Bon Voyage: Zermatt

(Photo by Tony Clawson)

Ciao from Italy! It has been several days since I've posted, but with some downtime at the home of my Italian family I am excited to catch up on the blog. I'm going to skip stories from Paris for now as I would like to save those and completely relive it when we return to St. Louis! Between Paris and Italy we made a stop in Zermatt, Switzerland. The mission: relax and restore. After 10 days of nonstop travel and site seeing, we knew a moment of rest would be needed before the final leg of our journey. We referred to these few days as our "engagement-moon". Zermatt was the perfect place to recharge and simply enjoy being an engaged couple. It also provided time to read, work on the blog, and begin wedding plans! 

We could not have asked for better accommodations than we found at Hotel Bellerive. Long story short, this was not the original hotel we booked. We had a little hiccup in our planning but I am actually glad that we did. For starters, our room had an absolutely stunning view of the Matterhorn and a skylight above the bed for stargazing. We had planned to do some hiking, but we were exhausted and didn't feel the need after walking out onto our balcony to this view. 

Everything we needed was within walking distance (Zermatt is very small) and we enjoyed snacking on street food and checking out the selection in the local grocery stores. Of course, we had to pick up a famous Toblerone so we could get this shot (and enjoy the delicious chocolate...).

Another incredible feature of our hotel was the wellness center. Each night before dinner we enjoyed time decompressing in the sauna and jacuzzi. When I say this was an "engagement-moon" I really mean it! Our room also included a complimentary mini-bar and Nespresso machine which we used frequently to enjoy coffee breaks. We enjoyed coffees as we watched the colors of the sunset on the Matterhorn. 

We woke up early on Thursday, our final morning in Zermatt, to see if we could catch the view of the sunrise on the Matterhorn. WOW was it a view! The sun lit up the tip of the mountain, and it looked as vibrant as a blacksmith's glowing hot steel. It was breathtaking. 

Last but not least (and another incredible feature of this hotel), we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast buffet before making our way to the train station. Planning this time in Zermatt was one of the best ideas we've ever had. It was just what we needed with views of a lifetime.

Ciao for now, but I will be back soon with another Bric à Brac post, as well as a recap of our day in Modena. I can't wait to share more with you! 

Warm wishes (or should I say caldo?) from Italy,

 *Note that all opinions in this post are mine. I was not paid to write about or advertise Hotel Bellerive, but I would personally recommend it! 

Absolument, oui!

I have been so anxious to share this story with all of you - my family, friends, and readers. Monday was our last of four days in Paris. Sunday night as I felt the end drawing near, I sat up late in our hotel room thinking of all that I still wanted to fit in. I made a list in my bullet journal, and Tony and I planned our day determined to do it all. First on the agenda - an early morning photo of the Eiffel Tower with just the right light and not many tourists out and about. Tony had been talking about getting a certain shot for a few days, and we knew Monday was going to be the best chance as it had been cloudy and rainy most of our time there. I had saved my special dress for our Eiffel Tower visit and was excited to make our last day as memorable as possible. 

As we walked the streets of Paris in the 7th arrondissement, I wished we could pause time. The weather was beautiful and at 7:00am the city hadn't quite woken up. All was quiet and calm. Here I am marveling at the Eiffel Tower's beauty on our way to just the perspective Tony wished to capture.

When we found the spot, Tony set up the tripod. He asked me to go stand in place to make sure the shot looked just right. He told me to look toward the tower, and I did without an ounce of suspicion. I think about 2 minutes passed, and I never turned around once as Tony set the camera for video and fumbled for the ring. When I finally turned, he was there on one knee. When he asked me to marry him, it was the easiest answer of my life. Absolument, oui! Absolutely, yes! Here we are, all smiles, in our first moments as an engaged couple. 

It makes me smile to think of all of the clues in hindsight. Tony's insistence on taking such a particular picture. My mom asking me almost every day when we were going to the Eiffel Tower. Many people asked me before the trip if I expected a proposal, and my honest answer had been no. A chance to travel Europe with Tony was already a dream come true. I truly didn't see it coming, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The feeling in that moment and in all the moments that have followed has been the most incredible feeling. 

With the time difference, we couldn't immediately call family and friends. It ended up being the perfect opportunity to revel in our engagement ourselves for just a little while longer. And remember that list I had made? We decided to keep our ambitions and conquer it! 

After we dropped off the tripod and I gave myself a quick manicure, we headed to Télescope for coffee and croissants. We hit Île de la Cité to see the intricate and richly colored stained glass windows at Sainte-Chapelle. We wandered through Île Saint-Louis, and made our way to Poilâne for bread and Pierre Hermé for macarons. Next up - La Grande Épicerie for rosé, cheese, strawberries and grapes. And what to do with all of these delectable treats? Have a picnic at Jardin du Luxembourg, of course! Here is our picnic in the garden where we finally sat down to breath and truly take in our engagement. 

After a break in our hotel room to share the big news with family and friends, we spent the evening having dinner and walking along Canal Saint-Martin. There was just one final stop we needed to make. 

(A few last photos in Paris.)

We knew we wanted to end our time in Paris just as it had begun with drinks at Au Petit Fer à Cheval. We toasted champagne and enjoyed two café crèmes with a crème brûlée. It was a Parisian dream. 

I could not be more happy than I am to be spending the rest of my life with my best friend. Together we have had many adventures, and this next one will be our biggest adventure yet! 

Thank you so much for your love and support, and for celebrating this special life moment with us! 

Warm wishes from the happy couple,

Bon Voyage: Amsterdam

Bonjour, hallo, ciao! It's a beautiful and clear morning in Zermatt, Switzerland. I'm sitting at the desk in our lovely hotel room as Tony captures photos of the Matterhorn view from our balcony. We keep looking at each other and saying how lucky we are. To be together. To be experiencing all of these beautiful places. A LOT has happened since our stop in Amsterdam a week ago, but I'm going to continue to recap our travels in order (for the most part). Tomorrow I will be back to tell you about a very special something from our last day in Paris because I'm anxious to share and I think many of you are anxious to hear more. ;-)

We arrived at Amsterdam Centraal station on Tuesday, June 27. Walking the streets of the city to our hotel, our immediate impression was that it was much noisier and not quite as clean as Copenhagen. Then, we got to Prisengracht and the scene changed. The canal was lined with trees, charming homes and shops. It was quiet and calm. We knew in an instant Amsterdam was going to be up there on our list just as Copenhagen had been. 

After a long day of travel, our hotel room at Andaz was a welcome retreat. We settled in and cleaned up before hitting the streets for a little evening exploration.

With Amsterdam, I didn't really know what to expect. It's not a city I know much about and the only research I had done was with my 500 Hidden Secrets of Amsterdam book (find link below) in the Copenhagen airport. This stop was going to include a lot of wandering which excited me! 

(I picked up that pen holder at HAY in Copenhagen.)

First on the list: traditional Amsterdam apple pie at Winkel 43. What's not to love about a city that's famous for apple pie?! We also tasted another traditional snack, bitterballen. They were the perfect warm bite on a brisk evening. On our walk home, we passed the Anne Frank House. With such a short stay, we opted to do more discovery versus wait in long lines, but this will definitely be on my list for a future trip. Just standing in front of the house was a moving experience for me. 

City Vibes:

Amsterdam was a city with an overall leisurely pace. Different neighborhoods had very different vibes as I described at the beginning of the post, and we definitely preferred it by the canals near our hotel. There, the streets were relatively quiet and it was fun to watch bikers out and about. The women here were impressive. One mom had a baby and a preteen on her bike, pedaling up a cobblestone hill! It was quite the site. The canals were lined with nice shops and boutiques, and it was a perfect mix of new and traditional. 

Favorite Finds:

While breakfast at Pancakes Amsterdam may have been pretty touristy, it was nothing short of delicious! Tony ordered ham & cheese Dutch pancake, and I had one with yogurt and some of the most delectable strawberries I have ever tasted. Hut Spot was one of our very favorites. We got an Amsterdam print to add to the travel wall in our apartment (I will post a photo of the wall when we return). Wandering the streets we discovered Pluk café and boutique which was probably my favorite. There, I got a croissant phone case and an Amsterdam tote that has been perfect for carrying the souvenirs we are picking up along the way. 

(Pluk Amsterdam)

I also enjoyed Skin Cosmetics. I was in need of a serious skin detox after all of the trains and planes, and the saleswoman here was incredibly helpful. I picked up a mask by REN, a skincare company that "uses only 100% plant and mineral derived actives and is free from skin-unfriendly synthetic ingredients." I've used it twice so far and really love it! Stay tuned for an entire post about the beauty products I used and picked up on my travels. 

A final favorite: dinner at Papeneiland. We enjoyed toasties, bitterballen, and of course we couldn't resist another slice of apple pie. This one was the most delicious of all. 

Style Watch:

Style in Amsterdam was not nearly as defined as that in Copenhagen. Looks were overall casual and typically included sneakers. I did see women on bikes in stilettos! This city definitely inspired me to want to get my bike out more back in St. Louis. A few of my favorite looks on the streets: stripe tee + blazer + dark jeans and cream waffle knit sweater + dark jeans. 

Overall Impressions:

As I previously mentioned, I had few ideas or expectations when we arrived in Amsterdam. The city charmed me completely, and I would love to go back and explore more in the future! 

Coming soon to the blog - our Paris adventures! I cannot wait to share our four days in Paris with you. :) Just a reminder that you can follow me on Instagram @fleurdestlouis. It's much easier for me to post there on the go if you'd like more frequent updates. Tony is also posting wonderful photos @tonyclawsonstl. Until my next post (which will be an incredibly exciting one), I'll be taking in the beautiful scenery in Zermatt! 

Warm wishes and bon voyage from me to you,

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