In March of 2019, Zach and I actualized our big plans to travel to Europe together. We settled on France & The Netherlands as they are two of our favorite places. It was certainly an experience I will never forget, as it was my first time traveling where there was no accompanying adult guiding the trip and showing me the customs of another country. I loved the freedom it gave me, but also loved how I was responsible for my own adventure. It was very exciting, fulfilling, and motivating to travel again and often.

Paris

France, and Paris in particular, have always been an inspiration to me. From a young age I remember my grandparents sharing their love of the city and it put me in awe. The first time I ventured there, I was 15, a Sophomore in High School, and wasn’t as appreciative of the art, beauty and simplicity that fills the French air. That is one of the many reasons that this trip became so important for me. I wanted to explore and see Paris for what it truly was, take it all in, and appreciate the history of my favorite city.

Where we stayed: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/22285419?guests=1&adults=1&sl_alternate_dates_exclusion=true&source_impression_id=p3_1558452083_qgk%2FlznEONDhQYE5

Review: I absolutely loved this location. It was just a few steps away from Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle. The metro was close-by, and just stepping out the door welcomed you to Paris. The downside of this apartment was the lack of ventilation. Since the shower is very open, the steam and heat openly flows into the building without any kind of fan to solve the situation. We visited in March and it was muggy, so I cannot imagine visiting this apartment in the dead heat of Summer.

Day One: Flying, Exploring, Dining

We flew into Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands and hopped on a Thalys Train to the Paris Noord Train Station. The ride was smooth, comfortable, and had beautiful scenery. I definitely recommend this train service if you’re looking into Europe travel. Once we arrived in Paris, we took the metro and walked with suitcases in tow to our Airbnb. We settled in for a bit, got freshened up, and then headed out to do some exploring and orient ourselves before the next big day. After walking past monuments and getting our first taste of Paris life, we popped into Notre Dame to walk around. I feel so fortunate that I had the chance to visit twice before the tragic fire a few weeks ago. After some photos were taken, laughs shared, and the sun set, we focused on dinner. I planned for us to go to a restaurant that I went to the last time I visited, because it was so memorable. The restaurant is Le Relais de L’entrecote and it is simply amazing. The menu is comprised of two options, steak or vegetarian, served with frites and a side salad. It is so simple and yet wows everyone who eats it. There is something about the sweet meat and the savory green sauce that is poured over the slices that blends so nicely with the frites on the side. With your order you get two servings, so come hungry! After that delicious meal, I was somehow still craving more food, a crepe in particular. Luckily, there was still a creperie open right near our apartment. I ordered a nutella crepe and after watching a movie, we called it a day.

Day Two: Museums & Night Walks

We began the day by having a rainy walk to the Louvre. Once inside, we headed straight to breakfast at Angelina Paris inside the museum. I had heard about how amazing the hot chocolate was, and I was not disappointed. It was like you were literally drinking melted down chocolate. It was the perfect mixture of thick, creamy and smooth and it made all of the calories worth it! We paired it with some pastries and had a super sweet breakfast, matched with an equally sweet view of the museum. After exploring the Louvre and only getting a little bit lost, we hopped over to Musee d’Orsay to get a quick lunch and look at more art. This was my first time at d’Orsay and I was so impressed at the architecture alongside the artwork. One of my favorite moments was the glass on the floor that overlooks a miniature model of Paris. When you walk on top of it, it feels as though you are flying over the city. After this, we strolled home (my feet hurt so bad) and rested for a bit before heading back out to dinner. We selected Maison Sauvage for the distinct ambiance that was radiating from the decor. There were glowing light hung in the most delicate way and tons of foliage. it created an intimate and memorable setting, and the food did not disappoint. We then decided to walk along the Seine and visit Bastille. It was such a peaceful walk, and showed how beautiful the city is after hours.

Day Three: Chapels, Chills & Eiffel

Our next adventure was to first go to breakfast at a small little cafe called Boulangerie Saint Michel. It was so cute and had the perfect selection of pastries. We then went to Sainte Chapelle, which I was so excited about after learning about it in Art History class. The way the light came in through the stain glass was so memorable and breathtaking. After this, we walked to Notre Dame again, and then into the Crypts of the old city…which Zach and I got confused and thought we were entering the Catacombs, AKA burial grounds….certainly not what we expected but it was fun nonetheless. Next up was to go to Montmartre and see Sacré Cœur on top of the mountain. We also saw the “sinking house” optical illusion, and got crepes from Au Petit Comptoir and souvenirs at the local shops. No matter how beautiful and momentous this area was though, it certainly did have its drawbacks. There were tons of tourists, and also tons of people trying to get your money, whether it was portraits, bracelets or signing petitions. It put a bit of a damper on the otherwise beautiful scenery, but I do not regret going! After this trip out of the city center, I was feeling extremely ill and had to lie down. Zach was kind enough to go on a medicine hunt (which is very difficult in a foreign country). He returned with medicine, and we got ready to go on a night adventure to the Eiffel tower. After being in awe at the twinkling lights, we made our way to the Arc de Triomphe and marveled at that as well. Next, we walked down Champs Elysee and got dinner at a late night restaurant called Saint Severin.

Day Four: Versailles, Picnic & Dinner for Two

Our last day in Paris! However, it was certainly a busy one. We started with breakfast at the same cafe as the day before, then hopped on a train to Versailles. Once we arrived, we were immediately greeted with a strong French history and bold art forms. I loved wandering the halls and soaking in every little corner of the highly decorated palace. Zach loved the Gallery of Great Battles, while I fancied the Hall of Mirrors, and the message behind it, the most. When we were finished gazing at the gardens, we rushed on over to the train to make it back to the city for our tour of Palais Garnier. Little did we know however, that when we arrived, there was a huge youth protest for climate change underway. Palais Garnier shut its doors and cancelled all tours, leaving us without plans for a few hours. We decided to pick up some snacks and sandwiches, head back to the Eiffel tower, and have a picnic in the warm weather. It was beautiful and filled with cherry blossoms. As we were eating, we suddenly remembered that we needed to visit Les Invalides and made a mad dash over! We arrived with about 20 minutes to visit Napoleon’s tomb and look around the military facility. Zach and I were just happy that we made it in time to at least experience it. We then took a long walk home ( half because all of the metros shut down due to the protest and half because it was so warm outside). The walk made us hungry, and in good timing as we had reservations at Le Train Bleu that night. This restaurant was the epitome of France in its decoration and beauty. Every inch of the ceiling had a mural or was encased in gold molding. It made or such a relaxing and sophisticated dinner to close out of Paris experience.

Amsterdam

This city was Zach’s choice. Being his favorite from a young age as well, it was such an honor to experience it with someone so passionate. It was as if I had my own private tour guide as well explored old neighborhoods, palaces, and ate our fair share of Dutch food.

Where we stayed: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/30554026?guests=1&adults=1&sl_alternate_dates_exclusion=true&source_impression_id=p3_1558451942_w8uPyHzzO1mV7MDa

Review: I do not think this apartment could have been a better fit for me. The location was a perfect distance from the city so it could be relaxing, it was so close to Oosterpark, and tons of cute neighborhoods and cafe’s. It has a beautiful balcony and a very relaxing loft for the bed. I slept so soundly in the loft and hated leaving it! The kitchen was also fully stocked with utensils and pans which made cooking very simple. The only thing to be aware of are the very steep, narrow, and winding stairs that are a classic in Amsterdam. Other than that, everything was lovely!

Day Five: Travel, Refresh & Explore

Exhausted from our busy days, we were both excited to relax on the train ride over to Amsterdam. Again, we took a Thalys train, and the service was great. As we arrived at the airport to wait for our train, I had my first ever Dutch kroket and poffertjes, and it was love at first bite. I instantly became obsessed! We unfortunately got mixed up and turned around using the metro system from the airport to our Airbnb, but looking back on it, it only added to the memories. Once we arrived, we took a nap, got some groceries, and went out for some dinner. We walked throughout the city and it was such a good first impression of Amsterdam. We ended up getting Chinese food in Dam Square at this restaurant called Wok to Walk, which is meant to be a take-out and walk around kind of meal. It was super yummy! After dessert and a movie, we ended the day and got some much needed sleep.

Day Six: Shopping, Museums, Croquette

After a slow wake up, we headed into Dam Square to poke into the shops. We then went to the Rjiksmuseum and spent the majority of our day looking at the art. We got to see an exclusive Rembrandt exhibit and I got to see a limited edition Yves Saint Laurent dress that I drooled over. We then walked into the city and found a traditional Dutch restaurant that sold homemade Kroketten, and Zach and I had a few too many... for good measure. We then walked around the area and soaked up the sun for a bit.

Day Seven: Foodhallen, Royal Palace & Ripley’s

We started our last day in Amsterdam with breakfast at this unique cafe called Bar Botanique. I fell in love with the design of the space, and then instantly with the food. However, I did find out after eating an acai bowl, that I am allergic to kiwi, just like my mom! I walked around with a bit of a swollen tongue all day, but it didn’t really phase me. We then explored the Bloemenmarkt and saw tons of beautiful tulips, walked around the canals, and visited one of the older neighborhoods called Begijnhof. It was here that we saw a majestic little cat playing around in the grass. The crowds of people didn’t even matter to him as he flocked around in the sun. It was such a beautiful and magical moment to witness. Once we were hungry, we hopped on the train and went to this converted train hall now known as Foodhallen. It is a huge open space filled with tons of Dutch food vendors. I got bitterballen ( mini croquettes) and Zach got Fish n Chips. The food was so yummy and it was nice to get out of the main city. We then went back into the city and went to the Van Gogh museum. There was a huge David Hockney exhibit going on, and I was so glad I got to see it! Sadly, no photos were allowed inside the entire museum in an effort to preserve the artwork, but it was amazing to even get to view them at all. We also visited the Royal Palace and gazed at the highly decorated and ornate rooms inside. My favorite part however, was the giant atlas holding up the world sculpture. This is one of my favorite motifs, and it was so cool to see such a large version in 3D form. We ended the night with Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and we laughed so hard. It was nice to shed the stress of leaving the next day. Then, we went to the apartment, packed up, and had our last sleep in Amsterdam.

Day Eight: The Journey Back Home

We were both so sad to be leaving, but were ready and feeling inspired to jump back into our studies. It felt so strange to know that in one days time, I would be in Amsterdam, then back to Boston and in classes later that day. The readjustment to reality was difficult, as I was still stuck in explorer mode, craving palaces and fancy breakfasts. However, it makes me excited to plan more trips, and made me realize that there is so much more left to explore.

Xoxo