traffic and driving being the same :-D.
Paris in Paris Hello! I am so sorry for you that you didn't enjoy your visit to Paris. And I tell you, I do understand what you are on about! However. I have been living just outside the city of Paris now a good while, and there is the "real" Paris to be found, but unfortunately it's not where all the tourists are. ..or most of them.. Of course, people want to see the Tour Eiffel, Louvre, Notre Dame and so on. I have been visiting them dozens of times, because every time a friend comes over to see me, they naturally want to see the sights. But. If you get off the beaten track and the restaurants full of other foreigners, there is a really great city to be found. You do not get away from the traffic and cigarette smoke though.. And just outside the city, there are some amazing places to visit, and just a fraction of people. Chantilly is the place I recommend. A beautiful castle (probably recognized by many from being in the bond film "A view to kill") and its gardens and even more beautiful stables, with also a horse museum. Because Chantilly is populated by horsy gallop people, its international in a friendly way and most of the people do speak english, voluntarily. On the south side, is among other nice places Charters, beautiful cathedral, nice small town, the champagne country on the east side, the drive there through the pretty old villages and a couple of lakes, that's worth it. To summarize it; Paris can be extremely nice, but you would actually have some "local" to guide you, and not attempt to see all of it, especially within a limited time. France outside Paris is definitely worth experiencing, I highly recommend Normandie, Champagne, Bordeaux region, Lyon, Camargue and Nice. Hope you will be back someday, and find France that you like!
Great Advice This is wonderful priceless advice, and hopefully those interested in visiting Paris will get a chance to read your comment before their trip. I also appreciate the manner in which you worded your advice! There is no doubt in my mind that there are places in France that we would love, and my hope is to one day be able to go back and give it an other chance :) thank you
Gorgeous photos as usual! I loved this blog Jennifer. I agree with your point about expectations (I need to curb mine from time to time); but having said that, sometimes we just don't connect with a place for whatever unexplainable reason. Sorry to hear that this is your last stop on this trip - hoping to see you blogging about your thoughts on your next trip :)
:) Thanks Ren & Andrew! Perfectly said, and I'm glad we aren't the only ones not connecting with places from time to time. I'm sure we'll have better luck next time, just gotta keep those expectations in check and listen more to our intuitions. Looking forward to reading about your future travels as well :)
Quel domage! What a pity you had a bad experience. . I have travelled in France to many different places and love the countryside having often just followed the brown tourist signs off the motorway also I have met some lovely French people. Parisians and those from Monaco have a reputation for being rather snooty!
Sometimes places off the beaten tourist track give you a better feel than the " must see" places.
Best wishes
Hi Lynn! I wish I had visited the countryside like you have, and I am certain it would have been a better choice for us, so that's definitely what we'd do next time if we ever get the chance! On my first trip to France I met some really great people, and the second time I came across more snooty ones as you say, but that's how it goes... That's why we appreciate it so much when we meet sweet people on our travels, and they always end up becoming a major part of our happy memories of that country.
Oh, no say it isn't so! First of all what a well written blog and even if you didn't enjoy Paris this time, the pictures are wonderful! We have been to a few places now that weren't quite what we expected. It seems to especially happen in places we have been before and had an excellent time in. As you say, perhaps if you spent longer or went a little slower. Or perhaps if you had of gone somewhere new.....Great blog anyway and it's nice to hear someone being honest about travel for a change. Sometimes it just isn't that great (but the pictures are nice!).
Yep, it was so :) Nanci and David I really appreciate your comment! I had a feeling you would respond this way, since you guys had such a lovely experience in Paris (and I love your photos from those trips as well.) In the back of my mind I was scared I'd get flogged for my interpretation of our experience, so I'm glad you appreciated my honesty!! Thanks so much :)
Hanging on every word We hope our next trip is to Switzerland so we love every moment and piece of information you provide. Soon we hope to follow in your footsteps. As always-- great photography
Thanks Dave & Merry J! Thank you so much for your lovely comment!! I'm glad I got to share my experiences with you. I truly hope you get to travel here as well. Travel here can be tailored so you can pick and choose what you want to see and do, or you can just free style and see where the road takes you, because either way it's still going to be peaceful, beautiful, and wonderful!
Brilliant group! How wise to go with your friends, so you could afford the independence of a car, stay in the charming chateau and have friendly people to hang out with! The scenery looks gorgeous--lovely that you got to glide over it and hike through it. I also really appreciate your sunny perspective on everything. Great blog, as usual--thanks!
Thanks Tara :) Thanks for always leaving me such nice comments Tara! Taking this trip with our friends truly worked to everyone's advantage, and the experiences we shared were priceless :)
Thanks for another of your absolutely delightful blogs... and your advice regarding the itinerary and what to see was spot on. When living in Stuttgart, Germany which was a two hour drive from Switzerland we spent many long weekends in the Bernese Oberland south of Interlaken...we stayed at the inn in Steckleberg at the end of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. We've hiked and skied all the mountains in the area. So thank you for the memories! And I think we can agree that we don't visit Switzerland for the people, who themselves agree they are somewhat reserved. Later when we lived in Belgium we had a Swiss neighbor who built a house next to ours with the exact floor plan of their apartment in Switzderland...so they knew where to put all their furniture!
Thanks for following Bob! Its so funny that even your neighbors wanted to recreate their Switzerland home in Belgium! I dont blame them, even the homes there are beautiful. I love that you had the chance to enjoy the outdoors and have a very similar road trip to ours. You can tailor any road trip to your own liking, and even free style as you go, its a pretty awesome experience!
Thanks Jo!! Victor will appreciate your comment, he works really hard to get the lighting right for his photos and he loves photography. We have this photo hanging up in our home, it's one of our favorites as well.
Thanks Lynne! I hope you do visit it one day, it's one of those places that seems to agree with everyone, and it's really relaxing. Switzerland was very beautiful and I'm currently working on that blog :)
Fabulous adventures! What a wonderful variety of adventures, great food and dancing fun! I too was so happy I went before the summer high season--Oia must be crazy then. Your photos are incredible, and I love the incredible, iconic places you've chosen to go on this vacation!
Hola! My name is Jennifer and my husband/travel-partner-in-crime is Victor. We are young professionals who love traveling on our time off of work and find it to be the most rewarding experience to share together as a couple. Unlike many of the bloggers here that take year long trips, we represent those travelers that work, save, and take 1-3 week long trips around the world. Then work, save and do it all over again!
We just added two little girls to our tribe, and are excited for this new life adventure!... full info
Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
Congratulations on being pregnant with your first child...
Having children doesn't have to curtail your travels...yu just do it differently! I also try to follow Dave Ramsey's financial advice. You've given very good advice for saving money on trips.