paris

Our Trip Across the Pond | 2015

We got back from our european vacation about two weeks ago and we are already getting the itch to travel again! I’ve written a few posts on the trip so far, but I wanted to share all the miscellaneous, random fun we had while traveling around Europe. Check out our adventures in each of our stops along the way below!

European Vacation | Paris:

Our first stop on our European Vacation was Paris. We had a fabulous time! Along with eating macarons and pastries at every adorable cafe we passed, we also climbed the steps of the Eiffel Tower, explored the grounds of the Palace of Versailles and saw the Mona Lisa at the Musee de Louvre. To see more of our time in Paris, click through the pictures below and check out my posts at the Palace of Versailles and the Musee de Louvre!

Early morning stroll to get pastries
Reflections of The Louvre
The view of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Square
Arc de Triomphe
Admiring the gargoyles on the Notre Dame Cathedral
Selfie at the Palace of Versailles
The golden gates of The Palace of Versailles
Some delicious macarons from laduree
Crossing over one of the bridges into the ile de la cite
The view while climbing the stairs of the Eiffel Tower
View from the top of the Eiffel Tower
The Gardens of The Palace of Versailles
Paris in Full Bloom
Delicious macaron cocktail from laduree
Carousel Rides in front of the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower at Night
View of the sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower
Couldn’t get enough of the French Pastries | Laduree
The fabulous grounds of the Palace of Versaillles
Beautiful blooms in from of the Eiffel Tower
Waiting in line bright and early at the Louvre
The enchanting Notre Dame Cathedral

European Vacation | London:

One thing we knew how to do in London was eat! We went to some great restaurants and some amazing markets! You can see from my pictures below, I was mostly interested in the sweets (especially the donuts!) We also made the journey to Windsor to check out the beautiful Castle, where the Queen hangs her crown on the weekends. But my favorite part of all was the London Eye. It had the most amazing views of the skyline, Big Ben and all the beautiful bridges! And don’t forget to check out the adorable neighborhood we stayed in on my Notting Hill post!

Tempting pastries from the market
Westminster Abbey
Vanilla, Hazelnut and Blackberry Rose filled Donuts!- Blackberry was my favorite!
The Queen is In! Checking out Windsor Castle
Gelato as big as my head!
Getting on the London Eye
The grounds of the Windsor Castle
A quick stroll enjoying nature in Hyde Park
Donuts seem to be their specialty in London!
The London Skyline
Big Ben in all it’s glory
Hanging out in front of The Parliament
The Towers of the Windsor Castle
One of the many colorful bridges in London
Bright Blooms in Hyde Park
One of the queen’s guards
The Queen is In! The beautiful Windsor Castle from afar
The Tower Bridge of London
The Tower London Bridge
Some irresistable treats from the market
Jeff and I in front of my favorite bridges to date, the Tower Bridge of London
As close as they would let us get to the Queen’s quarters
The prettiest (and tastiest) fudge in England
One of our favorites in London, The London Eye

European Vacation | Scotland:

We ended our trip in the beautiful country of Scotland. We had quite the adventure driving on the left side of the road through mountains. We spent our days exploring the countryside, hanging out in the dreary, but amazing, town of Edinburgh and taking in the sights. Our Scotland adventure was much different than our usual city excursions, but it was a nice break from the hustle and bustle. Check out my pictures from the last leg of our trip below, hope you enjoy them!

Our scenic drive through Scotland
Castle Stalker from afar
One of our pit stops on our journey through Scotland
Steps to the Top of Arthur’s Seat
View of the Edinburgh Castle from Arthur’s Seat
Feeling exremeley outdoorsy
Edinburgh Castle from Arthur’s Seat
Gothic Churches in Scotland
Edinburgh at night
Gothic Churches in Scotland
The medieval town of Edinburgh
The medieval town of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle from below
Edinburgh Castle from below
The windy hike up Arthur’s Seat
On the top of Arthur’s Seat
Hiking down to a pebbled beach
The quaint city of Oban
Another adorable cafe in Scotland
Delicious treats in Scotland

Feeling Blue at the Louvre

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The Louvre not only houses some of the world’s most famous art, but it’s a work of art itself! I remember sitting in French class in middle school dreaming about the day I would eat a macaron in front of the Eiffel Tower and peer into the glass pyramids of the Louvre. And let me tell you, the Louvre did NOT disappoint… and Mona Lisa says hi!

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The weather was so unpredictable on these spring Parisian days so layers were key! Our days were long and consisted of waking up early for coffee and sights, walking around and exploring the city all day and ending the night with drinks and dinner. A coat was necessary for early mornings and night, but when the sun was out it got pretty warm!

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This light sweater, coat and tight combination was perfect for Paris’s unpredictable state of mind. I got this bright cobalt blue statement coat right before my trip and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. I don’t have a ton of need for a wool coat in San Francisco, but I definitely got my money’s worth of this one in Europe! Especially since it’s on sale for $40! Check out the rest of the outfit below and share your favorite Paris travel tips in the comments!

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shop my look from the louvre:

Blue Wool Coat- similar here (on sale for $40!) / Forever 21 Marled Sweater ($15) / Faux Leather Embroidered Skirt- similar here ($60) and here ($58) / Sam Edelman Booties (on sale for $98!) / Coach Crossbody ($175) / Rocksbox Necklace / BP Sunglasses ($12)

Pink at the Palace of Versailles

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Paris might be the most magical place in the world. With the Eiffel Tower sparkling in the moonlight, champagne and macarons served with every meal and of course the pink marbled walls of the Palace of Versailles, what’s not to love? We’ve seen quite a few castles in our travels around Europe and the Palace of Versailles is by far the grandest we’ve laid eyes on!

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The grounds were absolutely massive! We spent the whole day wandering around taking pictures and admiring the views. We even got lost at one point! The landscaping was done impeccably, with every swirl and shape perfectly trimmed and ready for a photo op! I love picturing French royalty walking out on their terrace and taking in this view every morning. It was completely breathtaking!

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We were not only shocked by the sheer size of the palace, but also by the whole “campus” of Versailles. There were restaurants and cafes (with wifi!), bicycles and boats to rent out and even tourists driving around in golf carts! If you have good eyes you might even be able to spot a couple in my pictures. We spent the whole day exploring, but you could easily spend a week or more at the palace without getting bored! Check out my pictures and share your favorite traveling memories in the comments below!

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shop my Palace of Versailles look:

Pink Textured Sweater ($20) / Tan Leather Jacket- similar here ($197) / Black Fringe Trim Mini Skirt (on sale for $20!) / Black Floppy Hat ($28) / Suede Booties- similar here ($98) / Coach Crossbody ($175) / Statement Necklace ($26) / Heart Sunglasses ($12)