Summer day in Paris

Have you ever been in Paris? It's beautiful any time of the year but summer is very special. Choose a sunny day and take a nice walk on the streets in Paris.


Start your morning with a cup of coffee and a fresh baked croissant at the little cafe in downtown.


Try to plan to visit to the Louvre, one of the largest museums in the world and home for the many historical works of art.


One day is not enough to see them all but you just have to see it with your own eyes!



Have lunch at a restaurant or a glass of champagne at the champagne bar at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Go to the top floor of the tower to see the spectacular view of Paris!


There are 80 museums in Paris. If you still have time, try to visit one of them. One day is way too short to see them all!


Then take a walk on the bank of the river Seine, find a little cozy cafe, have a seat outside and enjoy the rest of the sunny day alone with the fine French cuisine and the perfect surroundings.


Story by Alena (Frenchfelt) and Lana (BelleCoccinelle)
Translated by Tanya (Socksandmittens)

A little know secret. Santa Fe, NM

New Mexico, known as a land of enchantment, is a state that is not very high on most vacation destinations lists, and that's too bad.

While one can sweat it out in New York this summer or spend time in traffic jams in LA, let me tell you why I'd rather be in Santa Fe, the oldest capital in the United States (est. 1500). The air of this high desert is dry, the sun is always shining, restaurants work on european style lunch and dinner hours, and jewelry filled art markets are abundant. Ilf and Petrov once said that this town feels fake, but I think they might have been confusing museum dryness with sun parched streets where real free spirits roam.


A Car is essential here and plan on driving far. For a completely grown up get-away one can take the waters at the gorgeous Ojo Caliente Spa, sample a wonderful meal of red chile enchiladas and sparkly margaritas at the Shed, visit art stalls at any of the numerous (there is always one going on) fiestas and talk to the native-american jewelers about their inspiration, or better yet plan on visiting an International Folk Arts Fair (UNESCO designated) to interact to truly staggering number of international artisans.


Nature lovers can head up to the Sangre De Cristo Mountains north of Santa Fe for a lovely walk under the aspen trees, though lack of oxygen might require you to take a few stops along the way to take in the view and reapply the sunblock lotion. Or venture to the Bandelier national monument to see the caves and dwellings of the pueblo people who lived here long before Plymouth rock was named. Time your visit for lavender picking season to gather your own perfume heavy harvest, or simply stop by Santa Fe Farmer's market to buy a lavender bunch and pot of local wild flowers honey.


You wouldn't be alone in appreciating this hidden gem, as you might run into Gene Hackman or Simon Pegg in the local restaurant, but it's a tradition here to leave the stars in peace and let yourself concentrate rather on the meandering cute adobe streets of this town from one of the thousands of galleries to the next and enjoying the warmth of the desert air.

Story by Elena (PeonyForest)