We’ve been feeling nostalgic lately. When we are travelling, we are constantly surrounded by beauty, engulfed with excitement, and intrigued by the unfamiliar. After having so much fun, adjusting back to the responsibility of everyday life was rather daunting. It’s been a month since we’ve been back, and already we’re in need of another vacation. We miss the quaint sidewalk cafes, the liveliness of European cities, being near loved ones, and of course, not having to work.

It rained almost the entire week that we stayed in Angers, and as soon as the sun came out, we took a trip to Chenonceau. After two hours of driving through countless number of sunflower fields, farms and famous chateaux, we arrived at this breathtakingly beautiful landscape. The castle, standing as a bridge over the Cher River, is indeed a jewel of Renaissance architecture. Unlike Versaille, Chenonceau is not overwhelming, but rather charming, lived-in, and peaceful.
Interestingly enough, one of Minh Chau’s favorite rooms in the chateau is the kitchen. During the First World War, the kitchens were transformed into a hospital. The bedroom of Catherine de Medicis was also one of the most famous rooms in the chateau. Surrounding the chateau is a lush forest, ornamented gardens, and hidden nooks.

A look at these stoic walls, and I know I’m home. For nearly 20 years, my father and I drove by this massive castle everytime we went to school, to a restaurant or to the market. As early back as I can remember, I’ve had my baby pictures taken inside these castle walls.
Situated in the Loire Valley, Angers is considered as one of the most beautiful cities in France.

The island of Burano is about an hour away from Venice by vaporetto. It is known for being the home of fishermen and lace-makers. The houses are painted with different bold and vibrant colors so the fishermen could identify them in the fog.

The glittering facade of the Basilica di San Marco

Napoleon had once called the Piazza San Marco “the finest drawing room in Europe.” The Basilica is the centerpiece of this famous and crowded piazza. Love them, or loathe them, pigeons are very much part of St Mark’s Square, and we didn’t find them to be a nuisance at all.
We stayed at a Bed & Breakfast that was about ten minutes away, so we could visit St Mark’s Square rather often. We even got to see an awesome fire show by a street performer, and a wedding happening at the same time in the other corner of the square.

Our stay in Paris was short and there were many places left to visit (or re-visit) but we were excited to head to Venice. It seems Paris and Venice compete with each other as to which is the most romantic city in the world but we found they were unique in their own ways and they turned out to be just equal contenders to that title!

Venice has no roads and no cars, only boats and bridges! Navigating in Venice is thus really slow. We got lost a couple times when walking since some sections of Venice are only linked by a single bridge. The gondolas can always be used for $160 per hour … Fortunately, Venice is a very small city and we could cover large areas by just walking and crossing bridges. It is sad to know that this ancient and beautiful city has been sinking at a higher pace, due to both a lowering of the ground and an increase in tidal level. At night, the tidal waves are high and scary at first, and got us wet a few times. We saw a lot of construction work as part of of a project to keep Venice above water. Hopefully, Venice can be saved!

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame is one of Minh Chau’s favorite books, so we find ourselves coming back to this magnificient cathedral each time we are in Paris. Notre-Dame is at the heart of Paris, and this glorious structure has witnessed some of the greatest moments of the city’s history.
Inspired by the leisure-loving French people, Vinh quickly remembered his lazy roots, and we took a long nap on a bench inside the park at the east end of the cathedral.

The geometric form of this glass pyramid, standing at the center of the Cour Napoleon, constrasts with the decorated facade of the Louvre. It is 21m high and 33m wide, and is built of sheet glass supported by a steel framework.
The Cour Napoleon is a great place to relax on a warm summer evening. We had a few drinks at the cafe inside the courtyard as we were watching the sunset over this magnificent structure.

Versailles is as exquisite as we imagined it to be. During our visit, unfortunately, much of the exterior of the castle was under renovation. We were overwhelmed by the dazzling palaces, magnificent gardens and gilded ceilings.This painted ceiling was one of Minh Chau’s favorites.

Tour Eiffel

After 14 hours of flying, 1 hour by train, 1 hour in the subway and 4 hours of walking, being welcomed by the French oven-baking heatwave, we are finally here at the bottom of the Eiffel Tower. Excited but completely exhausted, we gather the last of our strength to give you an update on our trip. It’s a real pleasure to be back here after two years.

Minh Chau and her trusty D70.

The Lone Cypress
As one of California’s most enduring landmarks, The Lone Cypress has prevailed on its rocky perch for over 250 years.

Relaxing after picnic lunch