This trip is the first time I have left the United States. It was a big undertaking and very stressful since I went by myself. I originally wanted this trip to be about the places Vincent Van Gogh lived, so I was going to go to Belgium and the Netherlands as well. Unfortunately, as the time came closer the restrictions of Belgium and the Netherlands did not let up. Due to COVID-19, they were not letting people in, so I rearranged the second part of my trip. In France I went to Arles, Avignon, Auvers-sur-Oise, and Paris. I stayed 4 nights in each city, but not all my plans worked out. I ended up taking more photos on my phone than on my camera, which is one thing I would change if I were to go back. It was a huge learning experience and I hope to use what I have learned for future trips abroad.
ARLES, FRANCE
I was only in the main part of the city for one day which was unfortunate. The original place I was going to stay within the city permanently closed a month or two before I was to arrive. I went back online and found a cheap place, but didn’t realize it was an hour walk away from the city center. On the first day, I did walk, but it was tiring, hot, and very unsafe due to the fact that French roads are small and have no shoulders like I am used to. I did not get very far into the city. The next day I had to ask the hotel to call me a taxi since my phone did not like France at all. I got to explore more of the city that day which was overall enjoyable. I did not get to everything I wanted, but I saw most of it. On the last full day I was there I wandered the hotel grounds since they had a lot of land. The property wasn’t bad at all except for how far the main city was without a car. If I go back I would definitely stay within the center, so I could do more things.
AVIGNON, FRANCE
Getting to Avignon was simple, all I had to do was get on a train, however, once I got there it was very stressful. The hostel that I had booked was closed and I had no idea. Do not go to HO36 Avignon, they won’t be there even though nothing online says otherwise. Luckily the man working at the connecting hotel always keeps an extra room and let me stay the night. My dad got me a hotel for the rest of my time there and it was only a 10-minute walk from where I was. After dropping my suitcase off at the new hotel I went to the Pope's Palace for the day. There is a train that takes you around the area, so I did that first to get the lay of the land. After that, I went inside the grand palace. The architecture was beautiful, and there were some beautiful paintings on the walls. Some areas were under construction and closed off, but the areas I did get to explore were gorgeous. I was wandering for at least an hour or two. I then walked towards the gardens but stopped inside the small church on the way up. Again more beautiful architecture, but since it was rather dark it was hard to get many photographs. The gardens were up on a hill and there were some breathtaking views up there. The gardens and the Pope’s Palace area were definitely my favorites part of Avignon. On my last day, I wandered around the city.
AUVERS-SUR-OISE, FRANCE
Auvers was a well-needed break after being in large dense cities. It gave me a chance to breathe some fresh air (well as fresh as you can get in France). It felt so surreal being in this city and seeing the places Van Gogh lived and worked. I spent the second day walking a Van Gogh route and seeing the major cities of his life in this city. I was in awe seeing what I’ve only seen in pictures and his paintings. I took my time to take it all in. It was well worth the walking even though I was tired. Seeing his and Theo’s graves was super weird but in a good way. I felt like I was in a dream that whole day. While I was in that city I also went to the Château d’Auvers. It wasn’t what I originally thought it was going to be, but definitely worth the visit if you are into Impressionism. The gardens there are also quite beautiful. I unfortunately just missed the iris blooming so there was more greenery than colorful flowers. The last day I was there was less planned I wandered the city and went back to the Château gardens.
PARIS, FRANCE
Paris was definitely the busiest city I visited. On the first full day, I did a guided walking tour of sights around the city. I got to see Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Arc de Triumph, the Effiel Tower, the oldest chocolate shop in Paris, Hotel De Ville, and so many more. We didn’t get to stay at each place for very long which was a bit disappointing, especially at the Basilica. It was a lot to take in at each place. I am very glad I did the tour (even though it went too quickly), because I got to see all the major sights that I wanted to go to in the first place, and I didn’t have to stress about being lost. The second day I spent at the Louvre which was very overwhelming. I did not do a tour and just wandered by myself. There was so much art to look at I felt like I barely made a dent afterward. I would definitely recommend having a guide or knowing where and what you want to look at. On the last day, I went to the Palace of Versailles. It was gorgeous and full of detailed work. I did a guided tour here as well, so I had a time limit which was very disappointing. If you can find a tour where you can spend the whole day there I’d recommend that. There is so much to look at and the gardens are massive and beautiful. I wish I had more time in the gardens to really take it in. Paris was exhausting but well worth it in the end. There is a lot to see and do there.
