WHERE YOU GO

some wise words from someone i admire and look up to. this is so important and something i fully believe in. i love traveling because i feel enriched, lost, and anonymous. i am always left hungry for more. i want to continue to explore different cultures and ways of life. 

AMSTERDAM EATS

so, basically all i did in amsterdam was go from restaurant to restaurant. but to be fair, what else am i supposed to do on a super windy and rainy day? i couldn't walk around all day like i was normally doing in every other city so naturally the next thing to do is eat...a lot. 

i think most of my amsterdam meals were great. the two places that i won't be forgetting anytime soon are harvest & co. as well as upstairs pannenkoeken. 

i definitely loved how great each store was set up. their interiors were killing it. a life goal of mine is to open up my own little restaurant and amsterdam definitely had me day dreaming about my dream place like crazy. who knows, maybe one day i'll surprise us all and open up my dream place.

Harvest & Co.

Tweede Helmersstraat 96 (Helmersbuurt)

+31 611 641654

Harvest & Co. is a curated shop containing vintage and new items for your home, travel, and to wear. their storefront is a coffee shop that brews speciality drinks which are delicious. i highly advise you to order their cortadito (it is one of the best i've had so far), browse through a magazine that's lying around, and hang out for a while. one of the owners took my coffee order while the other was hanging out at the front and i really loved that. i regret not striking up a real conversation with them, i bet they have some awesome stories to share.

this is definitely a shop worth checking out. i'm very into the concept they have going on. an environment of celebrating quality and honest craftsmanship truly comes to life at harvest & company which is something i admire deeply. i cannot say enough great things about this place, just simply that you must check it out.

Pazzi

1e Looiersdwarsstraat 4-BG (Jordaan)

+31 20 3202800

this first place i ate at was pazzi. it was a few steps away from my apartment and my friends and i were starving so naturally we decided not to walk very far to get some food in our mouths! they were closing soon, but the guy outside taking a smoking break happened to be the pizza maker and he told us to go in and that he'd take care of us. 

we ordered the two pizzas to go and grabbed ourselves a bottle of wine and some salads from the nearest market. maybe it was because i was so hungry or maybe they make a mean pizza, but they were both really great! the prosciutto and arugula was my favorite, but the mozzarella and cheese was also good. the crust was the best in my opinion. i love good crust and this pizza had good crust! i would go back to this restaurant, but i would order one of the more complex pizzas on the menu and probably eat in.

Phone number+31 20 3202800

Vinnies Deli
Haarlemmerstraat 46 (Centrum)
+31 20 7713086

i visited this cute organic cafe on my last day in amsterdam. it seemed to be a locals only kind of place which is my favorite! i ordered poached eggs on toast and a coffee and kind of wish i would've gone a little crazy and tried a few items off of their menu...as well as a piece of cake. unfortunately i was in a "i'm going to be healthy today" mood which truthfully didn't last very long. 

i suggest ordering one of their open-faced sandwiches and some coffee! the instagram photos of all their food definitely make me wish i could hop on a plane and grab a sandwich to-go (man, i wish that was a thing). last suggestion is to go eat upstairs and hangout by the window to people watch! heads up, they only take card which is a bummer!

Petit Gateau

Haarlemmerstraat 80 (Centrum)

+31 624 205631

this quote on their website sums this place up quite nicely "there once was a girl who wanted to be a pastry chef. she started a patisserie in paris, and after six successful years, she moved to amsterdam to do the same." a little bit of paris in amsterdam. this pastry shop is photogenic and is beautifully laid out. they have an open kitchen plan so you can watch the pastry chefs at work while ordering your espresso and tart (if you're like me you'll order at least two). 

i suggest ordering one of everything, but if you a normal human and cannot handle quite that many calories in one sitting then get the apricot and pistachio tart and something else. it was delicious and that crust is one to not forget. 

Jay's Juices
Haarlemmerstraat 14 (Centrum)
+31 20 6231267

somehow my traveling friend managed to get sick and it was not fun. i felt for her. the health nut in me came out and i started blurting out things we needed to get her to help her regain strength and feel better. while we were walking around waiting for our train to london we came across this gem. we entered and i very bluntly told the man behind the counter, "my friend is sick, we must make her feel better." he just laughed at us and eventually concocted some green juices for the both of us. he made her one which would help her out in her time of need and i specifically asked for a detox juice with lots of greens!

the drinks were really great and reminded me of home and sunny southern california weather! jay is clearly very knowledgable and you can tell by all the different magazine and newspaper articles written about him which he has posted on a wall in the tiny shop. so, if you are under the weather, want a really great juice, or are feeling guilty for all of the pastries and not so healthy food you have ingested...go here. 

Upstairs pannenkoeken

1012 GA Amsterdam (Centrum)

+31 20 6265603

let me start off by letting you know that this place is nestled between some other shops and is a little hard to find. keep your head up and look for their sign above a random door. once you are enter you will be surprised to see that you have to walk up these strange steep stairs to get inside the restaurant (it's all part of the experience, trust me). the interior feels like a dutch flea market. tea pots all over the ceiling and old photographs covering the walls. it's really cute in a "dutch grandma" kind of way.

let's talk about the meal. i'm still dreaming about the pancake i had. anthony bourdain (my forever crush) visited this place and said great things so obviously i would have to check the place out. thank god i did because the pancake with salami, cheese, and tomatoes will forever be one of the best meals i've had from some tiny hole in the wall. "this ain't no ihop" is what came out of my friend's mouth and she was damn right. these are dutch pancakes cooked to perfection. their menu is pretty extensive, but i think going with something simple is probably your best bet. 

AMSTERDAM IN ABOUT 40 HOURS

my stay in amsterdam was quite short, but it was still fun. it's such a beautiful city. everywhere you turn you are met by some cool looking building. i definitely did not expect it to be so trendy. the fashion there is pretty on point, the boutiques are great, and the cafes are definitely instagram worthy. overall amsterdam is a city based around art and i love that.

since i have been starting every post with a few tips on each city here are a few for amsterdam:

- be careful of the cyclist. they're not going to stop if you're in their way. they're kings of the road.

- walk everywhere. ride the bus as little as possible, it's not cheap and walking will allow you to find cool like alleyways, cute cafes, and just get a better look of the city.

- ride a bike at least once. i was not able to because of how insanely windy and rainy it was, but we were told by a local that it's really easy to bike there. 

- take a hop on, hop off boat ride. you'll get to learn some cool things you never would've learned by just walking around.
- check out the covered flower market.
- look up, you'll be surprised by all the cool details you will see. 

- coffee shops are where you go to smoke weed, cafes are bars and actual coffee drinking and food eating cafes. 

- stay out late. that's when you meet the most interesting characters and be amongst the locals.

PARIS VIDEO

before leaving for europe my friend emily and i decided we would take videos throughout our whole trip using the 8mm app. we shot a few hours worth of footage and turned it into an almost 8 minute video. 

we danced everywhere, ate tasty food, and drank a lot. i hope you fall even a little bit in love with paris via this video. enjoy. 

PARIS EATS

the food. oh man. let me start off by saying that i ate so much food during this europe adventure. i didn't even think it was possible for someone my size to consume so much, but somehow it happened. it was very much worth it, but if you need me i'll be at the gym burning off every last meal until summer.

before i start naming some places you definitely must check out, i want to give you some suggestions:

- if you are staying at a place with a kitchen then start off by roaming around and scoping out a few markets. buy some produce to cook with back at your place. paris gets expensive so cooking a few meals will save you some money. (a baguette, eggs, yogurt, a local jam, and some fruit)

- stay away from the touristy restaurant spots. look for places packed with locals. eat on the terrace, best people watching.

- learn how to say a few words to help you out when ordering. try and speak some french. the parisians will appreciate it and you won't look like such an ass. 

- most of the time you will have to pay at the register. don't act surprised if they never come pick up your bill. you go to them. 

- you don't leave a tip unless you feel like the service was amazing. i know, it's weird, but once you realize how much you are paying in taxes you'll be glad you don't have to cash out any more money.

- take your sweet time when eating. they are all about socializing over food so if you hangout for over two hours they won't care.

- try out different things from the bakeries. don't go to chain ones. you want the mom and pop bakery, trust me.

- wine and coffee are acceptable at any time of the day. go for it, you only live once. (yup, that happened)

- always order from the whole in the walls. you'll get some of the best bread and meals.

Merci

111 Boulevard Beaumarchais (Le Marais)

a wonderful place to shop, eat, and hangout in. two stories, three restaurants, and lots of beautiful items. this boutique store is filled with great items from earrings to dining room tables. it's fun to hangout in and grab a few items and also day dream about owning some of their stuff. like i said, they have three restaurants. two are first come first serve and the other is with a reservation. we visited the used book cafe. we did have to wait about half an hour as it was full to the brim. 

you must get their cafe creme. it's served in this big pitcher like mugs and it's good. we decided to order something small (biscuits and coffee) and eat a real meal elsewhere. we looked around and people's meals looked really wonderful so i'm pretty positive everything on the menu is good. this is a fun lounge around and catch up for hours with an old friend kind of place. afterwards you can stop by bonton the children's boutique (it's a few shops down) and jump into their old school photobooth and take some fun photos. 

Coquelicot 
24 Rue des Abbesses, 75018 Paris, France (Montmartre) 
+33 1 46 06 18 77

this place is small, absolutely lovely, and you'll most likely be sitting extremely close to your neighbor. i read somewhere that this place has been around since 1978! maybe that's why their food is absolutely amazing, they know what works and what doesn't. this is one of the restaurants that leaves you the check at your table, but you pay at the register. the cute old lady who served us spoke just a few words of english. so if you aren't lucky enough to travel with someone who speaks french you'll be okay at this restaurant.  

now about the food…incredible breakfast. i had a simple breakfast and i'm not exaggerating when i say it was the best breakfast i have ever had. the bread was baked to perfection (no exaggeration here), the eggs tasted fresh and the yolk poured out so damn beautifully, and that ham was quite tasty. simple is sometimes all you need. i suggest that you don't order their regular coffee. an espresso might have been a better choice or find a cafe after and order a coffee at the bar.

Le Refuge des Fondues

17 rue des Trois Frères (Montmartre)

+33 1 42 55 22 65

reservations, make one. it's definitely not easy getting them on the phone, but you will not get a table without one. ask for the 7pm reservation or else you will end up waiting a long time for a table to open up. this was such a fun way to spend our last night in paris. we ordered the meat and cheese fondue and red wine. it's a fixed menu so don't go asking for anything fancy because they won't have it. simple as that.

le refuge des fondues is more about the atmosphere and experience. probably the least tasty meal in paris (but that's still pretty tasty), but it was the best time. we made friends with everyone at the restaurant and laughed so much. we drank our red wine out of baby bottles which was an experience in itself. expect to be touching elbows with your neighbor, but it's fun! definitely check this place out! 

La Maison Rose  
2 Rue De L'abreuvoir (Montmartre)

the walk up is nice, but long so wear comfortable shoes. pretty touristy area, but worth the view. make sure to keep walking up after you're done at the cafe, because there is a lot to check out. 

food is mediocre, but the espresso was pretty good. this is a good 'i'm hungover i can eat anything right now' kind of meal. it's honestly nothing special, but it's such a darling cafe that it's makes it worth it which is why i added it on this list. bring a journal, order yourself a coffee, and just let yourself be inspired by your surroundings. 

Farmers Markets & Super Markets

i already mentioned this in the list of tops above. go to the street markets, super markets, and farmers markets for produce. grab a few bottles of wine, some fruit, yogurt, baguettes...whatever it is you like. it will save you some money and their produce and items are my favorite. 

le marché des enfants rouges is a covered market in le marais that is great. i ate from a moroccan stand and was pleasantly surprised by my meal. it was cheap, delicious, and the owners were so nice. at this particular market there are wine vendors, fruit stands, and all sorts of different meal options. it's definitely a place you must check out. 

since the christmas markets were still open i was able to walk down champs-élysées and check out all of the different markets that were out. i walked by a stand with a long line so i went to check it out and was surprised to see that they were smoking the salmon right there for all to see so of course i had to get myself something. i had a smoked salmon sandwich that was topped with a seasoned mayonnaise (not normally a fan of that stuff) and it was definitely worth it. 

MY LOVE FOR PARIS

so, somehow i managed to get myself back to europe all in the same year. i landed in paris first and even though i was in paris a few months before it felt like it had been years since i had last visited that magical city. i will be completely honest and say that the last time i was in paris i was left with a bitter taste in my mouth. i didn't have the greatest time and left pretty disappointed. 

man am i glad that i went back. i get it. i completely understand the paris hype. i fell madly in love with the city. it's colors, it's smells, it's cafes lined with parisians drinking café crème...i could go on and on. 

i can't wait to go back to paris. i definitely want to explore the city when it's warm and sunny every day! i can already picture all the simple and tasty picnics i would have at their parks. some wine, cheese, baguettes and some seasonal fruit..oh man, what a good time.

here are a few suggestions for visiting paris:
- if you want to visit paris and and really experience it you need to go for a minimum of a week. why? because i don't think you'll be able to really experience paris in a short amount of time. this was my third time in paris and i feel like i am just beginning to experience paris. (yes this means i am already planning on going back). 
- don't go with an strict agenda. have a list of a few things you would like to see and do, but keep it short. plan on getting lost. like really lost. my friend and i lost each other while riding their city bikes and it was a beautiful experience.
- riding the city bike is much scarier than you would imagine. they're crazy out there so if you are riding to just ride around you are good, but don't try getting to a location if you are new at riding. it was a fright fest. worth it though. 
- pack light. simple as that. some good comfortable shoes (major), a few basic pieces, and cameras.
- walk as much as you can. yes, the metro is great and helpful but the best way to see and explore the city is by foot. see above suggestion. 
- you will still need to take the metro so buy the metro ticket book instead of individual tickets. it will save you money and time. 
- check out their grocery stores. you can find some great things there and stocking up on some snacks is always a money saver.
- always have smaller bills on you and loose change. much needed.
- take a lot of photos and keep a journal. you'll forget some of these moments and all their beautiful details one day. so you'll be glad you captured them to keep forever.
- take it all in. all of it. every single meal, every metro ride, every person you come across. they make up the beautiful city of paris and it'll all inspire you.

WANDERLUST

it's back. my itch to travel that is. to be honest it never left, but as of late i have been really desiring adventure and travel. my mind starts to wander and i catch myself daydreaming of beautiful places like bali, turkey, morocco, barcelona...ok i'll save you some time and stop there. 

traveling isn't for everyone. some people are more comfortable staying in one place and they are content with that. i personally could never see myself not traveling. the adventure that lies ahead excites me.

click through for full post

THE CITY OF ANGELS

jared leto directed this short film about the city of hopes and dreams, los angeles. it's beautiful and tragic. it reminded of me of why i decided to make the move from orange county to los angeles. los angeles means hope, dreams, and endless opportunities .

here is what leto had to say about this film, "City Of Angels is a short film about this wild, weird, and wonderful land, Los Angeles, California. A place that has left its mark on the world’s imagination and a place where dreams can actually come true,” the band’s front man Jared Leto said in a statement. “I made this short film so I could share my thoughts on this incredibly special place and talk to others about theirs. It’s not so much about this particular city but more about the people who inhabit it. This is for the dreamers who know that sometimes the impossible is indeed possible.

EUROPE, MY LOVE

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” -Ernest Hemingway


remember when i wrote about how i fell in love with london here, here, here, here and here? well, my love is so strong that nothing could keep me away. which is why i'll be traveling to london as well as some other beautiful countries with my dear friend, emily (check out her new blog) this coming december and january. i will be spending new years eve in paris for the second time. champagne, the eiffel tower or any other location, and lots of dancing (because, duh)! i'm too excited.

there are only a handful of things i love more than traveling and i always feel the most alive and creative when on a new adventure. the excitement of not knowing who you might meet along the way. the strolls taken in unknown streets. the foreign voices that fill the air. the sense of freedom that comes with not knowing where you are. getting lost and scrambling to figure out how in the world you are going to get back to your flat in freezing and raining weather (it's actually really funny now). eating all the carbs you see because those delicacies are not the same back at home. the culture. the beauty. nothing compares. i'm a traveler at heart.


photo found here 

TAKE ME BACK

have you ever visited a place that instantly felt like home? well, london was that place for me. since i have been back i have probably wanted to be back in london about...everday. a certain song, a certain place, and my memories spark a desire in me to go back. i would do it differently this time. and to be honest, i would probably want to stay for about a month. i am finding every excuse to go back and i think it will happen in the next year or so. i've made it a goal of mine and if you know me at all you know that once i set my heart and mind on something there's no going back.

today i will spend my time working and day dreaming of london.

LONDON FUNDON

i am really missing london today. like on a scale of 1 to 10 it'd be like 1000 today. i miss walking to get breakfast, the beautiful houses and the sidewalks full of cracks. i miss taking the tube everywhere and not knowing what is going to happen that day. i miss the fun things they have over there. london is like really fun, guys. they have shows all the time, parties, and pubs everywhere. it's basically perfect.

it's hard going from two weeks of no responsibilities nothing on the agenda to fully booked days and eating on the go all day long. there are so many things i am stressing over. like, selling my car and purchasing a new one, looking for apartments, and trying to figure out how much longer i have to be in school for (can i just graduate tomorrow). i'm going crazy, people.

i think this is why i am missing london a crazy lot today. i miss the stress-free time.
sorry for this mini rant, but hey you got to see some cool london photos which is always nice, right?

PS how great is that louis vuitton ad!? too good.

LONDON EATS

whoever said the food in london isn't very good clearly went to the wrong restaurants. haters gonna hate. i did not have one single back experience with the food there!

our flat was in east london...we stayed in hackney right by london fields and i loved it. (i'll write more about where to stay and what areas are great.) right across the park was broadway market which is a street full of cafes, market, and small boutiques. very hip and full of beautiful people. no joke. it's whatever. we ate meals there most of the time because there's so much variety and we loved the walk through the park.

there are tons of great restaurants in london so it won't be too hard to find some tasty food. here are a few places i think are totally worth checking out while in london:

fields - probably one of my favorite restaurants in hackney. great service, delicious food, and the interior is pretty great as well. if you go for breakfast i suggest the mediterranean brunch as well as their freshly squeezed juices and a latte. their dinner is also fantastic. and you have to try their banoffee pie. it's actually the greatest thing on this planet.

l'eau à la bouche - is the first cafe we went to for breakfast and we loved it. the interior of the cafe is hip and comfortable. la bouche is part cafe and part market. great for picking up items for dinner. (they've got a great cheese selection.) they make a mean late and the guys who work there are straight out of a movie good looking. i suggest trying the nutty granola. i've been craving it everyday since i've been gone.

The Love Shake - a cute american themed diner. we had their grilled cheese bagel with ham and it totally hit the spot. everyone else had ordered shakes and apparently they're pretty fantastic!

Ephesus - is a turkish restaurant on broadway market. i ordered their eggs benedict, turkish coffee, and their freshly squeezed orange juice and paid around £12 with tip. their mediterranean spin on eggs benedict is awesome. they have indoor and outdoor seating and from what i have read, when the weather gets nice the place gets pretty packed.

Climpson & Sons - i went one morning on my own to grab food because i needed carbs and lots and lots of coffee. i literally walked up and asked them to make me the darkest and strongest coffee they had because my life depended on it. i ordered the avocado toast which is sprinkled with pistachio and pepper and some dark coffee. that avocado toast was both massive (two huge pieces) and delicious. oh and the workers aren't horrible to look at...at all. 

Lily Vanilli - our last sunday there we ventured out to find this bakery. somehow we ended up at the Columbia Road Flower Market so we did some shopping then rewarded ourselves with some coffee and breakfast at Lily's. they are pretty hidden, but that should not stop you from looking for them because the bakery is adorable and they serve super tasty food. we ordered their toast with cheese and vegetables which is huge and filling. basically order anything and i bet you will be satisfied. 

The Breakfast Club - the long weight (we waited 30 mins) is worth it. i promise. they're menu is cleverly done. one of their sandwiches is called "When Holoumi met Salad Wrap" love it. 

Bella Vita - another restaurant on broadway market, basically what i am telling you is to eat every meal there (i'm only half kidding). i love pizza. everyone loves pizza. this italian restaurant has some great pizza and everyone who works there seems to be italian. someone told us later that one of the cooks comes out sometimes and plays music. we sadly did not get to hear the music, but the meal was great nonetheless.

last but not least...don't be afraid to eat at the kebab restaurants you see everywhere. yes, they're not cute and you might think they'll make you sick...but you won't. most of them are open 24/7 so if you have any late night cravings you have to order kebabs. our favorite kebab restaurant was one on mare street. i literally left craving what i had ordered a few nights before. i'm still so sad they didn't take card because all i wanted at 12am a few hours before i came back home was kebabs. 

LONDON, I LOVE YOU

i have been in london for a few hours now and I already never want to leave. it's beautiful and strange and it makes me feel at home.

i did lose my iPad and iPhone charger which is stupid and now i am forced to buy a cord to charge them. don't fret, i'm still posting photos on Instagram for you to see. #eliandrygotoeurope

the lighting at 5 in the morning is one of the most beautiful things ever. i definitely had a moment with it and was nearly brought to tears by it.

SEE YOU SOON

two weeks and i am on a plane to europe. i'm excited and also i still need to get a lot done before i board that plane. i'm trying not to stress out and for those of you who know me you know that's not likely. i'm a real mess. i had to take a mental health day yesterday because i am stressed and tired of trying to get all my school work done before i leave.

there are so many restaurants i am excited to eat at. i am also fully ready to come home 10 pounds heavier. i will indulge in all the pastries and food i want because why the hell not, it's london and paris. i'm bringing my running shoes and plan on going on a run at least everyday while in london (i'll leave my shoes back in the london apartment while in paris) because i might be cranky if i don't workout ha ha. it'll be nice to explore and sight see while on my run and also i will feel better if i workout before eating my weight in delicious food. i'm also so excited to go shopping and explore london and paris. there is no one i'd rather go on this trip with than one of my best friends, R.

if you have any recommendations about places to check out please let me know!!!

see you soon, london and paris. be good to me.

EUROPE MUST-HAVES

so, a couple of days ago i booked my flight to london! i am crazy excited. i'm going to be going with my best friend for two whole weeks. we are also going to be visiting paris for a few days. now that my flight is booked i am all about what i should pack. yes, i know it's a few months away and all, but i still feel like i need to buy some great staple pieces i can bring with me to europe.

these 8 items are perfect and i want them all. i think they are all really great and almost necessary accessories. honestly though, i just want an excuse to shop and buy more things.

great statement necklaces are all the rage right now and this gold chain necklace could work for both day and night. i love these madewell oxfords and they are great for daytime exploring. you can even throw on a simple dress, some tights, and a great jacket with these shoes and voila you've got a casual (but cute) night time outfit. i'm thinking about buying a passport wallet. this marc jacobs one is perfect. it's simple and the perfect size to carry all your traveling identifications and cash money. a big traveling purse is always a must and i cannot handle how great this alexander wang bag is. i need it now. great sunnies, a book, and a hat are musts.

what are some of your travel staple pieces?

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