It’s been a week now that I’ve been in Italy. I’m staying at a villa near Corciano in the Umbria region, which is most times beyond reality. This past weekend, I had my first ever hostel experience  in Florence but, more on that later.

First, to finish up Paris.

Well, not exactly Paris, because the airport in Amsterdam is definitely worth noting. The signage is clean, crisp, colorful ..a minimalist designer’s dream. The bathrooms have orange toilet paper. Those cute KLM uniforms are everywhere. That blue. Sigh. Too bad KLM is all brawn no brains, because their brand identity is just SO good. Anyhow, if in Amsterdam, MUST go to chocolate bar. MUST.

A KLM bread/creamcheese treat? Beats peanuts for sure.

Back to Paris. In the States, it’s all about the plastic. Bags, cups, packaging, tampons… you name it, it probably comes in plastic. I can’t really explain what makes eating creamy yogurt out of a glass container or drinking ice cold milk out of a glass bottle better. It just is. And while it may seem like a waste to throw so much glass around, remember that the French are a bit ahead of our time in the sustainability department. Bring your own bags to the grocery store, or walk the walk of shame out the door.

Reuse!

What’s a vacation without Vietnamese food? We got a little home away from home with a little Little Saigon at a place we stumbled upon. Scouring the streets for Japanese, we were dumbfounded when, all that time, we had been standing in front of a Viet place.

I’m getting a bit nostalgic looking at the photos from Paris, but I can’t wait to show off what the villa looks like.

Next, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, and the Tour Eiffel.

Bisous,
N