Enjoying the waves crashing while listening to the Sea Organ at The Old Fortress of Zadar.
“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.” – Lovelle Drachman.
Adventuring is a huge part of my soul. I decided to Eat.Pray.Love my way through Europe for an entire month! I set out and made the 15-hour journey across the pond the end of June 2023. My goals were to see new things, experience other cultures, and give myself time away from from the hustle and bustle of life. Excited to see what would be discovered. This post will be all about my adventures, loaded with pictures, research, and an exciting announcement!
Croatia: The Sea & Sunshine
Travelling with my good friends to Croatia is something I’ve wanted to do for ages! We truly had so much fun exploring and soaking up the sunrays together. The Adriatic sea was the destination most days. Swimming in this ocean by far is reason enough to travel to Croatia. I stayed in Biograd, approximately 30 minutes south of Zadar. Which was perfect for going to Perivoj Vladimira Nazora, The Old Fortress in Zadar, home to the Sea Organ! You can sit and feel the ocean waves crash onto your feet while simultaneously playing the sea organ that is built into the sea wall. At the same location is a huge solar sun panel that lights up at sunset. I enjoyed the way art was built into the architecture which was also connected to and inspired by nature.
Talk about stunning! The ocean is so clear, crisp and the perfect solution for basking and playing in the heat of the sun. I noticed when swimming a noticeable energetic boost! I researched what is special about the Adriatic Sea and to my surprise, I found out there is something unique!
“Studies have shown that the mineral composition of the Adriatic Sea is 7-14% higher than that of average seawater because the waters that flow to the sea are rich in minerals.” 1
This was also visible because when swimming the water literally holds you at the surface, as if you had a life jacket on. I always imagined this is what the Dead Sea would feel like! Also, I learned that:
“Like blood plasma, seawater contains up to 92 minerals and trace elements that are beneficial to our health. Our body has the capacity to absorb all of these natural elements because its mineral structure is very similar to the structure of seawater: this is called the remineralization of the body.”2
I discovered Thalassotherapy a common therapy found along the shores of the Adriatic Shores (I also found in France). Spa’s are built near the ocean coast and water is brought into pools for a reflexology and sea water soak! Even hot and cold pools are available, which is one of my personal therapies. I spent hours rotating to the different reflexology stations in the pool below, along with hot /cold pools and sauna before getting a body scrub.
Thalassotherapy pool at Les Thermes Marin Promicea, Marseille France.
When venturing around Croatia another gem were the flowers! Of course, I couldn’t help myself but to stop, smell and take pictures of these beauties.
Italy: Culinary Perfection
Italy has food down to a science. I never felt so satisfied and excited to try different types of Italian food. Leaving my Americanized expectations to what Italian food should look and taste like, at the door, I was pleasantly surprised dish after dish. I tried my first cannoli at Gino’s Bakery, which was rated to be the best in Florence. Definitely delicious.
During a night walk in Florence with a group of other travelers, I discovered a new cocktail that is in my top 5 favorites. Hugo Spritz. Perfectly balanced with mint, lime juice, simple syrup, elderberry liquor and prosecco. I ordered these everywhere I went and always enjoyed its light, refreshing and unique flavor profile. Definitely a hit at any dinner party!
Florence, by far was my absolute favorite city in Italy. It is known as the most beautiful city in Italy due to the amount of art and attention to detail that you can see at every corner. I felt as though I had teleported to a thousand years prior by merely walking down the streets and seeing all the statues and architecture.
V is for Vespa
I’ve always wanted to drive a Vespa. I thought, what better place to vroom around than in the Chianti Wine Country of Florence?! I booked a all-day excursion that was as beautiful as it was enlightening! One stop was at a viewpoint that overlooked the gorgeous city of Florence and also home to a 1000-year old monastery. The monastery also housed a apothecary shop that was stocked by the monks honey bee and medicinal gardens. They had a wide range of hand crafted, natural products perfected over a 1,000 years! If you know me at all, I was in legit heaven.
I decided to end my time in Italy as a student. I HAD to take a cooking class and bring back some culinary skills to enhance my cooking abilities. I booked a class with Ceaserine, a lovely woman who offers daily cooking classes from her home in Genoa. Due to cancellations, I was the only one in the class! Which was perfect, I was able to ask questions and pick her brain on tips and tricks when it came to creating pasta from scratch or balancing out pesto.
The menu we created was:
Fresh Pesto paired with handmade spaghetti
Walnut Cream Sauce paired with ricotta and basil stuffed tortellini
Tiramisu
To my surprise the Walnut Cream Tortellini beat out my all-time pesto favorite!
France: Aroma & Massage Therapy Continued Education
Since learning that my style of essential oil usage is the French model, I have wanted to go to France. (over 10 years) Needless to say, I was absolutely overjoyed to spend 2 weeks in France. My first stop was Nice, a cute beachy town between Monaco and Cannes. I stayed one block away from the beach, and spent my first week in France swimming and soaking up sunrays. All other time was seeking out aromatherapy shops and massage. The most memorable aromatherapy shop was when I walked into Gregory’s shop that he runs with his wife, Herboristerie du vieux. I enjoyed chatting with them and sharing thoughts surrounding essential oils. If you ever find yourself in Nice, this cute shop is a must!
The last city before ending my trip was Marseille, which happened to be my favorite city of the entire trip. Marseille was full of learning, adventuring and being inspired. This French port city is perfectly positioned on the Ligurian Sea, about 1 hour and 45 minutes from the Lavender Capital of the world. (Sault, France) I began my time here at Les Thermes Marin Promicea for thalassotherapy. My body was achy from all the travelling and I was really curious to see how this therapy could help. I recommend this therapy for all travelers! I left that spa feeling like a whole new lady.
Next up ,I wanted to broaden my massage experience, and I was in dire need of quality body work and muscular release. I stumbled upon Herve’s website, Haute Dente. He caught my eye because he is trained in shiatsu and ayurvedic massage, a combo I hadn’t experienced before. By far, his massage was the BEST I received in all of Europe! We became fast friends and I promised to return to him the next time I am in Marseille, you wont be disappointed if you follow suit.
I wanted to see the Gulf of Lion portion of the Mediterranean Sea and go sailing since Marseille is a coveted destination for sailors, it is even the 2024 Olympic Competitive Sailing location. I booked a all-day tour of Calanques National Park. I enjoyed basking in the sun while feeling the ocean waves beneath me and the wind swirling all around. Such a comforting feeling. The captain stopped at 8 different swimming holes to snorkel and cliff jump. I saw my first starfish and octopus during this snorkeling trip. Also, this was by far the deepest ocean water I have ever swam in! I was in 30-40 feet deep water and yet, I could still see the bottom. The water and wildlife was absolutely divine. This excursion was the perfect way to say good-bye to the European Seas.
French Lavender-Scent of Heaven
Lavandula x intermediafarm in the mountain tops of Sault, France.
I booked a all-day tour of Sault, France and the surrounding region with A La Française Marseille private tours. Elias was the guide for our small group and made our tour fantastic with his knowledge of the area, aromatherapy and the ability to find amazing parking spots everywhere we went! My timing could not have been anymore perfect as many of the lavender fields in the region were blooming and hadn’t been harvested. My flower-loving self was so excited and for good reason. As you drive the 1 hour and 45 minutes to Sault from Marseille you are welcomed with stunning valleys, mountains and a sweet, intoxicating aroma that hits so hard. The area was saturated with this aroma so that no matter where you were in this region, the most beautiful aroma swhirled around you. I took pleasure breathing in and walking amongst such beauty.
Poppy is also a popular crop in the region.
Elias took us to several noteworthy locations in the region ranging from small family operated farms to large company productions. One stop was Aroma Plantes Distillary. Which offered a tour of their distillery, explaining how essential oils are made. A museum, a lab featuring a timeline of aromatherapy, the cutest shop filled with many gems ranging from essential oils to creams and rollers. The café had many lavender infused options from coffee, teas, cocktails and cookies. I tried Lavender Lemonade for the first time- wow it was AMAZING. (I will definitely will be recreating this drink.)
Elias and I overlooking Gordes Valley and village.
Once we finished with the fields our tour guide took us to Gordes, a top rated village. Its a small village that clings to the edges of the mountain cliffs. Absolutely stunning. We had lunch and shopped in this village all while enjoying nature’s diffusion of three types of lavender and helichrysum which Elias called the immortale flower.
Ode to France: French Bliss
My month of adventure, rest and discovery truly inspired me! I wanted to make something to capture the sentiment of this trip. I decided to create French Bliss, a synergy that captures my day in the lavender laden mountain tops of France. A moment I will always remember and an aroma I want to have near. Its aromatic ingredients are only the plants that grow on the mountain ranges of Sault, keeping it true to what inspired me. For those who want to aromatically teleport there with me- this is for you. Look out for my next post that explore the benefits of French Bliss, a little plant science, and reveal what products will be showcased in this line.🌻
