Travel | Bistro Chic

What European City Should You Live in?

March 25, 2010 By jennifer 3 Comments

My husband and I have often discussed what it would be like to live in Europe – for a month, a year, or any length of time. If we do decide to make this temporary move, our next decision would be to decide where to live. There are so many wonderful countries and cities in Europe – Prague, Vienna, Paris, Zurich, oh so many! I wonder if we could even agree on where to move.

So, if I had to choose today, where would I move? That really is a tough question. For years, I have thought of myself as a French/British woman at heart. Maybe I could split my time between Paris and London? In thinking about this dilemma, I came across a survey that asked, What European City Should You Live In? Exactly what I was looking for! I promptly took the quiz, without hesitation and was extremely surprised by the results. Take a look below…

What European City Should You Live In?

*Answers by Bistro Chic are in bold

1) What kind of vibe does your perfect city have?

Cosmopolitan yet quaint – and a little snobby
Stylish and sexy
Laid back and relaxed
Home-y, like a big small town
Busy and diverse
Intellectual and philosophical

2) You’d like to live in Europe for the:

Parties and street life
European way of life
Fashion
Beer
New experiences
Culture

3) From what you’ve heard, people tend to think you’re:

Adventurous
Introverted
Friendly
Fun
Eclectic
Elegant

4) If you were to exercise your artistic talents, you would most likely:

Paint
Make a movie
Design a killer outfit
Write a great novel
Act
Dabble in many types of art

5) Let’s say you couldn’t live in Europe, which US city would you live in instead?

New York
Seattle
Chicago
San Francisco
Boston
Miami

6) If you were going to indulge in a decadent dessert, what would you choose?

Lemon curd
Pancakes
Chocolate mousse
Tiramisu
Flan
Chocolate whiskey cake

And so my fellow BC readers, my results showed that the perfect city for me was, in fact, DUBLIN! Yes, the home of Trinity College, Butlers Chocolate, the River Liffey, and Guinness. Not what I expected, but let’s dissect their reasoning…

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth (yes, I like to think I am), you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions (I don’t mind a little of this, if it’s called for). You’re the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl (I don’t know about “wild” but I’ve done a few pub crawls in my lifetime)…or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town (yes, definitely me!)

I’ve been to Dublin, all over Ireland actually, and loved it. Although I don’t plan to let a quiz tell me where to live, I’ll definitely give Dublin a fair chance if I decide to move.

Ever wonder what European best fits your personality? Take the quiz and find out!

Ciao Sláinte

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: british lifestyle, french lifestyle, Ireland, Travel

Sexiest European Cities

March 18, 2010 By jennifer 1 Comment

The Sunday Times Travel Magazine just released its picks for the top 12 Sexiest Cities in the World. Europe leads the pack with 8 cities on the list. So what makes these European cities sexy? Let’s take a look…

Rome tops the list as the world's sexiest city.

Europe’s Sexiest Cities

Rome – Spanish Steps, gladiators, romantic art, and, not to mention, plentiful Italian men, help put this city on top of the sexy list.
Bath – I’ve been to Bath, England, and have to say, I did not find it very sexy. Although, it was quite romantic with its Roman Baths and Jane Austen-era architecture.
London – You can’t go wrong with Shakespeare and his romantic plays, and, of course, sexy British accents.
Berlin – Smoking in bars? Not sexy. Staying up all night dancing, very sexy!
Paris – Who needs the Eiffel Tower or French kissing? Let’s face it, a croissant is sexy in Paris.
St. Petersburg – The cold, cold winters encourage lots of cuddling and vodka drinking, what’s not sexy about that?
Seville – Spanish flamenco dancing and late-night tapas bars keep this city steaming all year long.
Stockholm – Home of beautiful waterways, IKEA, and ABBA. Sexy? Obviously.

Want to see the other four cities that made the list? Check out the full sexy article at the Times online.

Ciao!

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: england, European lifestyle, french lifestyle, Italian Lifestyle, Spanish Lifestyle, Travel

Chocolate Memories of Dublin

March 11, 2010 By jennifer Leave a Comment

Just days after graduating from college, I jetted off for a 3-week solo trip to Great Britain and Ireland. There are many things I remember about that trip – the churches, the countryside jaunts, and wine – lots of it. But one thing that I will always remember was walking through the streets of Dublin, a city full of history, cobblestone streets, and chocolate.

Before arriving in Dublin, I had three goals in mind – 1) to view the Book of Kells at Trinity College, 2) to walk down the famous Grafton street, and 3) to buy something, anything authentically Irish.

Changing Plans

My first objective fell short. The walk to the Book of Kells location, although beautifully medieval, was along a cobblestone path – not very friendly to the pointy-toed pumps I was wearing at the time. Grafton street proved to be a much gentler walk for my weary ankles and shoes, and it also led me to reach my third goal. Ambling on Grafton, I stepped into several clothing shops hoping to find something fun to bring back home to the states. I vividly remember wanting to try on a shirt in a trendy store, at which point the sales girl pointed me towards a communal changing room with at least 10 other girls changing their clothes in front of each other. Hmm…I think I’ll pass. I experienced this local retail custom in another store down the street and decided I should start looking for a nice Irish scarf or hat to take home.

Purveyors of Chocolate Happiness

As I continued my search for the perfect Irish souvenir, I came across a lovely chocolate shop that beckoned my presence. I am not one to resist chocolate and quickly found myself inside the sweet-smelling shop. As fate would have it, I had just walked through the doors of one of Ireland’s most popular chocolate shops – Butlers Chocolates – the so-called purveyors of happiness.

I marveled over the boxes and rows of chocolates before me and was completely overwhelmed. I didn’t know what I wanted but I knew I was not leaving that shop empty-handed. A little old man behind the counter seemed to sense my temporary anxiety in choosing the right chocolate. He suggested I try their signature milk chocolate. Although he was old enough to be my grandfather, his voice had such an Irish accent that I could have melted right there on the spot along with the chocolate he handed me. I ended up buying 2 or 3 chocolate bars, explaining that I wanted to take them home as gifts and a personal souvenir. He gave me a smile and what I thought was a quick wink.

Good Intentions

I held onto those chocolate bars for the next few hours, proud of myself for buying my edible, yet authentic, Irish mementos. But good intentions fade when chocolate is involved. By the end of my trip, the only chocolate souvenirs I had to show were the Product of Ireland wrappers and sweet and satisfying smile on my face. I realized then why my little Irish chocolate man gave me a sly wink. I think he knew that no good chocolate can remain untouched for too long.

Years later, I learned that several stores near my house sell Butlers Chocolates. Although expensive, I indulge in this authentic Irish treat every now and again. And when I do, I smile – because for a moment, I’m taken back to the quaint chocolate shop on Grafton Street and the little Irish man behind the counter.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Britain, british food, british lifestyle, Food, Travel

Great Hotels: Little Things Make a Difference

March 8, 2010 By jennifer 3 Comments

I admit it – I’m a bit of a hotel snob. I’ve stayed in many nice hotels – boutique hotels in Europe, Four Seasons and Ritz Carltons in the US – you get the idea. I’ve also stayed in some not-so-nice hotels (oh, the college years!), which I don’t even care to mention by name. If I have learned one thing about hotels it’s that I am willing to pay a little more (or sometimes a lot more) to stay at a classy hotel, in exchange for a more comfortable and luxurious experience.

In my growing book of hotel knowledge, I’ve learned that you just can’t hide a second-rate hotel. Even a so-called themed hotel, which looks great from the outside, can leave you wondering about the interior of the room and its contents. In the immortal words of Carrie Bradshaw – a squirrel is just a rat with a cuter outfit. Well for me, a cheaply themed hotel is just a motel with cuter decorations – it’s still a motel underneath.

There are several other little things that generally distinguish a classy hotel from cheap hotel – and I’m not just talking about chocolates on the pillow, although that is a nice touch too. When staying at your temporary home-away-from-home, little things – simple things – can make all the difference in the world. Even European hotels, which typically have smaller rooms by American standards, can be elegantly decorated and include many added luxuries that make up for the loss of space.

When staying at a hotel for the first time, there are a few things that I look for beyond the expected cleanliness and size of the room. These little things may, ultimately, help me decide whether or not I want to stay in that hotel again or even recommend it to a friend.

6 Little Things Every Quality Hotel Should Have

Marble or Granite Sink and Tile – Ok, this one is more than just a little thing. Having nice marble or granite tile in every hotel bathroom can get quite expensive. But when I see it, I give a sigh of relief knowing that I picked a good one.
Quality Towels - Hotels that offer thin, frayed, or small bath towels are just asking for a bad review. Towels must be big, they must be thick and fluffy, they must be soft, and they must be clean!
Full-size Hair Dryer – I really dislike packing my own hair dryer. It is big, bulky, and takes up suitcase space that could be used for more cute clothes. So, when I travel, I have to rely on hotel hair dryers to dry my very thick, naturally curly hair. Most hotels provide some type of hair dryer these days. However, many cheap hotels will only provide a wall-attached hair dryer that can take up to 30 minutes to dry my hair. By that time, my arm is about ready to fall off and I want to throw the dryer across the room (but I can’t because it’s attached to the wall!) A top-notch hotel will actually provide a full-size, free-standing hair dryer in the room – usually wrapped up in a neat little silk bag.
Gourmet Tea and Coffee – Many cheap hotels will not offer in-room coffee/tea at all. Then, there are nice hotels that offer in-room coffee/tea service but skimp on the quality of the tea/coffee. If I see gourmet tea such as Tazo, Harney and Sons, or even Twinings, I know the hotel is paying attention to detail. Also important – glassware – who wants to drink coffee, tea, or wine from a paper cup? Glass says class.
Luxurious Bedding – A bed doesn’t require a pillow-top mattress to be good. Give me a soft but sturdy bed with luxurious bedding (look for a third sheet that covers the blanket) and I’m sleeping like a baby.
Fancy Soaps – No-name bath products? Why bother? Cheap soaps scream cheap hotel. If I don’t see brand names like Aveda, H2O, Crabtree and Evelyn, L’Occitane, or something similar, I begin to wonder about the hotel in general and pray that I remembered to bring my own shower gel.