Eating a steaming plate of noodles while perched on a plastic chair built for a 5-year-old, I faced a dilemma. I had four days in Hanoi, a city that was a grey and chilly as Saigon was colorful and warm—in weather, in buildings, in people. Hanoi’s...
I've learned that when a city is proclaimed as a country's cultural capital, it usually means it's cold. True to form, Hue (pronounced h-way) features gray-hued skies, a chilly wind drafting over the river and squat buildings crowding the winding...
Hoi An is one of the prettiest cities in Vietnam: recognized by UNESCO as an exceptionally well-preserved Asian trading port, the riverfront buildings are colorful and diverse examples of 19th- and 20th-century French-influenced...
Every once in a while, I surprise myself and willingly break away from beaches for a chilly, cloudy destination. Exploring Ke Bang National Park was one such adventure: renowned for having some of the oldest, largest caves in the world, the region...
When I think of cities surrounded by walls and moats, I think France in the Middle Ages (i.e. Avignon). I certainly don't think of 19th-century Vietnam.
But the Imperial City of Hue was constructed in 1802, its ruin only amplified by American...
Latest Posts
Our favorite toddler books November 13, 2024
A guide to San Diego with kids September 17, 2024
Jojo's nursery tour April 29, 2024
It's possible, but is it pleasant? April 9, 2024
Featured Posts
- A guide to San Diego with kids September 17, 2024
A casual guide to San Diego August 5, 2022
The best beaches in Nice July 18, 2012
What I love (and hate) about Australia November 2, 2011
The best hidden gems near Times Square March 23, 2016
Why it's worth visiting Tallinn, Estonia December 4, 2018
Skinny, strong and hot: the Melbourne coffee scene June 6, 2011
Ads
Stay Connected
About Me
Christine Amorose Merrill
C'est Christine is my little slice of the internet to talk travel, lifestyle and twenty- and thirty-something struggles. After stints living in France, Australia and NYC and lots of (often solo!) travel around the world, I currently live in San Diego with my husband, daughter and two pugs.