Ten on Tuesday

1. What book, movie or song has made you want to travel to a particular place? (eg. I went to Prince Edward Island because I was such a Anne of Green Gables fan)

The final episodes of Season Six of Sex and the City made me want to travel to Paris. Yes, Carrie was pretty depressed/down while she was there, but it just really, really strengthened my desire to visit.

2. Aside from your significant other, who would you want to take with you on a dream trip?

I would take my mom to Italy.

3. Where would said dream trip be to?

As I said above, I'd take her to Italy. Being Catholic is a huge part of who we are. I'd love to attend Mass at St. Peter's Basilica - I think it would be such a special experience. Plus my mom enjoys wine and coffee so I think we'd really enjoy this region. :)

4. If you were hosting guests or providing tips, what three things would you show visitors to your hometown? (be it where you live now or where you grew up)

I am choosing where I live now (Minneapolis) because my home town of 500 doesn't have 3 sites worth visiting. Here goes for Minneapolis:

- We'd visit Minnehaha Falls, followed by lunch at Sea Salt.
- We'd go for a nice walk or fun around my favorite lake, Lake Harriet - and possibly two others if they were up for a 10 mile run, but most visitors aren't!
- I'd show them Wild Rumpus. It's actually a children's bookstore, but it's THE coolest children's bookstore ever! Afterwards we'd go out for ice cream at Sebastian Joe's.

5. If you had a long weekend ahead of you, where would you head – beach, city or country/mountains?

I would head to my parents' lake cabin. I spend 1-2 weekends a month there during the summer months. It is my little slice of heaven.

6. Do you have a passport? If so, did you get it for a particular trip or just to have, in case?

Heck yes, and sadly it is expiring on my next Birthday. I am so sad to part with it! It's been on some fabulous trips with me!! I got it when I was a sophomore in college so I could travel to London over spring break to visit a friend that was studying abroad!

7. Are there any travel souvenirs you collect? If not, is there something else you collect?

I try to buy coffee table photography books of the cities I visit.

8. If you could name a paint colour, what colour would it be and what would you call it?

Oh geez. I suck at the creative questions. It would be a shade of pink - not too light, but not too dark. I'd call it Pretty in Pink. Although that is probably already a name of a paint color!

9. If you were heading away for a weekend city break solo, where would you go? (forget about practicality here and flight times, assume you can get to any city in the world for the weekend)

That's Easy Peasy. My answer is Paris. In a heart beat. I'd stay in the Marais area and soak up the sights and sounds of the city. I'd sip wine at an outdoor cafe. I'd wander aimlessly along the Seine. I'd blog from the Troccadero area while gazing at the Eiffel Tower. I'd rent a bicycle and discover new areas of the city.

Le Sigh. Oh how I love Paris.

10. Is there a song or a smell or something that you strongly associate with a particular holiday/place/time, such that it always takes you back?

There are various scents that I associate with Christmas. I actually walked into my sister-in-law's basement over Easter weekend and said, "It smells like Christmas in here!" I think it's the scent of nutmeg. And pine trees. And cranberry. So many different things, actually. Oh how I love Christmas!