Hello ladies and gentlemen,
From the 21st of June to the 15th of July, I did what every normal person would do and took some time off from work and University to go on vacation. While I usually find enough peace of mind by staying within my city, I never really embraced the idea of traveling abroad to purge my soul from all the accumulated stress and hard work of everyday life. Until now.
The last time I crossed the ocean was over a decade ago and I was way too young to appreciate the adventure, especially when I had nothing to do with the preparation for it.
For this summer vacation, I took those 3 weeks off to visit 4 completely different European cities with my girlfriend by my side: Amsterdam, Berlin, London, and France.
Since her mom had a beautiful place in the south of France, it was the perfect headquarters for our adventure as it not only served as a home for my time there but also as a shelter for recuperation between each trip. I couldn’t have been more grateful for the heartwarming hospitality that came with the place and in the opportunity to meet her mom as well.
When it comes to going on vacation, I’ve noticed that it often varied with every person’s personality and their passion in life. While some look to stay by the water and tan their vacation away, some prefer an educational foray into a city while others try to have a balance of everything.
What I will always privilege during my trips can be summed up with four points: food, architecture, everyday life, and books.
So today I wanted to share some highlights of my trip with you guys without going in depths on all the crazy stuff I might have witnessed and without sharing a day-by-day journal of it all.
Here’s my trip divided into four sections for the four countries we visited!
One thing I had never realized until it was too late when it comes to Amsterdam is the omnipresence of bicycles. This city is dominated by them. Riddled with beautiful gingerbread-style buildings and canals, it was quite wonderful to go from one block to another without ever needing to take any public transportation. There’s honestly something really enticing in exploring all the streets as they always have this peaceful aura embellishing them.
There were some really nice bookstores scattered around the city, some with urban styles while others had an old school atmosphere to them. I mostly enjoyed exploring the independent secondhand bookstores as they all had their own personal touch to them. Luckily for me, English books weren’t hard to find in Amsterdam too!
I only got my hands on three books during my stay in Amsterdam but they were important reads! This was also the city where I decided that I would start a collection of Elie Wiesel’s classic novel in multiple languages.
The most important thing I really wanted out of my time in Berlin was to have a taste of currywurst (a spicy fast food dish). My memory of it when I last visited Germany was vague but glorious as I thought it was one of the simplest but tastiest things I ever ate back then. It didn’t disappoint, although I burned my tongue and my stomach with it. But hey! German food is just good food! Otherwise, Berlin turned out to be one of the most cultural experiences with its rich history of World War II. It was hard not to see the impact of the war on the city but also on its touristic attractions. The museums we visited all reminded us how much we take life for granted and that there was a time (even today) where people are capable of horrid things.
There were also so many wonderful bookstores in Berlin that were all worth checking out even if their specialty wasn’t your cup of tea. The cleanliness and repertoire of some of the bookstores are truly mesmerizing. I didn’t really get the chance to visit the used bookstores there since they were all located a lot further away from the center but at least the rest was amazing!
I had the sad surprise to find out that there wasn’t any printed German edition of Elie Wiesel’s Night. I had to compensate by finding some other souvenir that a collector like myself could content with so I hunted down the German edition of The Killing Joke. I also accidentally stumbled upon the book that inspired the first season of True Detective; I was so happy!
I personally found that London was an extended version of Montreal with its multicultural presence and its everyday life. I would have no trouble moving to such a city, especially when I could find just about everything I need. I got to mention that one of the main reasons I wanted to visit London also turned out to be the biggest disappointment: Big Ben. I won’t even bother putting up a picture of that thing, it was such a sad but hilarious realization. For some reason, the whole tower is under renovation/construction so all you could see was its clock and nothing more! Otherwise, the historical landscapes that are well-known in London all satisfied my cultural desires.
Without any surprises, this is the city where my bookworm heart went wild. There were so many places to visit, from Waterstones to used bookshops but my favourite little gem of a bookshop has to go to Word On The Water, a little bookshop within a little boat where I also got my hands on a pretty edition of The Prince by Machiavelli. The Forbidden Planet London Megastore also merits all the love in the world with not only a stunning collection of geeky material but also comics, books, and mangas! They also have amazing signed editions out there. It’s where I landed my signed copy of Crowfall!
As you can see, I got my hands on a lot of awesome books in London. One of the greatest steals was a used copy of Jim Butcher’s Storm Front which also turned out to be SIGNED. What are the odds???
I ended my vacation by spending the last week in France where I learned to love nature. From being a city kid to a villager turned out to be quite the change but an appeasing one that allowed me to embrace the beauty of the world. It’s worth mentioning that the weather out there is killer and that sometimes it quickly made me miss my super cold winters with plenty of snow but also a warm home where you can hide from it all. That being said, I’ll give the south of France all my respect for its beauty. It really is mesmerizing.
Considering that I was located in the south of France, my girlfriend made me realize how lonely some of the readers out there must be, especially those who love comic books. I won’t forget how kind and happy those geeks were in helping me find what I wanted to find and I could only imagine how happy they must be in finding people who enjoy what they love as well. If anything, it made me appreciate you guys for always reading my content and for sharing with me!
I successfully got my hands on the French edition of both Elie Wiesel’s classic and The Killing Joke without too much of a hassle. I wonder what will be the next edition I’ll hunt down in the future.
It’s safe to say that my trip was a complete success and that I’m eternally grateful to have had the chance to spend it with my girlfriend; thank you for being amazing! I miss being out there and not having any daily responsibilities to take care of but man, that’s life. You just got to earn those moments and make the most out of them when you get the opportunity to do so.
Do you live in any of these cities? Have you ever visited them or dreamt of it?
Till next, time!
Roars and Echoes 
Wait, what? You were in Holland? Man…you should have told me! We could have met upđ Real shame and a missed opportunity lol.
It looks like you had a truly amazing time in Europe though! What a wonderful trip, and I love all the pictures you have taken! (and you scored big too, those are some very cool items you have aquired!). Great post Lashaan, glad you had such a great time!
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Ah man, I didn’t think about you being in Holland and assumed you were off saving the world from disasters because of your hiatus! đź It would’ve indeed been pretty cool to have met up real quick though. Guess it’s your turn to take A PLANE to Canada. đ Yes, I know how much you love planes. đ But thank you for your kind words! It was indeed a wonderful trip!
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Lolđđ Well, you know me right? I can multitask between saving the world, and doing other stuff đđ
Haha, well…I still plan on going to Canada at some point, for that I know I have to conquer my fear, but eh it will be worth it. So who knows, never say never đđ
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Like one of the previous commentators, I have to say: Wait, what? You were in Berlin (had to exchange Holland for this)? Man … you should have told me!
đ I love how this whole trip was basically a tour of European bookstores though haha I am glad you and your girlfriend had a good time and were able to explore a little bit. We all need some time off every now and then.
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Hahaahah I honestly never knew you were in Berlin. đ You were moving around the world so much for the past year that I lost track of your whereabouts but hey! We’ll make it work with the 3rd attempt. Maybe cross paths in some Asian country or something. đ And hell yes for bookstores! I love seeing what they look like around the world. Thank you so much for passing by and checking out where I’ve been to, Kat!
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I haven’t traveled THAT much haha But fair enough đ It’s not like I actively broadcast my whereabouts at all times. We shall meet somewhere someday!
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Wow this was fantastic. So glad you had fun
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Thank you so much, Shalini! When will you be headed to Canada so I can hear all about the niggles of your life???? đ
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I have to come soon to meet you and other pals… đ€ Fingers crossed
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Glad you enjoyed your trip Lashaan! The pictures look amazing and all that food is really making me hungry đ€€ Too bad you didn’t know about Big Ben because it’s actually been like this for a few years now đ Also, I totally agree with you on London, it’s such a great city and I get why you kinda see it as an extension of Montreal (some might say it’s actually the other way round)! Waterstones is probably one of my happy places haha
Also love the idea of starting a collection of the same book/author in different languages, and I have no problems picturing the excitement of the “geeks” in French bookstores in helping you find what you wanted! Good luck for going back to work!
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Thanks, Juliette! Forgot to mention how much I also loved hearing you complain about others though. đ But yes, London was fantastic for so many reasons and I feel like there a daily life there would’ve been pretty cool. At least the week I spent there allowed me to see just about everything I needed to see from the place. It’s really odd that the scaffolding of Big Ben wasn’t something I knew beforehand though. Guess that’s what happens when you live abroad hahah And yes! I love the idea of collecting different editions too. It makes for a pretty unique souvenir and something I can always cherish even if I can’t read them hahaha Ahh… it is indeed a sad reality to be back at work and in the usual daily routine. I’m just happy that the trip was still wonderful and allowed me to recharge my batteries! đ
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What do you mean, I don’t complain đ I guess coming from Montreal a daily life in London doesn’t sound so bad, though a lot of people here consider that it is too hectic and the city is too big… đ€
About Big Ben it’s not the kind of things that you usually research beforehand I think… I had the same disappointment in Germany when I visited a “fairy-tale” castle đ (still amazing though)!
It’s always a bit rough to go back to work, but at least you’re doing it with a fresh and relaxed mind so it’s great đ
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Wonderful post! I was last in London two years ago when the scaffolding was first going up, and I think it’s going to be up for a few years. I visited Berlin back in 1989 just before the Wall came down and got to visit East Berlin via Check Point Charlie. Although I’ve visited other parts of Germany but I’d love to visit Berlin again. I’ve yet to visit Amsterdam and love your descriptions of the city. And France is lovely, I’ve been many times, living only 14 mikes away. đ
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Thank you so much, Nicki! I honestly didn’t know about the whole scaffolding but at least I got to see their Little Big Ben! Oh my, that has to be one of the coolest and more intriguing trips to Berlin you could possibly have! I did see the current Check Point Charlie but it’s obviously more touristic than what it was back then. I also did Frankfurt, Germany back when I was 12 years old but definitely think I was too young to fully appreciate the visit. Amsterdam is beautiful and I think you’d enjoy it a lot! Oh my, you aren’t that far at all from France! đź
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Lashaan had I known you’d be so close to me I would have met you and your girflriend for a coffee! Belgium is in the middle of all these countries!!! I will be in London next week and want to visit The Forbidden Planet now! London is also my favorite city in Europe with Firenze but for obviously totally different reasons. I have lived in London and loved it! I go back at least once a year. Now I know that the day I’ll visit Montreal (it’s on my to do list) I will feel at home đ
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I think it would’ve been pretty cool if we had coffee together too! I knew you were in Belgium but since I wasn’t exactly there, I told myself that our meeting will have to wait for when I’d head there or when you’d come to Canada! đ Oh man, YOU HAVE TO check the Forbidden Planet megastore!!!! It’s absolutely amazing, the basement level is heaven for bookworms! I do hope you’ll have a great time there, Sophie! I envy you Europeans for how easy it easy to move around in Europe! So many beautiful places you can visit whenever you want. đź I think you’ll enjoy your time in Montreal if you ever get the chance to come here. đ
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I already have the map to go to the Forbidden Planet đ I will post pictures too promise!
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I loved reading about our holiday and watching all the pictures! In particular, the savoury Dutch pancake we had in Amsterdam made me SO hungry, it was truly amazing! đ€€ I’m so happy you enjoyed your time in Europe and I’m beyond grateful you came all the way from Canada to go on this exciting trip with me! âșïž I love that there are a few pictures of where I live on your blog now! đ Thank you for everything ! â€ïž
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I had the fun of my life going through all the pictures too. I’m happy I got to enjoy it all with you by my side. †I miss being able to eat just about anything and everything with you and wish I could relive it all again and again and again! đź I'd put you and wherever you live all over my blog if I could! đ THANK YOU and you family for everything!!!
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I feel exactly the same đ
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Wow! A very nic trip indeed, great you enjoyed our continent đ I also really like the bike-centric cities of northern Europe, I remember seeing Copenhagen for the first time, with bike traffic heavier than the car one, that was a curious and optimistic (in the light of the climate crisis) sight!
And you found real treasures in the bookshops of Amsterdam, Wiesel obviously, but both Haddon and Frankl are great reads also. “The Curious Accident…”, apart from being a great story, does a great job making readers realise what some people are struggling with, and Frankl, creating such an interesting system after wartime experiences – very impressive, and encouraging.
Bookshops of London are wonderful, I’ve been to Forbidden Planet, I could easily spent my entire savings there… and the secon-hand bookshops around Charing Cross – simply great.
I’ve been to Brussels for the first time, last week, another multi-cultural, historical city well-worth seeing, and also quite a lot of interesting bookshops…
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I honestly forgot about the bike-centric cities and am impressed that it’s actually true. But I’m also surprised by how much freedom and priority they have on the road, more than cars, and they don’t always respect the road code too. For tourists, it has to be pretty scary and people on bikes have to be such a threat for cops who need to chase one down hahaha Funny how everything works so differently from one city to another!
You could indeed call them treasures! My girlfriend also picked up Anne Frank’s book that we will both be sharing and reading at some point in the future too.
Duuuude, that Forbidden Planet is amazing! I’ve seen Forbidden Planets in America and they aren’t even comparable to that one. I was in awe at all the things they had! đ
Ohhh, I know someone whose been to Brussels lately for a job interview. It definitely looked and sounded amazing. I honestly can’t skip the bookshops in every city I visit. There’s just too much to appreciate! đ
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That sounds like such a wonderful trip! I was born close to Amsterdam so I know the city quite well… The city was one of my main sources for English books back when I was still living in Holland. I also visited London a couple of years ago and Berline last year… I loved learning more about the history of Berlin while we were there! My stomach wasn’t happy with me tasting the currywurst though haha.
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Oh man, that’s so cool! I honestly have a tough time imagining a daily life in Amsterdam since life seems so different from its like in a busier city like London or Montreal hahaha But I have to admit it’s a beautiful place! Wow, amazing how you’ve been to 3/4 of the places I visited and had the chance to live there too. đź Hahahahah tell me about the currywurst. I thought I was going to eat it a lot during my trip but once was more than enough hahahah
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I didn’t exactly live inside Amsterdam to catch that daily life vibe (it was a smaller town 30km away), but I guess the city does have a completely different feel from London… The city as a whole is huge, but it just feels ‘small and cozy’ when you walk in the city center.
And boy the currywurst! I definitely didn’t expect it to be SO spicy haha. I love spicy food but I could feel it burn down all the way to my stomach. xD I had never tried it before even though I had been in Germany many times before (I normally eat the bradwurst when I want a sausage sandwich)… I might be because the currywurst is mostly typical in the Berlin area and it was my first visit there? I don’t think I would eat one again though haha. I remember having to buy a big soda to share just to put out the fire in our mouths. xD
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Man, this was a fantastic post. By the end of it you actually had me wanting to travel. For about 5 seconds, then I got a hold of myself đ
As I was reading this, I kept finding myself starting a comment in my head and then I’d get interrupted when you’d talk about another thing and I’d start commenting on that. So here goes:
Glad you had a base of operations that wasn’t a hotel. Having a place of retreat is important. Was this the first time meeting your gf’s mom? Was it just her or the whole family? And backing up, are you Mickey or Donald? I’m definitely of the “Do Nothing” vacation’eer.
Amsterdam. You mention the plentitude of bicycles. How was the attitude? One of the issues with bicyclists where I live is that they think they own the road AND they think they don’t have to bother with any of the rules of the road. Travelling 3 abreast instead of single file (on roads with no shoulders mind you) and zipping through red lights. Grrrr. Were the Amsterdamites better in that regard?
Berlin. I got heartburn just reading the words “currywurst”. Sounds like it hit you hard. Was it bearable or did it go bad inside? Also, I’ve said it before, but your beard looks good. You definitely get Man Points for it đ
London. Considering Canada’s history, I wasn’t surprised that London felt very familiar to you. Personally, I’d die before living in a place like that, but if it works for you, I’ll gladly leave it to you đ I laughed at your picture next to the Phone Booth. What was up with that pose? You looked pretty goofy đ You definitely got a lot of books. Where did you pack them all? Glad to see you got one by Brent Weeks.
France. I am wicked glad you included all those pictures. The 2 that stuck out were the one with you and your gf with with a valley in the background and what appear to be granite cliffs rising up on either side. That was incredible. The other one that stuck out was the pix of the redstone cliffs with trees and greenery surrounding everything else. I could imagine monks living in a place like that đ
Once again, this was a great post. Glad you had such a great time and I hope it recharged your batteries for regular life.
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Hahahaha getting the great Bookstooge dreaming about a vacation in a land far, far away from America. I think I can cross that off my bucket list. đ
It was indeed the first time I was meeting her mom. Her father actually lives in Italy, which will inevitably be the next priority destination in the future and probably the scariest one, if you ask me hahaha I’m definitely Mickey but I would have also said I was Goofy (see picture by the telephone booth for proof). Speaking of goofy pose, I don’t know what went through my head. I think my girlfriend was taking a bunch of rapid pictures and since I ain’t no poser, I went through a reel of different poses and I found this one hilarious so I shared it with y’all. đ
Sir. I assure you. Bikes dominate Amsterdam. Them cyclists have priority on everyone and everything. They come from every side, they break all the road rules. There’s nothing you can do about it. The city was made for them hahaha And if you find yourself during trafic hours near any street, be sure that they’ll swarm you! Unless you live there for a long time, it’s not easy to adapt to their presence hahaha
The thing with those currywursts is that the spice is honestly what dictates the taste since the sausage is usually always good (unless you’re not a fan of sausages). Where we went, you could choose the level of spice and it could go to insane levels, like x1000 tabasco levels, x5000 tabasco levels, x10000 tabasco levels. The dude recommended not touching those unless you knew what you were doing so I went for something like x75.
It was the end of my world. My ears were plugged, my tongue was dead, tears were streaming down my face. I don’t regret it since it was a heluva experience but I doubt I’ll touch those levels again. đ
I totally understand why people would want to avoid places like London ahahaha The city life with crowds is not always a pleasant one and I know I’d prefer a quieter place to live in but in terms of “work-related environment”, I don’t mind going to places like that.
I was able to pack everything in my luggage cause I went with so much room available in it. My girlfriend was pretty envious that we men never have trouble with having all we need in our luggage and still have over 10kg of free space in there.
Oh yes, I still have plenty of other nature-related pictures in France that I didn’t include in the post. I’m still amazed by how beautiful nature is when you take the time to look at it. My imagination was on fire as well when I looked at all the castles/mountains and what not. I felt like I could understand why people would go on to imagine things like unicorns and dragons for their fantasy stories.
Thanks for reading, good sir. I definitely enjoyed my trip and believe that it recharged me perfectly to my daily responsibilities back in Montreal. Still going to miss having all that free time to read a book all day though!
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Wow this trip looks amazing!! Glad you had such a great time đ
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It really was! Loved every second of it. Thank you, Holly! đ
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What a cool trip! You’re so lucky to have three weeks of freedom to visit so many great places. I’ve been to London and parts of France, but I’d love to visit Amsterdam one of these days. The thought of everyone walking and biking makes me so happyđ
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I know, right? My older colleagues at work often say that when you have kids, it’s harder to enjoy this kind of vacation so I made the most of it before it was too late hahaah I think you’ll love Amsterdam a lot. It’s hard to hate the place. It’s so beautiful and easy to get from one point to another! đ
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I am jealous. I only moved to another state and it’s so freaking hot!
I’m very glad you got to see everything and experience culture like that.
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Hahaha you still get to explore new things as well! đ I still have many trips to the States that I want to do. đ
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Your trip looks fantastic and I love the post. I’ve been to London a few times and I love the city. The other 3 destinations are on my wishlist, definitely. But since my husband and I currently live in India we want to see as much of Asia as possible.
I know it’s hard…but which one was your favorite place?
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Thank you so much, Kristina! I think I could redo London a bunch of times and discover new things every time! Oh man, that’s so cool that you’re in India. I’ve only been to Sri Lanka suuuuuuper young but being located there is so perfect to check out everything around! I particularly want to try Tokyo, Japan someday. đ
Yikes. I’ve been asked that a couple of times and I usually answer: Berlin for the food, Amsterdam for the architecture, London for everyday life and France for the beauty of its nature! đ Yes, I’m cheating. đ
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I love your answer and I can imagine that I would have answered the same way.
We visited Sri Lanka in June and loved the country.
When it comes to Japan…my husband says we’ll go there when we’re old. đ We want to go to Thailand and Vietnam. And definitely explore more of India, starting with the state of Kerala.
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Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! And I’m glad you enjoyed London too and I’m sorry that you didn’t get to see Big Ben in all his glory. The scaffolding has been up for a couple of years and will likely be up for quite a bit longer, what can I say? He is old and needs some TLC.
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Yes, I did! Hahaha yes, it is pretty old and I’m not surprised that it needs those scaffoldings if we want to see Big Ben survive another couple of years.
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Ahhh it sounds like you had such an amazing European adventure, I’m so happy for you and all of these bookshop visits make my bookworm heart so happy as well! †AND I KNOW about Big Ben it is so frustrating haha, when I went there back in April, it was under renovation as well and I think it is until 2020, it's so, so frustrating, but… on the other hand, it gives you a great excuse to come back đ
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Yes!!! It was a great visit of some beautiful cities after such a long time. I already look forward to my trip in the future. It’s such a great feeling to be able to travel, discover places, eat various dishes and visit all those amazing bookstores!!! đ I do hope by 2020 it’ll look like it’s usual self though hahaha It made me laugh that I couldn’t even see one of the most iconic places in London when it was always a dream to see it as a kid! đ
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I hope so, you’ll HAVE to come back just to see it, that’s for sure đ
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Big Ben is definitely not the best tourist attraction. I seem to remember the news talking about why they were working on it, but I didn’t pay it much attention haha. It sounds like you had an incredible trip though and I love all the different and quirky bookshops you visited.
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I didn’t even hear about it on the news anywhere. I’m not THAT disappointed though but it was a funny surprise. My reaction was something like: “Wait, is that reall Big Ben?”
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South of France? That’s so awesome.
The yellow “crime scene” tape is so cool.
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It is indeed! Itâs no lie when they say its villages are among the most beautiful ones in France!
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Yay for Europe! Can’t believe you’ve eaten the English breakfast though, you brave soul! đ
London is a wonderful place to visit, they have so many great bookshops and music shops, and galleries! And restaurants đ
The south of France looks amazing, and the weather was fine – lucky you! Berlin and Amsterdam are still on my list of places to visit, glad you enjoyed them so much!
Wonderful post, Lashaan!
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Hahaahahah how do you not like the English breakfast though? It actually reminds me of American breakfasts too. đ
Yes, London really is culturally-rich. There are so many places worth checking out and I’m sure I could do a whole extra week there and discover completely new things. Funnily, the weather was so perfect during my stay. I escaped the heatwave by going off to Amsterdam and Berlin. Really was lucky there. I do hope you get the chance to try Berlin and Amsterdam one day. As someone who studied sociology (I think that’s what you and Piotrek studied), you’d have a blast there. đ
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Yeah, it looks lovely on the pics – and you two seem to have had a great time!
You remember correctly đ As someone who defended a PhD thesis on war trauma, I’d be doubly interested in Berlin – I’d like to see if it’s still visible there, in buildings and monuments and social awareness in general; but probably the Berlin wall trauma is much stronger there as it’s much fresher.
Someday, I’ll get there for a visit đ
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Wow. I love the sound of your thesis, and even more your enthusiasm! I think the trauma is a bit harder to notice today when all of the historical sites are now almost purely touristic. I do wonder how aware the citizens are of their cityâs history though. Youâd have to let me know when you do your analysis on it. Maybe a whole paper on it? A post-doc, maybe? đ
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Thanks! đ
Hahaha, I’ve already got a topic for my post-doc, unfortunately – or fortunately đ One maybe even a bit closer to your heart, however – violence in American culture đ
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Well, you definitely piqued my curiosity. I’d definitely want to read that someday! đ
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I’ll keep you in the loop then đ
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What a lovely trip! I love all the photos from the different places you visited. Glad you guys had such a wonderful time. đ
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Thank you so much! It really was a wonderful trip, full of discoveries and pure good fun! đ
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Happy to read you enjoyed Amsterdam. The husband and I always go there for our bookshopping. Luckily itâs a good hour away so we donât do it too often.
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip
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Hahaah it is indeed a good thing that it isn’t too close in that case! Their bookstores are quite awesome nonetheless though! đ Do you live in Amsterdam or in a city next to it? đź
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We live in Veenendaal, which for Dutchies is quite far away from it. Itâs just over an hours drive…
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What a lovely, lovely vacation! Love the pics! I’m surprised they have bagels in Berlin. I guess it’s becoming an international food item.
Love Amsterdam and so want to go to London one day. Just yesterday I was thinking about how I want to go back to France too. I had such a lovely time visiting there the last time.
Glad you had an amazing trip!
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Hahahah thank you for checking this post out! If anything, I had the impression that a lot of dishes became international or gave birth to “fusion” restaurants. Going multicultural out there is definitely a nice way to make money.
You should definitely check out London someday! There are so many things you could explore and do there, it’s mind-blowing! And the same for France, especially in regards to its nature. It’s so quiet, peaceful, and beautiful!
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Sounds like you know my “would be’ itinerary đ€Ł London â Nature in France â
Love old cobblestone streets, old buildings, churchbells in the morning….street cafe’s…
Wish I could go now đ
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Sounds like you have a great time and those are some great photos. Love the buildings in Amsterdam and open air in France. That’s a really good trip. And you’re totally right that everyone approaches travelling abroad differently. Sometimes that means the person you thought you would travel great with ends up being the opposite. I’ve had that happen sometimes because the travel companion’s interests are so different and it was hard to compromise.
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Yep, I think I got to experience all kinds of different lifestyles with this trip and loved them all for different reasons. Oh man, Iâve encountered that once but ended up doing my thing with those who wanted too while we left the rest do their thing. Itâs definitely important to know who youâre going with and plan it all together for the sake of not ending up fighting about it DURING the trip. đ
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Amen to that. Good tip.
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Awwww it was so good to check out your trip Lashaan! Ohhhhh the bookstores all look so divine. I admit I love going into comic and manga stores or checking out their sections. It’s always a surprise to see what they have there. And what a neat idea to get the same book in different languages as a souvenir! Love that. And how heart palpitating is that to meet your girlfriend’s mom and get to stay in France with her. đ I love Berlin and London. I agree I could totally live in London. Then its just a hop skip and a jump to Paris for quick visits. hahaha I’d love to go to Amsterdam though. I’ve never been that far north. I have seen shows set there and the bicycles were startling. hahaa Thank you for sharing this.
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Yes! It was an absolutely amazing trip and I miss every second of it! And all those bookshops I got to visit were so amazing. I have such vivid memories of each of them and their unique style, their multiple floors, their overstacked shelves!
Meet her mom was quite awesome indeed. I wouldn’t have said that if things went bad though hahah I’m just glad it turned out so well. Now I know I could always retreat to France if I need peace and quiet. đ And yes!!! Everything seems to be so super close when you live in Europe. I’m jealous that they can go everywhere so easily when you’re there. I still love that I’m still closer the States though. đ I do hope you’ll get the chance to check out Amsterdam someday! It’s quite unique in every way possible! Thank YOU for reading, Dani!!! đ
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Looks and sounds like you had a great time and a well-deserved break my friend, and yes, unfortunately one of the UK’s most iconic monuments – our old faithful Big Ben – is undergoing extensive, lengthy, maintenance!
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Yep, and you have to drop by their Forbidden Planet if you ever plan on a road trip to London City. It really was worth checking out!
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Oh I would definitely love to one day, funny thing is the manager’s father is a neighbour of my grandparents and I’ve been able to get autographed copies of books whenever there have been signings!
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Beautiful written travelreport:). Cheers Stef
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Thank you! I appreciate the kind words. đ
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What a great vacation you had. I love all your crystal clear pictures. I’ve been to all the countries or cities except Berlin and the south of France. I really loved Amsterdam. I enjoyed London and Paris and other outerskirts of both cities. You really sound like you had a blast. Yay!
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Thank you so much, Karina! Why am I not surprised that you’ve visited half of the places I went to though? đ But you definitely NEED to check out Berlin and the south of France someday. Their amazing for their own reasons.
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Wow- what a trip! Love how you described Amsterdam- it’s a great city đ Oh yeah Big Ben (and all of Westminster) is currently under construction to stop it all falling in the Thames… so it’s a good reason, it’s just a shame you can’t see anything at the moment! Love that Forbidden Planet đ Cool that you got to go to so many bookshops! The South of France is very beautiful!
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Welp. I definitely miss all of those cities now hahah And yes! Nothing like a bit of scaffolding. Gives me a good reason to revisit. đ And yes, so, so beautiful!
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