London, Èze, Italy, and Food!

Salut!

I feel like I'll say this every time, but the past two weeks have been busy, busy, busy!

On Tuesday the 17th, I booked a very last-minute trip to London to leave that Thursday morning. This was certainly one of the more spontaneous decisions I've made, but it felt exciting, adventurous, and liberating to take a last-minute trip to a new city (and country!) with a completely open mind, no expectations, and very little planning. And what an adventure it was! London is the city that keeps on giving. It is filled with so many pockets of unexpected joys - from the food and stores to the museums, art, and nature. Each neighborhood has its own unique character, and I tried to take in as much as possible in the three short days I was there.

Thursday the 19th:

After arriving in London early that morning, (with this sunrise?!):

we took the tube to our hotel in Kensington and soon after ventured out to Notting Hill for some shopping and exploration. Notting Hill is a charming, colorful neighborhood with the most unique local and vintage shops. I browsed through gorgeous vintage jewelry and one-of-a-kind designer pieces before stopping for lunch at a corner cafe with the best lavender pear jam and oat lattes. I purchased a jar of jam to take back and ate it all in about four days. I only wish I would have been able to purchase a lifetime supply... it was that good!

We then traversed through Hyde Park, which was personally my favorite moment of the trip. With Nice being a developed coastal and tourist city, there is a large lack of designated green space for public use. I did not realize how much I missed being surrounded by nature until I walked through the serene, expansive landscape of Hyde Park. Trails went on for miles and walking through them felt like I was completely isolated from the rest of the bustling city. At the edge of the park is Round Pond which is home to a large variety of ducks and is enjoyed by many locals on evening strolls or runs. We arrived just at sunset, so it was a perfect sight to see birds flying across the skyline, swans drifting through the pond, and a golden hue reflecting off the water. It was my absolute favorite thing to take in all of this beauty.

a black swan!

We ended the night browsing through stores on Oxford Street and getting the most delicious Thai food for dinner. Edamame, sriracha noodles, bamboo curry, and a passionfruit martini... yum.

Friday the 20th:

The next morning we stopped by Camden Market, which was also really incredible and fun. Here I got hooked on halva (a Middle Eastern confectionary made of sesame!), tried London gin, and surprisingly got converted into a tea-lover... which I didn't think was possible. But when in London, I guess!

That afternoon and evening, I fulfilled my tourist wishes and took a picture in a phone booth, visited the British Museum, and toured the National Gallery. The National Gallery in particular was another top highlight, as I got to admire the original works of so many of my favorite artists up close... Titian, Botticelli, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Monet! It was a really special experience.

Saturday the 21st:

Saturday was another day spent sight-seeing! We visited Buckingham Palace (and saw a rosy pelican!), Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge. We stumbled across Old Spitalfields Market after lunch, got some vegan desserts, and spent a couple of hours that evening at the National History Museum. It was especially fun putting my geology knowledge to use in the minerals gallery!

And because of our early morning Sunday flight, we finished the night in true British fashion... by watching the Harry and Meghan documentary of Netflix.

For going into this trip with such little planning, I truly had such a fulfilling and memorable experience in London. And now that I am both a tea and jam enthusiast, I am ready to move there tomorrow! It is a really inviting city with the best food, arts, and people. There is still so much I would have loved to see and do, but I hope that will just be a reason for me to come back again someday. I am overwhelmingly grateful that I was able to visit over just a long weekend between classes, and that I was able to indulge in so many incredible experiences at this point in my life. It's pretty unbelievable.

~

This past week has consisted mostly of classes, as well as an adventure to the neighboring town of Èze for a scenic hike along the cliff of the town bordering the sea. It is hard to put into words the beauty of the panoramic view from the hike, with white and red buildings perched alongside rocky outcrops scattered across the coastline.

I also indulged in a wine and cheese tasting on Friday! (And in case you were curious - I learned that port goes best with blue cheese, white wines pair well with goat, and sparkling goes nicely with a camembert! And if you want your charcuterie board to excel, make sure to include a combination of washed-rinds, goat, blue, hard, and soft cheeses alongside some figs, honey, and nuts!).

This was a really fun opportunity to deeply engage in French culture and cuisine. Wine and cheese are such ingrained parts of everyday life, and it is a bit of an art form to be able to master the craft of aging, tasting, and pairing products. France in particular values the production of local, small-batch foods, and you can really tell a difference in the freshness, taste, and quality of products. Wine and cheese are more than just accompaniments to a meal. It is a way to bring people together, to value the work of local farmers, and give thanks to the natural environment for producing such delicacies. I think that can even be said about much of the French culture surrounding food. With little added preservatives or unnecessary ingredients, food is honored in a way to symbolize community, nourishment, and good health.

Another thing that I love about Nice - and French culture - is the way that art and music are so deeply imbedded in daily life. You simply cannot walk down the main street without passing by someone playing the guitar or violin. The grocery store has a piano where shoppers frequently stop to play a quick tune between errands. On Sunday mornings, local bands have come out to perform French anthems near the market. You may even find artists sketching or painting by the shore during sunset. It brings so much joy and life to the streets of Nice, and it is also a reminder to myself to slow down and take in the music while I have the opportunity to. And there is really nothing else like being serenaded on the way to class each day!

~

This weekend, I was able to take a quick day-trip to two scenic towns in the Italian Riviera, Dolceaqua and San Remo. We had perfect weather all day, ate lunch with an incredible seafront view, and I got to pet so many cute cats and dogs (I am very animal-deprived here!!).

The cat is named Sylvester, and he is the beloved groundskeeper of the castle in Dolceaqua :)

~

Over the past few weeks, workers across France have been on strike protesting a reform to raise the pension age from 62 to 64 years old. Today (Tuesday the 31st), there was another organized protest in Nice. It was surprisingly very peaceful and joyous, with music, bands, and entertainment filling the streets. It was really interesting to be able to witness this from an outsider's perspective, and I've enjoyed being able to learn more about the workings of social movements and politics across the country in contrast to that of the United States.

The rest of my week will be spent in classes, studying, and visiting a local commune, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, to learn about the perils and vulnerabilities of coastal communities in relation to climate change. I also am hoping to attend a symphony at the Nice Opera on Friday night, and will potentially head over to the neighboring town of Antibes this weekend to do some hiking and adventuring!

I am also looking forward to an upcoming trip to Paris in a couple of weeks!! Can you believe it?! I hope to indulge in many pâtisseries, see some incredible artwork, and embrace all that the Parisian life has to offer! So excited!

I will conclude with an honorable mention to the most delicious meal I have had in France thus far! Featured are vegan banana pancakes, filled with chocolate chips, and topped with slivered almonds, pears, and maple. I was not expecting a literal 'pan cake', but these were both massive and divine, and the most exceptional pancakes I have ever had. I will be dreaming about them for a long time. So if you ever find yourself in Nice, be sure to visit La Popote d'Ondine and order this - you will not be disappointed!

That is all I have for now! Thank you all very much for your continued support! I am missing all of my family and friends and sending some of this beautiful Nice sunshine your way! ☀️💛

A bientôt,

Allyson :)