Category Archives: Travel

The great February escape

Posted on February 25, 2025 by JJS

🇫🇷 Un plan se met en place pour 2026 Après une escapade délicieuse, bien que bien trop courte, à Barcelone, une idée mûrit dans mon esprit—une idée qui, comme un bon vin, ne fait que s’améliorer avec le temps. Février, … Continue reading →

Posted in Expat Life, Mediterranean lifestyle, Travel, Travel planning, Winter escape | Tagged Alicante, Digital Nomad, Expat Experience, February Getaway, Holiday Rentals, Mediterranean Living, Ocean Race, Spain travel, Travel Plans, Winter escapes, Winter Sun | 1 Comment

Unexpected paradise

Posted on February 14, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 Unforgettable escape to Sanya Tropical islands—they’re the stuff of dreams and the source of endless holiday envy. During my expat stint in Shanghai, I found myself with a few days off and a hankering for something different. Enter Sanya, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Beach Destinations, Expat Life, Personal adventures, Team Building, Travel | Tagged Beach Holidays, China Travel, Expat Experiences, Luxury Resorts, Sanya, Shanghai Living, Team Building Retreats, Travel Memories, Tropical Islands, Unexpected Destinations | 1 Comment

Back to the emerald isle

Posted on February 12, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 Guinness, Gaelic and grand adventures Ireland is calling again, and who are we to ignore the siren song of the Emerald Isle? Especially when there are direct (and dirt-cheap) flights from our town to Dublin. Now, I may have … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Food and Drink, Ireland, Road Trips, Travel | Tagged Belfast, Cultural Adventures, Dublin, Dublin to Belfast, Europe, Europe Road Trip, Exploring Ireland, Galway, Guinness Brewery, History, Ireland, Ireland Travel, Irish Pubs, Kilkenny, RyanAir Struggles, Sláinte, Travel, Travel Fails, Whiskey Distillery Tour, Wild Atlantic Way | 1 Comment

The week that was – 06/2025

Posted on February 9, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 Time certainly flies—perhaps because I keep myself quite busy. This past week was no exception, packed with unexpected twists, delightful reunions, and a touch of American culture to round it all off. A week ago, a train cancellation forced … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture & History, France, Personal experiences, Travel, Weekly recap | Tagged American Culture, blog, Bordeaux, City Strolls, French, French Elegance, Friends Reunion, Paris, Super Bowl Night, Train Travel, Travel, Unexpected Adventures, Weekend Getaway | 1 Comment

Merveilles Parisiennes

Posted on February 6, 2025 by JJS

🇫🇷 J’ai fait quelque chose de monumentale stupide, j’ai supprimé mon article de blog original. Paf ! Disparu. Volatilisé dans l’éther numérique d’un simple clic maladroit. Et laissez-moi vous dire que je ne suis pas ravi. Cependant, comme les souvenirs … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture & History, Food & Dining, Paris, Travel | Tagged Classic Car Show, French Bistros, French Cuisine, Latin Quarter, Musée de Cluny, Notre-Dame, Paris Restaurants, Paris Travel, Rétromobile, Train Travel, Travel Reflections | 1 Comment

Paris

Posted on February 4, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 A day of culture, nostalgia and a dash of gastronomy in Paris Perhaps it was the proximity of our hotel to the Sorbonne, that grand temple of knowledge, that inspired us to dedicate the day to culture. Or perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture & History, Paris, Travel | Tagged * Paris travel, French, French gastronomy, Historical landmarks, Le Petit Châtelet, Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation, Medieval art, Musée de Cluny, Notre Dame restoration, Pantheon Paris, Paris, Paris walking tour, Parisian cafés, Seine River, Sorbonne, Travel | 1 Comment

The curse of compliments

Posted on February 3, 2025 by JJS

A train tale Did I, by any chance, mention how smooth and delightful our train journey was yesterday? If so, I would like to formally retract that statement and accept full responsibility for what has followed. This morning, the train … Continue reading →

Posted in Life's Little Surprises, Personal reflections, Slow Travel, Train Journeys, Travel | Tagged Bordeaux to Paris, francais, Frasier nostalgia, French, Hotel life, litterature, Relaxing moments, Silver linings, TGV travel, Train Delays, Travel, Travel Mishaps, Travel stories, Unexpected downtime | 1 Comment

Train ride

Posted on February 2, 2025 by JJS

🇬🇧 There’s something delightful about old-school train travel. Currently, I’m comfortably settled in a first-class carriage on the Intercités, gliding from Carcassonne to Bordeaux. I’ve been looking forward to this trip all week, and so far, it’s living up to … Continue reading →