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• France

I feel bad for subjugating such a great country to one little post. I would have loved to split it up by its different yet enchanting cities however, I only visited Paris and though I absolutely fell in love with the City of Light and have much to say on the matter, France has so much to offer. I mean, hello, Champagne? Impressionism? Foie Gras? Paris harbors one of the most iconic and famous structures in the world. And what woman doesn't drool at the thought of French fashion. It is because of France that, once a year, cycling becomes a topic of public discussion. And only in France is cabaret the most popular form of entertainment. Whether you travel to the south for some quiet R & R in a romantic mountain chateau or find yourself mesmerized by the city, France will leave you wanting more.

If you do plan to stay in Parié, make sure you give yourself ample time to see and do everything, because let me be the first to tell you, there is SO much to do. I stayed for 5 days and returned home exhausted and physically injured (DO NOT wear heels in Montmartre, no matter how fashionable Paris makes you feel). Paris just simply has to much history, art and beauty to see and experience. Here's a list of the usual must-sees:

• Snap pictures of the statues, or pose like one yourself, in the Jardin des Tuileries.
• Stop along Pont Alexander III for great picture opps then take a tour of the Esplanade des Invalides.
• Have a picnic in the Parc du Champs de Mars under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower before exploring its 3 levels of perfect views. (And make sure to come back at night to see it lit up and glittering, and reflected in the calm waters of the Seine)
• Get lost in the Lourve for a couple hours and see the grand art at Musee d'Orsay.
• Cross the Pont Neuf and enter the majestic Notre Dame.
• Stroll down Champs-Elysées (and feel really poor) before you climb the Arc de Troimphe and get a 360º view of the city.
• Head up the hill to Basilique de Sacré Coeur in Montmartre and walk the same streets as Van Gogh and Monet.
• Try to find the Phantom of the Opera at Palais Garnier and when you get frustrated in your attempt, make your way to Galeries Lafayette and spend some Euros on French Lingerie.
• Take a well deserved break eating delicious crépes at Chez Nico in the Latin Quarter.

There is a whole lot more to see, do, eat and experience in Paris alone. I barely covered the

main points in the city center. And yet France is a fairly large country. Go explore its grapevine saturated hills and enjoy its cuisine under a clear winter's day. (Which reminds me, if you want less tourists visit Paris in the winter, still beautiful but with less congestion). And French people are so nice and the language is so beautiful. What I would give to be back there now.

• Food

So this post will be vaguely familiar as I have already discussed Dining but I want to annoyingly emphasize how important food is in a travelers experience. Whether a newbie or old-timer, as a traveler, you want to engage all your senses. This way the moment you are in will never be forgotten, even if the city name is. Especially if this is your 5th country in 2 weeks and exhaustion has begun to deteriorate your brain; food can act as an instant trigger for your memory after you have returned home. How can one forget an amazing and orgasmic plate of Polish pierogi or traditional Roman lasagna. Food is not only necessary to stay alive and it gives us nourishment for our bodies, but it makes deep impressions in our minds as it sits on our palette. And there is nothing better than eating a dish in its country of origin. It is prepared and made the same way for hundreds of years, yet still cherished and loved by locals and

foreigners. Freaking delicious.

• Fjords

Geologically, this is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides formed by retreating glaciates. These geologic beauties can be found along the coastline of Norway. A very popular place to see them is in Bergen, preferably in the summer. When I went to Norway, I was just visiting Oslo, and it was winter and I was sick. So let's just say that my expectation of Norway was not fulfilled. However, I had friends who went camping in Bergen in the spring (though it is smarter to wait until summer as spring in the North is basically still winter) and were surrounded by untouched and natural beauty, including great views of the fjords. At www.fjords.com, all the information possible about fjords and vacationing in Norway is at your fingertips. Plus there are great videos to get you excited about the wonders of nature. If you find yourself out of sorts, go to Norway and reconnect with Mother Earth.