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…
Why Travel Makes You Feel More Like Yourself
(6 minute read)
Travel is sold on what you'll see, but the real gift is what it does to you while you're looking: the permission to slow down, the presence you can't fake, the strangers who become the trip, and the quiet confidence of handling yourself somewhere new. A traveler's case for the slower kind of trip.
7 Reasons You Should Never Go Abroad (Unless You Like Joy)
(7 minute read)
A tongue-in-cheek case against travel: airports, jet lag, strange food, scams, and crowds, and the true stories that prove every "disaster" abroad is really the best part.
The Ground Rules: Europe’s Coffee Culture
(4 minute read)
A country-by-country guide to Europe's coffee rituals, from Italian espresso rules to Swedish fika and French café life. What to order, when, and where to linger.
Slow Travel Isn't About Time
(6 minute read)
I remember nothing from the Paris tour bus and everything from the two slow moments around it. Why slow travel is a way of paying attention, not a luxury of time.
Sundays, Siestas, and Strikes: Navigating Europe’s Surprises
(5 minute read)
When shops close, why Sundays and evenings catch you out, how strikes actually work, and whether to tip in France, from an American who lives there.
Do Not Disturb: It’s August in France
(4 minute read)
An American who moved to France on what actually closes in August, what stays open, the crowd surprise nobody expects, and why you should still come. Plan around it instead of canceling.
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.