Falling in love with PARIS

It has been my lifelong dream to see the City of Love they call Paris.

I knew I was soon to experience Paris when a dear friend of mine revealed to me that she and her longtime boyfriend are finally getting married in August 2016. And get this --- they are tying the knot in Nantes! Nantes is the 6th largest city in France, located west of Paris and about two hours via the high-speed TGV train.

Because there was so much planning to do, I started doing my research as early as January of that year. First off, I had to score a flight that would fit my budget. With another "kaladkarin" friend (okay, let's call her Sue) who willingly agreed to join me in this trip, getting sufficient information will be much easier. Second, my friend and I had to come to terms about which cities to visit -- the so-called non-negotiables -- after Paris and Nantes.

In between work duties, I have finalized my must-see cities: Barcelona in Spain, and Verona and Rome which are both in Italy. Why Barcelona? Because I have heard and read a lot about how it is much better to see first than Madrid; and that it is closer to the Montserrat Monastery. The reason for choosing Verona is obviously because of Juliet (sans Romeo). Who in the world wouldn't want to see Rome? Tell me.

Sue, on the other hand, was very kind to go along with my list with an addition -- Tuscany. Since we both loved Under the Tuscan Sun, I figured we have in our hands our final list: Paris-Nantes-Barcelona-Milan-Verona-Rome-Tuscany.

For the sake of this post, I will share some of my most favorite photos from our French getaway. Details of our Spanish and Italian journey will have to come later.

The train ticket from CDG to Vavin station (the closest to our hotel).

Vavin station

Our room at Hotel Chaplain Paris Rive Gauche.

The Arc de Triomphe

The star of Paris.

 Notre Dame Cathedral Paris

Here I am by the Seine River.

 The famous restaurant in the film "Me Before You."

 Musee d'Orsay (I loved it!)

The River Seine tour.

The main chateau at the wedding venue in Nantes. 

Most of my photos are with friends and other guests of the couple so I won't be able to post them here. I must say it was one of the best weddings I have ever been in -- relaxed, intimate and fun.

What's going' on?

Whew! It has been a year since my last update and this is gonna be my first story for the New Year. 

I am writing this thousands of miles away from home. Currently, I am staying in Georgia state where our eldest is living with his family. I've had many firsts in the past couple of months -- first Thanksgiving, first Christmas and New Year's outside the Philippines and first birthday celebration outside of Asia.

The last quarter of 2015 and the first half of 2016 had been devoted to campaigning for my boss. Please do not ask 'coz I'd rather not drop his name. Instead, I'll be sharing with you some of the wonderful places in Visayas and Mindanao that I was fortunate to visit during the campaign trail.

I always feel excited whenever I get the chance to go around VisMin. One benefit is that I get to practice Cebuano. Having a mother who was born and raised in Oslob (Cebu), I only get to hear Mama speak when she gets mad at me or my other siblings, or when talking to our Bisaya relatives.

Most of the photos below were taken using my cellphone. The nicer photos are with our media officer. 👧👌📷

To be honest, I miss being active in the Philippine political arena. But, I'd opt to enjoy the remaining weeks of vacation. 


**All photos are mine. Give proper credit if you will use my photo.**

El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental
(In the background are Jocelyn and Carlo, my workmates)

This is the port of Olango Island, just off Mactan in Cebu.

This is the viewing area to the world famous Cloud 9 in Siargao Island (Surigao del Norte). Siargao is one of my favorite places in the entire world!

The big rooster statue in MANUKAN, Zamboanga del Norte.

The Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte boasts of having an enormous
  sports complex, this Oval included.

Here with Cheryl and the Captain on board the vessel to Bantayan Island, Cebu.

The waters of Bantayan are comparable to Boracay's. 

Sunny in this side of Cebu Province

That famous marker along Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

 Tanjay City will always have a special place in my heart. During my stint at my most recent workplace, I have made so many friendships here and in various areas across the province.

Bais City, Negros Oriental :)  

 Aside from the popular silvanas and sans rival, never leave Dumaguete without trying their Tsokolate and bod-bod.

Mabinay Spring (Mabinay, Negros Oriental)

Tandag City, Surigao del Sur