Walking Tour of Budapest

As you know, my family is from Slovakia so I've spent a lot of time in Eastern Europe, especially as a child. My family and I traveled a bit around Europe during our trips to see the rest of the family. We went to Budapest on one of those trip and I remember it being a beautiful city so I was eager to go back when one of my fellow students suggested a girls trip to Eastern Europe.

We started our own walking tour at the parliament building (above) and then walked along the water to cross the Danube River via the Chain Bridge (below).

The views along the Danube are stunning and it was a beautiful walk despite the cold and gloomy weather. The WWII Jewish memorial (below) is a serious of shoes representing those that were shot

Taking the tram up to Buda Castle we were treated to some spectacular views of the city, and of course this made for a great photo op!

Matthias Church on Castle Hill has very exquisite architecture from the inside out. 

The views of the city were stunning to see at dusk as it got dark early (at 4pm!). Here you can see the Hungarian Parliament again from a far. There is a cafe right next to Matthias Church that provides a great place to heat up and enjoy the views of the city. 

Finally ending our long walk, it was time to recoup with dinner. Goulash is a very traditional Hungarian dish that you can find in most of Eastern Europe. It is a delicious beef-based stew with vegetables and spices. Perfect to warm up after a chilly winter day in Budapest. 

Beautiful Amsterdam

There are many beautiful places in Europe but one of my favorites is Amsterdam. I decided to attend an impromptu trip for a fellow classmate's birthday and I was once again awed by the beauty of this city. We arrived on Saturday morning and met up with the rest of the crew and got a chance to walk around the canals and parks a bit. Followed by a delicious dinner and a night of birthday celebrations, Amsterdam was definitely worth the 6-hour drive from France. Can't wait to go back!

Love these people.

Apple Orchard and Cider Tour in Normandy

On our trip to Normandy we also wanted to experience a little of the French apple harvest during fall. We visited the Domaine Dupont orchard and were given an informative tour by the owner himself. Dupont produces Calvados apple liquor and cider. The property is beautiful and the recipes and processes are based on generations of knowledge. Everything made here still has that classic, non-industrial touch.

Apples, apples everywhere.

Cider-maker post MBA??

Tasting Calvados and cider. It's like spiked apple juice but better.

I was also excited to find apple-cider vinegar. How much more fresh from the farm can you get?

A Day in History - Normandy

I love the fact that INSEAD is such an international school but I must say that some of the best friends I've made here are actually American. I think that our global mindset coupled with American upbringing make us get along quite well and have a lot in common. In addition, many of us, like me, are immigrants and have dual nationalities. 

The Americans and others organized a trip to see the historical sites of where Normandy was invaded on D-Day. It was interesting to see a piece of history that we learn about in school as the "turning point" in the war. Of course, other countries might see it differently, but in classic American fashion, it's when we came to save the day.

Omaha Beach monuments where the allies landed coming from England.

Diagram of other beaches that were invaded.

The American memorial cemetery close to Omaha Beach.

A moving and sad place to be, but it was very interesting to visit the museum and see the timeline of events and read about the troops stories and triumphs.

Happy Thanksgiving from France!

Happy Francegiving! Last night I hosted the INSEAD Americans for a lovely Thanksgiving feast at Chateau de Tavers, where I live. We made three turkeys and the 50 or so guests brought side dishes and desserts to share. It was a great night and I'm glad we got to have a little taste of home.

French Food

Before my move to France to study at INSEAD, I wrote about why French Women Don't Get Fat and I must admit that I believe in much of what is in the book. French food tends to be rich and high-quality, but enjoyed in smaller portions. The bread doesn't make me feel bloated and seasonal vegetables are always used in meals. Our cafeteria food is pretty awesome and I'm having fun trying new things, like snail, in the restaurants of Fontainebleau and Paris. I enjoy the French love for seafood. My only major complaint about French food is the prevalence of diary. You can not get anything without cheese or milk. Although I try to avoid it, it's really difficulty to do so, and waiters do not really understand why i would want something "sans lait." Regardless, it's been fun exploring the food options in France and here are some ideas for your home cooking!

Snail, not as gross as it sounds.

Shrimp salad, with cheese sauce, of course.

Mussels and fries, my favorite!

Niçoise salad (recipe here)

And you can't have a French meal without a glass of wine!

Afternoon in Monte Carlo, Monaco

On our pre-INSEAD trip this summer to Nice, we took a day trip down the coast to Monaco for a long afternoon. You can easily take the bus from Nice to Monte Carlo and the ride is quite breathtaking as you travel along the winding coastline.

Upon arrival, we walked up to the Prince's Palace and enjoyed some amazing views of Monaco. I mean, can you imagine owning a yacht here? It seems like every building has an ocean view.

Monaco felt more like a quaint tourist town than its own country. We walked around just exploring the streets and and enjoying the views. My friend Liz had her "real" camera (as opposed to my usual iPhone pictures) and took some great candid shots of Neena and I.

We then proceeded to walk around Port Hercule and enjoy the market along the water. We dreamed about getting on one of those yachts! Maybe when we get jobs after business school?

And finally, you can't visit Monaco without seeing the famous Monte Carlo Casino. While we couldn't go inside, we did explore some of the nearby (less fancy) casinos and eventually decided that it wasn't worth gambling our tuition money and settled for lunch at an outdoor cafe instead.

Chateau Life

Last week I posted about my first month at INSEAD and wanted to follow up with a little about my awesome home at the Chateau de Tavers. I could have lived in an apartment close to campus but opted to try something a little different instead. When else would I have the chance to live in a chateau in the countryside in France?

Tavers takes up it's own block of land on the banks of the Seine River, which I can see from my room. We have charming common areas, my favorite being the library with a fireplace and piano. One of my roommates serenades us in the evenings.

We have weekly dinners where our "house mom" Paula cooks for us and our guests. There's lots of wine and cheese, as you can imagine. And a little different from running along the lake in Chicago, but there is a pretty good path along the Seine! If only I had time to run more.

Finally, let's not forget the parties! The whole campus gets bussed over to our epic parties. These pics are from the first one during welcome week. The whole group is below, I love these guys!