France Trip: Palazzo dei Normanni in Palermo, Italy

Friday, June 12, 2026

An absolute highlight of the Hop On / Hop Off bus of Palermo, Italy was my stop at the Palazzo dei Normanni (Norman Palace). Absolutely stunning interiors with lovely exterior tropical gardens!

And this wraps up my two-month long Europe (mostly France, but a little Zurich and Palermo) trip!

France Trip: More Palermo, Italy

Thursday, June 11, 2026

For lack of better planning, I spent my last free day in Palermo on the Hop On / Hop Off Bus, seeing the sites, poking around, and doing Palermo things.

France Trip: Food in Palermo, Italy

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

There was certainly no lack of stupendous eats in Palermo!

France Trip: Conference in Palermo, Italy

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

If one has to travel for work, I suppose it's not half bad to end up in Palermo, Italy...

France Trip: Palermo's I Segreti del Chiostro

Monday, June 8, 2026

Is it even Italy if you didn't buy pastries from nuns in a church?

This is the I Segreti del Chiostro, located inside the Monastery of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria. Fresh cannolis, made on demand!!

France Trip: Around Palermo, Italy

Sunday, June 7, 2026

I may've left France, but I didn't return home! It was time to go to Palermo, Italy for a work conference! The conference was in an inconveniently located university in the city, so I stayed in a scenic little neighborhood soemwhere else.

To be honest, I didn't really plan much around Palermo. Just absorbed the tasty foods and beautiful buildings in between attending conference sessions.

France Trip: Matisse Museum in Nice

Friday, June 5, 2026

I had not realized I was a big Matisse fan until I went to the Matisse Museum in Nice and was completely blown away.

Between visiting Monet's Giverny, Cézanne's Atelier and Home, the Picasso Museum in Antibes, and now the Matisse Museum. This trip had a healthy exposure to the home and work of specific French artists. Sent me back to the 'States with a meed to paint!

This is, unfortunately the last France post! What a trip! So incredibly delightful. Every town I visited was absolutely wonderful. There were stressful moments, sure, but my overwhelming takeaway from this experience was one of great appreciation for all the beauty and deliciousness available to me!

France Trip: Menton

Thursday, June 4, 2026

At this point, it was pretty clear my France trip was overwhelmingly wonderful. I lay on a beach where, if I opened my eyes, I would see the verdant Italian mountains with low hanging clouds. If I tipped my head back, brightly colored buildings were behind me. The rain gently spritzed from the sky, and a wonderful sense of peace and gratitude slipped over me.

This is Menton. So close to Italy that all the local limoncello they sell makes sense. Had a fantastic plate of pasta with (yet another) limoncello spritz. Did soem souvenir shopping, laid out on the beach, and just had an absolutely relaxing pleasant time on this little day trip from Nice.

France Trip: Food in Nice

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

The food in Nice, and around Nice, definitely does not disappoint. Please note, somewhere around this city I switched from Apérol Spritzes to Limoncell Spritzes, lol.

Why are the French so good at chocolate ice cream?! I don't know!

France Trip: Picasso Museum in Antibes

Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Say what you will about Picasso, the musée named after him in Antibes, where he spent 6 months in Château Grimaldi is just wonderful.

I was particularly moved by Anna Eva Bergman, even going so far as to make my own replica of it at home. While I know it's supposed to be reflective (har!) of the landscape of Sweden, it brings me a great deal of peace.