Paris 2010–2016: Rewarding, Exhilarating, Frustrating (and Yes, Expensive) I lived and worked in Paris from 2010 to 2016, and those years remain some of the most rewarding, exhilarating, frustrating — and expensive — of my life. Paris was everything at once: a dream made real, a challenge that kept me on my toes, and a city that spoiled me with art, food, and travel I’ll never forget. Rewarding Paris rewarded me in ways I didn’t anticipate. Professionally, I had to navigate multilingual workspaces where a single meeting might shift from French to English to a hybrid of both, known as…
Tag: France
Paris from someone who has lived there
We lived in Paris for six years, and I’m going to share with you the places we revisited many times, as well as those we had no interest in seeing again. Let’s start with the places you shouldn’t waste your time on. We must have walked past and around the Eiffel Tower countless times on our way to various destinations, but we only went up twice, both times due to visitors. In my view, it’s not worth the money, not worth the wait, and not even worth the view. Before I did any more damage to the city I…
The Travel Fiascos That Turned Into Stories
I consider myself pretty lucky when it comes to travel. In all my years of travelling, I’ve only ever missed one flight, no trains and no cruises. That said, there have been several mishaps along the way. Somehow, when you are with others, it often seems much more manageable than when you are on your own. Not speaking the language also adds to the anxiety. 1. Lost in Transit: A Birthday Blunder On what was supposed to be a celebratory day, I found myself missing our flight home on my partner’s birthday. The car rental parking was a half-hour trek…
Paris Without the Wait: My Tips From 6 years
Let’s start by being completely honest. There is no way to avoid lines in Paris. Having lived there for six years, I can vouch that the French bureaucracy always guarantees long lines for the public, which also seems to extend to tourist attractions. However, I must say that like any tourist city, everywhere is bound to have long lines, not just Paris. But I am here to show you how to minimize your line wait time. I’ve been saying this for years and years. Always book a ticket to an event online beforehand. Purchasing a museum pass may give the…
My new secret travel weapon
OK, it’s not that secret and it’s not that new. Bear with me: Anyone serious about using AI for travel knows it is pretty useless. It’s very good for some initial research, but it is sadly lacking when planning itineraries or recommending the best places to visit. I will use AI to gather historical perspectives on some of my black bug blog posts or elaborate on some information I mentioned in a previous post. That’s it for a travel blog. There’s nothing like personal experience. However, I recently stumbled upon a place where AI can speed up your process. There…
Beyond Geneva: The 7 Best Day Trips for Every Traveller
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 20 years since I moved to Geneva, Switzerland. We lived there for five years when our boys were younger, and it was the perfect place to raise a family. Needless to say, I wasn’t quite a senior then. I don’t find as much to do in Geneva as claimed. How often can you visit The Jet, The Jardin Anglais or the Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Museum of Natural History)? I’m not saying this to be funny or as a metaphor, but this is true. When you drive into Switzerland for France, Austria, Italy or…
Paris Cheat Sheet and Checklist
It is hard to believe that I lived in Paris for six years, and this will be my first blog post about this remarkable city. It is in anticipation of us taking a two-week trip in March and “house-sitting” at a friend’s place. It is low season, so our flight was quite affordable, and then the next significant expense is always accommodation, which will be covered. Download Your PDF Copy Here Paris Cheat Sheet Overview Paris, the City of Light, is renowned for its art, fashion, gastronomy, and culture. This cheat sheet provides a condensed guide to navigating Paris effectively…
Discovering the Mystique of the Forest of Brocéliande
It was precisely 10 years ago today that we took a trip to the Forest of Brocéliande, also known as Paimpont Forest, nestled in Brittany, France. Our two sons pestered us to visit, and it turned out to be a wonderful time. Famous for its legendary tales, breathtaking natural beauty, and historic sites, the forest blurs the line between myth and reality. Visitors are drawn to its mysterious allure, as the forest holds deep connections to the legends of King Arthur, Merlin the Wizard, and the elusive Lady of the Lake. A Glimpse into Brocéliande’s Mythological Ties A Landscape Steeped…
Remembering Nice France
An article about Nice France popped up on my Facebook timeline the other day and it got me reminiscing a bit about the time we spent there as a family. My partner is all excited about how wonderful nieces and I guess I was a little underwhelmed. We had a lovely apartment hotel with the Citadine practically on the coastline. I must say that the parking underneath was the scariest I’ve ever had to maneuver, and I swore that I would arrive and never go out with the car again until we left. I settled in I found Nice France…
The Dignified Dolmens of Carnac
There’s something about the “Standing Stones” that seems to fascinate everyone. Seeing them, such as the Dolmens of Carnac, is quite remarkable. I understand now that people are often disappointed in Stonehenge because of the over-tourism and limited access. It was different for me the first time I saw them as a younger child. But one doesn’t have to venture far to visit the more isolated stones of Avebury. In 2008, we were living in Geneva and looking for a holiday. France is always attractive, but driving can be somewhat of a nightmare with traffic jams no matter the season….












