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Christmastime in Paris
Paris, Travel Joelle Gracia Paris, Travel Joelle Gracia

Christmastime in Paris

People often ask when is the best time to visit Paris, and as the saying goes , “Paris is always a good idea”. But there’s something about Paris at Christmas that’s magical. The marchés de Noël (Christmas markets), the aromas of mulled wine and roasted chestnuts in the streets, the hot chocolate…

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Visiting Paris during the Pandemic
Travel, Paris Joelle Gracia Travel, Paris Joelle Gracia

Visiting Paris during the Pandemic

When the French government announced that as of June 9, 2021 that France would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travelers, that was the green light that many of us francophiles were waiting for. In fact my French teacher Véronique who was based in Paris at the time said that on the morning of June 9, that the Americans were already there, which meant that they left the U.S. on the 8th to arrive exactly on (re)opening day.

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At the Cannes Film Festival!
Travel, France Joelle Gracia Travel, France Joelle Gracia

At the Cannes Film Festival!

There’s no question that the Covid 19 pandemic has been devastating on many levels. But there were also some advantages that came from this such as virtual meetups where you can meet new friends from across the globe and also the Cannes Film Festival being postponed until summer. Normally, this is an event I would’ve never been able to attend because it normally takes place in the spring…

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Meeting my Zoom PenPal in Champagne
Travel, Paris, Champagne & Wine Joelle Gracia Travel, Paris, Champagne & Wine Joelle Gracia

Meeting my Zoom PenPal in Champagne

I first met Tatiana on Zoom while taking an online French class at the Sorbonne University in Paris. Like many other places, because of the pandemic, the department at the Sorbonne which offers French as a foreign language began offering classes virtually. This was perfect for people like me and also Tatiana who’ve always wanted to take classes at the Sorbonne, but could not attend in person…

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Toronto
Travel, Canada Joelle Gracia Travel, Canada Joelle Gracia

Toronto

First visit to Toronto and in just a matter of hours, I was asking myself why did it take me so long to come here? The people are friendly, the city is attractive and easy to get around, and with so many cultures and nationalities present, it is a true foodie’s paradise!

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Havana Chic (Day 3)
Travel, Cuba Joelle Gracia Travel, Cuba Joelle Gracia

Havana Chic (Day 3)

Today we started the day by riding in style in one of those classic cars that Havana is famous for. Our first stop was the Plaza de la Revolución, followed by a popular brewery, and then off to Calle Obispo and finally to the chic and ritzy Parque Central district.

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Habana Vieja (Day 2)
Travel, Cuba Joelle Gracia Travel, Cuba Joelle Gracia

Habana Vieja (Day 2)

After a tasty traditional Cuban breakfast prepared by the ladies at our Airbnb Casa, we took a short taxi ride to explore Habana Vieja (Old Havana). Old Havana, known as Habana Vieja, is so charming. The small streets, outdoor cafés, art galleries, plazas, and beautiful historic architecture…

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