Almost everyone in my senior class of high school new that I had a bit of a cough drop addiction. I don’t know why, but they were delicious and I ate them like candy. In high school, I was all about Hall’s Cherry cough drops. Since then, I’ve moved onwards and upwards to Ricola Honey Lemon cough drops. Yum!
Is anyone else totally in love with the pastels, bright white, and gold trend going on this summer? Or, alternatively, the vibrant neon color trend? Personally, I can’t choose which one I like better. But summer colors and trends are my absolute favorite! Recently, I visited Monaco, a tiny country along the southern coast of France (an easy breezy 20 minute train ride from Nice), and I am convinced that this country has unintentionally (or maybe intentionally, who knows) created a kick-ass color scheme that makes is absolutely stunning and incredible to visit, especially in the summer. Seriously, go to Monaco and simply feast your eyes upon the beauty.
The country is small and definitely walkable, but there is a hop on/hop off bus option, as well as local buses if your feet are complaining a bit too much. However, Monaco is a great place for simply strolling along the waterfront or getting lost in tiny allies with little shops while eating gelato (the gelato is an important part!).
Walking along the Promenade d’Anglais in Nice, all I could think was that the Beach Boys would totally love this city. The beaches are mostly rocky, which is a change for us southerners used to the sandy coast along the Gulf of Mexico, but the water in the French Riviera is sky blue. Not dark blue like most deep waters of the ocean, or the teal green of the Croatian coast, but an honest to goodness sky blue. I am not over editing these photos; the water is just that gorgeous! Needless to say, total Beach Boy heaven.
Many solo travelers have dubbed the small town of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a “hidden gem” in Europe. After my stay in this quaint little town, I absolutely have to agree. The town is a contrast between recently rebuilt urban areas and crumbling, broken buildings scattered amongst the bustling streets. In 1992, war broke out within Bosnia and Herzegovina, lasting until 1995. The effects of the war are starkly clear in Mostar; the front line is one of the main boulevards driven on today. While much of the city has been rebuilt, the effects of the war are still visible.
A moving, and yet simple and small, war monument resides in Mostar. A brick painted with the words “Don’t Forget” takes up a corner in the market. Not large and imposing, but the words and monument are powerful nonetheless.
