Category Archives: travel

Caveau des Oubliettes in Paris

While we were in Paris my husband took us to a jazz club on the night of our 9th wedding anniversary. It became the best club experience I have to memory and today still holds that that title. Caveau des Oubliettes is a 12th century prison located in the Latin Quarter across the river from Notre-Dame. Beneath the subterranean vaults it was linked many centuries ago with the fortress prison of Petit Chatelet. The description of its history includes ‘complete with dungeons, spine-tingling passages, and scattered skulls, where prisoners were tortured and sometimes pushed through portholes to drown in the Seine’. As an Audrey Hepburn fan it made me feel like I was in her film, Funny Face.

When we arrived I was not exactly sure what to expect and followed my husband through the ground floor entrance to a windy stone stair case to the basement level. The passages were narrow and people were not confined to just the tables and chairs set before the stage. Some where at the bar and others standing or sitting on the stairway, listening and watching from around the wall. The cost of the drinks were a little pricey but not having to pay a cover charge for that experience leveled it out in my mind. If you love music I highly recommend checking out this scene.

While our 8th Wedding Anniversary that we spent at Pelham House in Lewes had topped all the rest, this night topped them all. Caveau des Oubliettes will most definitely be on our list of places to visit when we next return to Paris.

52 Rue Galande 75005 Paris France‎

Expat to Expat Q&A: Travel

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This is the third installment of Expat to Expat Q&A: T r a v e l

Check out the first and second installment in the series

1. Which airport would you like to never see again?
To be honest from all the flying that I have ever done since I was born, I have not really any horrific flying stories. As third culture kids, we say we feel more at home in an airport than we do in a certain location. If I was to choose an airport I would never like to see again, it would have to be tied to the location for my reasoning. The airport in St. Louis would then be a winner. It is the closest airport to my in laws. Actually on that note I would never like to see the bus station near their town again. The last time I left the states to come to England I again left my sons with my in laws, for them to return shortly once either Ryan or I had found a job. This was in October of last year during a transitional period where my husband had just finished his masters programme and we planning to move for his job. History with my in laws aside, having to leave the country without your kids is the most gut wrenching thing I have had to do. This would be the third time and no it does not get easier. I got on the bus and my eldest just cried so hard and tried to get on the bus and go with me. It really kicked you where it hurts. When the bus drove away the bus driver was crying her eyes out too. She told me later in the journey, after I was able to control my emotions enough to speak, that in all her years of driving that was the saddest goodbye she has ever witnessed. So yeah…I would never want to see that bus station again either.

Side note: Yes I took this photo of my self crying with my phone while the bus made its way to Chicago. I take photographs all the time to help me remember people, places, and moments. I captured this memory to remember how much I never want to leave my kids with family members again. I have friends who have yet to have their children even spend a night away from them still. My kids have spent months at a time away from me and if you want to know how much it hurts look at that photo.

2. What is your travel nightmare?
Honestly unless it has happened while I was with my parents and they just did not let on that something was wrong I have not experienced a real travel nightmare. *knock on wood* There was the time that I was flying back from my return trip ‘home’ to Italy after my senior year and I got stuck in Zurich, Switzerland. I was flying alone and was a little concerned at first until the airlines let me know they would be putting me up in a hotel and paying for my food costs. It ended up being an extra day of gifted vacation. I called my parents from the hotel and then I went out to explore the town, had dinner, saw a movie, and returned to the hotel to get a good night’s sleep. It could have been a nightmare to be stuck inside an airport for hours, but it ended becoming a dream.

3. Would your rather stay in a fancy hotel and do less activities or stay in a hostel and do more activities?
I will say that if someone else was paying for it and I got to stay at a super lush hotel and just be pampered that I do not think I would say no. However when I plan my trips and go places I am not really concerned about the hotel. I would not want to pay more money to have less to experience the country or culture with when I got there. I can see a hotel room in any country. Maybe I do not stay in a hostel though, maybe I find a friend to stay with, or a great deal with AirB&B. I stayed on the floor on a mat in a church in Thailand with only cold showers, in stead of a hotel with a bed and hot water. I also do not have the urge to go on a cruise or to travel in a tour group. I’m more about organic traveling and trying to blend in with the locals.

Does it have wifi? Then I am all set! On a vacation with my sister (pictured here),

she gets connected with her laptop in the hotel room.

4. Do you have any pre-travel rituals?
Almost always wait till the day before to pack and then pack hours before we need to leave for the airport. I say I will be more prepared a head of time, but to be fair that never happens. Usually the things I am bringing with me I use normally anyways so I just wait until the last possible moment to do it. With that said, I hardly ever forget to pack something for a trip. If anything I may have stuff I should have left home, but have ‘just in case’. Luckily I am pretty stellar with packing a suitcase or a car to get everything to fit. It is like excelling at traveler’s Tetris. I have actually repacked a car after my father in law attempted to do it on several occasions. When you have traveled and moved as much as my family has it becomes a much needed skill. If I am going to be going to a different time zone I like to start preparing myself a few days before by slowly changing my sleep schedule and eating a lot of small meals through out the day.

5. What is your favorite airline to fly with?
Before we moved back to England, British Airways was always my favourite because it meant I was coming back to Europe. Right now I’m certain I have a favourite airline per se. Which ever one is getting me to my destination for the best price. I am pretty stoked to have such great budget airline options in Europe. I just know to prepare by having my tickets pre printed and making sure my luggage and carry on fit their regulations. They are ready to charge anyone at any time for not following the guidelines. British Airways were passing out cute ginger bread men biscuits over Christmas. So when I picked my boys and my mum up from the Airport last year we made sure to take a few of these guys (pictured below) home with us.

6. If you could take a trip anywhere in the world, where would you go?
There are so many places and honestly I could write blog posts for weeks about all the places I want to go to and why. However I am really hoping that the next plane I get on is going to be taking my family and I to southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. That whole bavaria area hold so much of my heart and memories from growing up. It reminds me of my dad and I know there will be tears shed while there, thinking of him and wishing he was alive to be there with us. I could easily go in the summer for camping and hiking, in the fall for Oktoberfests, or in the winter for snowboarding and germknödel. I just want to go and show this area with my family.

7. How do survive long haul flights?
It depends am I traveling with kids? Honestly if I am not traveling with kids on theses then it feels a lot more relaxed and I have to bring a lot less with me to be prepared. I love flying. I have done long flights between California and Japan on my way to Australia, Thailand and Cambodia several times, the flight between the US and England several times, and even the flight between California and Hawaii. It depends on when we are arriving but I try to my best to time it so that I can attempt sleep as soon as we take off. There is something about closing your eyes as you are rushing into the sky that helps me sleep. So eye mask on and maybe some soothing tunes and I will talk to you in a few hours. When I wake up its time for the first huge meal and thats when I start watching films. I will also have my laptop ready to work on editing photographs in lightroom and photoshop for work. There will be a book and a magazine in my bag depending on how focused I am to reading. Maybe some paper to write out ideas that come to my head. I am not going to be bored. The other tricks are trying to get up often to move my legs, drinking plenty of water, and keeping my face and lips moisturized. If I am traveling with my kids I make sure they are equally prepared because if anyone is going to be saying ‘I’m bored’ it is going to be kids. I usually hijack their nintendo DS weeks before the trip so its something exciting to have back and pack surprises for them. I make sure they are eating something during take off and landing to help their ears pop. Other than that we just sit back and relaxed.

8. What is your favorite stamp in your passport and why?
I honestly do not have one stamp in my current passport. I have several old passports from the one I had as a baby that are filled with stamps. I keep going through airports where they dont stamp my passport. Or because I am flying between countries for which I have passports. I have to fly into America and out of America on my American passport and I have to fly into England and out of England on my EU British passport. However on my older passport I would have to say my whole visa and stamps from Cambodia are probably my favourite. It was the most nervous and excited I have been in an airport. I had been in Thailand twice already at this point and was flying to Cambodia to meet my mum, dad, and sister who had been backpacking around South East Asia together. I remember how beautiful Cambodia looked from the airplane. When I got off the airplane they had us walk into this room where there was a u shaped table of tons of officials and your passport went around to each one as they all looked at it. When I finally got the all clear to go in I remember letting out a deep breath and rushing with excitement to see my family. It was a great trip and I would love to return.

Questions from Lisa at Meanderings, Adventures & Crafty Inspirations

1. What are your top 3 necessary items for travel?

A DSLR Camera with lenses. If I want to travel light I like to bring my favourite prime lens, a 50mm, for portraits and then choose a zoom lens to bring as well. The 17-35 has been a fun one to travel with and I found more useful then say a 70-300 lens.

My phone for taking quick shots and getting online to stay connected.

A camera bag perfect for traveling that I can keep it all in for my trip.

2. What is your off the beaten track trip in your current home?

I currently live in Bath, England and I say do not get car. Come ready to use the trains, buses, and do walking. Sometimes for us if we want to go to a nearby town and then walk home, it is cheaper to take a taxi for my family of four, then to take the bus/train to the town first. So research what works best in your options. Go and explore. We go on country walks nearly every weekend and sometimes twice a weekend to just roam the countrysides. We love to find new towns and new trails to take. These are public footpaths in England that are hundreds of years old and you can walk anywhere. Back your walking shoes or wellies and get ready to really see England after or before doing the normal touristy things in the area.

Do check out my other posts for the Expat to Expat Q&A

Expat to Expat Q&A: Weather

Expat to Expat Q&A: Food

If you are a past, current or future expat this linkup is for you!

Linking with Bailie and Belinda…because girls with ‘B’ names rock.

Not that I am biased or anything. 😉

Travel: Brighton, England

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The sun has been out more this year then the whole summer last year in England. Regardless to say we are all feeling a bit spoiled and I make any excuse to go outside. I had the opportunity to take a stroll around the town of Bath today near the Royal Crescent. It really is so beautiful and I enjoyed playing tourist for a bit. Experiencing this part of Bath for the first time reminded me about when we first moved to Brighton from the USA. We were caught between being tourists and starting the expat life. Everything was new and we enjoyed photographing all the local landmarks, like the Royal Pavilion and details of beauty. Here are some of my favourites from our first couple weeks in Brighton, England. There is the abandoned pier, the Royal Pavilion and its gardens. Also a lovely cat that I found in the neigbhourhood who was kind enough to let me photograph him for posterity

“I want to go to Brighton!” – Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

This month I am reading Sense and Sensibility for the #JaneAustenBookClub

Search the hash tag on twitter for more information!

Q: Have you been to Brighton, England yet? What were your favourite places to see or go to for food?

Coffee @ Camden in Bath, England

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I headed into town today despite the fact that I will have nineteen children at my house tomorrow for my son’s party, and there is still much to do in preparation. I felt like being spontaneous and so I met up with my husband on his lunch break to try out Coffee @ Camden in Bath. Technically it is in Camden which you can get to from the Bath city centre in a mere five minutes. If you happen to come on a nice day I highly recommend sitting outside. Their back patio area is very nice and has a picturesque view. Which was lovely especially when the sun hid back behind the clouds and it got a bit colder.

My husband ordered an Americano with the Camden Club, which is served with kettle chips, and I ordered a cafe latte and the Frittata from their lunch menu. The Frittata was delicious and it came with a side salad, bread, and chutney. The best part was being pleasantly surprised by the fact that the bread was still warm. I could easily order the same thing next time if I do not try one of their five variations of panini.

Since this was a rare ‘day date’ with my husband, I decided to treat myself to the cupcakes I had seen photos of from their Coffee @ Camden facebook page. I paired my vanilla cupcake with a hot chocolate complete with cream, marshmallows, and sprinkles for a full sweet sugar fix. It hit the spot.

When you come you must ask about their amazing chili jam. We bought a very large jar of it a week back from their stall near Milsom Place on a weekend. It literally goes quite well with anything. Toast, chicken, eggs, crackers, or even just off a spoon. We must have tried it on almost everything because our jar is now almost empty. Otherwise I would have shared a photo with you. Maybe with the next jar. 😉

Coffee @ Camden is open Monday thru Friday from 9am – 5pm

with breakfast being served until 11am. You can view their full menu here.

Coffee @ Camden

2 Claremont Terrace, Camden, Bath, BA1 3EH

Twitter: @SarararaCoffee

Travel: Ugly Tourists make me Uncomfortable

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Today is the third day of May with the Blog Every Day in May challenge.

Feel free to join in and if you catch this anytime through out the month feel free to just jump right in.

Day 3, Friday: Things that make you uncomfortable

Traveling with or being around the ‘Ugly Tourist’ makes me very much uncomfortable. Given that I stand out already with an American accent if you are an offender from the US of A, I will want to put as much distance between us as possible. Coincidentally I have movstly lived in highly touristy areas giving me plenty of run ins with the Ugly Tourist. While some can be outrageously obnoxious I have realized others are just ignorant to traveling outside of your country. You cannot correct what you do not know to be wrong. Perhaps this will be enlightening to some to help you in your upcoming travels abroad. For the rest of you who want to run for the hills when getting too close to these un-savvy travelers, feel free to comment below with your own stories.

I Feel Uncomfortable by Ugly Tourists Who…

…Will Not Try New Foods.

They are the ones you find eating at well known fast food franchises instead of local cuisine. Or who ask for traditional dishes from their home country whether or not it is on the menu. Personally for me to experience a culture you have to experience their food. We had the opportunity to live in Hawaii for a few years which is rich in a variety of Asian restaurants. My sons still have a great love for dim sum, pho, pancit, and sushi to name a few. However, we had people visit us who would not even allow us to take them to a restaurant that did not serve ‘American food’ (their quote not mine). I grew up in a family that moved and traveled in Europe through out my childhood. We took a trip to Poland and ordered blindly off a menu and ate whatever came. I highly suggest putting the experience over the comfort because you can always eat at home what you would eat normally.

…Who Expect Different Portion Sizes.

This may be more geared towards the ‘Ugly Americans’ opposed to tourists from other nations. It is no secret that many Americans are overweight and it is brought up in conversation with me by people here in the UK. Food portions outside of America in other countries can be much smaller. Even when it comes to drinks you have to remember glass sizes will be smaller and without refills. If you are still hungry or still thirsty you can always order more.

…Are Not Modest.

Many places that tourists go to visit when on vacation include places of worship. However not all tourists are familiar with the modesty rules to go inside these places. If you are female you more than likely will not be admitted inside if you are wearing short skirts or shorts and if your shoulders are not covered. Some places also may request that the female covers her head with a shawl. Last year in a church in Italy I lost count of how many times our guide had to interrupt himself to stop a female tourist from coming inside due to modesty issues. The best thing to do is to plan your trip and then dress accordingly to the day. Some places will provide shawls that you can use to cover your shoulders, but you should not rely on that assumption.

…Dress Like A Slob.

Obvious to most you should really wear clean clothes. However you really can stick out as a tourist by looking like a slob in context to the country you are visiting. If you are traveling to Europe the rule of thumb is to wear well tailored clothes and only wear tennis shoes if you are going to the gym. That does not mean you have to wear a suit when on vacation. Just take a look online of what the locals wear in the country and dress to impress. As a traveler you only get a first impression by locals when interacting in the country. In this case appearances do mean something.

…Brings Their Obnoxious Attitudes.

I dislike to point fingers but when I found out that the cast of the Jersey Shore was going to Italy I immediately cringed. Having grown up in Italy twice I never met anyone who acted and spoke the way the Jersey Shore cast does, despite their Italian heritage. Know that you are a guest in the host country and you will be watched and judged accordingly. You are representing your whole country back home when abroad so be the best representation of it. Dial down the personality as you resepect the country you are visiting.

…Do No Respect A Country’s History.

Those tourists who see things and then make remarks about how they have ‘old thing’s back home too. Or who bring up the past history and make very rude remarks or questions to the locals. Tread carefully and do not compare your home country to the host country. It is very beneficial to read up about the country before you travel. It will give you a new found respect and make you more informed about the country instead of only knowing about the beach or party scene of that location.

…Feels Entitled In Their Host Country.

I remember being on my honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico and it was my husband’s first time out of the United States and Canada. The US Coast Guard was there and we unfortunately kept running into them at the hotel or out in town. I say unfortunately because they were the young naive tourist type who spoke and acted very loudly. We remember one such loud conversation they had with the hotel concierge about not getting the right room on the argument of ‘but WE are the US Coast Guard!’.

…Criticizes Cultural Differences And Customs as Strange.

Remember that you are a guest. People will watch and listen to you more carefully because of that fact. Especially if you are in a group. The slight comments you make when you dont understand the culture or find something strange, keep to the hotel room. You will not only be offending people and the country but coming across as very rude. Just because something is different does not make it wrong.

…Speak Loudly To Non English Speaking People In English.

It does not matter how loud you talk or how loud and slowly you yell people will not understand you better. They will only understand how rude you are. I was in a 7-Eleven buying water in Thailand when an American family was talking louder and louder to the shop keeper. At the point where their tone got angry as well as loud I put down my water and took my business elsewhere. No one wants to be around that.

…Get Frustrated With the Locals For Not Speaking English.

Which leads us to the next point of do not get upset just because the locals do not speak your language. While it can be frustrating and even a bit scary to not be able to communicate, keep your attitude in check. It is not a written rule that everyone should speak English or which ever language you are trying to speak. Take a breath and move on.

…Expect The Host Country To Be Like The USA.

People and customs differ from country to country. It can be easy to assume small things will be the same in the host country, so do not get frustrated when things end up being different. I smiled kindly to a waitress after having a family member visiting asking for ice for her drink. Do not expect to always find things like ice cubes, air conditioning, central heating, king size beds, flat sheets, english menus, etc when in the host country. Further more asking for it or asking why it is not available is not the best way to act. Accept the differences and focus on the perks of the host country.

Whether you learned something or just shook your head in remembrance of an Ugly Tourist you have met let me know what you thought in the comment section below.

#BlogEveryDayInMayRead about Day: |1|2|

Travel: Sorrento, Italy

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One of the reasons I suggest to travelers to go to Naples, Italy is because my ‘home’ city is surrounded by day trip gems. One such place is Sorrento, which is easily accessible by train from both Naples and Pompeii. If it is a clear day you can overlook the Bay of Naples, Vesuvius, and the Isle of Capri. You can also reach Sorrento by car if you take the Amalfi Drive that connects Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. If you are daring enough you can come by moped since the road is narrow and threads along the cliffs high above the Tyrrhenian Sea. Which ever way gets you to this coastal destination will make it worth your while. I recommend making sure to wear shoes that can support a lot of walking and uneven surfaces. Start your day out with refreshing drinks and food from one of the cafes that overlooks the view of the Isle of Capri. Do some shopping as you walk through the winding streets of Sorrento. I recommend checking out anything that is made with the regional lemons such as the limoncello, candies, and fresh smelling soaps. As it approaches dinner time make your way down to the marina and eat at the outdoor restaurant overlooking the ocean and the boats. Choose the local house wine and you will not be disappointed. As night prepares to fall make your way back into heart of town and you will be welcomed by the romantic nightlife. Whether you choose to sample every flavour of gelato, drink limoncello, or dance under the stars it will be a night you’ll always remember. If you are planning to get married in Italy for a destination wedding you might want to look at Sorrento for your backdrop. We saw at least four different weddings on our past trip and nothing makes a town come alive than a celebration.

xx
Bonnie Rose

Travel: Seaside Heights, NJ

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My sister Zoë at the Seaside Heights Boardwalk in NJ

Now that we are officially in Spring and preparing for the coming Summer I have been looking back at some of my favourite Summer destinations. Last year we went to one of them: Seaside Heights at the Jersey shore. My family has gone to this costal destination a few times as I was growing up to visit my dad’s father and brother who lived around Newark, NJ. Now that both my father and his father have passed away it is just my uncle who lives there. I have only been able to see him a handful of times in my life and one of those was August of 2012. My sons and I flew out to meet my mum (‘Nonna’) and my sister Zoë (‘Zia Zoë’) at the airport in Pennsylvania where we drove to our summer destination.

Seaside Heights, NJ

Seaside Heights Beach park

Lounging on the beach with Uncle Tom, my boys, and my sister.

My mum rented a condo that was only a two minute walk from the beach.

Thats right only two minutes and we could be ankle deep in sand and splashing around in the water.

My boys and Zia Zoë enjoyed playing together in the water.

What beach vacation would be complete with out making sandcastles with your Nonna.

Then a short walk back to our vacation rental to get ready to go out to eat.

Visiting the MTV Jersey Shore house…might I add they painted the flag backwards. Seriously?
I flipped the photo (which you can tell by the words on a sign) because I am a girl raised in Italy.

The Boardwalk was cool at night because you could drink at the bars and the rest was locked up and deserted.

During the day it was bright and sunny. A perfect setting for eating ice cream from the famous Kohrs.

With my only and best sister in the world: Zoë

The boardwalk is full of fun games and and prizes that can bring a smile to the child in us all.

This is how I will always remember the Jersey Shore.

In the end this was one of the best family vacations that I have been on since my boys have been born. Unfortunately my husband was not with us on this one due to him being back at school during that time in England. The condo was really nice inside, we could prepare our meals in the kitchen, and do our laundry whenever it was needed. There were a lot of great places to eat at for dinner in the area and bagel shops for breakfast. My one recommendation would be for those who would come here with children. The rides on the boardwalk can be quite expensive so we let our sons choose one ride each. We then took them to Six Flags nearby for the day and let them ride all the rides they wanted. My sons said at the end of the trip that their favourite part was playing at the beach (free) so dont feel pressured to break the bank for family fun.

Sadly after our trip was when the storm came through and wrecked and destroyed many places with the flooding. There is much that has to be rebuilt to get the boardwalk back to its former glory. Despite the vacation rental being so close to the beach it luckily was unharmed. Hopefully someday we can return to relieve the great memories of last summer. My boys definitely recommend it.

Linking up for Travel Tuesday.