It's My First Time...

by Karlette Milbourne (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown Netherlands

33 years old, I have never been out of the country besides for a weekend trip to Ontario, Canada back in like 1998, and a few cruises to the Bahamas. For our honeymoon, we decided to do the unthinkable (unthinkable to my social circle); a 15-day honeymoon to Paris and Amsterdam. Two places my husband and I both had dreamed of visiting, but didn't necessarily think we would ever get there. One short drive to Miami from Dallas, Texas and a 7.5 hour plane ride later...We are in the City of Light, open to experience all that Europe has to offer. Was I afraid!? Of course! Was it amazing!? Absolutely! We landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport and my first thought: wow, Paris is an ashtray. Of course people smoke in the United States, but to the comfort of me and many others smokers are usually banned to a certain area where their smoke can't bother those that love "fresh" air. Literally, everyone and their mother smokes in Paris (and this was just at the airport!) Very shocking to me, but did not leave me wanting to abort this honeymoon. Being in a country where people do not assume your culture and see you just as a Frenchmen or woman was quite amazing. I remember waking up every afternoon (we could not get used to the time difference) only to race to Boris Lume, a small Patisserie. I put my mouth to the styrofoam cup, the warmth of the liquid warms my soul, like a well-lit fire warms your toes after you've been outside on a cold winter day. I sip, a stream of decadent chocolate engulfs my mouth, my tastebuds tingling like the first pour of milk into a bowl of Rice Krispies. My first experience with a French staple, chocolat chaud. This is one of many great food experiences we encountered in France and Amsterdam alike. I could write for hours about each bite of every meal and how it left us wanting to stay in both countries so we explore every restaurant and taste every piece of the culture.