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…
Take the Blue Bike
(6 minute read)
Three days and sixty kilometers on a Vélib'. What the passes actually cost in 2026, why the electric bike is the whole point, the per-trip minutes trap that catches everyone, and what a backwards saddle is trying to tell you. From people who live here.
Trains Are Romantic. Missing One Is Not.
(8 minute read)
A rail regular's guide to the small European train rules that trip people up: ticket types, when a seat reservation is mandatory (and when a pass still leaves you standing), the validation and railcard traps that get you fined, honest connection buffers, and the two habits that prevent most disasters.
Less Luggage, More Europe: The Multi-City Europe Packing Guide
(8 minute read)
Packing for a multi-city Europe trip is different from packing for a single stop. This guide covers how to pack light, choose the right luggage, build a simple travel wardrobe, plan laundry, and handle trains, cobblestones, and changing weather with less stress.
A Field Guide to France's Train Stations: Vibes, Snacks, and Mild Existential Dread
(7 minute read)
A frequent rail traveler's honest, firsthand field guide to the French train stations we actually use, from Paris Gare de Lyon and Marseille Saint-Charles to Lyon's two, Dijon, Bordeaux, Pau, and the tiny rural halts. Where to be stranded, where to build in buffer, and which one to leave for the mall across the street.
Rail vs. Short Flights in Europe: Time, Cost & Stress Compared
(5 minute read)
Not sure whether to take the train or fly between European cities? Compare door-to-door time (airport transfers, security lines, baggage), real costs (bags, seats, station-to-hotel), and comfort factors. A simple rule of thumb: high-speed rail often wins on trips around 4–6 hours; short flights win when trains are much longer or require multiple connections.
Carry-On Only? Here’s How to Pack for 10 Days Like a Minimalist
(8 minute read)
Pack 10 days in Europe with one carry-on: pick the right bag, build a capsule wardrobe, master packing cubes, and plan a mid-trip wash. Includes copy/paste packing lists for spring, summer, and rainy shoulder season.
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.
Manual Labor: The Real Rules of Driving in France
(5 minute read)
My 1992 Peugeot is banned from central Lyon. How France's low-emission zones, autoroute tolls, speed cameras, and the priorité à droite rule really work, from someone who drives here every day.
The Corsica Trip We'd Never Plan for You
(17 minute read)
August 2022: an overnight ferry we were too cheap to sleep on, a village festival we found on a wall, and a hike we began at 11:30 in August. The founding trip of our agency, and why we'd redo half of it.