Bonjour! After a lovely exploration of France, I am finally home. During my time in France, I was able to visit a series of a places across the country! Both places I had been to previously and others I had been dreaming of seeing. I've briefly recapped what we did in each of the places - we accomplished a great deal of travel in a short period of time.
Beginning in the city of love - Paris but of course! While we were only in Paris for 24 hours, we managed to visit some of its trademark sites, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Arc de Triomphe. Right in the heart of it all, we stayed at the always lovely Four Seasons George the V. And what trip to Paris would be complete without a stroll down Champs Elysees?
Beginning in the city of love - Paris but of course! While we were only in Paris for 24 hours, we managed to visit some of its trademark sites, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and Arc de Triomphe. Right in the heart of it all, we stayed at the always lovely Four Seasons George the V. And what trip to Paris would be complete without a stroll down Champs Elysees?
Next, we headed north of Paris to where the champagne is more prevalent than water - Reims & Epernay. With the rolling countryside full of vineyards, Reims and Epernay were a true escape from the normal hustle and bustle of life. We stayed at Chateau Les Crayeres, which was a stunning little palace of a hotel situated right in the heart of it all. While there, we visited Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims, strolled through the international college town and drank plenty of champagne. The Rosé is to die for! In Epernay, we were able to visit Merrier champagne cellars. Prior to visiting, I had never had Merrier champagne. However, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was (and it is relatively cheap too!). Unfortunately, a favorite of mine, Moët & Chandon cellar, was closed due repair so we were unable to visit.
For the next portion of the trip, we flew south to Monte Carlo, Monaco! Situated right on the water, the city of Monte Carlo is vibrant and busy with culture, boats and a casino. The views did not fail to disappoint, especially the Hermitage Hotel where we stayed overlooking the harbor! During our stay, we visited the Prince's Palace of Monaco, Musée Océanographique of Monaco, and Saint Nicholas Cathedral. We also spent some time in Menton, which is a town situated right on the France-Italy border. To answer your question - yes, we did drive across the border to Italy! Although we didn't stay long, it was spontaneous decision we are were happy to have made. To counterbalance all of the site-seeing we had done by foot, my family and I rented a boat for an afternoon that took us up the coast to Nice. The boat was unforgettable, truly a once in a lifetime experience - How lucky am I! Finally, we could not leave Monte Carlo without taking our chances at the Casino. And we walked away with more in our pockets than when we had arrived!
For our final stop, we stayed in Marseille at the Intercontinental Hotel, but spent most of our time in AIX-en-Provence. On our way to Marseille, we stopped in St Tropez for lunch and a walk on the beach (I will definitely be back again for a girlfriends trip in the near future!). Probably our least scheduled portion of the trip, we drove along Sainte-Victorie Mountain and visited a lavender field.
With non-stop beauty, champagne, warm weather, unparalleled company, and excitement from start to finish, our trip to France was one of a lifetime! I hope to return one day. Until then, I will carry its magic with me and dream of french bread. Au revoir!
Alexandra xxx
Alexandra xxx