Exploring France

These are my last photos from my trip to France. I really enjoyed travelling around the villages and admiring all the old architecture, plus most of the villages are very cutesy. France is so different than the United States in so many ways, especially the way they preserve things. I'm sure many of these buildings are hundreds of years old but they take care of what they already have instead of just building new like we do here. I also love the fact that they have markets most days of the week. I don't know if it's just because I live in Salt Lake but I would love to be able to go to a market more than just on the weekends! 

 

These photos were taken in Montpellier- the closest large city to where my Grandparents live. My grandpa calls it mini Paris and some of the main streets really do look like Paris. 

Another day we took a trip to see the Millau Viaduct and it was breathtaking. Apparently it's the tallest bridge in the world (fact of the day!) and if you are ever in the South of France you should definitely go see it :) - but here are a few photos

 

So worth the trip. Can't wait to go back!

xo

Christmas Day

I know this post is a little late, we have put the holidays behind us haven't we? But I still wanted to share my little taste of Christmas in France. Most of my trip was pretty laid back and Christmas was no exception. We spent the day around the fire drinking wine, playing cards, and watching my grandfather prep dinner :)

Our little Christmas tree and presents from Papa Noel

For dinner we had roasted tomatoes and shallots, veal chops, and polenta. Simple but delicious!

The newspapers are the grease guard- not a fire hazard.....

The finished product! My grandpa did a great job

After dinner we took a walk, AKA our "constitutional". The neighbor down the road is a vigneron, meaning that he grows the grapes and sells them to the co-op to make wine. Because of this, all of the property around my grandparents house is surrounded by grape vines - not such a bad thing!

Sunset on the grape vines. France, you are beautiful.
Thanks for reading!

Food in France

Lets be honest, what is better than food in France? I'm drooling just thinking about it. The markets are amazing with lots of fresh fruits, vegetables and, my personal favorite: the bread and desserts. Food is definitely something the French get right. 

Fresh pasta  

 Candied fruit for christmas

One of each?  

 trying to keep the vampires away...

 I ate (almost) all of these by myself.. the Pistachio, chocolate, and caramel are my favorite :)

 

Fresh gnocchi we bought at the market

Mmm baguettes.. there needs to be a bakery here that sells baguettes for $1, or I just need to learn to make them myself (any recipe recommendations??)! Also, on the left you can see the santa's climbing the rope in the back of the photo. In the villages the French hang these off of their balconies for christmas. I should have brought one home!
Happy Monday!
 

Mediterranean Sea

Over Christmas break I took a trip to the South of France to visit my grandparents and in between drinking wine and playing cards we drove down to the Mediterranean Sea. It was simply beautiful, just as I had pictured it. Here's a few snaps from our visit to the beach.

 

^had to bring some shells home!

 

We also saw some wild flamingos while by the sea - have you ever seen wild flamingos? I wish I had gotten a picture but unfortunately did not. Next time!
It's snowing today so I am definitely missing the 50 degree weather there!

Hope you are staying warm!



 

xo, Amy

New Years

I just wanted to start off and wish everyone a Happy New Year (and belated Christmas!)! I am especially grateful to put 2013 behind me. It was one of the hardest years for me yet but I am really looking forward to 2014. With a New Year comes new goals that I would like to set for myself (resolutions are too permanent for me ;). Some of my goals for 2014 are:

-Take more photos and learn how to use my camera more efficiently

- Start a journal

- Look for the good in things, instead of the bad

- Try something I have never done before ( I really want to try trampoline aerobics or maybe calligraphy)

- Cook more, waste less

- Go to bed earlier, wake up earlier

- Perfect a recipe (I also want to make better french macarons)

Hope you are off to a great start on your New Year goals/resolutions!

Thanks for reading!