genova, italia

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Sarah S.

Day three of our Memorial Day travels included a train ride from Torino to Genova– a charming seaside port town that boasts rich economic history, the absolute best pesto, and the most Italian palazzi (palaces) I’ve ever seen in one place.

When we were initially planning the trip, my sister wanted to visit Cinqueterre, but it was logistically too difficult to manage with a visit to Torino already confirmed. Instead, we visited the seaside village of Boccedasse, just outside of Genova. As in Cinqueterre, the colorful houses of Boccedasse hug a blue Ligurian shore and pesto foccaccia is in no short supply (and an absolute must).

The stay was a quick one, as we set off for Pisa to catch our flight back to Holland just the following morning. But we departed with no rejects on how much pesto we consumed and a desire to visit Genova again– maybe next time for a longer stay with a seaside view.

Fino a prossima volta, Genova!

Sarah

This post is #44 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

Related Posts

Torino, Italia

When in Italy…

There is Something About a Place

Otherwise Known as s’-Hertogenbosch

torino, italia

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Sarah S.

First stop on our Memorial Day (or actually “Whit Monday” here in Europe) long weekend was the Italian city of Torino. Thanks to a five month-long study abroad stint, I’ve already visited most Italian cities you can think of: Firenze, Roma, Venezia, Sorrento, Capri, Palermo, Cefalu, Amalfi, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Lucca, Milano, Siena, Arezzo, Assisi… But on at least three occasions, I’ve been asked by Italians if I had yet to visit Torino. Until this weekend the answer was the negative, but now I am happy to say I’ve experience the beautiful northern city.

Torino is unlike any Italian city I’ve visited; tourist are few (the Holy Shroud exhibition being the exception) and many residents don’t speak English (which makes an excellent opportunity for practicing your Italian). Cafes range from the traditional old-school counters so common in Firenze to chic modern establishments like those seen in Milano. Shopping is a plenty as are gelaterias, street vendors, and pastry shops.

Gorgeous views atop the Mole, the cathedral bell tower, and Monte dei Cappucini reveal an ancient city surrounded by the even more venerable Alps.

A più tarde, Torino!

Sarah

This post is #43 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

Related Posts

When in Italy…

There is Something About a Place

Otherwise Known as s’-Hertogenbosch

when in italy…

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Sarah S.

DO…

Italian Style Picnic #100DaysofMiaPrima

drink wine in the park

Virgin Mary Torino, Italia #100DaysofMiaPrima

remember who’s boss

Fiat in Torino, Italy #100DaysofMiaPrima

admire the cars <<this one is the first Fiat ever made!>>

Garbage Genova, Italy #100DaysofMiaPrima

notice the beauty in everything (even trash)

Genova, Italy #!00DaysofMiaPrima

stop to smell the sea

DON’T…

Stone Lion Genova, Italian #100DaysofMiaPrima

feed the animals

put a limit on how much gelato you can eat

Genova, Italy #!00DaysofMiaPrima

worry about getting lost (it usually ends well)

AND DEFINITELY DON’T…

ever take it for granted.

A presto!

Sarah

This post is #42 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

hidden (vintage) treasures in europe

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Sarah S.

It feels like just yesterday that I opened my Etsy vintage clothing shop, The Gibbson Girl. But today, the shop boasts over fifty items for sale! And I haven’t stopped my search for unique vintage pieces while I’m in Europe. In fact, I’ve had some amazing opportunities to discover truly one-of-a-kind vintage items from unique locales. Here’s a sneak peek of what will be popping up on my shop from my European adventures:

vintage metal cuff // amsterdam

vintage key chains // paris

Paris Flea Market #100DaysofMiaPrima

flea market // paris

flea market // amsterdam

colorful wooden cuff // paris

New items are added to the shop weekly, so be sure to check back often!

Cheers!

Sarah

This post is #40 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

Related Posts

I ❤ Disko

Recycled Packing for My Etsy Shop

Vintage Accessories at the Gibbson Girl

Can You Dig It?

la beauté dans la mort

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Sarah S.

The last time I was in Paris (four years ago), I visited the typical tourist attractions: the Eiffel Tower, the Champe des L’Eels, the Louvre… So this weekend, with these main tourist sites of the way (so to speak), I made sure I made time to explore new locals. My sister, a fan of Oscar Wilde, suggested the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise. And I had been determined to visit the Catacombs ever since I tried and failed three years ago (fun fact: they’re closed on Mondays). The result was a day no doubt a bid morbid. But no less inspiring. In truth, there is la beauté dans la mort.

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 13

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 7

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 17

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 6

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 5

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 10

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 11

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 3

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 8

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 1

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 12

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 9

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 16

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 15

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 2

Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris #100DaysofMiaPrima 14

“Yes, death. Death must be so beautiful. To lie in the soft brown earth, with the grasses waving above one’s head, and listen to silence. To have no yesterday, and no to-morrow. To forget time, to forget life, to be at peace.”

-Oscar Wilde

à bientôt!

Sarah

This post is #35 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

bonjour, paris!

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Sarah S.

After three different trains (The Netherlands, Belgium, France), I’ve made it to Paris! I’ve walked over nine miles today while exploring the city (in the rain). Tomorrow morning I’ll be up bright and early to head to the Catacombs before visiting the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise (where Oscar Wilde in buried) as well a bike tour of the city.

Until then, à bientôt!

Sarah

This post is #34 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

the freshest restaurant in amsterdam

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Sarah S.

Yesterday, my friends surprised me with the most fantastic brunch I have ever experienced. The Restaurant De Kas, which is situated outside Amsterdam’s bustling city center in a serene (but classy. Think: adorable frites stand and it’s own bird king.) park, serves the bounty of its onsite greenhouses on its every-changing menu. I could describe to you what exactly it was we ate, but no words will do the meal justice. Photographs might be second best to tasting the food for yourself…So “Eet smakelijk!”

As if the day couldn’t get better, we stopped at a vegan gummy store before ending the day with a Narnia-inspired ballet. Not to mention the simple joy of sitting back– coffee in hand–and taking in the enchanting sites of Amsterdam.

Tot ziens!

Sarah

This post is #31 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

Related Posts

Otherwise Known as ‘s-Hertogenbosch

When I Think of Amsterdam

Tulip Speculation

Going Dutch

otherwise known as ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Sarah S.

This is certainly going to be the first of many posts on the charming Dutch town, Den Bosch (aka ‘s-Hertogenbosch). After all, this medieval city is my “home base” for my next couple months in Europe! Not surprisingly, I’ve been battling jet lag for the last couple of days, so yesterday, I packed the day with events around the town to keep me moving. I visited the bibliotheek (the library) which included a sizable cafe and modern design, local shops including sweet vintage stores, the breathtaking gothic church of St. John, and the impressive Het Noordbrabants museum. Today, I plan on taking a bike ride through the beautiful Bossche Broek.

Tot ziens!

Sarah

This post is #28 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

Related Posts

When I Think of Amsterdam

Going Dutch

Tulip Speculation

tulip speculation

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Sarah S.

Yesterday afternoon I arrived in Amsterdam, and to conquer jet lag, my sister and I headed straight from the airport to the tulip fields of Holland. The site of the rainbow fields is like nothing I’ve ever seen (and will ever see anywhere else). We rented bicycles and explored the fields in true Dutch style. Along the way we spotted majestic blue herons, unexpected head winds, charming thatch-roofed homes, and, of course, fields of colors that tilted and blinked like kaleidoscopes as we rode past.

The Keukenhof tulip gardens were also an impressive site in their own right. With heavy winds and morning rain, the crowds were thin but the tulips were aplenty. Last year, the tulips peaked in April, so I was grateful to soak up a true prize of Holland in May!

Tot ziens!

Sarah

p.s. Did you know: the speculation of the tulip market in in the 1630s led to the first recorded economic bubble? People were paying serious money to get their hands on a tulip…

This post is #26 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

Related Posts

When I Think of Amsterdam

Going Dutch

Adventures in Pittsburgh: Phipps Conservatory

Yoga in the (Sculpture) Garden

new hampshire seaside views

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Sarah S.

A stay at my parent’s home in New Hampshire would not be complete without a trip to the beach. Many people are surprised to learn that New Hampshire has a coastline (18 miles of it to be exact. I ran it all one afternoon, in fact). The shore is rocky and just as, if not more, beautiful in the “off season” than the busy summertime. Today, the wind was chilly but the cloudy sky made for some gorgeous photographs. This was the first time I’ve taken my new Canon to the beach, so I went crazy with the shots, snapping a few that I particularly love:

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 12

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 5

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 8

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 10

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 13

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 25

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 1

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 15

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 23

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 26

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 18

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 11

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 24

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 4

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 27

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 21

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 3

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 2

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 7

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 19

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 17

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 6

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 22

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 14

North Hampton Beach, New Hampshire #100DaysofMiaPrima 20

Cheers!

Sarah

This post is #20 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

New England Coffee House Charm

Autumn in the Country & What We’re Wearing