A Cowetan’s First Time Abroad
Seven Days, Four Cities in Europe
Written by CAROLINE NICHOLSON
Caroline, left, and Anna have a magnificent view from their balcony.
Despite the increasing glorification of international travel on social media, venturing outside of your home country can be daunting, especially for someone whose greatest foray past our borders was a high school trip to Canada six years prior. It’s one thing to know that life is different outside of the United States and an entirely other thing to experience it. In September 2024, I took the plunge and spent a week in Europe with my best friend and seasoned traveler, Anna.
London
After arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport, I met up with Anna, who had been living abroad for two months, and we started our day with a train ride into the heart of London Town where we walked through Hyde Park and gawked at cars driving on the “wrong” side of the road. Our walk through the historic park led us to the Victoria & Albert Museum, which I admit was on my itinerary thanks to a Taylor Swift exhibit there.
After the museum stop, we visited South Kensington Books and Papersmiths for a glimpse into British consumerism before checking into our charming garden Airbnb. For dinner, we chose a chic Italian restaurant called Larch. The food was delicious, and our meal came with access to London’s highest public garden, Sky Garden, which offers views of the city from within a stunning greenhouse. You can look out on London and the Thames through the tall walls of windows, from their outdoor observation decks, or from the bar nestled among plants and greenery.
Back on ground level, it was time for our Jack the Ripper walking tour. The Ripper was a notorious serial killer in London’s Whitechapel neighborhood in the late 19th century. For over a century, his identity has remained a mystery, adding to the horror surrounding the case. The tour was equal parts creepy, informative and gory. I don’t recommend it for those easily disturbed, although it did offer a unique perspective on the city and a glimpse into its murkier history.
On our second day in London, we had a traditional English breakfast at St. Pancras Station where we boarded our luggage. The station was gorgeous, and we got to see a red phone booth, checking off an essential item on any London to-do list. From breakfast, we walked through more of the city to Word on the Water, a small boat bookstore that floats atop a canal. It was a peculiar experience, browsing books with the ground rocking beneath you. Despite the swaying, I loved the little bookstore and the unique book-buying adventure.
After strolling back through London, we caught the Eurostar, the world-famous bullet train, and headed to the next city on our tour.
Paris
Because it was my first time in Paris, a city I had dreamed about visiting since I was a child, Anna booked us a few nights in a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower. Upon arrival, we rushed to our room and out onto the balcony; from there, the city sprawled in front of us, and watching over it all was the Eiffel Tower. I am unashamed to admit that I cried when I saw it.
Caroline's first visit to Paris did not disappoint.
After soaking up the view, we left for dinner at Gigi Rigolatto where the sights were equally stunning. The Italian-Parisian restaurant features a warm and chic interior and outdoor patio seating with views of the tower. We enjoyed our mixed drinks and entrees while serenaded by live music.
Up close, the Eiffel Tower is breathtaking, illuminated yellow against the royal blue sky. Every night after sunset, it sparkles for five minutes at the start of each hour. I’m not sure the Parisians like it all that much, but to me, seeing it for the first time, it was marvelous and easily one of my favorite parts of the whole trip.
Our second day in the city was spent in Disneyland Paris to celebrate Anna’s birthday. The day was filled with roller-coasters, an Alice in Wonderland hedge maze, and yummy food, including churros from a restaurant based on the movie “Coco.” The theme park shares some rides with its American counterparts, such as Thunder Mountain and Phantom Manor, the French version of the beloved Haunted Mansion. However, the park also features unique attractions like La Tanière du Dragon (The Lair of the Dragon) underneath Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
For our final full day in Paris, we had a packed itinerary that started with a classic French breakfast of croissants and chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) at Les Deux Magots. This famous Parisian cafe has been open since 1884. Anna and I sat outside, people watching and dipping our croissants in the rich hot chocolate.
Next, we headed to La Perlerie to make special souvenirs that would serve as tangible memories of our trip. At La Perlerie, you have the choice to make a bracelet or necklace full of personally selected charms. I ended up with a bracelet of gold charms and Anna had a colorful necklace with almost 20 charms. This was one of my favorite things we did abroad.
In the afternoon, we headed to the entrance of the Paris catacombs to fulfill an interest of mine as a lifelong horror fan. The Paris catacombs were built in the 18th century after the city’s cemeteries became overfilled with bodies. The catacombs feature more than 170 miles of underground ossuaries for the dead. The self-guided tour started with an eerie spiral staircase descent to the bottom where long corridors lead to the main rooms. In those chambers, we were greeted with room upon room of human bones and skulls, often arranged in patterns. While it was a uniquely interesting experience, it disturbed me more than I anticipated.
After our trip to the bowels of Paris, we enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Seine. At our private table aboard the small dinner cruise ship, we enjoyed pasta, drinks and dessert before heading to the top deck to see the city from a new vantage point. The views from the river were gorgeous. We saw the Eiffel Tower from a new angle and glimpsed part of the Louvre.
The next morning, we caught the train enroute to another French town.
Le Bar-sur-Loup
After a beautiful five-hour train ride through the French countryside and a 45-minute car ride, we finally arrived in the small town of Le Bar-sur-Loup where we felt as if we’d stepped out of reality and into a postcard. The town is nestled in a valley overlooking the Loup River and is easily the most picturesque place I’ve ever visited. After checking into our cozy Airbnb, we walked a few steps from our house to Le Michelangelo, a pizzeria, for dinner.
The next day, we visited a local boulangerie for breakfast, and I got to use my rusty French skills to order pastries. Meandering up and down the hilly cobblestone roads of Le Bar-sur-Loup, we got a taste of the culture as we watched older men smoking and chatting on patios and heard children laughing from inside schoolgrounds. On our walk, we stumbled into the tourism office, which was located inside an old church. There, we met a kind local who supplied us with a map and plenty of recommendations.
With bad weather on the horizon, we enjoyed an early lunch on the patio of a casual French restaurant and were touched by the friendliness of the locals. After shopping in the town’s general store, we returned to our Airbnb where we were sequestered for the rest of the day due to a heavy rainstorm. The next day, we landed in the last city on our European tour.
The friends European vacation was filled with sights and sounds from oceanside to city skyscapes
Cannes
After a short bus journey, we went for a rooftop breakfast at Hôtel Belle Plage. The breakfast buffet was tasty, but the views were the main attraction. Located just steps from the beach, the restaurant has views of the Bay of Cannes and the city itself. The combination of blue waters, lush mountaintops and rust-colored rooftops kept our eyes busy while we ate.
After breakfast, we descended into the city and to the beach we’d been admiring all morning. The water was coolly refreshing, so we swam for a while before heading to the Église Notre-Dame d’Espérance, a 16th century church. Next, we ventured into the city’s abundant shopping district.
Cannes is well known as the host city for the annual Cannes Film Festival, meaning that much of its population is rich and famous; many of the shops there are high end designer stores not within our budget, but we enjoyed taking in the variety of people milling about.
We spent the rest of our time in Cannes in a train station cafe, waiting for our evening train to take us back to Paris, where we would leave for home in the U.S. the next day.
Final Thoughts
This was a trip of a lifetime and one I am so grateful I had the opportunity to take with my best friend. We crammed so many experiences and cities into such a short amount of time, though, that I felt like I needed another week off to recuperate.
Like any good journey should do, this trip served to teach me a lot about myself as well as the broader world outside of the small, insular community I grew up in. I was exposed to cultures different from my own and learned that I'm capable of navigating foreign countries. Traveling abroad isn’t as scary as it seems. Now, it feels as if the world has opened in front of me, and I can’t wait to see more of it. NCM
Tips and Tricks from a First-Time International Traveler
Buy plug adapters for the countries you’re visiting.
European countries use different wall plugs than those common in the U.S. Research what’s used in the countries you're visiting and buy plug adapters before your trip.
Consider downsizing to a carry-on suitcase.
Be mindful that your suitcase will travel the continent alongside you. If you bring a large, bulky suitcase, you’ll likely regret it as you navigate public transportation. A carry-on suitcase, backpack or shoulder bag is easier to maneuver, and you can skip baggage claim at the airport.
Create a flexible itinerary.
With so much to do at each stop, going in without a plan can cause unnecessary stress. Make a schedule but keep it flexible to account for unforeseen changes or to allow time to rest.
Download a luggage storage app.
When jet-setting between cities, it can be tricky to work out the logistics of your luggage. For instance, your hotel may not allow check-in until 4 p.m., but you arrive at 8 a.m. Luggage storage apps, like Bounce, allow you to safely board your luggage for a small fee.
Inform your bank of your travel plans.
Banks often stop international purchases in the interest of your financial safety. To ensure you have access to your money while abroad, let your bank know before you leave that you’ll be traveling internationally.
Research tourist scams in the cities you’re visiting.
Certain tourist areas have common scams that you’ll want to avoid. Look up the tourist scams in the cities you're visiting and be prepared to avoid them when you arrive.
Learn a few new words.
Learning a few words and phrases in the country’s language, such as “hello” and “thank you,” can go a long way with the locals and help you feel more comfortable while abroad.
