christmas on the riviera

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Nice

While the French Riviera may not be thought of as a winter destination, I was lucky enough to spend my second Christmas abroad in Nice. I love the charm of the Christmas markets mixed with the holiday decor around town–not to mention the beautiful weather and sunshine. I spent the holidays perusing the markets, eating oysters and drinking champagne, and indulging in vin chaud (mulled wine) around town.

Vieux NiceWhile strolling through the old town, I couldn’t help but look up. When you live in a place I don’t think you take the time to really see what’s right in front of you. Or above you. The narrow alleyways in the old town extend in a series of mazes, with bars, restaurants, and shops practically on top of one another. I love the way they decorated this part of the city with chandeliers extending into the middle of the alleys, almost like an image from Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête.

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Nothing starts the day off in France quite like coffee and tarts. I always indulge in a tarte au citron whenever I’m in France. And what better place to do it than Place Garibaldi? My first landmark when I moved to Nice, this square is lined with restaurants and cafes, with terraces in a prime position to take in the sun and do a bit of people watching.Côté Marais

When I used to walk through the old town, I noticed this tucked away restaurant hidden on a side street. It always seemed like a romantic little spot, with a red interior and only a few intimate tables. I was surprised and taken on a date here one night. The restaurant, Côté Marais, was just as nice as I’d imagined, with a great wine selection and incredible French cuisine.

Italy

One Sunday we took the train from Nice and went across the border of Italy into the first town, Ventimiglia. This charming town has a market each Friday filled with all sorts of meats and cheeses, leather items, and other products, spreading along the coast. On a quiet Sunday, it’s the perfect place to grab a coffee and take in the view on the Italian Riviera. If you walk further up, you can head into the old town, a maze of narrow streets winding upwards. If you’re lucky, you may spot one of the old Italian women hanging laundry out to dry or just looking down at you from her window, curious as to what you’re up to.
Ventimiglia

denver kerouac-style

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Leaving the Magnolia Hotel. dress and sunglasses: BCBGeneration; jacket: BCBG Max Azria: bag: Michael Kors; boots: Nine West Vintage America Collection

Here I am, once again looking like a walking BCBG ad, in downtown Denver. I fled the Florida heat in favor of the start of fall in Colorado. It was my first time out west, and to get in the mindset I read Kerouac’s On the Road and bought a few new pairs of ankle boots.

While strolling through downtown Denver, I loved recognizing the famous street names that Kerouac kept mentioning in his novel. I could see why he was so desperate to hitchhike to Denver, and why he kept coming back. With the mountains visible in the distance, downtown has the best of both worlds–city and scenery. There are also a number of bars famous for being Kerouac’s stomping grounds. Similar to Hemingway’s La Closerie des Lilas and Café de Flore in Paris, Kerouac had his own set of haunts in downtown Denver. We stopped by one of his jazz bars, El Chapultepec,our first night in town and heard live music in the narrow dive.

Nederland Park in Boulder, CO

After a few days in Denver, I went over to Boulder, about an hour away and went for hikes through the mountains and walks along Pearl Street. I even got a glimpse of the first snow of the season.

fall resolutions

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October is approaching, and as we’re easing into fall, I realized the year is over halfway over. That led me to thinking about New Year’s (my favorite holiday) and resolutions. I purposely didn’t make any resolutions this year, just a bucket list of places I would like to visit. Since January, I’ve done a pretty good job of crossing off places on the list. But just as I cross off one place, I get inspired or invited to visit another. One of the perks of having friends who are just as glomadic as I am.

Austin

Great joint for brunch. I had an iced coffee that was the perfect retreat from the austin heat.

I finally made my way out to Texas to visit a friend in Houston and take a mini roadtrip to Austin. I’d been curious about seeing Austin for a while. A lot of people from Gainesville (Florida) had migrated out to this Southern city known for its booming music scene (SXSW anyone?) and culinary delights (including food trucks, everywhere). After a year in Europe, I couldn’t help but indulge in tacos and chips and salsa, especially from stands at 3am. They seemed trustworthy, right?

Austin Tacos

I could eat the tacos here all day.

Austin had that college town vibe I loved at the University of Florida, but on a much larger scale. The city is dominated downtown by 20 and 30-somethings full of creative energy transforming the town into something really special. After a weekend of music, paddleboarding, and sampling of Austin’s restaurants, including dinner at Uchi and brunch at Hillside Farmacy, I started thinking about my bucketlist and other places I wanted to visit this year. Who says you can’t make fall resolutions? Next stop is Denver, to visit some old and new friends.

shopping local: ibiza

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Necklace

Summer may be officially over, but September is one of the best times to island hop. As Ibiza is in its last call of summer with closing parties, the clubs may be shutting down for the year, but the island is really at its finest. While the island takes partying and music to a new level (this coming from a Miami girl), its bohemian spirit is what really makes Ibiza special. Across the island, the so-called hippies have left their mark in the form of stone carvings and sculptures. The bohemian vibe is all over the island and in particular at the hippie market in Las Dalias. Vendors set up the most wonderful displays of leather handbags, hand-dyed scarves, and hand-made jewelry. I came across this wooden pendant made from wood found on the island. The artist hand-wove the string to form a necklace to go along with the piece. It still smells like the island now, bringing back memories of the beautiful beaches and laid-back Spanish lifestyle. The boho chic lifestyle is part of what makes Ibiza so special, along with the legendary parties and music. A friend of mine gave described the island perfectly, saying, “It’s one of the most magnetic places on Earth. Your compass will just spin when you get there.” The feeling was everywhere. We followed the music and let it be our guide.

Las Dalias

Las Dalias

Torre del Pirate

View from the Pirate Tower

south beach swim week

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Miami swim week wrapped up this week, but swim season in Miami is never over. While I personally can’t get enough of strappy one-piece suits (how do they get into those things?) and sky-high wedges, some trends work better off the runway and on the beach than others. Here are some ideas to get you through summer in south beach (or anywhere!):

1. Trade in basic braids for a fishtail. Quick and easy (my friend literally did mine in two minutes on the train ride to the Cannes film festival), this look is great for summer and pulls a look together. The messier, the better.

2. Try out a turban. Turbans graced the runways (again) and surprisingly enough, look great with swimwear. Instead of investing in this trend, take a scarf and create a DIY turban. The best part is this makes a bad hair day not so bad. When you’re ready to leave the beach, turn the scarf into a sarong. Voila! Two looks in one.

3. Give crochet an update. Boho chic works in swimwear as well with crochet knit tops. But what gives this trend a more modern look is when a suit is made from spandex and nylon. Appropriate for pool parties or actually entering the pool, this suit will make you stand out from the rest of the pack. And it almost seems practical too!Image

in transition

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It is a strange thing to come home. While yet on the journey, you cannot at all realize how strange it will be.

This quote is how I’m feeling now, and what I was thinking about while I was traveling throughout eastern Europe with my roommate. She was planning on heading back to the States a day after we returned from our trip. Meanwhile, I wasn’t sure of anything. I had pushed my return ticket home an extra month so I could stay in Nice and make a last-minute trip to Sweden. Our trip began with a plane ride to Venice, and then we took the train to Zagreb and Split in Croatia; took a catamaran to the Croatian island of Hvar; trained back up to Zagreb and then Budapest (with a petit detour in a small village in Croatia due to hopping on the wrong train); left on a late train to Prague; flew to London (barely making our flight) and then eventually back to Nice. While in transit, I tried to imagine what I would do back in the States. Miami is my home base, but I haven’t really found my home. For the two weeks I traveled, each hostel and hotel was my home. The exciting part about not knowing where you’re going next is that the possibilities are endless. And it is more of an adventure getting there. xx

Laura, my roommate, on our detour in a small town in Croatia en route to Budapest

paint the town

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all photos taken by the lovely Steffi Hufnagl

One of my favorite things about Miami is that the city is always in motion. It’s like New York in the sense that stores and restaurants are opening and closing, and parts of the city can be transformed in a matter of months. Of course we can always count on South Beach hotspots like Liv to be drawing a well-heeled crowd, but what makes for better people watching, and better conversation, is when the artists of Miami get together and create something. And that leads us to Wynwood.

With street art comparable to Berlin’s Kreuzberg and over 70 galleries, Wynwood is booming and blooming in midtown Miami. On the second Saturday of the month, galleries open their doors to the masses to share art and culture during ArtWalk. Similar to a massive block party, DJ’s and food trucks lined the streets as the masses set out to take in the scene. After checking out some of the awesome street art in Europe, it was refreshing seeing some in my hometown. And after taking in the art (and culture) there are enough cafes, bars, and dance parties happening right around the corner.

snapshots of europe

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On a trip to Amsterdam in late November, I purchased a lomography camera on a whim. Not only is the camera a cute accessory (people have asked me if it’s a real camera), it allows for special effects with film and settings. I also love the old school notion of not knowing what you shot until the film is developed. The shot above is from a roll I finished months ago. The roll traveled around with me this Christmas to Paris and later back to Cannes and Monaco. This double exposure is the Nice train station and a pier in Cannes, beautifully combined with a red tint thanks to RedScale film. I haven’t gone on a trip without this camera since I’ve gotten it.

Taking photos in Prague, on the Charles Bridge

spring in stockholm

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Before leaving Nice, I took a final weekend getaway to Stockholm, Sweden. This trip had been in the works for a while, but the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I was just moving out of my apartment and couchsurfing for the time being, so a trip was much needed. I flew to Stockholm to visit a friend and see the city with someone who lives there. I had no expectations; just a desire to see a new city. After a lingering winter in Europe, it was great to enjoy the spring weather in Stockholm.

Wandering through the streets of Stockholm on my own my first day in town was the remedy for my anxiety about returning to the US. I’d been having mild panic attacks every time I thought about going back. Having to drive again? And paying in dollars? Très bizarre! So instead of getting lost in my head, I got lost in the city. I let it take me where it wanted. I crossed multiple bridges and walked up cobblestone streets. Found an outdoor cafe under a bridge by a park. Stopped thinking about what was happening in a week from now and started thinking about what was happening now. We ate Swedish caviar and picked herring; drank cider in the rose gardens; had a picnic (or three) on the water; and stayed out til sunrise at a club called Lady Patricia in a boat on the water. And everyone I met told me I came just at the right time, that it had been freezing just a few weeks earlier. At least this was one trip that I packed weather-appropriate clothing for.