day trip to lake maggiore.

Lake Maggiore glistening in the sunlight.

Beautiful lavender flowers on Isola Bella.

The wind didn't stop me from enjoying the day!

Such a moody and gorgeous landscape.

Ended the night with dinner at a gnoccheria!

While I'll always love the south, I'm currently falling more and more in love with all that northern Italy has to offer. Recently, I took a day trip to Lago Maggiore, one of the major lakes around Varese. The lake itself was stunning, especially when the sun shone down upon it. I took a quick boat ride out to Isola Bella, one of the three islands on the lake. After a relaxing stroll around the island (with a stop for a crepe, of course), I headed back to the mainland for a walk in town.

I ended the night at a gnoccheria, or a gnocchi restaurant, in the Varese area. The restaurant, aptly titled La Pancia Piena (The Full Stomach), served what was undoubtedly the most delicious gnocchi I've ever tasted. My friends and I savored flavors like classic pesto, squid ink and shrimp, and fig and fontina. We ended the night with happy stomachs and smiling faces.

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Have you read my last travel post yet? My vacation to Lyon was a foodie's heaven!

springtime in milan.

Navigli at the golden hour.

I had the best lunch at Panino Giusto.

Followed by dessert of course!

Macedonia is the way to go in spring!

Outside Teatro Nazionale.

Seeing Fame in Italian was such a cool experience.

After the show.

Strolling along the canal in search of aperitivo.

Best apericena ever!

I know it sounds cheesy, but Milan has carved out a special place in my heart. Not only is there an endless selection of things to do, but there is also an innate charm and beauty to the city itself. My friend and I took the train in on a beautiful spring day to see Fame at Teatro Nazionale. The performance was fun, and I enjoyed seeing the Italian twist on the classic story.

Before the show, we stopped by Panino Giusto, which is reputed to be one of the best gourmet panino restaurants in Milan, for a quick lunch. I can honestly say that the reviews were correct. I ordered the Orientale panino, a medley of eggplant, sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, and hummus atop a perfectly toasted ciabatta roll. It was especially delicious paired with the zenzero (ginger) juice. I couldn't get enough! My friend and I split two desserts - a chocolate and pear cake with whipped cream and a macedonia (fruit salad) bowl with strawberry syrup and ice cream. Both were wonderful, although I have to admit that the macedonia really hit the spot on such a lovely spring day.

After the show, we headed down to the canal zone in the Navigli neighborhood. Strolling along the water during the early evening hours is such a magical experience. The setting sun makes the water and all the buildings take on a golden hue. As the temperature got cooler, we settled into a table for aperitivo. Of course, with the amazing buffet selection offered, it ended up turning into apericena!

We left the city stuffed and satisfied. Just another stellar day in Milano!

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Want to know what Milan is like in fall? How about in winter?

adventures in lyon.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the metallic tower of Fourvière in the distance.

The view from the top of the Basilica steps.

What a gorgeous city!

The streets and shop displays were charming.

The street art on the way to the top of the Basilica was a fun surprise.

Lyon's praline pastry was almost too pretty to eat!

The Roman Amphitheater was a sight to behold. 

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this was the best pastry I've ever eaten.

After my magical two days in Paris, it was time to board the train to Lyon. I had heard of Lyon prior to my trip to France, but I didn't really know what to expect. As I quickly discovered during my two days in the city, Lyon is the food capital of France and a hub for French history. I got to experience both aspects during my time there!

In terms of sights, Lyon has some truly magnificent architecture. I loved visiting the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the Roman Amphitheater, even though getting to the top of the hill to see both of them was quite an effort. There are so many stairs! I also fell for the open shopping streets and charming storefronts in the older zone of the city. I'll readily admit that I wandered into more than a few chocolate shops as I made my way around town.

Speaking of food, Lyon lived up to its foodie reputation. I made sure to try some of the local dishes, like a rose praline brioche and saucisson en brioche, which I can only describe as a larger, more delicious version of a pig in a blanket. I also need to mention the fact that I had the best pastry of my life in Lyon. I ordered a chocolate and almond brioche (pictured above) from the boulangerie near my apartment and proceeded to freak out over how amazing it was for the rest of the day. It was just that good!

While Paris fulfilled all of my first-time visitor to France dreams, Lyon surprised me with its charm and local flair. I'll definitely be returning!

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Check out my previous adventure to Munich!

two days in paris.

The Parisian skyline.

Don't mind if I do!

The first (but certainly not the last) creperie I visited.

My first crepe in Paris! This buckwheat flour crepe with a perfectly over easy egg was the ideal start to my day.

Sacre Coeur looking majestic.

Crepe #2 was a lovely lemon, butter, and sugar number.

The Montmartre neighborhood stole my heart.

Notre Dame looks magnifique!

The perfect afternoon snack - a cool glass of milk and the cutest raspberry tart.

I made it to the Love Wall!

I didn't go into the Louvre, but I enjoyed walking around the park outside.

The highlight of my trip! Standing in front of the Eiffel Tower was surreal.

I had to go with a chocolate lava cake for dessert on night 1.

One of the most charming locations in Paris!

Instead of relaxing on a beach or living it up in some tropical destination, I decided to book a ticket to France for spring break. I spent two days in Paris before taking the train to Lyon for another two days. It was, without a doubt, one of the most magical trips I've ever taken. I saw some amazing places, ate wonderful food, and experienced the beauty of French culture.

My first two days in Paris were incredible. I sat inside Sacre Coeur and gazed in awe at the majestic architecture and designs. I wandered through the streets of Montmartre and discovered the coolest pop-up shops and boutiques (and yes, I did some shopping). I stood in front of the Eiffel Tower and lived out all my Monte Carlo and French Kiss inspired dreams. In short, I had a memorable time wherever I went.

As for food, I unleashed my inner foodie and sampled the best that Paris had to offer. In addition to downing my fair share of freshly baked baguettes, I savored everything from a raspberry tart and a traditional lemon and sugar crepe to a specialty buckwheat flour crepe and a perfectly roasted chicken dinner. Paris definitely spoiled me with delicious food.

I can now understand why so many people are enamored by the City of Lights. With its glowing ambiance and natural charm, it truly is one of the star cities of Europe. Che magnifique!

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my trip to France. You'll never believe the adventures I had in Lyon!

winter weekend in munich.

Highlight of the trip: drinking Gingerbreadmilk at the Christmas market!

My first glimpse of the Marienplatz Chrismas market.

Saw so many beautiful churches on this trip.

Snack break! I'll never turn down a fresh pastry.

Stopped into a quaint cafe for a spot of tea!

Is this not the prettiest tea setup you've ever seen?

Saying that Munich's architecture is impressive is a massive understatement.

Loved seeing these beautiful nativity displays throughout the city.

Perhaps the best thing I ate on the trip - pancake pieces with plum compote.

Munich is full of gorgeous architecture.

I got ridiculously excited when I saw these Christmas trees for sale!

Santa!

The Medieval Christmas market was beyond cool.

My Christmas present to myself was a trip to Munich at the beginning of December. The city is home to the oldest Christmas market in Europe. I couldn't think of a better way to kick off the holiday season!

I visited four different Christmas markets total, including one at the airport and one with a medieval theme. They were all fantastic, and I was fully excited for the winter season by the end of the trip. The stalls are all so charming. I was enchanted by the Christmas decorations and displays strewn throughout town.

Of course, I was also blown away by the food. I had everything from sausage and pancakes to gingerbreadmilk and pretzels. Everything was delicious, and I was more than a little sad to leave such a food haven.

All in all, Munich was a dream destination at Christmastime. Marienplatz is magical, especially with a massive Christmas tree next to it and a beautiful holiday market inside it. I loved spotting all the nativity displays and twinkle lights around town. It was the perfect spot to spend the season!

xoxo

Sabrina

P.S. Did you read about my last trip to Bologna? It was amazing!

a weekend in bologna.

Tired from a day of travel and ready to dig into some tasty pasta!

Gnocchi with a classic Bolognese ragu sauce.

Dark chocolate filled croissants and cappuccinos for breakfast.

Best burger of my life: fresh meat on a black bun with fried squash blossoms, bacon, and pumpkin hash. Roasted potato on the side with homemade ketchup and mustard. Talk about yummo!

I Due Torri in the distance.

Love the fresh fruit and vegetable markets in Bologna!

These twinkle lights made me so happy!

After a month in Italy under my belt, I figured it was time to venture out a bit and head back to the city that made me fall in love with Italy in the first place. Bologna will always hold a special place in my heart, not only because it was my first home away from home in Italy, but also because it has such a warm atmosphere and amazing food!

I started my culinary journey off with a massive plate of gnocchi al ragu from Mercato dei Mezzi. The sauce is a Bolognese staple, so I knew it would be hard to go wrong. On day two, I began with a chocolate cornetto and a perfectly made cappuccino at ITIT Cafe. Delish! Lunch was undoubtedly the best meal of the trip. The Covo Burger (above) from Jukebox Cafe is hands down the best burger I've ever eaten. Adding pumpkin hash and bacon makes everything taste amazing!

Aside from my food experiences, I spent a lot of time wandering through the city streets. The shops were bustling and the streets were packed with people on their weekends strolls. All in all, I was charmed yet again by the city at the heart of Italy.

xoxo

Sabrina

PS. Did you read about my night in Milan? How about when I went to Italy the first time?