European Adventures | le Larzac

I'm studying in Montpellier, but every Sunday I am here we have an excursion to another part of Southern France. It's all about exploring what is around us. These are places that aren't very touristy, but very cool.
This Sunday we went to 3 places: the village of Couvertoirade, the Millau Viaduct, and the Roquefort caves. It was a busy day.

There are never clouds. Ever.
1. Couvertoirade 
It's a fortified town that was once owned by the Knights Templar. My inner Dan Brown and Robert Langdon fan girl was freaking out. 


 Couvertoirade is home to about 200 people, an amazing bakery, tiny shops, and even tinier doors.
The door height alone is a sign that I don't belong here.
#tallproblems
Am I in France or at Wimbledon?
What I'm wearing:
Sunglasses: Pimkie
Top: Zara
Shorts: American Eagle (same shorts, different pattern)
Shoes: Keds

2. Millau Viaduct 
I know, it seems silly for us to take time to stop at a bridge, but it's more than it appears. First of all, look at this view of Millau:

Is this real?!
 This is the tallest bridge in the world (the world!) and one of the greatest engineering feats of all time. The Eiffel Tower could fit under it. Color me impressed.

3. Roquefort caves
Home of the smelliest, most disgusting cheese I've encountered in France, or the cheese of kings, what it was called during our tour.
I'll be honest, this was a thumbs down, but I also think it's something you should do if you ever find yourself in the area. 
The tour is all about the legend of the discovery of roquefort cheese and how it's made now. It's pretty interesting. Did you know the fungus in the cheese is in the same family as penicillin? (You do now.) 
Approx. 24,000 wheels of cheese. 
There's a lot more in southern France than the Mediterranean. 

- Jess

P.S. Shoutout to Wikipedia for confirming the facts I was only half listening to during our tours. :)

In a beach daze


I've never enjoyed going to the beach. I have fair skin and blue eyes and I don't mix well with a lot of sun. It's never been fun to sit out in the heat or swim in dirty lake water (it's all we have in Ohio). When I first got to France I planned on only going to the beach once because I had to be able to say I swam in the Mediterranean Sea.

Boy, was I shocked when I LOVED being at the beach here.

Pirates or ice cream?
We always go to Carnon Plage because it's so close to Montpellier. It's only a tram ride and a walk away. We go at least once a week.
I'm pretty sure there is science behind why I love the beaches here better than in the US. It definitely has to do with being further from the equator (that makes the sun weaker, right?). Even though the sun is weaker, it can still beat my skin any day. My greatest accomplishment on this trip is not getting sunburned. Forget learning French, not turning into a tomato every day is a miracle.

I have 1 beach essential. If you go to the beach with nothing else, you'll still be fine, but this you need:

Sunscreen
Nivea keeps my skin safe & healthy.
 You might think you're safe because you "just tan," but the sun is a real danger for everyone. Your skin is there to protect you, but if you're damaging it with the sun or tanning it can't do it's job.

Taking care of my skin is at the top of my to do list everyday. It's more important than most people realize. Sunscreen keeps your skin safe and beautiful. Don't forget it when you're going to the beach or spending any long amount of time outside, especially in the summer. You need sunscreen when it's cloudy too, that doesn't stop the sun's rays, just sends them in different directions. Be careful!
You can keep your skin safe everyday by wearing a moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15 and an SPF of 30-50 when you're in harsh sun for long periods of time (like at the beach).
And if having healthy skin isn't appealing enough, using an SPF will prevent your skin from aging prematurely. You can't lose.

- Jess

For more information on how to protect your skin and spot skin cancer early visit skincancer.org.



European Adventures | Paris pt. 2


I am dedicating this post to the (outside of) Musée du Louvre...
aka the most beautiful building in the world.


As soon as I got to Paris and realized I was in the same city as this magnificent wonder of the world I got a bit emotional, it's true. I've probably said it a thousand times before, but I NEVER thought I would EVER be here. Walking around the city I was in a constant state of awe. Nothing has ever impressed me or intimidated me as much as the architecture in Paris. Someone built these buildings in their head and then made them real. I can't fathom how that works, I don't think my mind is capable. I've gained so much respect for architects and city planners. What they do is truly breathtaking.

Remember when Robert Langdon was here? I do.
I've always wanted to visited the Louvre, ALWAYS. In school I always chose the Louvre as my project topic if it was possible. I probably know more about the building than most people, but I still don't know everything. I still want to know more! 
I didn't have a lot of time in Paris. We were only there for a weekend and a lot of the time was planned outings. I knew I was not going to visit the inside of the Louvre. I love museums. I could probably spend the rest of my life in one and be happy. I didn't want to rush through what is probably the most famous (and potentially largest) museum ever. I bet I could spend a week in there and still not see and take time to appreciate everything. 
So, I settled for only seeing the outside and OMG it was not settling. Have you seen the outside of the Louvre? Exquisite!
You probably already know this, but the Louvre is a MUST SEE in Paris. 

When you're too excited to do anything cool...
Everything's better with a selfie and Rimmel 107
That detail though *heart eyes*
I'm planning on going back to Paris before I leave France if only to go inside the Louvre. I can't miss the opportunity while I'm so close. 

- Jess 

Fun Fact: This was the day I was mistaken for a Parisian, twice. That façade was ruined as soon as I spoke, oops.

European Adventures | Paris pt. 1


I spent last weekend in the beautiful city of Paris.
I've never been so in awe of anything, ever.
Everything about Paris, from the architecture to the style to the food is perfect. Even the weather was perfect, which I hear is a rarity.
For as long as I can remember I have dreamed of visiting Paris; France and french culture has always fascinated me. This whole experience, studying abroad and seeing foreign countries, is a dream come true. I got to see all of these monuments that don't actually seem real until you see them up close. It's an incredible feeling to be able to touch these famous monuments that you've only ever seen in pictures.
I didn't get to see everything that I wanted to while I was in Paris, but I did get to see a lot (I'll be going back to see the rest)! I don't want to make one massive post, so I've decided to divide my Paris experience into multiple posts.

Bienvenue à Paris!

This view cost 6€, but it's the best 6€ I've ever spent.
The first sign that I was actually in the real city of Paris: Notre Dame

Jacket: H&M
Dress: Hémisphère
Shoes: Urban Outfitters
Purse: New Look

I had to find St. Denis. His name is an important one. 
L'obélisque de Louxor 
Sacré Cœur
I found my favorite view of Paris from the panoramic dome at the top of Sacré Cœur. You pay a couple of euros and you can spend as much time as you want looking at Paris from above. The second photo of this post was taken there.
The inside of the church is amazing as well. You aren't allowed to take photos (I'll admit that I snuck one, but I won't be posting it here), but it's not a sight to miss when coming to the city.
More than just being beautiful, I found that Sacré Cœur is a place full of faith. I never felt connected to others because we share a religion until I stepped through these doors. There's something about seeing how much detail and dedication those who built this place of worship that makes me realize how much God meant to them. This structure has stood here for centuries and people from all over the world have come together and prayed here; it's not just a tourist's destination.
I felt that I finally understood why religion is such a big part of so people's lives. It's a way to connect and feel like something bigger. It was a bit of an emotional morning.


A view I'll never forget.
Paris was amazing for the few days that I was there. I can't wait to go back and discover what else it has to offer.
Stay tuned for Paris pt. 2 (and potentially pt. 3, I took a lot of pictures).

- Jess


European Adventures | Brighton


My next stop in England was Brighton.
This is my new favorite place in the whole world. I never knew how much I needed the sea in my life until I spent some time here. I know when people plan to go to England London is at the top of their list of cities to visit, for a good reason as it's the capital, but Brighton should be at the top too.

Ice cream at Boho Gelato was the first stop.
The sea was the second.
I could sit out here for hours (I did).
The coolest souvenir shop was at the Brighton Pier.
Will someone please (!) explain the mushy pea obsession?
I never actually got to try them so they could be delicious, but they look like baby vomit (it's the truth). 
The Royal Pavillion
The Lanes
Go here for the cutest shops and the greatest treats in Brighton. 
You will find the world's greatest iced chai at Bluebird Tea Co.
& some of the cutest (cookie monster) cupcakes at Catwalk Cakes.
Brighton is GORGEOUS.
The city has so much to offer that I didn't even get to experience. 
While doing research I found that the night life is actually pretty amazing, but I wasn't there on the weekend (next time...). Brighton is also home to approximately a million coffee shops. Everyone knows that England is obsessed with tea, but it's got a pretty amazing coffee scene too. If you're ever in town check out Coffee@33 by the train station or Ground Coffee House by Pizzaface. You won't regret it.

- Jess


European Adventures | London

I've wanted to come to Europe for as long as I can remember.
I never thought I would make it out of the United States.
So much has stood in my way for so long, but 2015 is my year. 

I made it!

I've been in Europe for a week now and I've visited Nice, Monaco, London, and Brighton. Too much has happened to include altogether, so let's start with London.

The classic tourist spots could not be missed on my first trip. 
I made it to Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace in one afternoon. I'll admit I wasn't expecting everything to be as amazing as I've always imagined. I thought I'd built it all up too much to be wowed, but I've never been more wrong. 
London is BEAUTIFUL.

The realization that Big Ben is actually real

The London Eye
Westminster Abbey (not even the scaffolding could ruin it)
Buckingham Palace
Victoria Memorial Fountain
After fangirling over the royals this trip needed a bit of substance and learning.
That's where the Cabinet War Rooms come in. 
This is where Winston Churchill, his many advisors, some heads of state, and even his wife (sometimes) gathered during WWII and the bombings of London to strategize and defeat the Nazis.
I would definitely classify this as a can't miss attraction in London. There is so much history and it was hidden for a long time, not open to the public until 40 years after WWII. 



The last stop before heading to Brighton was obvious. I couldn't leave London without visiting Platform 9 3/4. The Harry Potter series was my life as I child. I read all of the books, saw all of the movies, and pretended I went to Hogwarts. 
As you can see, hopefully, I'm in the Slytherin scarf. I don't like to pretend that I'd be a Gryffindor, because I wouldn't. There are a lot of negative opinions about Slytherins, but they are truly my people. 


I had SO MUCH fun in London. I'm hoping to make it back again before leaving Europe. There were so many things I wasn't able to discover and so many food places I have yet to try. (I did fit in a cheeky Nando's though.)

- Jess