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st. anne, guadeloupe

Guadeloupe kicked off my 2018 travels with a picture-perfect island getaway. Last year, Norwegian Air had some phenomenal flight deals out of Providence (PVD) - direct, round-trip tickets were about $130. Sadly, this offer is no longer available and tickets are now in the $500-$600 range.

Guadeloupe is a territory of France and there is little English spoken on the island (I can only speak for St. Anne). Thankfully, the locals are so friendly that even without my French background, I would’ve found it to be no problem whatsoever to communicate. Check out this photo-diary of more IG-worthy island shots.

paris, france

Ahh Paris, forever my favorite city. This photo embodies the essence of Parisian life that draws me back time and time again - being able to stop. Being able to sit in a park, take a few minutes or a few hours. People-watch. Feel the fresh air on your face.

reims, france

My primary visit to Reims was to taste Champagne (here’s an article about my visit to the Taittinger house). The memory of my tasting tour, however wonderful, was completely overshadowed by my visit to the Musée de la Reddition (Museum of Surrender), where Germany surrendered to the Allies at the close of WWII. The chair pictured was the seat of General Oberst Jodl, who signed the German surrender documents. Read more about my experience at the museum here.

rouen, france

At one point in her history, Notre Dame de Rouen boasted the title of ‘tallest building in the world.’ Rouen definitely was not my favorite city of 2018, but this cathedral was pretty damn impressive. Click here to see some more photos of Rouen.

amboise, france

Of the three châteaux visited in Amboise, the orangerie at Le Château Gaillard was one of the most memorable spots. Boasting over 160 trees between 10 and 100 years old, there are over 60 varieties (Buddha’s hand, red lemon, kaffir lime, Moro blood-orange trees, finger lime, lumia, orange trees, etc.) found in the greenhouse and the Royal Orangery. Check out my Amboise trip in more depth here.

amsterdam, netherlands

Having had layovers in Schiphol airport a countless number of times, as of 2018 I can finally say I’ve actually been to Amsterdam! Albeit a short trip, I was able to cram in a lot of sight-seeing, eating, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite at Paradiso, and obviously, smoking as much weed as my American tolerance would allow. Here’s an article about the Dutch Resistance during WWII!

lisse, netherlands

If gardening is life, then by all means, check out Keukenhof in Lisse, Netherlands. If you think flowers are beautiful, but that’s really the extent of your passion…. I’d recommend skipping it. Between the crowds, the playgrounds and children, it was just not for me. I was there with my mother, who is the ultimate gardener, and even she wasn’t overly impressed. Check out my Keukenhof photo diary to see more and determine for yourself whether or not the visit would be worth it.

galway, ireland

Galway! Such a fun, lively city. This intimate, quaint little city did not disappoint in terms of the world-renowned Irish hospitality.

connemara national park, ireland

When I began researching sites & spots for my Ireland trip, Connemara National Park repeatedly appeared, always accompanied by the disclaimer “Do not miss Connemara!” by numerous travel experts. I checked out some photos…. ‘cool,’ I thought, ‘I’ll go.’ The awe will strike once you’ve arrived in Connemara. You won’t fully comprehend the beauty until you are actually there, until you begin to learn the history of this land and its former inhabitants.

inis mor, ireland

The largest of the Aran Islands, Inis Mor, is an idyllic island set in the land time forgot. I could spend days on this island just watching, looking, taking it all in. Here are a bunch of reasons why you should make it a point to stop here on your next trip to the Wild Atlantic Way.

cliffs of moher, ireland

I had the good fortune of being able to spend my birthday here in 2018! Everything about this spot is intense - the drop to the crashing ocean below, the vastness of the Atlantic, the jaggedness of the rocks as you look down the cliffside.

montreal, canada

Montreal was a quickie trip, just to escape for the weekend. At a short 6-hour drive from home, it makes for an easy weekend getaway. Sadly, the entire city seemed to be under construction, and getting around proved to be a challenge. But still, poutine…..

st. george’s, bermuda

Bermuda was the perfect way to wrap up the year. Gorgeous scenery, mild temperatures, and the friendliest humans you’ll ever meet.

Happy 2019, guys!