Amsterdam
We spent three full days in Amsterdam. On the day we arrived, we crashed immediately due to jet lag. In the afternoon, we visited the Flower Market and walked a bunch around the city and its enormous park. The second day, we Dutch Resistance Museum. Some of the local food specialties we tried were Bitterballen and the Amsterdam Fries.
Ben’s highlights: Taking the trams through the small city streets, the Dutch Resistance Museum
Em’s highlights: Flower Market, Jordaan neighborhood
Delft
We spent just a few hours in Delft on our way to Paris. We toured the Old Church, and the New Church, then had lunch and walked the small village streets. A quick stop at a cafe and we got on the train to Paris.
Ben’s highlight: A delicious lunch
Em’s highlight: The Old Church
Paris
We spent just one full day in Paris, but we made the most out of it. After arriving to the Paris train station in the evening, we had to do some laundry, and rewarded ourselves with another round of McDonald’s on the hotel floor. The morning brought pastries and a trip to the Louvre. Afterwards was Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and a walk in the Jardin des Plantes. After dinner, we visited the Eiffel Tower, lit up at night.
Ben’s highlight: getting called a tourist by a guy that was acting like Pepe Le Pew
Em’s highlight: The Louvre
Marseille
We spent about 24 hours in Marseille in what was basically a train layover from Paris to Nice. We stayed in the Old Port area, which had a great view of Notre-Dame de la Garde. We took a ferry to another part of the city, and on our way saw the Chateau d’If – the real-life location of some events in The Count of Monte Cristo (which we’re reading this year in a book club with our friends!).
Ben’s highlight: The fresh fruit salad for dinner
Em’s highlight: The ferry ride
Nice
Our planned final destination of the trip, we spent three days in Nice. We got to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea, a beach club, rental e-bikes, snorkeling (we saw an octopus!), and some great food and some amazing views.
Ben’s highlights: The bike infrastructure
Em’s highlights: Biking along the water, relaxing at beach club, snorkeling with an octopus
London
Due to a surprise 10 hour flight delay, we got to enjoy a bonus day in London! We got our third and final McDonald’s, then went to see Buckingham Palace and Fountain, Big Ben, and ended the day with fish and chips. The next morning, we were on our way back to Chicago.
Ben’s highlights: The fish and chips
Em’s highlights: Big Ben(s)
