The Paris interview with David and Veronica

David and Veronica – travel blogger

Every other week, Discover Walks will share with some great insight from Travel bloggers from around the world who fell in love with Paris. They will share their favorites addresses and things to do while in Paris. Because genuine advice and stories are so important to us, in addition to our born-and-raised Parisian tour stories, we now bring you real advice from fellow travelers.

Bonjour David and Veronica, can you tell us more about who you are?

We have spent the last thirty five years together, ever since a boy from the heartland met a Valley girl on the west coast and took off to Nashville for a wild ride through parenthood and the music business. After sending three kids out into the big wide world they set out to find it for themselves, selling everything and taking off in a beat up old motorhome. Along the way they accidentally created the top travel blog ‘GypsyNester.com’ and authored the book ‘Going Gypsy: One Couple’s Adventure from Empty Nest to No Nest at All’ (Skyhorse 2015). In the past five years they have visited and written about fifty three countries on six continents. They have no plans to slow down.

David was born in Wichita, Kansas and grew up in the mountains of Colorado. He spent thirty years in the music business as a performer, recording artist, songwriter and radio personality in Nashville, Tennessee and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. After parenting and, sending three kids out into the big wide world he currently lives with his bride of thirty three years, Veronica, in a beat up old motorhome along the highways and byways of North America. He still performs sporadically, mostly as an excuse to hang out in Italy.

Veronica was born and raised in Southern California and was like, totally, a valley girl. Against any sane person’s better judgment, she ran off with a musician at age eighteen. Upon procreation, she became Earth Mama, then Helicopter Mom, hovering over every detail of her Spawns’ lives. Including writer, she has held approximately thirty-three different jobs while raising her brood. She is never bored.

Why did you start writing gypsynester.com/?

Veronica had worked in tech for years and David had been a songwriter in Nashville, so we started GypsyNester.com while we roamed around, mostly as a way to keep our loved ones posted on our adventures, but when we decided to continue our travels we thought that we should also focus on the blog.

Why did you start traveling?

Initially what got us wandering around the U.S. was as a way to catch up with family and friends. We had lived on the Caribbean island of St. Croix all through our children’s high school years, so it was hard to visit relatives and friends up in the states. When our youngest graduated, we figured a good way to reconnect with overdue visits was to get a motor home and make our way across country. Once everyone was visited, we liked it so much that we just kept going.

What’s special about your blog?

We try to find the unusual, and the humor in where ever we find ourselves. It is not a travelogue; it is a dialogue about our adventures.

What would be your top 3 things to do in Paris?

First, eat. Stop almost anywhere and enjoy.

Second, walk along the Seine. It’s a great way to see the city and there is always a ton of stuff going on.

Third, eat again, no just kidding. Let’s say sit at a sidewalk café and watch the city go by. And you could grab a bite if you feel like it.

Your Top 3 good addresses in Paris?

These might be a bit cheesy, since they are the obvious choices, but perhaps with a bit of a twist. Don’t just look at the Eiffel Tower, go up in it, and maybe have a meal. Lunch is easier (and cheaper). Same goes for the Arc de Triomphe, go up to the top. The view is amazing! Third we’d say go to the Louvre, but look for the quirky stuff. There is some really weird art in there. As an honorable mention, we would have to add the catacombs… very creepy.

Your favorite landmark in Paris?

We’d have to say the Arc de Triomphe, especially watching the insane traffic going around the circle that it sits in.

What is your favorite neighborhood in Paris?

We are certainly not experts, but we love the area around Notre Dame Cathedral.

Could you give us your recommendation to first timers in Paris?

We found that taking an introductory tour the first day was a good way to see what we wanted to explore further with the rest of our time. It also allowed us to skip the lines at the most famous attractions.

Thank you so much David and Veronica, keep on enjoying Paris

Merci beaucoup :-)