Posts by Michelle Schaber

Alsace to Paris: A Spring Journey Through Fairytales and Film On Saturday, April 19, I woke up early in Italy with one goal: head north to France. I packed my bags, returned my rental car, and breezed through Milano Centrale without a hitch (a pleasant change from past experiences!). Then, onto the train—one of my favorite ways to travel. We carved through the Swiss Alps en route to Basel, the scenery unfolding like a movie.…

Piemonte in April: A Wine Lover’s Springtime Dream On the morning of Saturday, April 12, I began an unforgettable journey from Beaune to the heart of Piemonte. I woke at 6:00 a.m. and caught the 7:03 train to Lyon, watching the sun rise over Bourgogne’s quiet spring vineyards. After transferring trains in Lyon at 9:30, I traveled through the Italian Alps—snow still dusting the peaks—and rolled into Milano by 2:07 p.m.  Then came the classic…

Bourgogne in Spring: A Week in the Heart of Wine Country I arrived in Beaune on the evening of Monday, March 31—just as the last light was casting a soft glow over the tiled rooftops. The next morning, April 1, I woke early and wandered the quiet streets. Looking up at the iconic polychrome roof of the Hospices de Beaune, I noticed the Big Dipper glimmering faintly in the dawn sky. It felt like a…

A Champagne Welcome My 2025 adventure in France has begun! Traveling with two friends for the first week, we arrived at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport early on a crisp Saturday morning, March 29. The journey through baggage claim tested our patience, but by 8:15 am, we had our luggage in hand. Fortunately, picking up our rental car was a breeze—an especially welcome relief after the long flight. And just like that, we were off, heading…