Bon Voyage!

I went to Europe for the first time at the beginning of this summer and spent a month in Hungary (where my husband’s family is from). I absolutely loved it and am dying to go back and see more European countries! How long will you be in Paris?

I have never been to Europe. But I am actually going there in Sept as well. I am following a long awaited dream of mine to work abroad! I will be living and working around the London area for two years and I look forward to doing alot of traveling while I am there!! :)

Your breakfasts always look like desserts!!! Yum.

I am so excited to see your journey in Paris!!! As someone who would LOVE to go there, I am going to now vicariously live through you, lol.

I was actually born in Paris and lived there for the first year and a half or so of my life. Because most of my extended family still lives there I go back at least once every two years (though I try and make it once a year… doesn’t always happen). I am so excited for you!

I have also been to England and Germany, which were also super fun.

I have to say the croissants in France are unlike anything I can find in North America. Seriously. If you do decide to de-veganize for just one day, have a croissant, it will be completely worth it. That being said, the baguette is absolutely amazing and vegan. I usually end up eating my body weight in baguette and croissants every time I’m in Paris, but Paris is such a walking city that I always end up losing some weight when I’m there. Yay walking!

Make sure you make it to the Musee D”Orsay, it’s amazing. Buy a city pass, it will save you the line-ups, and if you want a list of all the vegan and organic places in Paris let me know, my mom pulled up a list from when we went together when I was 14 (she was 99% vegan, except for a really good Camembert. She was French and they’ll revoke your citizenship if you don’t eat some cheese :) ), and I think I still have it somewhere. There was this one veggie (vegan friendly) Indian place in particular that I remember, we sat on the floor and course after course of AMAZING Indian dishes were brought out.

Also, the world’s best falafel is on Rue d’Rosiers in Le Marais. Go there, you wont regret it. I’ve had the falafel in Israel, and this stuff is actually better.

And do take the time to go to Versailles, the Chateau is ehhhh, but the gardens are amazing, you can get lost in them for hours (and we did).

I could keep going for a while… but I wont. Though if you do want more advice on what to do in France, and all the secret places you’ll never find, let me know.

I’ve never been to Europe but I’m thinking of planning a giant month-long trip for next summer, including Paris! I can’t wait to see your posts about it.

How exciting! I have not traveled to Western Europe as an adult but did go when I was 5. I loved Italy and Austria.

I did travel to Eastern Europe and absolutely loved it.

I’m an American living in Europe. I live, in my opinion, in the most beautiful spot in Europe: right on the border of Switzerland and Germany. We have the Lake (Lake Constance) and the Swiss and Austrian Alps…gorgeous. Europe has so many great cities to see: Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, London, Dublin Prague…and don’t get me started on Italy.
BTW, Venice is much lovelier than EPL made it sound…I didn’t find it depressing at all!
And if you have had enough culture and museums there is the countryside: Provence and the South of France, Portugal, Spain, Sardinia, Tuscany…
There is so much to see and do here, I am so priviledged to live here and see it all.
Of course, North America has so much splendor too…But I love the cultural diversity here…

Ah, Paris with your mom and sis will be fabulous! I’m trying to convince my mom and gma to take a European vaca with me. We’ll see.

Last May I took my very first European vacation with a good high school friend for three weeks. We went to Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre (Italy), Provence and Paris (France), Berlin and Munich (Germany), Lucerne, Interlaken and Geneva (Switzerland). Every place was amazingly different and eye opening. We took a lot of guided bike tours around the cities, which was a fun way to learn a lot and see a lot more than we would on foot.

I’ve been to Paris twice and it is gorgeous! I can’t remember where I stayed the first time but the second time it was in a hotel quite close to the Eiffel Tower… I believe the Mercure : ) I loved it! The city is amazing and there is so much to do. Of course you have to do the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Versailles, Champs Elysee (not sure if I totally butchered the spelling), etc but there are a lot of other cool things too. One of my favorite parts was the Opera Garnier, which Phantom of the Opera was based on. In the future I’d like to go back to Paris and check out the catacombs and other cool parts as well!

Europe is wonderful and you will have so much fun on your travels! One of my favorite places was Barcelona — the parks designed by Gaudi are gorgeous and then you have shopping in Las Ramblas, and La Sagrada Familia (which was closed for renovations when I was there). Italy is amazing as well… lots of tourists but the cities themselves are like historical landmarks (Rome, Florence…) and the island of Capri is beautiful too. I have also been to the Netherlands (but for less than a day, so I only saw a couple of things) and Monaco, which I believe is possibly the world’s cutest country. I hope to one day marry Pierre Casiraghi, their young prince!

PARIS! i dream of going to paris….i dream of going to europe….one day i’ll make it there. i can’t wait to go via your blog! :)
so exciting!!!

Paris!!!!!!!! That is going to be AMAZING!!!!

GAH! I can’t wait to read you posts about Paris, me and my boyfriend are going for 10 days this October for my birthday. I’ve been there about 8 years ago, whilst I was a poor student, so I can’t wait to go there not broke! haha. I bought a couple books, I recommend chocolate and zucchini’s guide to Paris, its the perfect size to tote around and even has french recipes in there. I find indulging usually isn’t a big deal on city vacations since you end up walking everywhere, when I went to New York I ate everything in sight and still came back 4 pounds lighter.

Have an amazing trip!

My hubby and I met over in Europe, Germany more precisely. We were stationed in the Air Force for a total of 5 years. Loved it!! Spent a lot of time in Italy and traveled quite a bit to surrounding areas around Germany. If we could go back it would definitely be to Italy! I know you will have an amazing time!!

I’ve been reading your blog for few weeks now and I think it’s my first comment today – I’m sure you’re gonna enjoy your trip in France – my last time was in March for a half marathon and I’m going back next Christmas to visit my family- every time I’m amazed by Paris…

be careful with the food – you might come back with excess in your luggage ;o)

I’ve been to France twice. It is an amazing place. if you know some of the language do try to use it, they will appreciate your efforts. And it will help you read the menu so you know what you can eat. The first trip I took I was gluten-free and vegetarian. I was sad not to eat the bread but stll found plenty to eat. There is lots of fresh foods there and vegetables, salads, etc. the second time i went I was vegan and gluten-free. We traveled all over France. I managed to find enough food and hit up a fair amount of biocoops (health food stores). Since I was gluten-free I was not tempted by the pastries (which would have made me very sick). My husband who eats wheat but is vegan stuck to bagettes which we assumed were vegan or close enough. Anyhow, I think you will be fine, there is so much else of France to enjoy so don’t stress about the food!

Angela, I went to Paris with my husband (who is a canadian from PEI, by the way. :) I am brazilian) in 2008 and we stayed at an Ibis Hotel next to the Gare du Nord train station. We were travelling in europe for 2 weeks and were on a budget and Ibis hotels have reasonable prices. Although the location of the hotel was convenient (next to one of the main train/ subway stations), the hotel wasn’t very nice. I heard that some Ibis hotels are better than others, and this one was definitely not one of the ‘better ones’, but you may want to check out the one close to the eiffel tower and the one close to the Opera house.
Now, I am going back to paris in september too (I will be there in the second week of september so I will just miss you! :) , and this time I actually got a 4-star hotel for super cheap by bidding on priceline! For cheaper than the Ibis hotel, I will be staying at a 4-star Novotel 1Km away from the Eiffel tower. Awesome deal! I strongly encourage you to try the same. If you need tips on how to bid on priceline effectively, shoot me an email and I can give you some tips.
Alternatively, you could pick up Rick Steeve’s travel guide to Paris (I highly recommend this book), and he gives several recommendations for hotels that fit all budgets. A friend of mine stayed at one of the Rue Cler hotels that he recommends and loved her time there.
Cheers,
Thais

I’ve been lucky enough to live in Europe twice already and traveled there twice more, living once in Geneva Switzerland, and once in Valence, France (Provence) and travelling throughout the entire continent on my other visits. Although each place I lived was amazing and beautiful, my favourite city is Rome – so vibrant, warm and friendly. Paris and the rest of France is a must see for everyone, and you will LOVE the time you spend there, but try to go back and visit everywhere else – it is definitly worth the trip back!

I have been to 10 countries in Europe. <3 My favorite being Switzerland and England. So gorgeous and London is one city that I could actually see myself living in. I'm usually more fond of the countryside. I'd love to go back to Paris and make it out to Versailles though. Last time I didn't get a chance!

I just got back from France, Italy, Switzerland and The Netherlands!! I loved Switzerland- the mountains and the air were just incredible.

Oh Paris!! I’m so excited for you!! Y’all are going to have soo much fun! I have always wanted to go to Spain and Greece!

That will be a wonderful trip, I’m sure!

Do you notice a big difference between the vanilla paste and vanilla extract?

I’m FROM Europe! :) It’s wonderful there. I’m from Belarus but I’ve also been to Poland, Germany, and England.

Wow! Paris!!! That’s so exciting. I am dying to go to Europe!

Hi!
It is my first comment on your blog. I love it, you’re very inspirational for me. I’m sorry if my english is not perfect. Actually, I’m french and live in Paris! So if you need any advice for your trip, or venues ideas, do not hesitate to send me an email. You’ll love Paris, the city is amazing! Thanks again for your blog.
May be we will see each other in Paris in september! Who knows!
xxxx

That’s very exciting. I also never knew that there is vanilla bean paste, were did you get it and how can I get my hands on some????

Um…can I have one of those, please? :)

Nice! I LOOOOVE traveling. If you’re in Paris and have time to spare, I think you would love a little time in southern France. It’s very different than Paris, but absolutely wonderful….and much more easy to converse with the natives. Regardless, your trip is going to be awesome!

I love Paris! My husband and I went there last summer on our honeymoon! (We also went to Italy: Venice, Sorrento and Rome!). It was amazing! We stayed at the Hotel Regina which is a great hotel across the street from the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens. My hubby and I saw SO MUCH of the city… it’s amazing!!!!!!

Hey Angela!
So you’re going to Paris–awesome! I have yet to post on your blog but I just love reading it. :) Paris is wonderful, and the food is simply to die for, though I have to admit my heart resides in Italy. I loved traveling there while studying abroad. “Twas fantastic. My favorite city there is definitely Florence: amazing art, charming streets, etc. There’s also Cinque Terre, which is simply gorgeous hiking :)

You are going to LOVE Paris!!! I’ve been to Italy, Switzerland, Greece, England, and France. Greece was my favorite ;)

I failed eating 100% vegan in Paris because of the pastries (chocolate croissants? macarons? yes please!) however they are really veg friendly. The Jewish quarter has some of the best falafel you will ever have in your life and I hear there is even a vegan restaurant in Paris now!

That’s so exciting!! I can’t wait to see your Paris photos. I’m a pretty well-traveled person, but haven’t seen much of Europe and I’d love to go one day. Will you be staying in a hotel that has a food processor for making banana soft serve? ;)

I went to Spain – Madrid for 3 days & Canary Islands (considered Europe?) for almost 3 months. Correction: I was sent there! My parents were trying to break me and my bf up, and the way they decided to do it was by enticing me to go to Spain… without a return flight! The drama of youth…

Long story short, I figured out their motives after they start avoiding my phone calls – don’t worry, I was staying with relatives – and when my relatives tried to set me up on dates with random Korean men. I say random bc I didn’t know who they were. Few months later, I called bf in tears and he rescued me and flew me home. <3

10 years later, we're happily partnered and my parents are finally coming around…

Other than that bizarre trip, I've never returned but I would love to go! Tomorrow I get to go to Peru so I'm not complaining… YAY!!! ;)

BTW, I can’t wait for your trip blogs! I’ve never been to Paris. It’ll probably be interesting to see if it’s possible to work out while traveling (how does that work) and eat healthfully (what a change?). Maybe it’ll be easier to rent an apt? Anyway, I can’t wait to see how you plan to work out your trip details! :)

As for me and my impending trip, I’m just going to “go with the flow” and try to avoid fried things. That’s the only rule. ha!

OMG PARIS!!!! You’re so lucky!!! We all expect lots and lots of pictures!

This may seem kind of random, but I think your photography is beautiful! Do you mind if I ask what kind of camera you have? I’m currently looking for one…

I went to Paris in April ’08. I loved loved loved it. We stayed at Hotel Des Goblins, it was a basic hotel that was pretty cheap and clean. The owners are a husband and wife she is Jamaican and speaks English and he is from Paris I believe.

Tip, take a day and have an afternoon picnic in Jardin Luxembourg. Take a blanket, and stop at the local food markets grab some goodies, and a bottle of wine. Don’t forget like I did, that you can sit in a public park drinking from a bottle of wine (that isn’t in a brown paper bag). LOL.

Exciting!

ooooh i am super excited for you!!! Mr BBB and I travelled around Europe for 5 weeks a few years ago including France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy. Oh my – it was the best trip of my life!!

I’m so jealous!! I was in Paris for a week or so a couple months ago, and it was one of the most amazing weeks of my life. I love absolutely everything about that city!
In terms of eating, I’m also a vegan, but I told myself beforehand that I would be OK with making some compromises. I had visited Paris once before as a non-vegan, and knew there were a few things that I would regret not taking the chance to eat while I was there. So I indulged in a few things like Pain au Chocolate aux Amandes (chocolate almond croissant…amazing!), fresh raspberry crepes, and freshly-made white truffle pasta. I didn’t have any meat, of course, but I was OK with the fact that some of what I was eating had dairy or eggs in it.
Also, in terms of a FABULOUS vegan meal, it doesn’t get much better than L’As du Falafel in the Jewish quarter. They’re not kidding when they say it’s the world’s best falafel!!

I love your dessert today! I am going to give it a try as soon as I can, which won’t be soon as I am having surgery tomorrow and I probably won’t be cooking or myself for at least a month.

Anywho…my husband and I went to northern spain and southern france a couple of years ago. Barcelona and the mediterranean were lovely (especially the resort towns on the Catalonian coast), and we were enamored of Southern France. The food, the people, the pastoral countryside and the sunflowers. We went to Basque Country and didn’t really like it. I’ve been reading Eat Pray Love and I would love to go to Italy now!

wow that looks like a yummy dessert, not breakfast!

paris sounds so fun!

Yay, I hope you enjoy it! (One note: that’d be “mes petites detectives”…. :) )

This is not regarding traveling, but where do you find vanilla bean paste? Have you ever cooked with whole vanilla beans before? Your recipes are definitely inspiring! I am thinking vanilla overnight oats might be in order!

I love something 108347 times more if I see vanilla bean specs. It’s true.

Paris! How exciting! I love to travel and or me, it’s important to sample local cuisine. Gotta live it up while you’re there! I understand that veganism comes with ethical issues as well (I’m a part time vegan, full time vegetarian) but for me, it’s more important to embrace the culture that I’m in. However I don’t eat meat. That is a non negotiable. I was an exchange student in Belgium last year and took full advantage of discount airlines to travel through Europe as much as possible!

That’s one pretty delicious looking breakfast sundae. Mmmm.

I have been to Paris twice; I have plenty of family in and around France and my mom’s whole family used to live there. I love it! Running is a great way to get to know the city. So lively and so many cute streets, parks, cafes. My favorite museum in the whole world is there, the Picasso Museum!

Love it, so exciting!! I have always wanted to go to Italy!!

I had the opportunity to visit Prague two years ago. I went as a delegate from the YMCA to an International Youth Gathering. I recruited 7 teens and helped fundraise for all of us to go. It was an amazing experience. We stayed in hostels, and met people from all over the world. That has been my only European trip to date, but I’m excited to go back someday. Specifically Paris! You are going to have such a wonderful time! I cannot wait to read all about it!

I definitely think you should eat whatever you want when you’re over in Paris!!! I travelled in Europe for 3 weeks last year and I treated myself to many local delicacies…still no meat but I allowed myself to have dairy…no cheese, but food with dairy in it. I say go for it!!!

I’m excited for you!

I was born in Germany. Besides that, I’ve been to England, Ireland, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, and Russia. And I loved all of them. Estonia is an especially cool destination that’s somewhat uncommon.

And you definitely can eat vegan in France if you want to. Personally, I can’t imagine eating dairy again. Blechh.

I’d love to buy clothes, just for a Paris trip. I think you should. You make the most beautiful oat parfaits…truly, you have a gift :)

Oooo Paris how exciting!!!!!

I want to go to Italy so bad, maybe one day, might take 5 years like you said haha.
Can’t wait to read the blog posts while your in Paris, keep it mostly English so we can understand though haha