What are you curious about?

So friends, anything/place you're especially curious about, would like to know more about or see more of?

Just let me know by leaving a comment below!

Feel free to tweet me too! : @monikasalita

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#FranceFriday: Bienvenue au Mont St. Michel

Tucked away in Normandy in northwest France is Mont St. Michel, the Saint-Michel monastery. Connected to the mainland via a modernized land bridge, the island on which the monastery sits is just a bit detached from the rest of society and perhaps one could say, one step closed to heaven?

Shrug. To each his own.

I see this as a natural progression and development of nature during the passing of via.

"It was at the request of the Archangel Michel « chief of the celestial militia » that Aubert, Bishop of Avranches built and consecrated a small church on the 16th October 709. In 966 a community of Benedictines settled on the rock at the request of the Duke of Normandy and the pre-Romanesque church was built before the year one thousand."- via linked visitor's site

I definitely recommend that you visit this stronghold in Breton culture, an important piece of French history.

Le Mont St Michel located in France's Normandy region.

Esteemed academia: Wandering Cambridge

During my travels, my inner nerd rejoiced when visiting esteemed academic institutions University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England; University of Oxford in Oxford, England and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.

Stop One was Cambridge, the second-oldest university in the UK and the English-speaking world. While walking along the city's cobblestone streets, I made a bee-line for the Cambridge University Press shop. Just because I wanted to be in a sea of Cambridge press. England, books, reading, knowledge, information. Ahhh, glorious.

Below is one (of a few) of my favorite photos from Cambridge. This is Great St. Mary's University Church. I think this photo definitely embodies a part of the personality of the city: Cobblestone streets, rain (off and on), bikes chained to a rail (used for travel to and from academic activities?), an aged church, and most importantly, knowledge sharing.

Great St. Mary's University Church in Cambridge, England.

I hope I left Cambridge a bit more learned than when I first stepped foot on the grounds. 

Cheerio!

Je pense à Paris: Gargoyle Considering Paris

Gothic Cathedral = Notre Dame de Paris.
Gargoyles = Deep thinkers of Paris.

Notre Dame: Preserving the sanctity of Paris while also pondering its many wonders?

Perhaps this particular gargoyle of Notre Dame de Paris is not only preserving the sanctity of the cathedral, but also pondering the many historical wonders of the City of Light spread out for miles upon miles beneath his feet.

Perhaps he's wishing he could fly away from his stony perch and explore his city of history, magic and dreams.

For now, he'll just have to continue to be a part of history among other relics of 12th century Gothic architecture.

I hope he's inspiring young writers who are undoubtedly sipping tiny espressos at the cafes surrounding Notre Dame and writing in moleskin journals (perhaps typing furiously on laptops?), inspired by great writers of the past such as Victor Hugo, Samuel Beckett, Ernest Hemingway, T.S. Eliot, Rimbaud, Jean-Paul Sartre and more.

Paris, je t'aime.

#FranceFriday: Disneyland! In Paris!

How does a girl celebrate her 24th birthday in December while teaching in sunny Montpellier in the south of France? By heading to Disneyland Paris of course!

I had a lovely time spending a (very) chilly day in Disneyland *in Paris* celebrating my birthday? How can this possibly be topped? Getting engaged one day atop the Eiffel Tower? ;) We shall see.

Amusez-vous bien!

Celebrating my birthday, in Disneyland, in Paris!

Backpacking through Frankish old towns is how I roll

Luxembourg City, nestled in the petite country of Luxembourg. Luxembourg is like a miniature Switzerland, in regards to financial matters. This place is monied. In 2009, it was ranked as having the third-highest GDP per capita at ~ US$79,000. No surprise that Luxembourg is a banking and financial center.

A view of walled in, old Luxembourg City.

Alaina and I were visiting Luxembourg in early November 2006. November 1, 2006 just happened to be the Day of the Dead, so, the city was rather peaceful (i.e. quite, chill, empty streets). The hostel we stayed at was nestled in a forest and was beautiful. Down comforters and beds that rival my own personal bed? Only in Luxembourg my friend. Click the link above to learn more about Luxembourg City Hostel.

So much history is found behind these stone walls. Even more history is found the more one explores. This place has got a little bit of everything -- history of the Romans, French Revolutionary Wars, German occupation, treaties galore, and more! This link can say more than I ever could.

Fun Fact: The official languages of Luxembourg are Luxembourgish, French and German.


Enjoy Luxembourg!

Comics, comics everywhere!

Comic hero of Belgium? Why none other than Tintin of course! Also known as "the hero of the French-speaking world."

This little piece of quintessential Belgian street art was found on a quiet street corner in Brussels.

Tintin decorates Brussels.

If you're swinging by Brussels and want to discover more quirky and fun Belgian comic genius, I suggest you head over to the Belgian Comic Strip Center for more fanciful exploration and indulgence into a favorite childhood activity.

Recent discussions have inspired me to give Tintin a more thorough read, especially in preparation of this winter's release of the next Spielberg classic (?), the Tintin movie.

The written word seems to always be better than the movie, don't you agree?
Spielberg better not let this Francophile with one-half of her bachelor's degree in French, down.

#FranceFriday: Neon sails. Windsurfing in Quiberon, FR

Quiberon. Northwest France. Seaside. Neon sails. Reminiscent of the 1980-90's day-glo fanny packs and hi-top Reebok sneakers, n'est pas?

I personally love the water, especially the seaside. Our trip to splash around in the Atlantic in September 2006 was a welcomed treat.

Now to regale in the joy of French neon windsurfing boards and sails.... and sexy French beach-goers, bien sur. 

Windsurfing a la plage.

Quiberon is a seaside resort town in northwestern France, in the Brittany region. It is adored by me for its sandy beaches and neon sails and windsurfing, and adored by others for its history of sardine production.

Quiberon sur la carte

This seaside town is also home to a professional Quidditch team, the Quiberon Quafflepunchers, which any Harry Potter fanatic should appreciate.

Do an Irish jig at Temple Bar in Dublin, Ireland

Temple Bar, "Dublin's cultural quarter." This is definitely one of the hearts of the central part of Dublin.
Can it get more quintessentially Irish with the flag proudly swaying in the wind, atop a tried-and-true, stood the test of time, pub, situated on the corner of an old, cobblestone street? If you think so, please do share your ideas.

This is just one part of Ireland that I encountered. Other gems included Dublin Castle, Trinity College, the birthplace of Jonathan Swift and venturing out into the green Irish countryside to explore Kilkenny. All in due time, my friends.

Here's one slice of Bono's hometown. Welcome to chilly Dublin:

Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland

Copenhagen, Denmark: Nyhavn Canal

Copenhagen. A chic, sleek, classy city of exceptional living.

Copenhagen's famous Nyhavn canal is a must-see for tourists. The canal area served as the home to famous Danish writer, Hans Christian Andersen, for some 17 years. The canal also serves as a start/end point for Copenhangen's fun and informative boat tours - a great way to see this sea port city.

North side of Nyhavn canal.

#FranceFriday: Montluçon - I found a charming old hardware store

Montluçon: A smaller French city, nestled in central France and dripping with years of prominent European history.

Below is a photo of an old hardware store located near the old heart of Montluçon. Although old and rundown, it is still beautiful with its quaint colors and vintage appeal.

Droguerie = hardware store

Up for a mini French lesson?

Droguerie (n)(fem.) = hardware store

I leave the pleasure of discovering the definition of engrais  and graines  up to you.

My tip: Check out www.wordreference.com for help.

Juxtaposition of land and sea. Reykjavik, Iceland

I spent my holiday break of April 2009 touring and exploring Reykjavik, Iceland. What an absolutely beautiful city! Given its location on the southern shore of  Faxaflói  Bay, views such as the one below are easy to behold. An exquisite juxtaposition of a colorful, tin-roofed city in the shadow of snow-capped mountains.

Reykjavik, IS

The people of Iceland are very kind and friendly and the culture and history are very interesting. My favorite part of my Icelandic vacation was going on a Golden Circle tour, which included but was not limited to visiting: a geothermal plant, the Continental Divide (very cool!), Gulfoss waterfall. No stop would have been complete without some Icelandic chocolate milk or petting an Icelandic horse.

Icelandic chocolate milk

Icelandic Horse

#FranceFriday: Calm Before the Storm - Montpellier

Storms happen, even in the beautiful south of France. Montpellier's neighbor's may have to deal with Le Mistral, we, in Montpellier, at least got this beautiful colorful calm shot before the fall storms.

Calm before the storm. Montpellier, FR. Fall of 2008.