I Went Country in Paris

Travel Wednesday
Happy Wednesday everyone!

Keeping Travel Wednesday in chronological order were leaving Iceland for the week and jumping over to France for a quick trip.

While in Iceland I spent 4 months working as a marketing intern for a volunteer placement company. In May this company sent me on a week long trip to Paris to attend a conference about sustainability and how it can be applied to volunteering. To say I was excited about this opportunity was an understatement, Paris in the springtime, a dream come true!

Paris in the Springtime
I only had one day in the city before I had to head out to a smaller town outside of Paris where I would be staying for the conference. That one day was put to good use though and I did my best to pack in as much sightseeing as possible.


Paris
Notre Dame
Lucky for me I had my own personal tour guide, my co-worker Lucia who had spent a year living in Paris. She saved us many times with her ability to speak French!

Lucia
With out her navigation/french skills I would have been lost all day, which would have been fine by me I loved exploring the little streets all over the city.

Paris
Street Note
I am in love with this blue door, I don’t know why but I find it so charming and beautiful and when H and I visited Paris later that year I made him walk around and help me find it again.


While we were walking towards the Arc de Triomphe we were greeted with mass crowds of people and soldiers blocking the streets off. We happened to be in Paris on the day of the Presidential inauguration so it was really cool to get to witness a piece of French history, even if I didn’t get to see the Arc de Triomphe up close.

Paris
DSCN0859
It was one exhausting day in Paris but it was great to see a bit of the city before we headed off to the smaller french town for the conference.

Canal we stayed on
The entrance to where we were staying on the canal, I loved this place!

Cottage enterance
As I said we were in Paris for a conference about sustainability so during our time in the little town we headed out to visit nearby farms that were practicing sustainable methods. These farm visits were the most memorable part of the trip for me, the countryside was so beautiful, the pictures just don’t do it justice.

Cottage entrance
Entrance to the first farm we visited. Why doesn’t every house have these adorable entrances?


French farm
Everything about the second farm we visited was just to perfect, this dog clearly needed me to stay and spend the day here with him.

French Dog
The third farm we visited was using wind power to generate all their greenhouses. It was such a beautiful area to visit and so interesting to see first hand how the farmers were changing their methods to be more sustainable.

French farm
French farms
While this wasn’t exactly how I pictured my first trip to Paris to be like it was such an amazing experience and I am so glad I was given this opportunity. Little did I know that I would find myself back in Paris in just four short months, but thats for another Travel Wednesday :)

Next week were going back to Iceland where I will be sharing my birthday trip to Snæfellsnes before I headed back to Oregon for the summer.

Question of the Day?
Do you prefer staying in large cities or smaller towns when you travel?

Linking up with Treasure Tromp.

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  • http://www.rhymeandribbons.com/ Amanda

    This looks like my ideal trip! I love where you stayed by the canal as well! I pretty much want to go back in time and make you take me on this trip with you! xx

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Yes lets do it! If only we had attending Hogwarts and had Hermione’s time traveling ability!

      • http://www.rhymeandribbons.com/ Amanda

        I love everything about this! x

  • http://www.alwaysashten.com/ Ashten@alwaysashten

    Everywhere you go looks so magical and amazing.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thank you! I am ready for another trip I need some more magically places to explore!

  • http://Girl-Meets-Globe.com/ Tina @ Girl-Meets-Globe

    If you have to do a short trip to a city it’s great if you can do it with someone who knows how to navigate and get you to places quicker! It’s fun to get lost too though! I would love to go back and see the French countryside like this! So beautiful and gives you a feel of local country life!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      So true, it was amazing having someone who knew how to get to places saved me so much time! I agree, I was so glad I got to experience the French countryside as well as Paris, I am from the country so it was so beautiful to get to see it in France.

  • Rachel Murphree

    I need a job that will send me to Paris for a week. I would LOVE to see the country side and meet families like you did.

    -Rachel @ With Love, Rachel

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      It was amazing, the countryside was so beautiful!

  • http://www.snowflakesincalifornia.blogspot.com/ Nathalie

    oooh the countryside looks adorable and yes, I would have totally stayed with that dog too… without a doubt ;)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Isn’t that dog the cutest! I would have loved to stay out on the adorable farm with the dog.

  • http://voyageofthemeemee.blogspot.com/ Amanda MeeMee

    Baaaaahhhh… this just isn’t fair! I’m so jealous right now!!!!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I am getting travel envy of my own pictures! I need another trip soon.

  • http://www.lammtothelaughter.com/ Brianne @ Lamm to the Laughter

    I prefer countryside travel, but it’s hard to travel internationally from the US and rent a car if you’re under 25, so countryside travel is a little difficult at the moment. The picture of the flower field is gorgeous! But you’re right, pictures just don’t do real life justice :)

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      So true they really get us with the car rental business. I love a mix of country and city so it was a perfect trip for both.

  • http://bitsofdays.com/ Zia @ Bits of Days

    I think it depends on my initial intention… If I plan to relax I’d definitely prefer the more quiet oart of the place, but if I plan to explore and be out and about I prefer big cities.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Agree, I love the life in big cities but then it is always great to relax out in a quite and beautiful area.

  • http://clubnarwhal.blogspot.com/ Amy | Club Narwhal

    Oh, oh my! This makes me want to go to Paris immediately. What a lovely trip! I love big cities and small towns and always try to visit a couple of each wherever I go.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      It is a perfect mix I think to get to see different sides of the country!

  • http://lazyboleynblog.blogspot.com/ Mal

    I lived in Paris for a year and didn’t really enjoy it… but when I see these pictures, I want to go back there! When I travel, I’d say like Zia - countryside and smaller towns to relax.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I think I enjoyed the countryside better than my visit in Paris as well. It is a beautiful city but the countryside was amazing.

  • BlushandBarbells

    What a cute and friendly dog!
    I prefer cities - little country towns are okay for a day or so, but I like the hustle and bustle of a big city.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Isn’t that dog the cutest! I always like the life in a big city when I am traveling, gives me energy to keep going and explore as much as I can.

  • http://www.chicadeedee.com/ Dannielle @ Chic-a-DeeDee

    what a neat experience! I’d love to do something like that, and really can’t wait to branch out into the french countryside. We might take our car on the ferry and have at it at some point.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I am so jealous that you can take your car over and drive, sometimes it is a bummer that Iceland isn’t in mainland Europe so that it would be easier to travel around. I definitely recommend traveling around the french countryside though it was so beautiful!

  • http://ifsandsandbutts.com/ Alex

    I love a good mix. I stayed with a friend in Madrid and we got to drive outside the city to a friend’s house and swim and it was SO cool getting to see what people lived like in homes around the city and not the standard apartments you see in the tourist areas.

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      I totally agree it gives you a better feel for life in the country outside of the busy cities. It is always great when you have a friend in the area as well, I feel like you get to experience so much more then when your just traveling as a tourist.

  • http://treasuretromp.com/ Nicole @ Treasure Tromp

    oh my goodness, I love Paris! I’ve never really been out in the countryside but I would love it!

    oh and thanks for linking up with Treat Yo’ Self Thursday last week!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Thank you. And yes if you ever get the chance visit the Paris countryside, its so beautiful!

  • http://busyburt.blogspot.com/ Charlotte B

    I do love a bit of Paris. You have had so many good opportunities moving to Iceland. I think it’s the best decision you’ve done yet!

    • http://unlockingkiki.com/ Kaelene Spence

      Your making my day over her with these sweet comment! I think its the best decision yet as well:)