Bonjour à tous de France! Yes, I’m currently walking and eating my way around beautiful France with my sister, Laura. We’ve talked about taking this trip for years, and since we were both celebrating BIG birthdays this September (65 and 70; I’ll let you guess whose birthday is whose), we thought this was finally the time to go.
Our trip in France started with Paris, bien sûr, in a lovely Airbnb in the 10th arrondissement, where we amused ourselves by watching the goings-on in the building across the street, à la Rear Window:
But we also visited some of the sites, including a boat trip down the Seine River, where we had fabulous views of the Tour Eiffel as well as the replica of Lady Liberty (much smaller than the original), gifted to France by the US to celebrate the centennial of the French revolution.
And we climbed up to Montmartre to see the incredible Basilica of Sacré-Coeur, pictured here with a vintage “deux chevaux” (two horses/2 CV) Citroën in the foreground.
We were excited to visit the restored Notre Dame, which had been so severely damaged by fire back in 2019. After having seen its darkened-by-age-and-smoke inside so many times in the past, I was astounded by how light and airy it was after the cleaning and restoration.
And of course I had to visit the famous bookstore, Shakespeare & Co., whose original owner, Sylvia Beach, was brave enough to publish James Joyce’s Ulysses, notwithstanding the censors trying to prevent it from happening.
One day we went to an exhibit of Leandro Erlich’s trompe l’oeil pieces at the Grand Palais–good fun!
Next it was on to Lyon, to my mind, the gastronomical center of the universe, where we dined on steak-frites with shallot-wine sauce and pike quenelles in lobster-cream sauce at Paul Bocuse’s brasserie, Le Nord. Heavenly!
After several days in Lyon, we continued south to Aix-en-Provence, where we enjoyed apéros at outdoor cafés, and where we celebrated our official birthdays, which are one day apart. That’s us in our birthday finest, enjoying a before-dinner cocktail. How lovely to sit in the early evening setting sun, sipping a delicious beverage and watching the world go by!
From Aix, we took a one-day trip down to Marseille (where my protagonist Valerie Corbin’s grand-père is from), and went on a cruise of the coastline around Marseille out of its famous vieux port (old port), which holds some 3,000 boats.
And of course we had to have some pastis à la Marseillaise, while there!
We’re now back in Paris again, and this is the view from our 6th-floor apartment here. It’s going to be hard to return to my real life again…
Readers: Do you have a favorite place to travel?
I love Paris and hope to return soon.
I hope you can, Dru!
I spent a total of two months in France in the 1990’s, split up into four two-week trips. We went to Paris, Brittany twice, and to the French Alps. I’d love to get back and see more of this great country.
Sounds like a series of great trips, Tom!
my favorite place to repeat-travel is America’s Paris – New Orleans!But I finally got to France last year and can’t wait to go back. And same with England, where I just made a return visit after way too many years. Next year I’m living another bucket list item and plan to finally visit my mom’s hometown in Italy. But I miss going to Europe from the East Coast. Those 5-6 hour flights were so much easier than the 10-12 hour flights from LA.
I hear ya, El. And not only the long flight, but the 9-hour time difference is a bear! So glad you’re finally getting to visit the ancestral home!
I do now! I need to go to France WITH YOU!
Lol, Kay!
Thanks for taking us vicariously along with you, Leslie. Love all the amazing photos! And that food–yum!
I’d like to go back to Italy someday…
Yeah, the food is pretty special here in France, I must say…
Happy belated birthday to you and your sister, Leslie! How wonderful and lovely and awesome that you celebrated your birthdays together with this dream vacation. Thank you so much for sharing your photos with us. 💞💞🩷
It’s been quite the dream trip, Patricia–merci!
Happy belated birthday! Sounds like a fabulous trip. Thanks for sharing.
It was indeed, Mark, and merci!
Happy Birthday to both of you! You did a lot. I love how simple meals in France become ‘La Maison…de hot dogs…’ lots of style, incorporated.
Ha! Glad you noticed that!
Great pictures, Leslie. Enjoy your trip!
Thanks, Liz! Home tomorrow, but it’s been a fabulous holiday!
my favorite place to travel is a random place discovered wherever I am. Usually on road trips. Thanks for the photos and descriptions. I loved Paris. Hope to visit again someday!
I agree, Judy. Sometimes the random places you discover–especially on road trips–are the best!
I have never been outside the US, except to drive from Alaska to Texas.
my dream vaca would be to do exactly what you are doing. I would love to eat my way through France and let my tastebuds find the differences in the reaction.
Viva La France!
I hope you get to go to France some day soon, ma cherie–you’ll love it!
and I don’t think either of you are the ages you claim. Way too much energy. Have a wonderful trip, and celebrate as long as you can handle it!
love, hestia
Quel rêve! Thank you for sharing a bit of your fabulous vacation with us. And happy birthday to you and Laura!
Merci, ma cherie! It’s been a fabulous birthday month for both of us!
Leslie!!! This looks so amazing! Glad you had a blast!
Thank you for sharing–it was such a pleasure to live vicariously through your adventures.
All of the pics are great, but I cannot tell you how much I love the picture of you in front of Shakespeare and Co.
And how lovely that Notre Dame is so clean (brought tears to my eyes…still remember the day it burned and was so horrified).
Happy birthday! ❤️
Happy birthdays!!! 🥂🍾🎂
Love seeing the pics of your adventures in the beautiful city of Paris and the smiles on your faces.
Keep enjoying every minute!!
Debbie