Let’s catch you up on our time in France—

This summer, France is looking a bit different than previous years. Now, I’m about to share all the things that didn’t go as planned, not to complain, but to show the reality of travel plans not going perfectly as expected. If you’ve watched our France series, you’ll see that despite the heatwave, the drought, and the bare lavender fields, we were (and are) so incredibly happy to be here, exploring all the wonders France has to offer. Making the most out of the unexpected is what we’re all about, and sharing the hardships, well, it just reminds us all that we’re just two regular humans, living a life that isn’t perfect. Anyhow— let’s have a little story time…

One day after we landed in the city of love, we were slammed with a brutal heatwave that followed us to the Provence region. The country doesn't typically experience such high temperatures, so most places don’t have AC. We decided to purchase a $15.00 floor fan from the convenience store, and by golly, it’s one of the wisest purchases we’ve ever made. The little fella doesn’t oscillate, so it has to be pointing at just one of us at a time, but we’ve found a perfect balance of sharing its oh so delightful breeze. Needless to say, our beloved little fan will be traveling with us (in our carry-ons!!!) for the next month, or so.

Once we made it to Provence, we were informed that the region is experiencing a bit of a drought, meaning some of the springs were dried up and the rivers were very low with water. We had gone to visit one of the largest springs in the world just to see a small puddle in a cave.

Now, the whole reason we booked our trip to France in the smack middle of peak season was to see the endless rows of purple lavender fields in the countryside. Of course, unlike most years, the lavender was chopped early, meaning we, instead, got to see an endless field of bald bushes. We really just couldn’t stop laughing, as we sweat through our souls under the blazing sun, because sometimes it’s the bald bushes and the non-so-perfect content that gets people smiling haha.

Now, with all of that said, France is a country you just can’t miss out on. After taking on an epic food tour around Paris, we both agree that the quality of the food here is some of the best we’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. If you can eat a whole patty of raw ground beef, just like that, you know it’s some quality food.

The biggest mistake some people make is only visiting Paris or the big cities in France. If you haven’t already you need to get your little butt down to Provence, because it’s seriously one of the most peaceful and charming places in the world. And while you’re down here, you’ve got to see France’s little Grand Canyon and a traditional market that’s been going on for over 900 years!

New to our little art shop—

Two years ago, I illustrated a piece called “Golden Afternoon,” and in collaboration with Silk/Soie, my piece has been carefully embroidered and turned into a repeat pattern for a silk scarf. The final product is 35 by 35 inches of luxurious silk twill with the perfect finish of a hand-rolled edge. If you would like to support our little art shop by taking home one of these colorful silk scarves, you can find them on our website! Thank you in advance for supporting the creative side of what we do.

Travel hack of the month—

Save money, and enjoy convenient underwater exploring by bringing your own snorkeling gear while traveling! Before flying out to Turkey and Greece, we were gifted two pairs of snorkeling masks and flippers. I think it’s extremely evident in our videos, but these items have brought us both so much genuine joy these past few months. Swimming is already so fun, but being able to see underwater and go at superhuman speeds?! Now, that’s a game-changer! Here’s why we make space for our beloved snorkeling gear in our little carry-ons:

1. Saves money. Renting snorkeling gear is crazy expensive, and when we see that hefty price, we pass on an experience we would’ve otherwise really enjoyed.

2. More sanitary. After living through a pandemic, we decided to play it safe by not renting something that shares the same mouth-piece with previous users.

3. Better quality. It seems like the rental goggles are always a bit old and scratched up. Better to have gear that is actually worth using!

4. Perfect size. It’s quite hard to find a pair of flippers that perfectly fit our feet. And it’s quite hard to swim with flippers that don’t fit just right. The flippers we have fit on both of our feet seamlessly, thanks to an adjustable backing!

5. No restrictions. If we have our own gear, we can conveniently snorkel anytime and anywhere!

Our exact route for the month—

Chattanooga, TN, USA: July 1-13

Atlanta, GA, USA: July 13

Minneapolis, MN, USA: July 13 (layover)

Reykjavik, Iceland: July 13 (layover)

Paris, France: July 14-18

Provence, France: July 18-30

Menton, France: July 30-31

ONE YEAR OF TRAVELING THE WORLD (what it’s really like)

As we turn 24 years old, we reflect on all the countries we had the opportunity to experience during the age of 23. Here is a link to the video.

EPIC FRENCH FOOD TOUR in PARIS, FRANCE (the ultimate guide)

Paris is home to some of the best food in the entire world, and we wanted to see if the French cuisine lives up to its hype. Here is a link to the video.

MOST BEAUTIFUL CANYON IN EUROPE? (France’s Gorges du Verdon)

Provence is home to the Gorges du Verdon, a river canyon that is said to be the best canyon in all of Europe. Here is a link to the video.

ULTIMATE DAY IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE (best things to do)

When you visit Provence, France, there are two things you can’t miss— the traditional French markets and the lavender fields. Here is a link to the video.

If you’re interested—

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Claire (and Chad)