Up and Down the California Coast

After our stay up North, we headed a little further south to explore a bit of the coast, but there was no L.A., San Diego, or even Big Sur. Instead, based out of Santa Cruz, we explored the coast between San Fransisco and Monterey. Although our stay required a little extra driving, it gave way to miles of coastline, hours of hiking, sea life sightings and cool sea breezes, the quintessential California experience.

Northern California Photo Diary

Last August, my family took a trip to California. We started our trip north of Sacramento, near Grass Valley, staying with extended family on their farm. From there, we took a day trip to the Yuba River to spend the river lazing on the banks of the river, floating downstream, hiking and cliff jumping, but most of out time was spent lazing in the sun and exploring the farm.

Food of Europe

During my time in Europe last summer, I spent time in three countries: Luxembourg, Germany and France. Each of these countries has their own food culture, but they bear similarities since the three countries border each other.

In Europe, food is something to be cherished, and enjoyed. They take the expression “Live to eat, don’t eat to live” to a whole new level. Every time a scarf down a peanut better and jelly sandwich and apple for lunch in five minutes or resort to microwaving a cheese quesadilla for dinner, I marvel at how much food is value in Europe as an important part of their culture, rather than being something to quell your rumbling stomach in as little time as possible.

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.

“In the deep, dark hills of eastern Kentucky…”

“In the deep dark hills of eastern Kentucky; That’s the place where I traced my bloodline; And it’s there I read on a hillside gravestone; You’ll never leave Harlan alive…” starts the song  “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive”, depicting Harlan County in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern Kentucky, one of the poorest counties in the nation. Last month, my church took a mission trip down to Harlan.

On the way there, we stopped at Natural Bridge State Park, smack dab in the middle of eastern Kentucky. The park gets its name thanks to a long stretch of rock that connects two sets of hills, like a bridge. A natural bridge. Before hand, one of our leaders had told us that if this park were in Minnesota, the bridge would be roped off on all sides, that is, if they even let people on the bridge at all.

Beach Days are the Best Days: La Franqui

My last day in Europe, my host family and I  headed from Toulouse to La Franqui, a little beach town on the Mediterranean. Some of my favorite memories of the entire trip are from that afternoon spent at that little beach town. We got to there late in the afternoon, and, after stopping for ice cream, headed straight for the beach. Swimming out to the furthest buoy, taking pictures underwater, and lazing around on the beach, book in hand, life felt easy, simple, happy. I guess that’s what beach days are for.

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).

The French Countryside

I spent a lot of time time in the countryside while in France. I stayed in an old country house outside of the city of Valence, surrounded by the beginnings of two mountain ranges: the Vercors and the Massif Central. The heat was almost insufferable during the day, but at dawn and at dusk, the temperature dropped a little, a breeze blew, and the crickets chirped. I loved sitting outside on the lawn chair at these times of day, when the world seemed peaceful, and a little less crowded.

We took a few short trips while in Valence to neighboring villages, but my favorite day trip was the visit to the Chateau de Crussol. The barely-there ruins were the remains of an old medieval castle.

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).