Tag Archives: bordeaux

Saint Emilion, Bordeaux.

Piggybacking off of yesterday’s post, I wanted to share my experience in Saint Emilion where I got to visit some of France’s oldest wineries and city as well.

St Emilion(Chateau L’Arrosee is a more modern style winery with a very simple exterior)

Chateau L'Arrosee(Chateau L’Arrosee vines)

St Emilion(Chateau-Figeac, one of the most beautiful estates I have ever seen)

St Emilion(They paint the barrels red with the wine in order to mark it)

St Emilion(Some of France’s oldest vines)

St Emilion(Yes, that’s a good year!)

St Emilion(St. Emilion, a medieval city with cobblestone steps, it was magical)

If you get to France, make sure you visit Bordeaux and see the oldest vines in the country.

France’s Culture Club.

DSC_0435Trying to soak in all of the culture that France has to offer was no easy task but I sure enjoyed trying! From the food to the fashion to the GIANT buildings, I was in love. I am sad to report that this is my last post on France because it means that I have to come to terms with the reality that I don’t live there.

French Street(This picture was taken on a Monday evening around 7:30. So many people were out and about, grabbing drinks, dinner, and socializing)

Rue de Rivoli

(This picture was taken at 9 am when the sun was rising. We were in awe of how beautiful the streets were as we were searching for croissants)

Metro(We took the Paris Metro everywhere. It was pretty easy to figure out and a lot of fun too. One time there was a musician playing the accordion on the train!)

2013(The New Year is a big event in France. This was taken of a store window in Bordeaux)

bikes in Bordeaux(Just a few picturesque bicycles hanging out)

Arc de Triomphe(Finally, this statue belongs to the outside of the Arc de Triomphe. Monuments are part of the daily culture in France;  they are so lucky to be surrounded by beauty every day)

I can’t wait to go back to Europe! I had such a blast in France and thank my lucky stars that I had the opportunity to visit. I was able to learn so much about their culture and work on learning more about mine.

You Gotta Have Faith.

DSC_0125Let’s start at the beginning. Notre Dame de Paris. It is MAGNIFICENT! I have never in my life seen something so spectacular and moving, the moment I entered the building I was literally speechless. My art history classes in college could not prepare me for how overwhelmed I would be. To think that this church was built 850 years ago leaves me with so many thoughts but mostly “how did they do it?”

DSC_0123(The exterior holds hundreds of statues that depict passages of the bible and because it was Winter, garlands were placed around the church adding something special)

DSC_0138(The stained glass is intricate and delicate as the light passes through to illuminate the interior)

DSC_0141(There are nooks that display different pieces of art, this was one of my favorites)

Sacre-Couer, Paris

DSC_0381(At the top of a large stairway sits Sacre-Coeur. At night it is a place of gathering for young  people who spend the evening drinking wine, singing, and gazing at the view of Paris in it’s entirety)

DSC_0395(Behind Sacre-Coeur lies an alley of vendors and restaurants)

Basilica of St. Michael, Bordeaux

DSC_0548(Basilica of St. Michael  is not at the caliber of Notre Dame but it is also very breathtaking inside. The ceilings are higher than I can count and the hall stretches hundreds of feet long. It is very grand)

DSC_0551(It was so bright inside which gave this church a softer feeling)

France does not mess around when it comes to their churches. Aside from being incomparable inside, they are also very welcoming. Each church was a nice place to walk around quietly in peace, and take in all of the history that the walls held. I liked to think of who sat in the pews hundreds of years ago and what they were wearing, praying about, and hoping for.

City of Lights.

Eiffel TowerWell, they definitely call Paris the “City of Lights” for a reason, especially in the Winter. I can’t imagine what the energy bill looks like!

Wine Bottles(One of my favorite parts of Paris were the window displays. Twinkle lights make everything a little more beautiful!)

DSC_0045(A statue outside of the Paris Opera)

DSC_0012(The city is alive even late at night and lights cover the street tops)

DSC_0209(Champs-Elysees illuminates the way to the glorious Arc de Triomphe)

DSC_0196(While I didn’t get a chance to ride it, I imagine there was no better view of the city than on this glowing Ferris Wheel)

DSC_0409(Flashy flash! Moulin Rouge was awesome and you could see it from blocks away! Ooh la la!)

DSC_0483(Bordeaux was gearing up for the Arlette Gruss circus. Look at the glowing trees in the background!)

DSC_0631(Lastly, Bordeaux has little bulbs of light everywhere you can imagine. It is beautiful)

I feel so lucky to have experienced France in the Winter, while it is the down time I can’t imagine it gets any better!