Minnesota Summer Photo Diary

This week I learned that the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area was found to have the most extreme weather in the whole country. This was based on the number of days in which heating or air conditioning was needed per year. Considering our winters, this comes as no surprise. But our summers play their own role in these numbers. Hot and humid though they may be, Minnesota summers are adored throughout the state, most likely because our 10,000+ lakes are there to cool us off.

Yes, I was out of town a lot this summer (I haven’t even covered all my summer trips on here yet), but I tried my hardest to make the most out of my time at home.

Toulouse, the Typical or Atypical European City?

Toulouse, France. At first glance, it appears to be just like any European city. Maybe even the epitome of European cities. Old architecture, shopping on rues piedtonnes (walking-only streets), a central square with a weekly market, fountains around every corner, little tabacs, cafés and boulangeries, even a cathedral that some claim is the most beautiful cathedral in all of Europe (following the logic that France is known to have the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe, and Toulouse is known to have the most beautiful cathedral in France, so it must also have the most beautiful in all of Europe).

A Day in Grenoble

One day in Valence, we took a little day trip to the nearby mountain town of Grenoble. By mountain town, I don’t mean that it was situated on the side of a mountain, but rather that that it was surrounded, 360 degrees, by mountains. The Vercors, Belledonne and Chartreuse mountain ranges. After about an hour and a half train ride from Valence, through the countryside, gaping at views of the sprawling mountain ranges all around us, we arrived in Grenoble.

Valence and Fête de la Musique

After Lyon, my next stop was an hour train ride away: Valence. I was staying in a country house about 20 min outside of Valence with some old family friends. Although I absolutely loved spending time in the countryside, surrounded by farms and mountains, spending time in the city of Valence was pretty cool too. It was a really unique travel experience because Valence isn’t a huge, major city, like Lyon or Paris, or a quaint, little village that draws hoards of tourists. It was an average sized, real French town.

My second night in the region was June 21. The first day of summer isn’t usually a big deal for me, but France celebrates the holiday with the nation-wide Fête de la Musique (direct translation: music festival).

Un Séjour à Lyon

“Séjour” is one of those beautiful French words that doesn’t really have a direct translation to English. Google Translate comes up with “stay” and “visit” as its possible English counterparts. So, for all of you non-French speakers, “Un Séjour à Lyon” roughly translates to: “A Stay in Lyon”, or “A Visit to Lyon”. But to me, “séjour” connotes more than just a simple visit or stay somewhere. To me, there’s something almost magical about a “séjour”…

I was only in Lyon for about 24 hours; that’s why I find “séjour” to be more appropriate than “trip” or “vacation”. I stayed with a family friend who had been studying at the university in Lyon. The first night, we wandered around the city before taking the Funicular up the large hill to reach the upper half of the city.

Out and About in Cologne, Germany

I have spent the past week in a small suburb of Cologne, Germany. Cologne is a very unique city. Apparently it was one of the only large German cities that wasn’t completely destroyed in WWII, so a lot of old architecture remains, especially in the Old Town. However, despite the old buildings, Cologne is a very modern, progressive city. In fact, it is one of Germany’s most eco-friendly and LGBT-friendly cities.

Cologne’s most famous sight is the Cologne Cathedral. It is a beautiful cathedral with intricate designs covering its exterior, and stained-glass windows and a sky-high chapel on the inside. I climbed up the 509 steps to reach the lookout point high up in the cathedral that gives you a sprawling view of all of Cologne.

The Many Layers of Luxembourg

Saying a city has layers could be taken to mean many different things. Take Luxembourg for example. You could say its culture has layers since the people of the city speak French, German, Luxembourgish and even Portuguese. Or you could say that its landscape has layers since the neighborhoods of Luxembourg blend seamlessly from a commercial business district with shops and bustling traffic to a quieter centre ville (city center) with cobblestone roads and an energetic restaurant scene, and finally to the vielle ville (old town), a quiet residential area with stunning old buildings and churches.

A Glimpse of Luxembourg

Yesterday I made it to Luxembourg around noon. I spent most of the afternoon wandering the streets and taking photos, I even stopped in to get an ice cream. The city completely blew me away with its beautiful architecture, parks and trees, and especially the bridge overlooking the “vielle ville” (old town) situated in a valley covered in forests that sits lower than the town.

My little exploration yesterday was 100% unplanned, I had no map or guide with me, but I found some incredible sights. Sometimes spontaneity is best.

A Morning in Austin, TX

Before the rodeo Saturday night, we spent the morning in Austin, exploring downtown and eating at a quirky restaurant by the river.

Austin is home to the Texas State Capitol, and it’s absolutely beautiful. We visited early in the morning and snapped pictures of the seemingly empty building. But as we drove back past it later in the day, it’s lawn was filled with families and picnickers enjoying a beautiful day. 

Montreal: A Cultural Paradise

Montreal is a very cool city; we visited for a few days in the fall of 2014. It’s located in the only truly French-speaking province of Canada, Quebec, a legacy left behind from the days of European colonization. That’s what initially drew me to the city; its blend of French and English language, of European and North American culture. And from the moment I stepped out of the airport, I was captivated by this complex and lively city. I loved its rich history, its stunning architecture, its contrast of nature and city life, its delicious food, and most of all, its incredibly unique culture.