France Trip: Paris

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Walking along Champs Elysées - Arc de Triomphe Walking along Champs Elysées

Spent ten or so days in Paris, and it was a lot, so I'm going to break it out into several different posts. We started day 1 with helping my friend recover from jet lag by walking all over the Champs Elysées, and trying to get her to pronounce it, lol.

Walking along Champs Elysées -The Orangerie Walking along Champs Elysées - Glace Bachir


Church Day - Saint Chappelle Church Day - Saint Chappelle

Day 2 was what I call "Church Day", although it did not fall on a Sunday. We started with a reasonably moving insane line to Notre Dame, and followed that up with an insane never-moving line for Saint Chappelle. But I'd never been to Saint Chappelle, and it was absolute magic. The interior colors, the stained glass! Just lovely.

Church Day - Notre Dame Church Day - Notre Dame

Followed that up with a trip to Montmartre for lunch and a funicular up to Sacré Coeur. Had some chocolate mousse at Chocolat Chapon and an eventually orchestra concert at Saint Sulpice.

Church Day - Sacré Coeur Church Day - Orchestra in Saint Sulpice


Boat Tour on the Seines (Bateaux Mouches) Boat Tour on the Seine (Bateaux Mouches)

On another day, we did a last minute jaunt to the Rodin Museum before it closed...and then headed to our night boat cruise on The Seine with Bateaux Mouches. Imagine a day sprinkled with hunting down well-reviewed boulangeries and restaurants as well. Lots of walking, lots of eating. Lots of site-seeing. Paris is just such a lovely city to visit.

Rodin Museum Rodin Museum

France Trip: Strasbourg

Friday, April 10, 2026

Around Strasbourg Around Strasbourg

Stopped in Strasbourg on my way to Paris. Already loving the train system at this point!

Around Strasbourg Around Strasbourg Cathedral

Stowed my suitcase in a luggage locker, there's apps for scheduling and handling that. More guaranteed than relying on an open train luggage locker. Allowed me to hoof it to the historic part of town which was absolutely delightful.

France Trip: Colmar

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Around Colmar Around Colmar

Took a bus from Zurich to Colmar, France. What a smooth process! Then spent a night in Colmar, which is essentially the town from Beauty and the Beast, as far as I can tell. What a dream of a little town. Absolutely, completely, swoon-worthy.

Around Colmar Patisserie - mille feuilles?

So quaint it's anger-inducing? Like, there are not words for how picturesque this town is.

Around Colmar Surcreries

I could've wandered around, eating patisserie, enjoying the scenery and people watching for days. Instead, I gave myself one night!

Au Doré Boulangerie Around Colmar

France Trip: Zurich, Switzerland

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Zurich Old Town Zurich Old Town

Everything's gone to hell, so I decided to go to France for 2 months last summer. Starting in Zurich, Switzerland to see a friend and her family!

Zurich Old Town Zurich Old Town

Spent a few days wandering around Old Town...

Zurich Old Town Zurich Old Town

...and climbing Uetliberg...

Climbing Uetliberg Climbing Uetliberg

...with a couple meetings at ETH as this was, in fact, a business trip (to start with).

Zurich, from ETH Around Zurich

Asia 2025: Koh Samui, Thailand

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Hike - Grandfather-Grandmother rocks Hike - water buffalo

Capped off the Asia trip with a week and a half at Visit Nature Detox Resort in Lamai Beach, Thailand, in an attempt to get my head screwed back on right. 10 days of 3-5 hours of hikes, strength training, and yoga will do that!

Hike - view Hike - swimming in waterfalls

Hiking to beautiful views of the island. Hiking to waterfall swims. Avoiding scorpions.

Around Lamai Beach Hike - tree

And of course, loooooots of beach time!

Lamai Beach Passion Fruit Mojito
Chicken Satay at Lamai Beach Around Lamai Beach

Around Lamai Beach Around Lamai Beach

And, as always, the food. More expensive than typical Thai food, but far more full of vegetables and fruit.

Thailand - food Thailand - food
Thailand - food Thailand - food