The Blog
Like the way we think about travel?
This is where we work it out: routes and rhythms, the ethics of a cheap flight, the right way to miss a train. If it lands, Mise en Place is the same voice once a month, and the My Life in Burgundy waitlist is open.
Browse our articles…
La Dolce Vita Isn’t a Vacation—It’s a Practice
(6 minute read)
La dolce vita is not a mood board or an itinerary flex. It is daily rituals: espresso at the bar, slow lunches, evening passeggiate, and noticing beauty on purpose. Learn how to travel Italy with attention, and bring the sweet life home.
Anthropology in Aisle Seven
(7 minute read)
You came for water. Three hours later you are leaving with seven cheeses and a crash course in local life. This playful guide shows how European supermarkets reveal a culture’s priorities, snack obsessions, and etiquette, plus a five-minute “field study” for your next trip.
Christmas in Europe, Like a Local: Rituals, Flavors, Quiet Magic
(10 minute read)
Skip the generic Christmas market tour. Learn how Europeans actually do December: Advent rhythms, St. Nicholas traditions, local foods and songs, and the quiet days around December 24 and 25 when cities shut down. Build a winter trip that feels warm, not crowded.
Decoding Europe: A Field Guide to North vs. South
(10 minute read)
From Finland to Spain, Europe’s contrasts run deeper than weather. This field guide decodes North vs South rhythms: punctuality and rules versus flexibility and flow, direct talk versus expressive warmth, fuel versus feast. Learn to read the room and travel like a good guest.
The Ground Rules: Europe’s Coffee Culture
(4 minute read)
Coffee in Europe is a ritual with rules. Learn when cappuccino becomes taboo, how to order like a local, and why fika, café terraces, and Viennese coffeehouses slow time. A quick tour of the continent’s coffee personalities, with practical etiquette you can use tomorrow.
Sundays, Siestas, and Strikes: Navigating Europe’s Surprises
(5 minute read)
Europe runs on its own rhythm. Sunday closures, midday siestas, transit strikes, and sudden holidays can derail a tightly planned itinerary. This guide explains what to expect, how to spot disruptions early, and simple backup strategies so your trip stays smooth and stress-light.
Do Not Disturb: It’s August in France
(3 minute read)
Ever landed in France in August and found Paris eerily quiet, bakeries closed, offices on skeleton crews? This short read explains les vacances d’été, from 1936 paid-leave roots to today’s quality-of-life ethos, plus practical tips to plan around the national pause.
You Will Never Blend In
(7 minute read)
You will be spotted in your first sentence, and it costs you nothing. What actually matters: the bonjour rule, when la bise happens (rarely, to travelers), the single principle behind cutting cheese, and why the French correct you with their face.
An Incomplete and Biased Guide to French Toilets
(6 minute read)
What toilets in France actually cost, why Paris street toilets are free and fully accessible, what a squat toilet really demands of you, and why the staircase, not the fixture, is the real problem. Written by someone who lives here.
Knead to Know: Somebody Has to Get the Bread
(7 minute read)
There are no shops in our village, so somebody drives to the boulangerie every morning, and it is usually me. Two years of getting it wrong: the salt-free Italian loaf, the Thursday closure I never remember, the tradition versus the ordinary baguette, and the flour sack that feeds horses.