I Heart LA

Settling back into the LA lifestyle has been interesting after traveling for 8 months. But if I'm going to be in the States, there's no better place than Hollywood! Despite trying to "lay low" in January, I've already been to some cool events, like First Fridays in Venice Beach where all the food trucks gather near Abbott-Kinney. I've seen rising local bands play like my new favorite Caught a Ghost. I went to Anaheim to see some of the coolest craft exhibits I've ever seen, like a massive tree made out of paper.

I've hiked to the Hollywood Reservoir and seen some great Americana art at LACMA. But more than the cool events, what I love about LA is the non-stop daily activities that we all take for granted. For instance, I love just going to Starbucks for the day's celebrity siting while plugging in my laptop for a long, caffeinated work session. In France, they aren't hip to the computer culture so there are never any outlets for your laptop. No celebrities either...

Now that I am officially settled, stay tuned for more blogs on all the fun kitsch things that LA is sure to offer in the coming months~

No Fly List

We've all had bad experiences on flights and the more you travel the more complaints you may have. I've got a whole list of companies I refuse to fly with again. Their flights may be a little cheaper, but at what cost? Here's my No Fly List:

American Airlines: I had a near-death experience with this airline! One of the engines blew and the cabin filled with smoke. The breathing masks fell from the roof as the plane fell hundreds of feet. We emergency landed and had to jump off the wing of the plane. As we waited for hours to be taken to the nearest aiprort to wait for a new plane, they treated us like cattle. All of our belongings stayed on the plane, leaving me with no money. They refused to feed us and didn't compensate us for our trauma or time. They also happen to have the smallest, most cramped cabins in the industry.

Iberia: This Spanish airline is so outdated. Their website doesn't work properly, they overcharge for excess baggage, and they have the worst in-flight entertainment! I was stuck on an international flight for 12 hours with 1 TV for the whole cabin, which played tv shows and movies from the 80s that I never even heard of. Can you say bootleg?

Easy Jet: They're baggage policies are just plain ridiculous. A hand purse is considered a carry-on so if you want to take another bag on you better stuff your purse inside. The staff have the worst attitudes.

United: I swear the seats on these flights are so tightly crammed in, the leg room is non-existent. Torture for an international flight. Some of the planes have the shared TVs, some have individual, but it's always a risk.

Enough complaining. Here are some of my favorite airlines that I strongly recommend:

Lufthansa: They give free beer out like it's water!

Delta/Air France: Great in-flight entertainment, leather seats

British Airways: Great in-flight entertainment, chipper flight attendants

Book wisely, make your next flight a little more comfortable~

Lost and Found

As my traveling comes to an end and I head back to LA to start my life anew, I feel such mixed emotions. I feel a bit lost as I face the inevitable struggles of piecing a stable life back together. I feel the loss of many things I once had but now do not.

I lost a secure job and therefore lost a lot of money when I decided to go chasing my dreams across the Atlantic. I lost my wonderful Hollywood apartment and I gave away everything inside except my clothes. I sold my car. I lost my iphone in the streets of Paris. I randomly lost a swimsuit top. I lost my sense of home.

But I found a lot of things too. I found new friends in new places. I found a million new experiences. I found new knowledge of the world. I found out a lot about myself that I didn't know before.

Sooner than later, I'll find a job, apartment, car and all the things that make a home. But this time it will be better than the last because of who I have become by rummaging through the lost and found.

Forêt Domaniale de l'Estérel

I found the most amazing hiking spot down the coast from Mandelieu at Forêt Domaniale de l'Estérel. This picturesque place is a treasure trove of natural beauty. There's a small island just off the main shore that has an ornate little castle on it. The beach is rocky, but the stones are big enough to make sitting on them comfortable. The mountain is high but the hike is not too steep, making it an enjoyable trek. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore in this place, perfect for anyone looking for a little hiking aventure.

Sunset on the peaks of the mountain overlooking the sea is the most stunning site I've found in France. It's a perfect place for a romantic picnic or fun with friends. Although it's farther down the coast from the bustling center cities of Nice, Monaco and Cannes; for me it is a must see.

Joyeux Noel!

Celebrating Christmas in France was a wonderfully delicious experience. Their traditions are pretty much the same as in the States; Christmas tree, nativity scenes, presents, family, and lots of food and drinks. But their cuisine is second to none and that's what makes their celebrations distinctly different.

We had a four course meal on Christmas Eve and another on Christmas day. Each time we started with whiskey drinks and an amazing aray of appetizers that were out of this world. I've now had foie gras two different ways. The second course consisted of sea-food; oyesters, shrimp and salmon. Then there's the elaborate main course, paired with red wine of course. The deserts are inevitably addictive. We had a type of crème brûlée, ice cream cake, chocolates and a yummy treat I've never seen before; nuts on an almond paste. Of course all paired with champagne. My mouth waters just thinking about it all. I felt like I should owe a hefty restaurant bill, I've never had such amazing home cooked food in my life! We were too full from dinner to make it to any midnight mass, so we enjoyed more desert and champagne by the fireplace instead. I could get used to Christmas in France. Bonne fête à tous!

French Faves and Fun Facts

I love absorbing little things about the French culture, and there are many. Here are some of my faves!

- No school on Wednesdays! Mothers don't work on Wednesdays so they can stay home with their kids.
- McDonald's France serves beer. I also love the Deluxe Potato option not available in the US.
- Vintage clothing store Free P Star has two awesome locations in Paris and you can find hip threads for as little as 1 euro. So many good finds, so little suitcase space...
- Gothic art and architecture was born in France and wonderful examples can be seen everywhere.
- Many English phrases originated from French. Now I finally know what à propos means!
(other examples: Déjà vu, RSVP=Répondez s'il vous plaît, Laissez-faire, and numerous cinematic terms of course: Film noir, Femme fatale, Avant garde, Cinéma vérité)
- There are over 1,000 different kinds of French cheese. Cheese for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks! Obviously goes great with the large wine selection.
- Chocolate is also a big thing for breakfast. Can't argue with that~
- Even as an American, you can go to the hospital and they won't charge you. The health care system is pretty sweet here, but citizens pay for it with taxes.
- A lot more French people speak more English than you'd think. If you try to speak a little French, they try to speak English. It's actually pretty adorable.
- The infamous French attitude is a mask to hide their sensitivity. This is from the mouth of a french girl, not me. But I find it to be true. At first it can be a turn off, but it's what I think the world loves about the French. It's that hidden vulnerability that makes them so irresistible.
- Of course their style is second to none. Even kids are trendy here. They generally have great taste.
- They love American culture as much as we love theirs. There are tons of American TV shows on, but they are all dubbed in French. My favorite is the Simpsons. 
- Many people think French people stink. Completely not true. The majority of perfumes are made here and they do use it. 

Not everything is so great here. Just to be fair, here are some things I don't like about France.
- The movie theaters are so small. And generally don't sell popcorn.
- Most stores close really early, especially on Sunday.
- The French postal system scares me. Too many strikes and not enough reliability.
-The customer is NOT always right. It can be hard to find good service and they don't want your tip. Okay, I'm on the fence about this one. It's their sensitive brooding side, remember? And I don't have to tip? That's a relief!

There are clearly more good things about France than bad, that's why it's the number one tourist destination. And there are hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants here too. Don't look at me, I got a visa!

Mandelieu La Napoule

I've been living in Mandelieu, a little town just south of Cannes on the French Riviera. I've been enjoying the peace and quiet that the town brings. Almost everyday I take a walk down a cute little path near my apartment that leads to the Mediterranean Sea. Although it's winter, the sun still shines and I love exploring the nature in my own backyard.

I love the birds that populate this path. They sing to each other and seem to dance in the wind.

Mandelieu is one of my favorite beaches because it is much less crowded than the rest of the coast. It's a sandy beach which is nice because many French beaches have rocks instead of soft sand. The water is so blue and inviting. This time of year it's great for quiet contemplation, there's not many people around except for some fisherman.

Mandelieu La Napoule is less popular than some of the other towns on the coast, but maybe that's what I like about it. It's untouched, still pure. Still clean and full of boundless nature~