Jeanne-Sbrn

Place du Commerce is a must-see spot in Nantes today since all the transport lines stop there. Despite some recent efforts to improve the area, it is hard to feel comfortable there. The square can be pretty dangerous, especially at night, and you have to stay on your guard. It can get very hot there quickly, and there is not much shade.

Place du Bouffay is packed with friendly spots to eat and drink. Some are perfect for families, others for friends. Everyone can find something they like here. The many restaurants all have different specialties, so there is something for every taste (brasseries, creperies, Italian, Asian, Mexican, Indian restaurants, etc.)

Nantes is very active culturally, and even more so in the summer when Le Voyage à Nantes invites you to visit permanent and temporary works of art of all sizes! I invite you to spend an evening at the Beaulieu theater, which offers comedies that are more than entertaining and that I love to go and discover, just to change things up from movie nights!

Lovely castle where it is possible to stop for free. The gardens are perfect for a little break after walking around the city center. You can find ducks, turtles, and sheep there. The ramparts are also free, just like the inner courtyard. Only the museum has an entrance fee. In the summer, I spend many afternoons in these gardens.

Right in the heart of the city, the Île de Versailles lets you leave the noise and pollution behind to recharge. Even though it is artificial, it is still really pleasant. As a local from Nantes, I love visiting this pretty garden to just stroll around in the quiet.

Great location. The Jardin des Plantes is a perfect place to wait for your train while surrounded by greenery, animals, and pretty flowers. There are several art pieces there, and new temporary exhibits arrive in the summer to add to the beautiful scenery. The only downside is that you cannot walk on the grass or lie down on it. We just tell ourselves it is a way to protect the park.

I stayed in Quetzaltenango for almost two months. Beautiful city, where you can find remnants of earthquakes and the before/after architecture blends together. Very interesting! By heading away from the center, you can go to Fuentes Georginas, an almost heavenly spot. They are natural hot springs in a tropical landscape.

The former capital of Guatemala, Antigua is a magnificent city. It is surrounded by three volcanoes, one of which is still active. I regret not staying longer, and I will not make that mistake if I have the chance to return. I recommend Café Condesa, very pretty and very good!

This natural park is beautiful and well worth the trip. I was lucky enough to visit in December and June. Both seasons bring something different and are worth it. Just a heads up, it gets very crowded in the summer. It was so nice to be able to take my time in December. Several routes are available, more or less long and difficult depending on your preferences.

I lived in Zagreb for 5 months. The capital is human-sized and quite pleasant, but you can see everything in just a few days. I would recommend visiting Zagreb during the Christmas season. A giant ice rink is set up next to the train station, there are many stalls in Zrinjevac Park, and tons of activities are organized. There are also concerts. The city is very lively at that time. In the summer, outdoor movie screenings are held in several places. One of them takes place in the forest, and it is beautiful! (Just watch out for the monstrous amount of mosquitoes during that time...) One extra little recommendation for the Chocolate Museum, it is fun and interesting!

Maksimir Park is a true natural enclave in the capital. It is the ideal place to get away from the pollution and the surrounding noise. There are paths laid out to get around easily, but the environment remains "wild" and not artificial, which makes it a perfect compromise! I can only recommend this lovely place, whether you are alone, with family, as a couple, or with friends!

Nice little park, laid out like a very long walkway. Two rows of trees on each side bring a bit of coolness. It is not a park where you can completely immerse yourself in nature because roads surround the area, but it is a bit of nature that is nice to find in the city. It is especially cool in the winter, when you find lots of stalls there during the holiday season.

You won't be able to miss this square if you head to Zagreb. It is the meeting point for many tram lines. You can easily recognize it by its large equestrian statue. The city knows how to use this square just right, with a giant screen during big soccer matches, New Year's Eve parties with fireworks, and so on. It is also the starting point for several tourist tours, and it is the easiest place to meet up when you need to find someone!

Croatians are lucky to be able to enjoy a mountain range like Medvednica right in their capital. I lived in Zagreb for a few months and this place became a real refuge. I went there very often, especially when it was really hot in the summer to look for a little bit of cool air. There are short or long trails that are usable and pretty accessible. It is possible to go up or down by funicular.

Like many others, we visited this museum because of its unique subject matter. In the end, it is just real breakup stories on display, accompanied by various objects. The biographer in me got caught up in it and I really enjoyed discovering these accounts. Even so, it does get repetitive. There is a lot of reading, so it is better to visit alone.

The museum is interesting for the first ten minutes, but it gets too repetitive. All the illusions only work with a phone (or a camera). I would have liked a bit more diversity in the illusions offered, specifically some that could be seen without the trick of a phone camera. Still, we left with some great souvenir photos and my friend and I were welcomed nicely. Best to visit with a group!

I ended up in Valencia a bit by accident for a professional internship. I am absolutely not disappointed with the trip, it is a really beautiful discovery! We stayed in the city center and were able to fully enjoy what it had to offer. We spent the whole trip looking at the magnificent architecture of Valencia. Every restaurant where we ate served us delicious food. The icing on the cake is that the people of Valencia are very kind and welcoming. I cannot wait to go back with my family! PS: I recommend checking out the DDL bakery