France!

Extremely creative post name, I know. The family and I got to Paris yesterday and are here into Saturday morning. We then take the TGV south to Avignon. We are staying in a small town 45 minutes from Avignon for a week. The house we rented is a house we went to back in 2000 and 2001 (when I was 5 and 6). I am very much looking forward to being back after 14 years.

I absolutely love Paris so I am very happy to be here. I am currently writing this from my phone because the Wifi does not want to work on my laptop. I am also currently drafting several posts on Word on my laptop. This means that as soon as I arrive in the South of France, I will begin posting things about my trip (as long as the Wifi is strong enough there). Writing long posts from my phone is just too difficult.

So far I have had nothing but delicious food here in Paris. I also got to watch the sunset over the Seine last night. Sunsets and food…two of my favorite things. You can say I am a happy camper.

I cannot wait until I can share more about my trip with you all. This dodgy Wifi situation really needs to stop happening. But until then, know that I am enjoying Paris and exploring as much as I can in order to have great things to share with you all!

Walking Your Way Past the Tourist Traps: NYC

Whenever someone tells me that they are going on vacation to New York City, I immediately want to tell them to head downtown and never look back. Of course, if it is someone’s first time heading to the Big Apple, they will want to do the typical tourist things i.e. go to Times Square, see a Broadway Show, or go to the top of the Empire State Building. Basically, they want to live in the midtown/uptown state of mind. That is really great and I am happy for them and their future adventures, but that is not even half of what makes New York such an amazing city.

Growing up on Long Island, New York City was like my backyard. It is where I went on the weekends when I had nothing to do. I do love to see the hustle and bustle of Times Square. After standing there for 5 minutes, I have had enough and am ready to take a quick subway ride down to Union Square.

My suggestion to anyone going to New York City is to walk everywhere until your feet are ready to fall off. You see so much more when you are walking.

One thing you cannot miss is the Highline Park. Start at the very beginning of the Highline at West 34^th Street between 10^th and 12^th Avenue. Then, walk all the way to the end of the Highline, which leaves you on Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District.

Once in the Meatpacking District, appreciate where you are. The roads are mostly still the original cobblestone and it feels as though you have been taken back in time. It is so laid back down there and there is always something new to see. There is a market called Gansevoort Market that is definitely a must-go. “The Gansevoort Market personifies old New York – offering a curated selection of locally produced goods and fare.” The food options are so different than a typical New York City restaurant and there really is something for everyone. On top of that, the atmosphere there is so open and welcoming. Oh, do not get me started on the abundance of artistic photographs that your (most-likely) Instagram-obsessed self will be able to snap while in the market.

After stopping for a bite to eat, continue walking around the Meatpacking District and eventually wander back towards uptown, where the tourists seem to feel more at home. I have just touched upon one of the best things to do once you leave the comfort zone of typical New York tourist destinations. I can assure you that if you really work your legs and feet, you are bound to find some of the hidden gems of New York City.

Traveler Vs. Wanderer

Recently, my family has had many discussions over the difference between someone who has wanderlust and someone who just loves to travel. My cousins have this theory that wanderlust has become a popular word lately, but that no one truly knows what it means anymore. They feel that people who have a love for travel and want to see the world claim to have wanderlust, but the truth is they just have a love for travel and want to see the world (there is unfortunately not a word for this). Although this may be partly true, I believe that there are true wanderers still out there who say they have wanderlust and mean it whole-heartedly.

Let us get down to the meat of the discussion. What is the difference? What is a traveler and what is a wanderer? Think for a minute on your own and try to come up with your own ideas before continuing.

A traveler is someone who loves to see the world. They have set destinations that they want to visit and they have goals. Set goals. They have an endpoint. They know where they are leaving from, where they are heading to, and how they are getting from point A to point B. A traveler may love to wander while visiting these new places, but they still would not necessarily have wanderlust. A basic traveler is not interested in having no set location. They know where they want to go and what they want to see and they make it happen.

Now let us look at the wanderer. The wanderer wants to see the world just like a traveler does, but they have other ambitions and goals. Their goal is to see what they can when they can, but without a set destination. They may just set out one day and see what they find without one ultimate location in mind. They travel aimlessly. Their travel does have purpose because the wanderer wants to discover new territory, but it is still aimless because they do not necessarily care where they end up. A wanderer has wanderlust because they have a lust for wandering into the unknown. They want to find something new. Something different. And if they end up in a well-known city, that is great. The difference is that they may not have a plan once they arrive.

I love finding out what people feel they personally are (traveler or wanderer). I believe I am a wanderer although I rarely get the chance to wander. I would love to hear what you all feel you are and why. Leave me a comment and let me know!