Eguisheim and Riquewihr, France

While visiting Colmar, we hit the road to a couple other nearby towns. The Alsace region of France has a seemingly endless number of adorable little towns to explore. Our time was short, so we focused on Eguisheim and Riquewihr. 

This is a popular photo spot in Eguisheim. Some say it inspired Disney's Beauty and the Beast. We were really lucky to find the area devoid of many tourists so we could take a few pictures uninterrupted. 

This shows the same spot but a little farther behind with wisteria framing the shot. The spring flowers around the towns were gorgeous!

We stopped for a coffee at a shop that is 125 years old (if I read the French correctly). It was a lovely spot next to the square with views of a fountain and a church.

Our next stop in Riquewihr started with lunch. We opted for pizza and tarte flambé. I indulged with a limoncello spritz which was the perfect refreshing drink.

Each little town seemed to have a small train to learn some of the history and see the town. We took the little train ride in Riquewihr which drove us up into the surrounding vineyards for an amazing view of the town below. 

The pictures do not do the town justice. It was picturesque and pleasant. You can stop to taste wine at a number of wine shops serving Alsatian wines. You can pick up Alsatian gingerbread. You can shop for pottery or antiques. There is a wealth of possibilities and I cannot wait to return to explore some more!

Cyprus: First Impressions of Paphos

For my birthday trip this year, I chose to visit Cyprus. I knew very little about the country, but it had been recommended to me by an acquaintance. Plus, I knew it was going to be warmer than Germany in February. 

We found a direct flight through Ryanair from Memmingen to Paphos. After learning that they drive on the left hand side of the road (due to British influence), we opted not to rent a car. It limited what we could see and do during our stay, but it also kept us from overdoing it during our relatively short time in the area. 

There are a plethora of resorts in Paphos. But when I found an adults-only resort with ocean views, I was sold. Amavi was a delightful spot to call home for the week. Service was amazing and we were upgraded to a room with its own private pool. Unfortunately the water was too cold to take advantage of the pool, but it afforded us with a beautiful view of the ocean.

We arrived in the late afternoon and immediately got outside to enjoy some sunshine! It was super breezy on the first day, but the views walking from the resort to the harbor area were just what I needed after gloomy Germany. 

I had scoped out a lunch spot in advance. It has been a WHILE since we have eaten Chinese food, so I thought let's give Chloe's a try. Because it was a late lunch, the restaurant was completely empty when we walked in. I loved the little extra attention to detail with the branded orange slice in my Spritz. The food was delicious and the service was very good.