Celebrations

 & Announcements


Tomorrow is my Mom's birthday, but she'll be traveling so I want to wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY today and dedicate this post to her...

I'm so excited to share something I'm super proud of and brought tears to my eyes when I got a little package in the mail this weekend. I've mentioned it before, but my friend Kori from Blonde Episodes wrote her first novel, Murder on the Boulevard... which I'm super excited to read... but to see my name on the dedication page was the exact encouragement I needed & the closest I've gotten to my own name on a book... yet! It's empowering to know that in some small way my humble little blog has impacted someone else in some way and makes it all worth while. Plus it encourages me to forge on with my own writing.

So, Mom I dedicate my dedication to you. Thanks for all you support and encouraging me to follow my dreams, even when it terrified you that I left all stability behind, you always held you tongue and willed me to put my dreams first.

Happy Birthday (tomorrow)!

P.s. If you saw my post on Facebook yesterday about my cousin, he survived a 100ft fall and is going home from the hospital today! We are so grateful! You can read the articles HERE or HERE or watch the KNVN News clip HERE.

P.s.s. This week has been outstanding for blog views! Surpassing records each day... Thank you!!!

The Truth About Driving in France

My Experience
Travel Thursday


I never considered myself brave, until I was released in a foreign country driving on my own.

I opted for a car for just over two weeks, but returned it a few days early. I thought it would be nice for the leisure of exploring areas on my own, and it was convenient but not without daily anxiety.

I thought the cost would be around $600 or so to rent including gas (petrol). But it was much more, a figure I still don't even want to fully face... I think about $1,250 and if I would have kept it throughout the duration to Nice instead of taking the train it would have been about $1,650. Why?

(The conversions are for Americans driving abroad, so I apologize to my readers elsewhere in the world.)

Average liter of gas (petrol / "sans plomb" in French) was: 1.65 euro x 3.79(1 gallon) = 6.25 euro per gallon.
Then convert the 6.25 x 1.45 for the dollar conversion = $9.06 per gallon! I believe it was a 12 gallon tank, so $108.72 to fill up an economy car.

Then there is the toll roads... which I tried to avoid because I had no idea they were so expensive for Americans. I probably spent $50 on them, and that was by not using them very much. Had I gone to Nice from the Aquitaine region, it would have been about 80 euro to use the toll road, so an additional 80 x 1.45 = $116 for tolls. For anyone not accustomed to the French toll roads, I highly suggest visiting the Autoroute webpage for the toll charts prior to your trip. I did once I already had the car and why I opted for the train, plus the stress of driving alone was entirely too much.

Each morning I about had a panic attack before venturing out for sight seeing. After handling all other misfortunes you can read about in my previous post R&R in Loire (misplaced laptop, passport, camera; pickpocketing on Eiffel Tower; and a man exposing his genitals to me while photographing by the river) all of which I handled with grace.

Where I stood when he um... approached me in his car. 

(Candes-Saint-Martin, France. Thanks for ruining a good day... jerk.)

But one day driving in the Loire Valley was enough to cause me to lock myself in my chateau watching Will & Grace episodes for the next 24 hours. I even closed off via email to family and loved ones. It doesn't sound like a big deal, but when you're on your own trying to navigate a map, manage the narrow highways and confusing town centers figuring out their right of way system, one way roads and roundabouts, in foreign road signs in a different language, and not eating very much, it can be a lot to manage.

But on that one day...

I proceeded through a green light on what I was sure was a two way road, but it got so narrow that two cars couldn't fit. Did I miss a sign? I tried to pull over as far as I could to let the two cars going the opposite way pass but dented the front bumper on the curb as a result (another 360 euro x 1.45 = $522 because I've always been told rental car insurance was a rip off.) I received dirty looks, and a woman rolled down her window to tell me there was something in front of my car so I couldn't go forward, when I replied "Je ne comprends pas." (I don't understand.) She replied, "Ahh American." It was just like out of the movies. Too scared to go forward I tried turning around and attempt what felt like a 20-point turn. A man came out from the restaurant where he worked and saw me struggling and tried to direct me in French. Then he offered speaking very slowly "Je conduirai votre voiture" (I will drive your car) because he had previously driven an auto bus. I had to put my faith in God that he wouldn't drive off with my car and belongings. When he maneuvered it perfectly and stepped out the car, my eyes welled up, I refrained from hugging him, but said, "Merci! Merci!" over and over.

 Beynac, France. Not where I got stuck, though the road was similar size.

It didn't really get easier after that. Within 20 minutes, I saw a car that had flipped over and the car in front of me stopped to help pull the people out. I almost stopped, but would have been no help, and probably would have cried again at that point (I broke down in McDonald's just before, eating french fries with drippy tears and mascara is not really tasty.)


I finally found Chateau de Chenonceau after what felt like hours, and took the toll road on the way home, but not before going over a very narrow one way bridge with France's sort of "free for all right-of-way system".


The Euro Rail Pass was looking very good at this point. But I still really want to see the Dordogne River and it's neighboring castle villages, and I'm so glad I did. It was nerve wracking with narrowing river side cliff roads, but the beauty was worth it. I also learned to park at the bottom of each fortress village and instead climb the very steep cobblestone roads to reach the castles, to which my bottom is now half the size it used to be. For that I'm grateful.

Also on the positive side, the Arc de Triomphe which I was stressing about the most was not that bad. Thank goodness I have a great sense of direction, so many times I had to wing it. One toll road was closed for a portion of my journey and I had to return to the small highways for a 2 hour delay on my drive from Bourgueil to Dordogne, (when the bee in the car experience occurred- if only I had that on film). But I would have never seen so much of France's back roads if I hadn't driven.

That said... I will never do it on my own again. Don't want to think about it, as I'm still awaiting the final bill from Avis & promise to refrain from bringing it up again, and will focus on positive blogging once again!

If case you missed the other two driving posts, you can catch them here, R&R in Loire and Driving in Loire.

Happy Traveling!

Home Sweet Home

 Europe Trip has come to a close...


I'm home! In the 4 years that I've lived in South Florida, every time I would return by plane flying into Fort Lauderdale after visiting Mom, Dad, or other vacations, returning always felt temporary. But this time, as the evening sun was shining over the Everglades and city, I finally had the feeling that I was home.

Grand Trianon - Versailles, France.

It felt surreal all day yesterday as I left Nice, France. I couldn't believe I'd really been away as long as I had, and that I'd really experienced this whole trip. Even relaxing at home this morning as my cat cuddled in my lap, it felt like a mirage, like it could slip away at any moment. I never really knew what being homesick felt like growing up. To me, it wasn't the feeling of "I want to go home" but more like something was missing or very out of place, which happened in week 4, it was a feeling I couldn't kick. I wasn't excited about exploring anymore on my own. I tried to be and I did make the most of my time as best I could, though some days I needed down days, even if partially because I was to nervous to venture out (& watched 5 seasons of Will & Grace to comfort myself in the Chateau), and justly so after some of the experiences I had. I missed familiarity, stability, and slightly worried about my health and safety at moments wondering if I took on too much on my own. I worried about the hives being in a foreign country, and turned on the news finally this morning and discovered the E. Coli breakout in Europe that has killed 18 so far - hitting women especially, and wonder if I may have had a touch of something to worry about. My body was really in need of fruits and veggies, so I purchased salad ingredients a few days after the hives showed up, but noticed a few spiders in the lettuce. My gut told me to stay away from produce, especially since I wasn't sure if it was a pesticide or apricot allergy, but grew worried after still the 10th day and they did not clear up. All gone now after 2 weeks!

Pizza - my safe food in Europe, though adventurous!

Yes, fried egg and hot dogs, with potatoes.

No, I had no idea what I ordered.

Yes, it was good.

The day after I made a $30 call to Delta to change my flight, I had moments where I wondered if I'd made the right decision, but logically there were many reasons I came home earlier than planned. I was burning out, missing family life at home, not sharing the special moments with the someone, and the obvious that money would not last forever. There are a few things I would do differently next time, but I'm so glad to be able to say I've done the things like I did.

 

 A doorway in Candes-Saint-Martin.

Before I left, I wasn't really sure where home was to me. The town I grew up in, where my parents no longer live? Where my parents live now? Where I live now, but was ready to move on? I felt as if I was on the lookout for a new place to call home, a place I'd obsessed about for a long time. I'm grateful to learn I'm quite happy exactly where I am... and relieved South Florida is home for now.

Have a good weekend!

R&R in Loire

An Honest Post

The past few days I've been attempting a little R&R in the countryside. I've been doing my best to show you the good things, but not everyday has been peaches and cream, and while I've tried my hardest to leave most negativity off the blog and save for the travel diary, I was told that some like the " honest stories of exploit". Maybe it will help therapeutically for me to get it off my chest...

So I'm going to put all the bad out there once and for all, and hopefully be done with this spell of unfortunate luck lately. I've mentioned some things already but not all...

It really started with difficulties on my flight, which should have been an indicator --breaking my favorite camera lens in London, leaving my camera in Les Duex Magots in Paris (retrieved), getting pick pocketed at the Eiffel Tower (cash not retrieved), living with hives this week from an allergic reaction to a simple apricot pastry for a boulangerie breakfast, someone asking me for the time then exposing himself (I think that's considered assault), remaining calm as my laptop and passport carried on to Wolverhampton, England without me on the bus (also retrieved), and driving a manual through the Arc de Triomphe and streets of Paris. Yes, I handled all this with a deep breath until the breakdown came on my drive to Chenonceau via windy back roads and small villages, getting the car stuck on a very skinny road in the village, and after trying to manuever the stick, dirty looks, language barriers and a Frenchman who was kind enough to offer backing my car out for me, (while I prayed he didn't drive off with my belongings after the previous day's 'exposures' but not wanting to offend someone by grabbing my purse 'just in case' who was only trying to help). Fifteen minutes later I found solace in familiar McDonald's Happy Meal, brought out my phone which has hardly seen the light of day since I've been in Europe and when I heard my sweetheart's comforting voice broke down in tears as I plucked 'un-French' fries into my mouth and wiped drippy mascara with a golden arches napkin

...

I had finally broken down.

I know one day this will be a funny story... maybe even it's own National Lampoon's vacation story.

Which is why I'm so lucky to be in the perfect place for recovery...

 

 My bedroom view is beyond peaceful.

 with simple evenings in the garden

 & peaceful rivers.

Whenever I tell people I'm traveling alone, I get mixed responses of generally surprise, sometimes admiration, and other times pity. Sometimes it's frustrating that it just can't be seen as normal. What I thought was independent, others saw as brave or even weird. But I'm beginning to see after four weeks that things are better shared with others, which is why I'm grateful for the kind people I've encountered along the way, angry at those who've preyed on me and unfortunate a woman can't enjoy a simple dinner or photography outing without feeling uncomfortable, but thankful for the opportunity I've been given to experience everything, and now wise enough to appreciate what is in my own backyard.

A Little Note

Travel Thursday & Freedom Friday
Fountain in Lucerne, Switzerland

Just a quick little note my friends...

I'm whipped beyond belief with emotion and exhaustion.

Tomorrow is my last day at work for an investment advisory firm,

 before I leap into new ventures

with Photography Getaways and beyond.

I'm filled with much emotion,

but just wanted to wish you a Happy Day.

(If you missed my Freedom Friday post about it, you can read it here.)

Stay tuned...

I've got some great posts coming up for you!

Romantik Hotels

14 Days of Love
Travel Thursday

Love is... Romantik

Hotel Laurin Salo in Italy.

In 2009, I blogged a segment on the Romantik Hotels in Europe, read previous posts here. Romantik Hotels & Restaurant prides itself as 'an alternative to the big hotel chains'.  "Be it as small as 6 rooms or as large as 90 rooms, in a town or a holiday area - the variety of the historic buildings and the individuality of every single Romantik Hotel are expressed within a broad spectrum. But no matter how different and individual each establishment is, all Romantik hoteliers are passionate hosts. The guest is always the central focus of attention."


I first discovered the Romantik Hotels, while strolling the cobblestone streets of Lugano, Switzerland. I was quickly walking with my tour group to meet our sunset cruise in the Ticino region on the Swiss-Italian border, but I was so taken by this particular restaurant, that I quickly fell behind the group. I risked losing them all together, but I couldn't help it as I was in a trance. It was so intimate with a small little terrace, sage linens, small vases with white flowers, and little candle lanterns. The tiny terrace was affixed to a cozy indoor seating; to which I peered in through old wooden window panes.

Photos via Villa Carona.

Not the same restaurant in Lugano, but similar.

I had a feeling wash over me, that I would one day return to this restaurant, since I was only in Lugano for the night. I had to pry myself away from the window, scurrying past shops in the piazza with hanging salamis to catch the tail end of my group. I like to imagine that I foreshadowed a 'someday proposal' in that little restaurant... maybe it was because I had marriage on my mind. I initally booked the trip to Switzerland, because I needed clarity after breaking up with someone a month prior who had been planning to propose. (He had already bought the ring. Yes, I still feel awful about that, but something was telling me, it just wasn't right. Besides, I've always said that my "yes" means more to me than my "I do".) Or maybe because, it had been one of the most treasured days of my life. I had begun the day with a train ride through the Swiss alps, my first lasagna lunch in Italy, then a drive along the northern shore of Lake Como, and attempting to order my first lemon gelato in broken Italian from an older Italian women in a little gelataria. Later arriving in Lugano, spotting that restaurant, and following up the evening with a sunset cruise on it's mystic lake of deep deep waters, and capping the night off eating potato leek soup and mushroom risotto at a little dockside restaurant on the Italian border gazing at the city lights of Lugano's shore. But also the realization that I would have never been there if the month's prior events had gone differently. That day and that trip forever changed me. 

Hotel Rossel in Austria.

Perhaps you don't know this about me, but I'm not a very mushy girl, despite the 14 Days of Love. In fact, if you really look hard, most of the posts are not written in Hallmark or Chicken Soup fashion, rather little things that make me happy and promoting to love one's self. Because let's face it, when searching for love, they say you should fully love yourself first before you are mentally capable of loving someone else to your full ability. (That being said, I apologize I haven't written too much on mushy love or my personal relationship, but I like to keep some things sacred for just the two of us.)

Happy Romantik Traveling!!

Freedom Friday

I DID IT!

I'm not sure where to begin, so I'll give you the short version first. I quit my job.

Well, respectively I gave over a 4 1/2 week notice. I've been employed for over 4 years as a client services manager for an investment advisory firm for high networth clients. Leaving was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I debated for months, maybe even years about when I would do it. I'm pretty sure those close to me, never thought I would actually do it. But when the day I said I would do it, came and gone, a few times over, I finally had to look to my Chinese fortunes I save next to my mousepad, that I stare at for 8 hours a day, that say: Let your heart guide you. I prayed, took a deep breath, looked at it one last time for encouragement, got up and walked to his office. My co-workers have been my surrogate family since I moved to Florida not knowing a soul. They have treated me like a granddaughter, sister, and friend. Protected me during the recession. Day after day, I watched CNBC from my cubicle watching the volatile swings, all the while holding on tightly to my job, knowing they were looking after me. I should have had a T-shirt stating: I survived the Economic Crash. It made it even harder since I was given the option to advance my education to further my career. While I enjoy the investment world, and I have been good at it, (I mentioned before that I was in the Top 1% on 2 seperate competitions for the CNBC portfolio challenge (over 100,000 participants, in a male-dominated industry, I will go so far as to say, that kicks some royal ass!) I'm a creative person at heart, and couldn't bear to watch another 10 years go by wondering "what if?"

My roles of anwering phones, sorting mail, and well being a glorified gal-Friday after 8 years were weighing on me, since about, well 8 years ago. But I plugged, pressed on, and tucked those hard earned pennies away, waiting, posting about my dream jobs, wondering what the hell am I going to do?

My dream has always always ALWAYS been to be self-employed. I just couldn't decide what was best for me... writer, bakery owner, Bed & Breakfast (still a dream), join the circus (jk), you get the point. But after looking at the daily routine and financials of running a bakery, waking at 4am, never being able to leave the shop; making cupcakes was quickly looking like a nightmare.

I started to think about how I wanted to spend my days, besides writing and blogging. Traveling is my favorite thing in the whole world. And I always catch myself obsessively capturing every step with the camera. Wanting to explore the history sites, taste the food, and experience the culture. Call me a dreamer - I don't care. Life is too short. Looking at devoting a portion of the year to travel, and the rest to business development and marketing was looking like it could work. That's how one fine day in June... the idea of Photography Getaways was born.

After my years of being indecisive, when the idea of Photography Getaways struck me, I knew I had found it, and immediately put plans quietly into play within the same week.

I wanted to offer a similar experience as the escorted tours I'd been on to photography enthusiasts who want to see the world. People who are interested in the same thing, who share the same euphoric feeling I do when I discover a new place, that inital awe and wonder of when you first see a new place, and can't wait to start capturing it. I didn't want to offer the same workshop style other photographers do, I wanted something a little different... a combination of a tour and a workshop, to add the culture, bonding, siteseeing and regional dining.

And so I waited until the right month when everything was set and I could and should finally give 100% of myself to my dreams... as I mentioned my New Year's Resolution was one main thing: to be true to myself. This was it.

So, now I will be taking a leap of faith. I know I'm not alone, and so optimistic for this year! I know it's going to be the best yet! It's so encouraging to see the success of other bloggers, and know that blogging has opened the door to so many possiblities. I've got big plans to make my blog even better... which I'm so excited for! Which I'll be starting with the return of 14 Days of Love, February 1st! I'll also be doing some guest blogging, and participating in more group blog posts. So if you're interested in having me guest blog, please do let me know! Also, I'll be hosting regular giveaways! Let me know if you'd like to sponsor a giveaway! Want to advertise? Interested in the Etsy shop? Join us on a Photography Getaway? Or please support by spreading the word... following on Facebook, Twitter, or Bloglovin'!

Happy Friday!

Thalassotherapy

Fort Lauderdale Beach
Travel Thursday

For those of you who read Tuesday's post, may have thought I'd gone off the deepend. It really wasn't as bad as it sounded. Just wanted to get a post out, but had nothing inspiring or photos on my work computer. Didn't want to wait until I got home, because well I couldn't, I knew my hand would be in pain. Therein lies the real frustration, that my days are spent tied up with things I'm not so passionate about, and have not modified my schedule yet to spend my days focusing on what I feel they should be focused on.

So, I drove to the beach after work. Funny thing is, I live 1 mile west of the beach. I drive 25 miles each way to work everyday, but never make time to go to the beach. Incidentally, when I do, it's because I desperately need to hear the waves and feel the ocean air, generally when everyone else has left for the day. The sad thing is when I do go, it's usually because I'm in a bad mood or need clarity, not just because...

When I saw the moon as I drove home that sealed the deal, I HAD to go. Especially since many other people in the world are snowed in, and I have the capability to quickly change to my flipflops, so I grabbed the camera, ran back out, and headed east.

I didn't bring my tripod, as my intention was to empty my mind. Yet, I can't get away from thinking like a blogger or photographer. It was therapeutic anyway. I didn't use a flash, and was as still as I could be laying against the sandwall on my towel, but I think the blurry effect turned out kind of cool.

The moonlight glistened as the sun sank lower and lower...

Thalassotherapy- "The medical use of seawater as a form of therapy."

As defined by Wikipedia.

Happy Traveling!!

Little Muffin

From Previous Sweets & Treats

I've begun a couple of posts today. But it's one of those days. Completely uninspired. Exhausted. Wishing I had the time and inspiration for everything. Wanting to work on everything all at once, and being left with analysis paralysis, therefore doing nothing at all. Completely frustrated that I'm developing carpel tunnel at 28 in my hand from spending all day on the computer at work, and all night on the computer at home. Angry at myself for reasons far beyond eating these muffins I made last night, for bringing the rest to work so I wouldn't eat them, then eating not one but two anyway this afternoon after successfully going raw again until 3:00pm. So, until tomorrow...

xoxo,

nicolette

New Beginnings

Keukenhof Gardens, Holland

"All good things bloom in time."

With many of the New Year's Resolutions floating about, I couldn't really share mine quite yet... but to sum it up... it's to be true to myself. I have faith that when the time is right, the petals will open.

xoxo,

nicolette

One Day at a Time

The Versatile Blogger Award
by Mary at Serenity & Style

I haven't done a blog award post in a long time, but one of my newer followers Mary from Serenity & Style has given me an award on a day that was very special to her: 500 Days of Sobriety. It touched me so much that it must be addressed.

What Mary & my other readers don't know is I've wanted to post a Dear Santa letter with this at the very top of my list last week but I try to leave all personal affairs out and away from this blog. It is usually a place of color and cheer especially in a world of dreary news, that's the route I've choosen to go. But I've been asked by many people the past couple weeks what I want for Christmas, and I couldn't think of one thing... (besides Julia Child's book My Life in France), that I couldn't buy myself, or that wasn't too expensive. The way the economy has been the past few years has taught me to curb materialistic wants, and how trendy it is to get by with the basics. But I stayed up late one night last week wanting so bad for the top of my Dear Santa list to be: a cure for addiction and debating whether or not to say so on the blog.

No, I'm not addicted to anything... except caffeine. But a few people very close to me are, and I've lost an aunt in her early 40s to an addiction. The holidays seem to bring these weaknesses out, and it's unfortunate. It does not make life easy to say the least. With that being said, I want to thank Mary not only for her award, but for her inspiration to others. Thank you Mary for inspiring me to have the courage to speak up for an important issue. 500 days is something to celebrate.

On another note, I've been given the opportunity to decide upon a charity of my choice to receive a very sizeable donation for the holidays... so if anyone knows of any good charities, I would appreciate suggestions, especially relating to this topic.

Not Just Another Monday

A Quote from Morning Glory, now out in theatres:

Rachael McAdam's mom in the movie told her...

"You had a dream. You followed it.

It was cute when you were 8.

At 18, it was inspiring.

At 28, it's pathetic."

I'm 28.

F***.

Well, thank God for Hollywood,

her dream came true.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep much last night.

I'd like to blame it on the anxiety of my first filling today in 17 years,

but that was hardly the case.

The movie hit me hard... the kind where you don't really want to talk to anyone for a good hour or so after, because it effects you. Happens to me a lot, which is why I actually enjoy watching these chick flicks solo sometimes.

So when Belle Inspiration, The Holiday Edition came out today on the 'online rack'...

it really did just that, inspire.

If you haven't been following my blog that long,

you may be wondering what that all has to do with each other.

Well I am magazine journalism graduate,

one who hasn't really worked in the field,

and it's a big deal to me, because my article and photos

appear in professional print for one of the more 'meaningful' times.

Also, my name is in the masthead for the very first time.

I'm a little more vulnerable writing an honest post,

these days with my readership up,

not only by international blogging friendships,

but by people who knew me in another life,

and may just be curious too see what I'm up to via Facebook...

plus being a new business owner,

it's best to keep things that feel a little raw covered up.

Yet this is my space, so I'll write anyway.

For one,

my name is Nicolette...and I go by Nikki.

Something I've never divulged on this blog for the past 18 months.

I chose Colette because I wasn't comfortable being on the internet.

Afterall, I didn't join Facebook until this year.

I personally find social networking very time consuming and invasive,

but vital in survival with international business these days.

I've never been called Colette by anyone I've known directly.

I considered changing the title of my blog a few months ago,

because it seemed... well, a little self absorbed.

But to be honest, it's not my name... just a title.

And no, I don't mind if you call me Colette... many of my blog pals do. :)

However, becoming Colette has allowed me to break out of this timid shell,

A person that has followed through with committment,

one that hasn't started yet another project and left it in the corner,

one that has not been scared of failure, therefore taking risks,

realizing Colette and the blogging world has done a world of good

for my confidence in success.

So, if you'd like to read my article on the Vizcaya Mansion in Miami,

or other great holiday stories written by other woman around the world,

visit Belle Inspiration and subscribe today.

P.S. It's never to late to give up on your dreams.

(I don't care how cliche it sounds.)

There was a man in his late 70's that walked around my college campus with his little Jansport backpack on going from class to class. It always made me smile, and gave me hope.