Miami Beach France & Torino: Tour vs Off-Beat

Well ok, technically its French Riviera, but close enough.

So I won't lie, I was kinda missing France the 48 hours I was outta the country, so I was glad to make a hasty return.

I'm sure Switzerland's feelings weren't hurt.

Well,  hasty in the term of days, not so much hours. I took an afternoon train from Geneva (it runs once a day) that goes through the heart of the French countryside down to the coastline, totaling about a 6 1/2 hour train ride. I'd like to say I was taking in the beauty of the countryside during this time, wistfully staring out the window while taking pictures of the scenery. But I just mostly napped.

Google French countryside if you must know.

I did see quite a bit of the coastline towards the end, though:

After disembarkment from the train and following what ended up being the easiest directions to a hostel to date, (looking at you, Brussels) I was able to shuck my coat and jeans to boat shoes,  shorts and shirt. I wasn't quite sure what temperature it would be at night, but mid-70s was right up my alley.

The next day I got to explore a bit. Nice is pretty much French Miami Beach, but unlike Miami Beach, it had one touristic event that I couldn't pass by.

TOURIST TRAIN. OH THE SHAME.

So this kinda begs the question: Wait-a-second, isn't like, travel about off-the-beaten path / authentic experiences, and, you know, not doing the tourist-thing?

But technically its been beaten for hundreds of years...

Ehhh...yes...and no.

I do both, self-touristing vs. guided tour. This is certainly not an in-depth discussion of decision-making of any kind (I remember little of Decision-Making 101, sorry UW) or what's better than the other, but more of an outline of my views.

Let's talk about the PROS and the CONS of both, shall we?

PROS of a guided tour:

1. You don't have to stress about deciding where to go/what to see. (big plus)
2. Things are explained to you, (ie: This castle was built in XIX, versus 'Oh that's a nice building.')
3. Transportation is covered.
4. Best if you have less than 4 days, or in a large area with a lot to cover.
5. Getting to places you might not have known about/ able to go to on your own (without a car/language/map/etc.)

Nice beach, Nice.

CONS:

1. If you're in a bus group..well...patience is a key. Welcome to the herd.
2.  Potential of getting a packaged experience, versus this is what it's really like.
3. You get hustled from one stop to the next. Meaning, no time to stop and smell the roses. (Look at this! Ok, mas rapido chicos, venga venga.)

I'm still not over my Alhambra tour 6 years later.

Time, time, time. It's the discriminator in my decision-making-for-travel process. For Monaco, Monte Carlo, and Cannes I took an escorted van tour for the day.

More like Monaco Mega-Millions.

I think had I stayed self-guided, I would have only seen Monaco and Monte Carlo. It would have been cheaper, maybe less touristy, but I wouldn't have seen all this random stuff along the way:

This was in the South of Provence. Aww yeah.

This sounds like a promotional post for taking a tour, huh?

Not so fast. For both my own purposes and the purposes of this particular post, I took the alternate route in Turin, Italy. Meaning: Not tour-led.

And ended up going to the mega- food convention that is Salone del Gusto.

 Italian food. Italian food everywhere.

PROS of Self-guided Travel,:

1. You get to do what you want to do. 
2. You aren't limited by time.
3.  Going to be a cheaper option most of the time, as you aren't paying a tour guide.
4. Best if you have more than 4 days, or in a small area. (Looking at you, Geneva)
5. Off the beaten path experience is more likely.

Did I mention free food samples?

CONS:

1. You're left to your own to figure things out. Which can be a simple as getting a train...bound to Siberia.
2. You don't really learn anything about a place unless you do your research, or spend extra time there.  IE: reading a booklet, or spending a few days in one place.
3. You spend more time figuring stuff out that doing stuff. Which is time consuming. And you may end up seeing less.

You also might end up seeing less after Sambuca...this bar was particularly generous. Yikes.

I really enjoyed Turin, and my random 'going to an Italian International Food Festival'. Having never set foot in Italy, (and won't be back until December) this was a great introductory stop. Turin is famous for, you know...

SHROUD OF TURIN! Well, this is a replica. The real one isn't on display this year...nor could you take a picture of it anyway.

But aside from that, it's a good-sized city. It's not overwhelmingly big, and pedestrian friendly.

Not too big, not too small.

And is not too-touristed, (most people go to Milan) so you get more of an 'Off-the-beaten path' feel no matter what you do.

The locals were extremely friendly, (Italianos you are winning me over through your kindness), so I am very much looking forward to returning in a month.

And seeing more gorgeous churches. Nope, haven't gotten tired of them.

My only regret is lack of time. I only had a day to see Turin, and I didn't see everything. (Going back to the self versus guided discussion). But what I did see, I loved. Cathedrals, Museums, Plazas, and perfect nightscapes. Thanks for a brief peek, Torino. I'd add you on a return trip any day.

Next stop, TRANSYLVANIA! And a special guest...(which is perhaps not a secret anymore, but for the sake of drama, I'll pretend it is)

You have no idea how excited I am for this.

Hit or Swiss

I will say hello to you in Swiss now:

Bonjour, Guten Tag, Ciao.

Yeah.

Switzerland, bordering on Germany, France, and Italy, has been linguistically influenced by its neighbors.  Therefore, while I was disappointed not to discover a hidden Swiss language in the Alps, I was comforted in that I would continue not knowing things in French.

Kinda like not knowing what the hell this thing is.

I started my Switzerland experience in Geneva, as in planning my journey it was a good bridging point between Paris and Nice in Southern France. 

The funny part was how I almost didn't get to Geneva. Having mixed the date of the trip with the actual time, I had anticipated leaving Paris at 19:10 (which was really 19/10). I gave my ticket a cursory glance while unwinding with a glass of Fine French wine before departure.  And lo, discovered I had 10 minutes to pay my bill and get on the train at 18:11.

THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT FINE FRENCH WINE.

Thankfully, I made it. As I spent the first hour of the ride recovering from extreme heart palpitations from a near miss, I got to muse over exactly what I had sprinted for.

Geneva Convention, Neutrality, Cheese, Chocolate, UN, and the Alps. This is what my encompassment of Switzerland was.

 And fairly much, still is.

Expectations= fulfilled.

Some other famous organizations I had half- forgotten about also had their respective HQs being located here:

Are you listening America?

And of course,  Swiss Army Knives. Swiss Army Knives everywhere.

I wanna kill somebodaaaay....

For this post, I will talk about what I liked, and didn't like in Switzerland.

Switzerland, to wit, composes of peaceful, scenic countryside. 

I MEAN LOOK.

Accompanied by gorgeous mountain chains.

Beautiful Chateaus.

And very happy cows
.

California? No, Happy Cows come from Switzerland.

There was just one thing missing. Study this picture. 

Hear the silence? This blog has gone from 2D to 4D. RADICAL.

Reflecting on my last day in Paris, I had felt slightly overwhelmed with the sheer size and activity of the city. I then spent my last afternoon in a peaceful cemetery to take a break. Had I known how quiet and peaceful these three days were going to end up being, I might have spent my last Paris day in a club.

AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A VERSAILLES PARTY.

Switzerland is a destination for those who want peace and quiet. My first day was spent in Geneva. Despite it's city exterior, it was the quietest city I've been in. While I hadn't seen all of Paris in 4 days, I easily saw Geneva in 1. 

For the next two days I decided on the Swiss town of Gruyere (like the cheese) and Annecy...France. 

Sorry Switzerland, I just keep going back to France. I just wanted a break from our relationship the bread. 

NO ESCAPE.

Gruyere was the definite highlight of the trip. Sweeping mountainsides, picturesque farm towns, and of course, my personal favorite:

CASTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gruyere you may have heard of, solely based on the cheese:

The cheese factory was located right next to  the train station, so Gruyere knows what's up when it comes to tourism.

After seeing the processing of Gruyere cheese, I spent the morning exploring the nearby town and then the Medieval City of Gruyere. Small shops and restaurants clustered near the beautiful castle I had seen from town below, and I was anxious to explore the area. Oh, but not before making a trip to the bizarre HR Giger Museum. 

HR Giger? You, know the guy who designed the Alien?

What a great movie.

Let me say this: If for any reason you end up in Gruyere, and decide to go to the HR Giger Museum, be forewarned: It is not for the faint of heart. I myself, someone who regularly enjoys the unnatural, felt creeped out. This guy's mind is terrifying. I would be worried locked in a room with him.

The nearby themed bar. This picture does it no justice.

After the museum, was the castle, or in French, Chateau.  Chateau. Ah. Seriously, I wasted my life learning English. What a pretty word.

Chateau....

After contemplating a scheme involving a hostile takeover of a European castle for my residence, I took a small tram ride over to the the Cavalier chocolate factory. 

Never heard of them? You might recognize their merger name: Nestle.

The tour itself was ok, (had a bit of a Disney-vibe) but it was interesting watching the conveyer belt spit out chocolate. The best part was the end, where you got to try several different variations of chocolate. Can someone say, choco-coma.

Now Annecy, a different story.

Having been painted a picture of elegant waterways and old buildings, I was expecting a bit more:

I mean, it had those things...but....

It was a very, very small town. It clearly thrives on tourism, however, I came in their off season. Meaning, the highlight of the area only ran once a day, for 1 hour. 

Which was the boat tour.

It was nice, but, it a.) would have been nicer if it had been the full 2 hour boat tour that runs in-season. b) earlier in the day. As Annecy was so small, I was easily done walking around the city within 2 hours. Interestingly, the place shuts down around 1200, and doesn't re-open until 1430.  I haven't seen that kind of 'we're closed' mentality since Spain. So basically,  you're spending time wandering around trying to think of stuff to do.

I have an idea.

Annecy is easily a half-day tour in the off-season. In summer, I have a feeling this place is really kicking, in terms of activities and hotels:

I WOULD STAY HERE.

Overall, I enjoyed SwisserFrance for about two days, but on the third day I was getting restless. Switzerland clearly has a lot to offer in terms of quiet, nature, and snow.

Next stop is Nice, (Monte Carlo, Cannes) and Turin, Italy.I hadn't planned on going to Italy until December, much less for only a day. However, a direct flight connection to Romania flies outta there, so hence my brief trip. I'll touch upon those on my next update. 

Brief PR: My photography has caught up with my writing, so if you're curious on a (visual) view into my travels: IntPhotography

See you in the South of France. FRANCE!!!!!! I MISSED YOU!!! let's be together again

Paris, and Solo Travel

Bonjour from Paris! (every blog post entry from Paris ever starts with this phrase. bada-tss.)

So, ah....Paris. When you say  Paris, especially with a French lilt, people nod knowingly, whether they've been there or not.

Why, when I was in Paris, I scaled the Eiffel Tower with only a pick-axe.

 Paris is the penultimate destination of travel. Topping as the most visited city in the world, it has sites that are synonymous with France itself.  Eiffel Tower. Notre Dame. Arc d' Triomphe. Versailles. The Louvre. 

Such as the famous Le Selfie a'DiVinci. 

It's the city of Lights, Love, Art, History, and Culture. It's also a very big city. 

BEEP BEEP I WILL HIT YOU WITH  A POISSON JUST YOU WAIT

When you visit Paris for the first time, it's all about these not to be missed sites. Think about it, any conversation about the trip:

"Have you been to Paris?" 

"Yeah!"

"Did you see Versailles?"

"NOPE."

"....what?"

Is not what you are going to say.

I'm sure there's someone out there ready to prove they can do the off-beaten path of Paris in 2 days instead. And then write a top 10 Paris on Buzzfeed. Actually, it's probably on BF now.

Paris is Paris. What's more to be said? I personally think it is a city that is really discovered in return trips, or in the small moments that aren't related to the 'cross this off the list' experiences. The tourist sites are excellent, but they are, again, tourist sites.

And come with the fun that is being jam packed like sardines in a room. 

Visit Paris, and then plan on coming back to see the other sides, sayeth I. For example, do not miss the Catacombs (this is about 60/50 on a first time visit, dependant on your tolerance/time for this sort of thing). This is touristed, true, yet when I went, (with their new later hours) it was practically deserted. Well, except for the couple million human bones.

And there is nothing quite like walking the Catacombs by yourself. At night. Alone. I have so many nightmare-inducing photos. It's great.

Which leads me to a topic I'd like to discuss in relation to scary things. Solo Travel. It's interesting how others view travelling by oneself- at least, it is to me. I'm so used to it, I forget for some people, the idea of going anywhere alone is frightening. Kinda like:

This terrifying picture. Enjoy.

It's always put as a question to me when I travel alone.  While on a D-day tour in Normandy, it came up, (it's the icebreaker) by an older couple.  And when I replied to the inquiry that yes, I was travelling alone, I got a familiar response:

"You're brave!"

Brave?

I'd like to gently deconstruct this, as it's a common adjective I get.  And while it is a nice gesture, it is just not true.

Brave: Literal Definition.

• ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage. 
• people who are ready to face and endure danger or pain. 
• endure or face (unpleasant conditions or behavior) without showing fear.

Facing danger and pain? From travel?

What kind of travel are you referring to, I should say.

To me, being brave is acting with courage under circumstances that have a life or death risk. Catacombs? Not very risky. Going alone through Europe? Less so. Now dragging over 100lbs of soaked equipment, trying to scramble you and your friend up a turbulent beach, while being actively shot at? 

Memorial at Omaha Beach.

I'm not brave, folks. I reserve the term brave for those who demonstrate fearless courage in mortal circumstances.

I am, simply, travelling. 

Why do I travel solo? To sum a lengthy response, I learned a long time ago that waiting for others, most of the time, isn't a great plan. Either they can go, or they can't. If yes, great. If they can't, or don't want to, don't bother. Because you are wasting valuable time where you could be going, doing, seeing.

Like missing out on the opportunity to horrify passing tourists by eating escargots. 

How isolationist of me. 

We as a country eventually dropped isolationism. For the better. Well, opinions, you know.

This isn't because I don't like travelling with others. In fact, I do enjoy it.  I've just been in more circumstances that necessitate travelling alone, so instead of saying, '#$^& it, I won't go alone" I just go.

Kinda like this guy just had to go to the island of Elba.

Travelling with others is the way most people travel. Because it is fun. To those readers who have travelled with me, thanks for those fun trips. (Want to come on another one?) I do like to travel with friends and family. Because there's someone to enjoy stuff with.To share experiences with. And to laugh with when it's all said and done. I'm also foreshadowing here. You know who you are.

I mean, the French revolution wasn't a one-man thing, y'know.

What I'm trying to say it's not bravery going solo. It's a choice, and a possible one, too. No one can get time off to go to Paris? You can do it. You can get on the plane, meet all sorts of nice people, and see everything you want to see. You're also more approachable to others who want to meet you, and they do want to help.

 

IM TRYING TO BE APPROACHABLE, WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING ME, JEEZE 

I met some great locals in a cafe that were more than happy to chat with me whilst sitting alone. They then went ahead and made me a delicious crepe while talking about their lives in Paris, and for the next few days included me in their moments of daily life when I returned. That's the small experiences I mentioned earlier that make Paris. I'd like to come back and have more of those. 

I know I didn't see it all. I scratched at the mere surface of Paris, but what I did see, I enjoyed. I crossed most of the big things off of Paris. So success. Just remember: Travelling solo doesn't require bravery. All it requires is a choice.

 As mentioned earlier, I visited Normandy, (which is a bit far from Paris, but doable. Sleep on the early morning train.) I'd like to share some (bigger sized) pictures from it to close this post, considering I talked a lot about bravery. Like Ypres-Salient, this was a powerful place; the pictures speak for themselves. Now these were brave, brave men. 

Omaha beach. 

"...(for those) who gave their lives so the people of France, Belgium, and Holland might live once again in freedom and peace." -inscripted on a monument for the National Guard  at Normandy.

Here's to bravery, and solo travel. I'll catch you all in Switzerland.