Nothing Says Summer Like Pictures Of Eastern France In February

I got slammed with work again and since no one’s paying me $400 to write my pithy missives here (yet?), I need to go back to the dark side and finish up this assignment. However! I made a vow to keep posting regardless of my work load, and that is what I shall do. So while you’re holding for the next installment, which I promise you is a doozy, please enjoy these photos from the time I spent pet sitting in Eastern France this winter! And by winter, I mean I wore layers of heavy clothing and the owner’s rag wool socks and made a roaring fire every single day.

Being Driven Around The French Riviera For A Day Is Pretty Awesome

Kensington Tours generously arranged this daylong tour, but all opinions are my own.

As anyone who’s asked me for travel advice knows, I’m not a big fan of tours. Large group tours are useless; it’s hard to pay attention, usually you don’t get to see the thing the tour guide is talking about until after they’re done talking about it, and also it’s mortifying to be herded around like sheep. And although none of these things were an issue on a very small tour I took of the Vatican a few years ago, for example, we were required to practically jog the entire museum complex – twice – in order to get through everything before the REALLY big crowds showed up. I was exhausted. And when I’ve spoken to other people who’ve done small tours, the majority unfortunately have had the same experience.

But seeing as how three of the four of us had never been to the French Riviera before, and that Kensington’s proposed itinerary featured places I’d never been to either, I decided that this would be a good way to get as much in as possible – for work and for pleasure. And so it was that on a warm and sunny morning in Nice, we found ourselves walking with Pierre, our driver and guide for the day, to our comfortable, roomy, air-conditioned minivan for an adventure.

Photos Galore: Hilarious Berlin Signage

Next week I’m going to tell you about the rest of our trip through France and Italy. Next up is Nice, and you’re going to plotz when you see the awesome stuff we did. But in the meantime, did you know I went to Berlin last year? I did – for two weeks! It was weird and intense and fun and soon enough I’m going to tell you all about it. But for now, take a look at some of the crazy signs I saw in Berlin. Some of them cracked me up because of their use of all-caps and/or serious fonts; some because the German language can be unintentionally hilarious; and some because, at heart, I have the comedy maturity of a 12-year-old boy. Enjoy!

In Which We Live In A Merchant/Ivory Film For Almost A Week

To give you an idea of just how amazing and magical our time was at Le Petit Hôpital, here are some photos from and of the gang:

In Which Two Chefs, An Insane Frenchman, And The Gay Mafia Arrive

After Carolyn gave us our tour of Demeure’s exquisite Le Petit Hôpital, we met the two chefs who would be cooking our dinner that night. (!) They were young, adorable, very cool, had great taste in music (which was playing softly in the living room), and we knew immediately that we would be in capable culinary hands.

Even better, before heading into town for supplies they introduced us to their own personal stash of top-shelf liquors.

In Which We Arrive At The Little Hospital

I don’t know how to describe what happened next on this already-epic road trip, but please indulge me while I try. I think we’re gonna need a bigger blog.

In Passionate Defense Of The Rest Of France

You guys, seriously. France is so incredible. If there’s one thing I got out of writing about France for BootsnAll, it is a profound love for the entire country. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s got great infrastructure. (Giving you the side-eye, Italy.) I mean, I love me some trains, we all know this; but I can’t tell you how astoundingly easy it is to drive around France and see the most unbelievable things.

And yet, unlike Italy, it seems like nobody knows a thing about it.