February 2024

Thoughts.

I knew nothing of skiing in the Alps. My skiing is adequate at best, and was originally limited to Poconos ice. But after seeing how ski mad David, Milo and Nola are, and then learning how fabulous everything surrounding skiing in Europe, I must say, I’m equally there. 

So, how to explain Val. Authentic, expensive, extensive, gorgeous, delicious. There are crepes. And our friends were there. This made for a great ski holiday. I’d definitely go back.

Stay.

• Hotel Ormelune. It didn’t set the world on fire, but it was close to the slopes and lots of breakfast.
• Chateau Izia. Our friends stayed here. If I went back, I’d look into this apartment option.
• Victoria Lodge. One last hotel option I really liked, but it was booked.

Eat.

• Ski Galley Fondue Factory. Great for large groups (we were 16) to feast on fondue.
• Creperie Bar o rendez-vous. Cool little spot w/ good hot chocolate, cold beer and crepes.
• Pizzeria Chez Nano. Super cozy spot for pizza, great salads and wine. Date night with David.
• Brasserie Le Garage. Casual pub-ish spot for dinner with the family.
• L’Etincelle. Boozy lunch on the deck with friends from Cali. Next time I will not attempt to ski after. 😉

Play.

• Ski ski ski. Get the 6 out of 7 day ski pass. Fall in love with the terrain up the Olympique Gondola
• Mountain Masters. Gathered a group of kids and created our own group.

January 2024

Thoughts.

The truth is, I had never heard of Carcassone, France and now I’m an evangelist. David and Milo went skiing that weekend, so Nola and I wanted to take a long weekend somewhere less than 3 hours from BCN. The plan was to meet our friends from San Francisco living their own adventure with a year abroad in Paris – somewhere? And along the way Abby suggested Carcassone. 

I later learned about the board game with the same name. And in the process, fell in love with this little village full of history, medieval sights, great food and a vibrant town.  

Stay.

• Le Jardin de La Tour Pinte. Cool little cottage with a view of the castle from the terrace.

Eat.

• Chez Christine: Cozy, delicious spot in the heart of the medieval city. We had dinner here.
• Le Parc Franck Putelat: Super spendy, super luxe-y girls night. And yes, they had a cheese tree. 
• Le Boulangerie de la Cite: I dream of perfect croissants and miscellaneous flaky things. Dreams come true.

Play. 

• Castle Tour. Awesome Get Your Guide tour with Anna. She was funny, knowledgeable and engaging with the adults and kids. 
• Wandering .. we climbed the castle walls and roamed the cobblestone streets in search of food stuffs sprinkled with truffles.
• Shopping .. the “new” town has fun boutiques to marvel at how chic every French person is.

October 2023

Thoughts. 

Looking back on our time in Europe, Normandy stands out as a favorite. The mix of past and present felt almost surreal—are we really here? For our first long weekend, we chose Normandy for its proximity, significance, and a friend’s glowing recommendation. The World War II sites were sobering, yet balanced by vast ocean views, a sense of freedom, and incredible food. As new expats, the experience made me deeply proud to be American and grateful to share this living connection to the past with my kids.

Stay. 

• Hotel Restaurant Chateau Saint Gilles. One of the most authentically beautiful places we’ve stayed in. It’s a carefully restored chateau outside of Bayeaux. Great recommendation from Alya. 

Eat. 

• La Sapiniere. Again, Alya for the win! Restaurant by Omaha Beach with delicious seafood and cozy vibe on a cold day. The outdoor area looked great for the summertime.  
• A La Dorette. We stumbled upon this casual cafe with a polo theme as we drove along the Cider Route. No one spoke English and it didn’t matter one bit.  
• The Cider Route. Speaking of this Cider Route, it’s pretty magical and the fall colors were the closest to true New England-style autumn we’ve experienced in Europe. We drove along the windy roads and stopped at some cider houses to sample the calvados and apple juice both.  

Learn.

• D-Day Tour. We did a half day D-Day Tour which was probably the right amount for the kids, but David and I would have been interested in more. There are many tours to suit all interest levels and amount of time.
• Mont-Saint-Michel. This sight is so spectacular and the tides so dramatic, you can’t miss it. I remember being there in 1995 (!) and it stuck with me my entire life. We did the audio tour which was fine, but it’s worth a guided tour.