One Sunday afternoon in Lindau

This Sunday we decided to take a day trip to Lindau, on the Bodensee lake in Germany. We seem to be incapable to just stay in, when the sun is shining and there are so many nice places just around the corner. Also I have found my perfect Sunday activity. Flipping through American Elle while enjoying a cup of coffee on a nice terrace can be the ultimate form of relaxation especially after a crazy Saturday (we went to a day party and then street parade in Zurich). Lindau was just perfect, a much needed change of scenery after the madness that was Zurich this weekend. And the city is beautiful, with the promenade around the lake, the port and the small streets that make it so special. Worth a visit, if you are in the area.

Day trip to Oeschinen Lake

You know how we live in a country where at every corner you see a mountain top and a lake?! Well, last week we took a day trip to Oeschinensee, a place located in the Bern region that can be reached only by foot or by gondola. We had a wonderful day walking in the green fields only to reach the lake and to be amazed by the view. I highly recommend this day trip, the peace and tranquility of the mountains in summer time is precious. Also, even if we were up there only for a few hours, we felt like we were on holiday. Day trips are the perfect weekend escape, they just create the illusion of a longer trip.

A few words about Berlin

I finally get a chance to write about our weekend in Berlin. First of all, for me Berlin is a very atypical city especially if you compare it with Southern Germany. It is a mix of different cities in one. At one moment you feel that you are in an American city, with wide boulevards and buildings that remind me of the new world and the other moment you feel like you are in your little hometown. This was the feeling I got after just one day. One thing I love is the fact that it has so much history and exploring all the museums and sides of the city is really worth it. And let's not forget the reason of my being in Berlin, the Hive Conference. It was a great pleasure to meet all those cool people and to get their insights of the blogging world. I had fun and felt very inspired by some talks. I especially enjoyed meeting Dietlind Wolf and listen to her tips on styling. Here are a few pictures.

The famous Berlin Wall, or what is left of it.

Sightseeing is so worth it. Museum Island is a nice place to hang out and the Dom is really breathtaking.

Gendarmenmarkt

Charlottenburg Castle

And my outfit for the first day at the conference

Another post about Berlin will follow. Until then, have a nice Friday!

My Paris Guide

My happy face when I realise that I am under the Parisian sky

Guys this is going to be a long post, so get confortable before you start reading all my babbling about my favorite city in the world. By no means I intend to bore you, but in case this happens, just look at the pictures. They should make up for the fact that once I start talking about Paris, it is hard to stop me.

I've put together a list with a few things I like to do when in Paris. I figured that sharing my Parisian recommendations might be fun, since you never know, what inspires you. I always like to get advice and cool tips when I travel, so this might be as well helpful if you plan a trip to Paris someday.

Eat

If you are a gourmand with a sweet tooth, then Paris might be the place for you. French people start their day with a sweet breakfast and every Boulangerie offers the best of the best. This is one of the reasons why we never get breakfast at the hotel when in Paris. You will find a bakery at every street corner and you can start your day having the best croissant or chaussons aux pommes you ever had. Also try the Baguette. It is the best bread there is.

 This time we had a crush on Maison Privat Boulangerie that was just outside our hotel, in the 15th arrondissement in Paris.

Eclairs from L'eclair du genie. 

In what the restaurants are concerned I recommend trying the bistros and maybe sit on the terraces facing the street. You can check the menu before you sit down and decide if it is what you are looking for. We had a nice lunch near the Eiffel Tower on a terrace and we also tried out Blend, this really hip place in the 3rd district. It really serves the best burger we had so far. As a fan of French fries (it is my guilty pleasure that only once in a while I can indulge) I appreciated that they make them in house same as other ingredients. We had to queue since the place is really small and very popular, but it was so worth it.

Waiting for a Table at Blend

And the best burger in Paris 

Stay

On our different trips to Paris we stayed in different locations and I can’t honestly say which is the best or worst. It all depends on your budget and how long you plan to stay. But a good thing about Paris, is the public transport that allows you to get around very easily. Yes, the subway can be crowded and not very clean, but if you consider how big the city is, they do a pretty good job. This time we stayed in the center area of Paris, 10 minutes walk from Eiffel Tower. We paid a bit more but since we were there for only 2 days it was worth it. The hotel was this and we had one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower.

The view from our Hotel room

Shop

No secret here that this is one of my favorites activities whenever I travel. I try to avoid shopping malls since they are pretty boring especially if you are in a new city and you want to explore a bit. And Paris offers a lot here. I recommend the area around les Galeries Lafayette, metro Opera and Piramides, near Opera Garnier. High street and designer labels can be found here. Another cool area is the neighborhood Le Marrais, with old buildings and vintage shops. Most of the shops are opened on Sundays as well and if you are looking for something original, you might just find it here. This time I found this jewellery boutique, Satellite that had some really cool stuff.

Another place is the famous Champs Elysee, that for me is a bit too crowded but it might be worth a stop especially if you want to see L’Arc de Triomphe or take a long walk from Musee du Louvre, through Le jardin des Tuileries.  Shops here are opened on Sundays as well.

Street in Le Marrais

Places des Vosges

Place des Vosges

Street around Opera 

Sight seeing

In what the museums and all the other touristic attractions are concerned I recommend a travel guide and confortable shoes since you are in for a lot of walking. I always like to walk around the area of Notre Dame, Saint Michel, Le quartier Latin and my favorite museum is Musee d’Orsay. Also keep in mind Montmartre, where all the street artist are. It is so colorful and full or art history that is just a pleasure to discover.

View from the Montparnasse Tower 

Happy travels!

All pictures taken by my great husband, Traian.