Back in November of 2021, my wife and I had a great opportunity to go tour Europe for a month. I am very grateful for having afforded this opportunity, because I got to explore so many parts of Europe longer than a typcial 1-2 week timeframe.

Being able to tour Europe was made possible by several things. One, I was able to get flight discounts flying standby through working with FedEx. Two, I was principally working remote, so I was able to work from basically anywhere. Three, my wife was in between jobs.

My wife and I were able to plan our European tour on a budget, which definitely helps going to a far away place. We used standby flights, Airbnb, and meal planning. Even though we did meal plan, we still went out to eat to experirence local food. I wasn’t going to be in Paris, Rome, or London without eating local cuisine! In total, I don’t know how much this trip cost, but it was definitely still a fun experience!

It has been nearly a year since touring Europe, and I find myself reminiscing about Europe consistently. But there is one city that I greatly enjoyed being in. Paris.

There is great culture in Paris. Maybe the reason why I love touring Paris was because I loved reading the unabridged versions of Les Miserables or Count of Monte Cristo. I was able to live in older Paris while reading these books; so then being able to walk the same streets as Victor Hugo or Alexandre Dumas was a dream come true. Being able to walk by the house of the count on Champs Elysses, the streets where the student rebellion happened, the Seine, and Île de la Cité was fascinating.

Or maybe it was the art. My wife and I spent probably a whole day in the Lourve, but we only covered about 1/2 to 3/4 of it. One part that I really enjoyed in the Louvre was Renaissance art. In addition to the Louvre, there was the Musee D’Orsay and the Palace of Versailles. I loved the modern art in Musee D’Orsay and the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles.

Or maybe it was the food. I think in France was the first time I had a fried tripe burrito called Andouillette. It surprisingly just fine to eat. At another time, my wife and I passed through a Christmas Holiday fair in the Jardin de Tuileries and we grabbed a raclette sandwich. The raclette cheese was melted and scooped right off the wheel. It was so good. In another side street of Paris, my wife and I found a Moroccan restaurant where they served delicious cous cous.

I must give an honorable mention to London and Rome. I may have loved Paris extremely, but I still loved visiting London and Rome. So many historical and cultural sites were just awesome to experience. The food was absolutely great as well.

In the end, I loved touring Europe. I anticipate to travel more in the future to various locations. Traveling is very enjoyable, and I look forward to experiencing different cultures again.