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Updated: February 14, 2014 When Charles Dickens wrote the line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” he must have been living abroad. In fact, there’s a strong chance he was working in Paris as an au pair. Over the past year I’ve learned that expat life certainly has its ups and downs, which somehow feel stronger than the vicissitudes of life back home. When things go wrong, it’s extra frustrating- the French post lost your box of summer clothes, you can’t figure out how to unlock your phone and your banker doesn’t speak a word of English (who, ironically, is the one person in France who wants to speak to you in French). And all the while your family’s across the ocean and it can take a long time to set up a network of friends and acquaintances. Life abroad can get frustrating and lonely very quickly. (And in those moments, god bless Gchat.) But the highs are also so much higher. Everything’s new and exciting. … [Read more...] about Paris Expat: The Reality of Life in France

Eric Tabanou, director of the France Tabac, factory in the Dordogne region of southwest France, said keeping the country's last tobacco processing site open became unviable. AFP/Mehdi FEDOUACH Anti-smoking campaigners may cheer its demise, but for its workers and local tobacco growers, the closure of the France Tabac factory after 34 years of operation is a devastating blow to the Dordogne region of southwest France. "It's a fine mess," lamented Chanquoi, 61, who has worked for over 30 years at the factory in the town of Sarlat-la-Caneda. "It makes you well up a bit, it's hard. I am at the end of my career, but for my friends ... who have a decade of career ahead of them, it is tough," he added. In its heyday after opening in 1985 in one of France's main tobacco growing regions, the factory was a mainstay of the local economy, extending over 10 hectares and processing 20,000 tonnes of tobacco leaves from France and Europe every year. "Our know-how is recognised across all of … [Read more...] about Final puffs for France”s last tobacco factory

Updated: February 14, 2014 Dear Paris, I have a confession. I didn’t love you at first. And I’m not really sure why. Maybe it’s because I associated you with loneliness, as I spent my first three Parisian summers wandering the cobblestone streets by myself. Or maybe it’s because I thought you were cold and uptight, that your citizens were too effortlessly perfect. Maybe it’s because everyone else seems to love you, and I didn’t want to form a part of the swooning, Eiffel Tower-adoring masses. But now, I know that I love you. We’ve been through a lot together, Paris. I’ve watched you move through each season. I’ve seen you without your make-up on, so to speak. I arrived in the fall, when the markets proudly displayed whole mallard ducks and chestnuts fresh from the tree. I was there during the grey, drizzly days of winter, when I tucked into a plate of Japanese curry with kimchi on the Rue Saint-Anne. I was there … [Read more...] about Dear Paris: A Love Letter to the City I Finally Adore

I don’t normally make it the focus of my travels, if there’s an opportunity for me to visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I always make sure I stop. In 1972 the UN, through the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, began recognizing important sites around the world that they consider vital in order to maintain the cultural and natural heritage we have all inherited. Even though I haven’t even scratched the surface of visiting the more than 1,000 sites in every corner of the planet, I have been to quite a few and think every traveler should make a point to visit them if they can. To show the width and breadth of this amazing collection of sites, today I want to share some that while impressive, mostly fly under the tourism radar and hopefully in the process this list will encourage your own UNESCO themed visits in the future. This year I’m working with Allianz Travel Insurance to share my thoughts about travel, what makes me happy when I explore the world and why I … [Read more...] about 7 Under the Radar UNESCO World Heritage Sites I Love to Visit

I recently had the great opportunity to revisit one of my favorite cities in Germany, and one that is perennially underrated, Bremen. Perhaps best known for their link to the famous fairy tale the Town Musicians of Bremen, over two visits I’ve learned that there are many other reasons to love spending time in this remarkable city. Bremen has a very unique personality, one that is completely unlike any other city I’ve visited and I confess that I have absolutely fallen under its spell. Best when combined with a longer trip exploring Northern Germany, today I want to share a few reasons why spending two or three days visiting Bremen should absolutely be near the top of your travel to-do list. Vibrant History Bremen has been a rich and powerful city for a very long time, and that history is seen throughout the city. Most notably it’s hard to miss the city’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, Bremen City Hall and the statue of Roland. Recognized by UNESCO for its … [Read more...] about My Easy Love for Bremen, Germany in 5 Moments