10 Things You Must Do in Siena

Siena is such an incredible city. Not only is it surrounded by some of Tuscany's most beautiful countryside, it retains its medieval look and feel. Visiting Siena is like stepping back in time. The city is well worth a day trip and easily reach via bus from Florence. So I have rounded up my 10 must-do things in Siena.

1) Marvel at the marble-striped duomo.
I think Siena wins for my favorite cathedral in Italy (Milan is a close second). It's facade is a gorgeous array of pink, green, and black marble. Siena actually built their impressive cathedral before Florence's giant dome, but not to be outdone by their rival Florence, Siena immediately started a massive expansion. This new expansion would have dwarfed the churches of Tuscany, but sadly, the Black Death arrive shortly after construction began. Only one wall of the new nave was erected, which brings me to number two...

2) Climb the unfinished wall of the church for the perfect panoramic of Siena.
Although unfinished, today Siena's unrealized cathedral houses the duomo museum. But the best part of this awkward wall is that you can climb it. From the top you can see the perfect view of Siena's famous Campo (main town square, pictured above).

3) See the Piccolomini Library.
Inside Siena's massive cathedral, in a small room on the lefthand side of the nave, is the Piccolomini Library. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful cycle of Renaissance-style frescos in the world. The library was built by Siena's most powerful family, the Piccolomini (the family produced two popes). The library was intended to hold the manuscript collection of Pope Pius III (then just the "nephew" of Pope Pius II). The gorgeous and colorful fresco cycle was painted by Pinturrichio and his assistants, which included a young Raphael.

4) Visit the city's archive.
I know I am very partial to archives, but I promise visiting the Sienese archive is a very cool experience. They have created a little museum inside of the archive to display the city's rich history. It is a quick but very interesting visit.

5) Refuel with Panforte.
Like most regions in Italy, Siena has a couple of interesting local food specialities. The most famous is probably panforte. This fruit and nut concoction dates all the way back to the 13th century. The word literally means strong bread and it was created as a durable (and spicy) snack for long journeys. It was even the snack of choice for many crusaders. Think of it as an early Lärabar. Today, all sorts of variations are sold in shops throughout Siena.

6) Learn about the Palio in the Campo.
You will definitely want to visit the main square of Siena, which is famous for two reasons -- its odd shape (like a shell) and the historic horse race that still occurs there. The Palio is a crazy horse race that has been run since the 14th century. Many of the restaurants around the square display pictures of this unbelievable event.

7) Pick a Contrade.
Siena is divided into 17 rival neighborhoods, or "contrade." While the competition today is peaceful, historically these divisions were fierce rivalries. Each contrade in Siena has their own church, baptismal font, festivals, and identity. They also have their own racehorse, and this is where the competitors for the yearly horse race come from.

8) Visit Catherine.
In addition to a crazy horse race, Siena is also famous for a very important woman - Saint Catherine of Siena. Although she died in Rome, Catherine was born and lived much of her life in Siena. Today you can visit her home and her relics (a finger and head) inside the church of San Domenico. Catherine is remarkable for the political role that she played in the 14th century. This was obviously not a period when women had formal rights or political power. Catherine, however, managed to eschew marriage and played a critical role in reestablishing the papacy in Rome. She also famously didn't eat anything but the holy eucharist. Mystical women, like Catherine, are the subject of one of my all-time favorite books - Holy Feast, Holy Fast.

9) Stroll and shop Siena's picturesque streets.
Siena isn't all history and no fun. The city has great shopping and cute streets, which are perfect for window (and non-window) shopping.

10) Sip some bubbles (or coffee) in the Campo.
After a long day of exploring and sightseeing, Siena's main square (or Campo) is the perfect spot to sit and admire the city's beauty, people watch, and enjoy a drink. You will pay extra for the location, but it's totally worth it!


Have you visited Siena? What are your must-do in Siena?

Paris is Always a Good Idea

There is a reason they say that Paris is always a good idea... because it is! And I will take any excuse to go. It is one of my all-time favorite places to visit. You can find more of my Paris posts here.

I was a little late purchasing my ticket to Italy this year (I have to wait for the university to purchase it if I don't want to go out of pocket), so when it finally came time to book there weren't a lot of good flights left. Most of my options had me laying over in Paris for eight hours or more. Long layovers seem like such a waist to me (and also they are miserable), so when I realized that Kelly and I were actually going to be in Paris at the same time, I decided to turn my layover into a stop over.

I was still, however, stuck taking the early flight into Paris. What is the early flight you ask? Well, most trans-Atlantic flights are timed so you fly overnight and arrive the next day around late-morning or mid-day. This flight, unfortunately, left at 3:30 pm and arrived in Paris at 5:45 am (that's 11:45 for my internal clock). So instead of just having to power through a half day before getting to crash, I had to stay awake an additional full day. I did it, but it wasn't pretty. As hard as it is, throwing yourself into local time is the key to avoiding jet lag (you can read more of my jet lag tips here).

Not only did I arrive super early, but it was a Sunday. I basically had Paris all to myself for several hours. It was great, although so chilly! According to my phone, I strolled almost ten miles before getting to check in to my hotel! Eventually, I did check in, enjoyed my favorite falafel in the Marais, and met up with Kelly and her husband to see the Eiffel Tower and get dinner.

As always, Paris was worth every minute of sleep deprivation.

Au revoir!

How to Plan a Trip Abroad

images clockwise from top left: Château de Chenonceau via // Chateau Villandry via // Château de Chambord via // lavender fields in Provence via and via // google map (my own, I will share when it is comeplete!)

I have never been one to fly by the seat of my pants when traveling. I am a planner... and I love it. I honestly don't know how people take trips abroad without planning. Sure it sounds carefree and spontaneous, but the reality is that most of what you want to do/see will likely be sold out or unavailable (particularly if you are traveling during spring break and the summer).

Emily and I are currently in the middle of planning an exciting trip to the Loire Valley and Provence. Even though our trip is almost three months away we struggled to find a good hotel in Avignon. Everything was already sold out! Honestly, we should have started planning sooner, but it was a bit of a last-minute decision. Fortunately, we found a fantastic alternative, but it just reminded my how important it is to plan and research for a trip abroad. If you are going to spend all of that money and time to travel across the ocean, you need to make sure you can see, do, and visit everything you want to!

So how do I research for a big trip abroad? I love researching so I get really into this part of traveling. Over the years, I have perfected something of a process:

STEP 1 (1 year to 6 months out)
Begin by deciding where you want to go and what you want to see. You want to figure out the best times to travel to that location in terms of weather and tourist seasons (I hate going to places in high season, but in many cases it's unavoidable). If you are going somewhere during high-season, the earlier you start planning the better your results.

STEP 2 (6 to 3 months out)
It is great to dream about where you want to go, but it's important you take care of budgeting and entry requirements before you get too far into planning and purchasing. Obviously your budget will determine what you can do, so you want to set that early to avoid over spending. And make sure you understand what currency the country you are traveling to uses and the conversion rate.

You also want to check on your passport (do you have one, is it up to date?) and the country (or countries) you are traveling to entry requirements. In many cases your passport needs six months of passport validity, meaning your passport should be valid for more than six months before you would be allowed to enter a foreign destination. Americans are spoiled and rarely need Visas, but it never hurts to check. Turkey requires you to apply for your visa online and print it out. If you show up without it, you aren't getting in!

STEP 3 (6 to 3 months out)
Once I have decided where I want to go and I have checked travel guidelines and set my budget, I focus on transportation and lodging. Obviously it is important you figure out how your going to get from A to B and where you are going to stay. For some trips this is more complicated than for others. For example, if you want to "get off the beaten track" or explore smaller cities you will have to research trains, buses, and/or car rentals. Without my methodical research, I would have not realized that getting from Italy to Avignon is actually difficult and the easiest way is to fly to Paris (from Florence) and then take the high speed train to Avignon. It seems a bit out of the way, but it's the best option.

Begin by selecting dates and then making sure that a flight (or flights/transport) and lodging are available for those dates. Don't book one without checking the other. Emily and I actually had to change our travel dates because the week we originally wanted to fly didn't have a lot of accommodation options, so we had to adjust. I like to purchase all of these major items -- flight, hotel, and inter-city transport (if applicable) -- together to avoid issues. It is worth noting that many European rail lines do not offer tickets online or for purchase more than 90 days out. Don't stress too much over train tickets. Trains, since cars can be added, tend to sell out less. I wouldn't wait until the day of, but a couple weeks (and in some cases days) out is fine. And don't forget to research airport transport. In many European cities the major international airport is not located near the city center.

Bonus tip - I love booking.com because they offer free cancellation for many of their bookings. So you can lock something in and are still able to alter your reservation or cancel it entirely for several weeks.

STEP 4 (3 months to 1 month out)
Now that you have planned and purchased your airline tickets and hotel, and know how you're going to get around once you arrive, it's time to start filling out your itinerary with activities and excursions. The photographer in my loves to start with Pinterest to see what gorgeous locations are associated with my destination (obviously I am going to need all of the lavender pictures in Provence). Again, you might think that you want to be flexible and leave your schedule open, but I promise if you're going to a major European city in the summer this is not a good idea if you want to see or do certain things. Every summer in Italy I see tourists in Venice, Rome, and Florence spending their entire day waiting in ridiculous lines; lines that could easily be avoided with an online reservation. This just seems silly to me. But of course I don't travel to relax and sleep in, so my advice may not be for everyone.

I book as many things in advance as I can. I also like to leave one free morning or afternoon per location/city for the unexpected -- things I didn't know I wanted to do in advance, or ran out of time to see.

STEP 5 (4 to 2 weeks out)
In the weeks leading up to my departure, I like to create a file with all of my booking references and important information. I save this as a pdf on my computer and on my phone so I can access it where ever I am (and with or without data/wifi). I also like to create a custom Google map and save it to my map ap. That way I have a visual itinerary in addition to my printed itinerary, which yes I print and bring. It is also helpful if you want to plan a walking tour or road trip (don't worry, I will be sharing my Provence road trip when it's done).


I could go on and I am sure there are plenty of things I missed, especially when it comes to pre-trip prep, but hopefully this gives you a good outline on how to start planning. I have many more travel tips here. And please contribute your tips below!

I promise the more you plan the smoother your trip will go! And if you hate planning, consider small group, guided travel, or a study abroad program. And don't think study abroad is limited to collage-age students, we have non-traditional (i.e. mature) students go every year and have an amazing time. Some universities even offer group alumni trips.

When to Start Packing for a Trip Abroad

striped espadrilles // gingham bag // blue, white, and coral skirt // hat // travel ballet flats // striped skirt // lace romper // gingham cover up // floral dress (old) // sunnies // carry on luggage

Why is packing so stressful? I actually love the challenge, but the number one question I get asked from students and readers is "what should I pack for my summer/semester/vacation abroad?" This question is as impossible to answer as my other least favorite question, "how much should I budget?" Both answers depend entirely on the individual. I can, however, give this piece of advice - pack half of what you think you need and double your spending money!

But seriously, I get it. Packing for a trip abroad is difficult, especially if you've never been abroad and don't know exactly what to expect culturally or weather-wise. My experience speaks mostly to Italy and Europe, but you could certainly follow this advice for other destinations.


2 Months Prior to Departure:
Research your destination's average weather conditions. Is it rainy? Hot? Cold? You also want to check for cultural expectations/restrictions regarding clothing. For example, to visit churches in Italy you need to cover your shoulders and, in many cases, skirts need to hit the knee (no shorts!).


1 Month Prior to Departure:
Lay out the clothing you want to pack. This will help you identify items you might be missing. Compare your laid-out wardrobe to your itinerary and make sure the items you have selected are functional for your trip. You also want to focus on items that you can mix and match. Finally, once you have a good idea of the articles of clothing you want to bring (or need to get), start selecting shoes. Make sure they are comfortable and functional, not just stylish. Your goal is to identify a limited number of shoes that you have (or need to purchase) that will go with every thing you pack (the same is true for purses) and work for every activity on your itinerary.

If you really want to be an expert packer, I suggest taking the time to photograph each item and/or outfit. That way you can see exactly how you can mix and match and how many outfits you can make from what you have packed. It also helps you identity less-functional or versatile items.

By doing this a month before you depart, you have enough time to pick up any articles of clothing or shoes you might need (and the necessary time to break those shoes in!).


2 Weeks Prior to Departure:
I like to do a dry run pack about 2 weeks prior to departure. This ensures that everything you want to bring will fit in your luggage and make sure your bag isn't over weight (here are my tricks for dropping your bag's weight). By doing this two weeks before, you have the time to rethink or reduce the number of items you've packed if need be. Trust me, this is not something you want to stress over the night before departure. I also recommend investing in some packing cubes, which you can read more about here.


1 Week Prior to Departure:
Use your last week before you depart to make sure everything you are packing is washed and ready to go. I like to slowly add everything to my bag that week, rather than marathon it the night before. It is also a good idea to make a list of everything you want to pack and cross off each item as you go (you can read my carry-on packing list here and an example of how I pack my carry on here). Leave this list at home in case anything happens to your bag and you need a record of everything you packed for your insurance company or airline. You also want to check the weather one last time to ensure you are prepared.

Click here for an example of a summer in Europe packing capsule.

Buon viaggio! And please leave any questions or tips below if you have them.

SHOP MY FAVORITE PACKING ACCESSORIES

History in High Heel's (Ultimate) Florence Map Guide

Ok, I finally did it. I created one comprehensive map of Florence with all of my favorite coffee stops, restaurants, must-see museums, and even good photo ops (and much more). Even though these custom Google maps can be a bit time consuming to create, they are completely worth it. You end up with an interactive map that you can view (on or offline) while traveling. They also allow for constant updates, that way I can quickly add new places of interest and keep the map current. I plan on adding more to this map over the next couple of months so stay tuned (my next goal is to add walks).

I am flying to St. Louis this weekend to meet with this summer's group of students studying abroad with the program I work for. So, now seemed like the perfect time to put this map together. I am excited to meet this year's group. It is amazing to be apart of someone's first experience abroad.

I know there are also lots of people planning summer vacations, hopefully you will find this map helpful too. Despite being home just three months, Florence feels like a lifetime ago, and I am itching to return for the summer. I think I am addicted to Florence.

You can access the map here, and you can learn more about custom Google maps here.

And here are some of my top Florence posts:
My Road Trip Through Tuscany
If You Only Have One Day in Florence
How to Drink Coffee Like an Italian

History in High Heel’s Paris Map

Outside of Italy, Paris will always be my favorite city. I love visiting Paris, and I go whenever I can. I was fortunate enough to visit three times last year, and with each trip I fell even more in love with the city. My last trip in November was especially meaningful, as it was just six days after the terrorist attacks. But Parisians are resilient, and we joined them in their refusal to be terrorized.

Since returning home, I have finally been able to put together a (somewhat) comprehensive custom Google map of Paris. I love creating custom Google maps, it is the best way to share information on a particular place. The best part is that you can save the map and reference it while traveling. I am particularly proud of my efforts to map as many gorgeous Parisian doors as I could, and tracking down some amazing (but often kept secret) photo spots.

Click here to see my map of Paris. Bookmark/save this link to access the map while traveling.

And here is a great blog post that walks you through creating, accessing, and saving custom google maps.

Feel free to comment with suggestions to add to the map, or things I overlooked.


More of my posts from Paris:
Six Things to do on a Rainy Day in Paris
Postcards from Paris
A Stroll Through Montmartre
Lots of Dots in Paris
Where to Find the Best Parisian Doors
Two Gardens in Paris

My Top Ten Moments of 2015

2015 was such an incredible year that picking just ten moments was a challenge. But after much debate, and strolls down memory lane, I finally settled on ten, although I could have easily done twenty! So without further ado, here they are my top 10 favorite moments of 2015:

10. Crossing the Chain Bridge in Budapest

9.  Poising in Front of the John Lennon Wall in Prague

8. Sipping Hot Wine and Ice Skating in Vienna

7. Exploring Santorini by 4-Wheeler

6. Road Tripping Through the Sunflower Fields of Tuscany

5. Riding Matching Pink Vespas through Tuscany with Shannon

4. Frolicking Through the Snow in Austria on the Sound of Music Tour

3. Meeting up With My Family in Paris

2. Strolling (and Laughing Uncontrollably) Through Montmartre with my Best Friend

1. Watching the Sunrise in a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia

Arrivederci Florence

Well, I am officially back in the US. It feels weird, exciting, and a little sad all at the same time. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to be home, but it definitely feels like the end of something special.

Describing this past year as something special is probably an understatement. I had almost a full year to research in the archives of Florence and along the way I visited a ton of new places. It was the best of both worlds -- adventures in the archive and adventures around Europe. I visited four new countries (The Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic) and fifteen new cities (Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, Verona, Prague, Dublin, Cannes, St. Tropez, Nice, Monte Carlo, Amsterdam, Santorini, Ischia, Procida, and Cappadocia). That is the best part about living in Europe, the proximity of so many incredible places and the cheap flights and bus rides that can take you there on a weekend whim!

For now, however, I will console myself with all of the things that I missed. I am looking forward to getting back into shape and getting back on the 90%-vegan wagon (I made it about 4 months in Italy with that before I gave up... cheese is everywhere!). I also pretty much went a year without cable TV and decent WIFI, so I am not going to lie, having those back will be nice. And of course, there will also be lots of Target and Dunkin Donuts runs now that I am home.

Naturally, there will be plenty that I miss from life in Florence. I loved walking everywhere and constantly being surrounded by history and gorgeous architecture. I will really miss stopping by the fresh market next to my house each morning to purchase locally-grown fresh fruits and veggies. I will miss my Florentine friends and spending my days in the archive. But that said, I am looking forward to getting serious about writing this dissertation.

Having the chance to live almost a full year abroad was absolutely incredible and I feel so lucky that I had the opportunity to do so. I am also lucky, because even though the end of this year is a little bittersweet, I will get to return to Florence to work this summer.

30 Tips for Studying/Living Abroad

1) Bring Earplugs
Student travel equals budget travel, which means you will have lots of people sharing rooms (hotels, dorms, and hostels) and enduring long bus rides. Tuck a couple pairs of disposable earplugs into your bag so that no matter what sleeping situation you find yourself in, you will be ready.

2) Pack Less, Budget More
Most students over pack and under budget. You won't need as much clothing as you think you do and you will definitely need more money. I have never heard a student say, "I budgeted too much, I have so much money." It is almost always the reverse.

3) Photocopy Important Documents
You can also snap a pic on your phone. Having copies tucked safely in your apartment and back home will make your life so much easier if any of your important documents (passport, ID, credit card, etc.) are stolen or misplaced.

4) Buy a SIM Card Abroad
This is the cheapest and easiest way (in Europe for sure), you can read more about using your cell phone abroad here.

5) Learn the Language
Or at least attempt to -- "hello," "thank you," and "please" go along way in any language and country.

6) Get in Shape
Traveling requires a lot of walking and luggage hauling. You will enjoy the experience more and your feet will hurt a lot less if you aren't completely out of shape. You don't need to train for a marathon, but putting in the effort to hit the gym or walk more before departure will go a long way.

7) Travel on Weekends
Make the most of your time abroad by traveling on the weekends. If you're in Europe you can basically see a new country every weekend. If you're in Florence, I highly recommend traveling with my friends at Florence For Fun.

8) Bring a Universal Power Adaptor
I like the universal ones, instead of country-specific, because if you do travel on weekends you are prepared.

9) Buy Your Straightener and/or Blow Dryer When You Arrive
Even when you use a voltage converter and adaptor, these items never seem to work properly (unless they are dual voltage). Fortunately, these items are not very expensive and easy to find abroad and it will save space and weight in your suitcase (you can read more of my tips for space and weight saving here).

10) Bring Comfortable Shoes

11) Take Lots of Pictures

12) Be Open to Bus Travel
As someone who gets car sick, I was not excited about the idea of a 10-hour bus ride to Budapest. But I bought some motion sickness pills and settled in with a pillow and a blanket and it wasn't terrible. It is one of the cheapest ways to travel and once I arrived in Budapest, it quickly became worth it.

13) Pack For All Weather Scenarios
This is important especially if you're planning on traveling. It may be mild in Florence in the fall, but you might want to ski one weekend in Switzerland or lay on the beach in Santorini.

14) Buy Travel Insurance
Again, especially true if you want to travel. And even more important if you are flying discount airlines. You can find good plans online and customize them to your travel needs.

15) Invest in a Good Camera and Large Memory Card
You will take a ton of pictures and they really are the best souvenirs.

16) Bring Something Sentimental
Bring something that reminds you of home for those days where you are tired, grumpy, and missing home.

17) Be Adventurous
Be adventurous in all things -- what you eat, where you travel, and what you do! Some of my most amazing experiences were when I put my fear aside and just went for it.

18) Stay Hydrated
This might seem like a non brainer, but when you're busy traveling and tap water is not free like it is back home, you often forget. Make an effort to drink lots of water, even if it's more expensive than you think it should be.

19) Set Goals/Make a Bucket List
Setting goals and making a bucket list will keep you motivated when your tired. Traveling every weekend and living in a foreign country can be exhausting, but it is so worth it.

20) Explore Alone
While traveling with friends and other students is fun, exploring on your own and learning how to navigate and interact by yourself in a foreign place is very important.

21) Pack Lots of Ziplock Bags
There are just so useful when you travel, trust me!

22) Plan, Plan, Plan!
Traveling is so much easing and cheaper when it is well planned. Take the time to research where you are going and what you want to do and book ahead whenever possible.

23) Sleep When You're Dead (Not Traveling)
Don't go into a semester abroad expecting to have lots of time to relax or that you will come home well rested. It is a once in a lifetime experience, which means it is completely worth all of the early mornings, late nights, and long travel days.

24) Learn How to Read a Map
Your cell phone may not always work, so it is nice to be able to fall back on an old-school map. It will also give you a better sense of the city, which will help you navigate.

25) Buy Toiletries When You Arrive
This saves space and weight when it comes to packing. You can read all of my space and weight saving tips here.

26) Dress the Part

27) Keep a Journal or Blog
It is a great way to keep track of all of your adventures and it lets your friends and family follow along.

28) Conquer Public Transportation

29) Get a Travel Rewards Credit Card
Most travel cards minimize exchange fees and international purchase fees, plus you can earn miles or points for your next adventure.

30) Get an Extra Battery for Your Phone
Between Google translating, mapping your location, and taking a million photos, you phone battery will betray you. I absolutely love my Mophie case. It has been a life saver on numerous occasions.

Six Things to do on a Rainy Day in Paris

In a perfect world, we would only travel when the weather was perfect. But as we know, that just isn't going to happen. Traveling during the summer months in Europe will typically ensure better weather, but that sunshine also comes with more crowds and higher prices. If you want to travel off season, which I highly recommend, you don't have to let weather ruin your good time. As Britt and I discovered on our trip to Paris last month, there are lots of things to do on rainy days in Paris!

Here are six fun things you can do in Paris on a rainy (or supper cold) day:

Visit the Catacombs
The catacombs of Paris are equally creepy and cool. Unlike the catacombs on Rome, they contain lots and lots of human bones (of about 6 million people). The catacombs were started in the 18th century to solve two of Paris's problems - over flowing cemeteries and frequent cave-ins. The millions of bones placed in networks of old mines soon became a curiosity for travelers and have remained so today. The arrangement of the bones is also striking, some might even say they are artistic and beautiful. It is definitely a unique (and dry) experience.

Go on a Sewer Tour
Believe it or not, Paris's sewers have a long and fascinating history. The city constructed its first sewer in the 14th century but it wasn't until Napoleon III that the modern day sewer system was born. Like the metro, Paris pioneered the idea of underground waste and water management. It might be a smelly tour, but it is definitely fascinating to explore some of the early parts of Paris's still-functioning historic sewer (there is also a museum).

Explore the Historic Covered Galleries
Modern day travelers aren't the only ones annoyed by Paris's temperamental weather. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, enclosing small shopping streets under glass roofs became a popular means to weather-proof a day spent shopping, dining, or sneaking away for something a bit more sinister. Today these historic covered arcades are hidden architectural gems full of shops, antique stores, book stores, and cafes. There are quite a few left in the city, you just have to know where to look! Most are on the right bank and relatively clustered together, making it easy to visit many of them in the same day. There is a great guide here.

Get a Museum Pass
Paris has some of the greatest museums in the world, which are perfect for bad-weather days. Both the Louvre and the d'Orsay have great restaurants, cafes, and wifi. There is even a shopping mall underground connect to the Louvre. If you can, try to plan your museum visits for the days with the worst weather, and to save money and time, you can purchase a museum pass. And here is one of my best Paris tips: there is a tobacco shop in the underground shopping area of the Louvre that sells tickets and museum cards and, unlike the main entrances, they rarely have a line!

Make New Friends at the Cat Cafe

Britt and I loved the cat cafe! Such a wonderful idea. Fill a cafe with adorable rescue cats and let people love them and play with them. It really is a win-win. Take my word for it, cake and coffee taste even better with sweet kitty cuddles. Just make sure you book ahead, reservations are required! You can check out their website here.

Go Shopping
When all else fails you can indulge in one of Paris's greatest pastimes - fashion! I think it goes without saying that the city has amazing shopping. The big department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are perfect for rainy days (again they have it all, coffee, food, and wifi lol).


Remember, Paris is always a good idea, rain or shine!

The Best Purses for Travel

When it comes to packing for travel or studying abroad selecting the right shoes and purses is definitely the most challenging part. You want to pack as few as possible while ensuring you have what you need for all possible occasions. You're also trying to find bags and shoes that will look stylish but also be comfortable and practical. Like I said, challenging!

Before you select your perfect purse for travel you need to think about your travel plans and what you will want or need to have with you on a daily basis. I encourage people to carry as little as possible to avoid back pain or having an annoyingly-large bag to drag around. This amount, of course, is different for everyone. Some people can get away with just their cell phone, keys, and wallet, while others need a mini first aid kit, makeup, DSLR camera, and extra sweater (#guilty).

If you only need a small or medium size purse, I highly recommend a cross-body bag. A convertible cross-body that can be both a shoulder bag and cross-body, like this one, is ever better. Cross-body bags free your hands and are more comfortable for long days of sightseeing. If you're the type of person that likes to carry everything but the kitchen sink, you will want to skip the cross body and opt for a large, but lightweight, tote. For security reasons, make sure what ever you select zips completely.

In addition to size and shape, you also want to consider the bag's material. Nylon is great because it is lightweight and durable. I also like coated canvas and Saffiano leather because both are more resistant to scratches and staining. Finally, make sure you select a practical color or pattern that goes with what you have packed.

Here are some of my favorite purses for travel:

THE MINIMALIST
Avery Crossbody // Britton Crossbody // Dagne Dover Tiny Tote // Jet Set Crossbody // Metropolis Mini Crossbody

THE PICTURE LOVER
Mini Avery Tote // Nylon Small Devin // Saddle Crossbody // Stacy Drawstring Shoulder Bag // Flemming Convertible Bag

THE HOARDER
Dagne Dover 13" Tote // Large Le Piliage // Cedar Street Tote

Now, you might have noticed that there are two Dagne Dover bags listed in my favorite purses for travel. That's because they really are the perfect bags! The larger totes have compartments for everything to keep you organized and protect your electronics. This is a lifesaver at the airport. My Tiny Tote, however, is one of my favorites for sightseeing. This little guy has traveled to Budapest, Salzburg, Paris, Venice, London, and all over Italy! To celebrate my love of Dagne Dover totes, they are offering 20% off to History in High Heels readers from now until December 25th with code - HistoryinHighHeels20.


FOR THE STUDY ABROAD STUDENT:
If you are studying abroad you will need a couple different types of bags. First you will need an everyday school bag. This should be something you can easily carry your books and lap top in to and from class (remember class can be on the other side of the city). I suggest a backpack (but beware of theft) or something like the Longchamp Large Le Piliage (which is perfect because it folds up).

You will also want to pack a small and/or medium sized cross-body bag for excursions and travel. Speaking of travel, make sure you bring a weekender bag or small carry-on for weekend travel. Just make sure that your travel bag is small enough to comply with budget airline restrictions (or you will be forced to check it)!

One final tip - Invest in your travel purses and bags and avoid traveling with cheap or poorly made ones. There is nothing worse than having your bag's seam tear or strap rip in the middle of the airport or a foreign city.


I hope this helps you find your perfect travel purse!

Outfit: A Stroll Through Montmartre

coat (on sale!) // dress (old, some sizes still available here, similar here, here, and here) // petite beret (last seen here) // scarf (also here) // tights // shoes // sunnies


After two days of chilly temps, gusting wind, and lots of rain, Britt and I were delighted to find that Sunday's weather forecast in Paris called for clear skies (although still very chilly). We decided to make the most of the nice weather and spend our day strolling the adorable streets of Montmartre.

Montmartre is a district of Paris that sits on a hill north of the city's historic center. Before the eighteenth century, this area sat outside the city limits of Paris and was largely agricultural, devoted mainly to the production of wine. By the twentieth century, however, the area had become a hotspot for artists. The cheap wine, affordable housing, and stunning views of the city and surrounding countryside attracted the likes of Renoir, Picasso, and Van Gogh.

Today, Montmartre is still a trendy and lively neighborhood of Paris. Britt and I started our day with a walking tour to learn more about the history and art of the area (we love Paris-Walks). Afterwards, we visited the stunning Basilica of the Sacré Cœur before warming up with some traditional hot wine (Britt's favorite). We spent the rest of our morning and early afternoon wandering all of the gorgeous little streets (check out Britt's blogger strut above) and sampling delights at the bakery that won the award for the world's best baguette in 2015 -- Le Grenier a Pain. Montmartre is known for having the best baguettes and pastries... and yes, it was amazing!

Since we were already in northern Paris, we decided to hop on the metro before sunset and head southwest to the area of Paris just across the river from the Eiffel Tower. Most people go to the green area (the Champs de Mars) that surrounds the tower to capture their pics. And while you most certainly should snap some pics of Paris's most iconic architecture from the Champs de Mars, I also like to take pictures from across the river. Two of the best places are the Trocadèro (no secret there) and the Avenue Camoëns (which is still kind of a secret).

Despite the sunshine, it was still a very chilly day and I was so happy to have my yellow J.Crew wool peacoat and giant plaid blanket scarf... and what is in outfit in Paris without my all-time favorite accessory, my petite beret!

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