From North To South In France: My Favorite French Finds~Come Explore With Me!
May 18 '06
The Bottom Line France, a country so diverse in atmosphere,art, history, food,drink and sheer beauty!
My brain is in such a French state mind lately, what with all the terrific reviews written for the Write-off I’m hosting, Favorite French Finds...As I’ve read each entry, I recall so many of the things I’ve done and seen in that so very fascinating and varied country that it’s been all consuming...Even these last few mornings when I put on my television, I’ve found Matt Lauer, of the Today show, standing in front of the Louvre, and in Cannes interviewing the cast of new to be released Da Vinci Code…I just can’t seem to get away from it…Not that I want to!
So I decided to write a review of my 10 Favorite French Finds…Places I’ve been so fortunate to have seen or visited over the years on the trips I’ve taken to my favorite of all destinations. I also hope this review will be helpful to any and all people who might be planning a getaway to that most delightful vacation destination.
Paris Mon Amour
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Paris more than 20 years ago. My feelings about the sights I saw just overwhelmed me. I knew then that this was a city I would return to again and again. From the monuments, to the museums, markets, parks and street scenes. Nothing about Paris is ordinary. The River Seine, which slices the city in two, the Right bank and the left, or Rive Gauche, as it’s called in French, is a destination in itself and is one of my top ten attractions..
Une
La Tour Eiffel:
I think I’m obsessed with this incredible structure. Somehow I now have accumulated a collection of these statues, in every shape and size that boggles the mind, it’s no wonder I think of this sight everyday… My thoughts wander to the crowds waiting for their chance to go to the top or one of the lower levels, for views of city in every direction. I also think of the history of when it was built and how the Parisians at first were not to delighted to see this giant metal shape grow and grow. Then I remember the superstition, “Kiss the one you love beneath the tower and you will return” So far that has worked for me, I’m just waiting for that last kiss to take effect!
deux
River Seine:
Take a ride on one of the many bateaus that cruise this waterway. From that vantage point, many of Parisian’s top attractions pass in front of your eyes…Notre Dame, the Ile de Cite, (where the city began), the Louvre, and the icon of all icons, La Tour Eiffel are sights you won’t soon forget. Daytime or evening these boats will take you on a ride of a lifetime and don’t forget the bridges that cross the waterway, as you pass beneath them, each one has a story...A sight you shouldn’t miss it the small Statue of Liberty also on display in the water..A tribute to the American/French bond that has been going on all these many years.
Trois
Museums:
There are so many simply wonderful museums in Paris, I’m not going to write about each one but just my three favorites, museums that I’ve visited time after time and never tire of. I’ve always been enamored by the French Impressionists so the top floor of the Musee De Orsay is a thrill for me each time I’ve been up there...Every Impressionist is featured there from Monet to Van Gogh, with the most famous paintings represented from each artist’s paintbrush. Statues galore are on the main floors gallery, Degas, Rodin and so many more…Speaking of Rodin. The Chateau where he lived and worked is a famous museum in it’s own right. Le Musee de Rodin…There you will find his most beloved works of art, some that were considered scandalous during his lifetime, today considered the best examples of his art.
Of course the Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world, one I’ve been to numerous times and each time, with it’s vast size and collections, I’ve always found a room or exhibit that I somehow missed on previous visits. The only drawback to the Louvre are the crowds, which can be a problem during peak travel periods.
Quatre
Parks, markets and dining.
A trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without spending some time in one or more of the many splendid parks or gardens. There are so many to choose from but my favorite is the Jardin du Luxembourg, with its gorgeous statuary, floral abundance and the famous historic Medici Chateau right on the premises. Look for the moss covered Medici fountain and the band shell where at any given time you may hear delightful music. This is a favorite park of many Parisians too so children play with parents nearby. It’s the most perfect spot for people watching, or a picnic lunch as you take some time to rest from your very busy day of sightseeing.
As far as food goes in Paris you can’t go wrong anywhere but two of my husbands and my favorite eating experiences are to walk down one of the most unusual streets, Rue de la Huchette, a very old crooked street with cheap eats everywhere, from French food to Middle Eastern and Oriental, it is on this street you will feel as if you have wandered onto a food festival of flavors. Then in the Marais, the Jewish Quarter, there is Kosher food in abundance, baked goods and more ethnic varieties…Jo Goldenbergs, is a famous place to stop if fancy French cooking has gotten too out of hand and you want a change of pace. Speaking of which, another of my favorite places to eat is a place called La Procope, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris, and where you will find that it was the favorite of Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and other dignitaries, both Americans and French, of those times. The food is good, the atmosphere and historic significance unbeatable. For the sheer splendor of Art Nouveaux décor, La Fermette Marbeuf is a sight to behold, (also with an incredible history), as is Le Train Bleu located in the Gare de Lyon… Even if you don’t dine there just take a peek while waiting for a train, you won’t believe your eyes, it’s a museum in and of itself. Gilded gold, statues and artwork everywhere you look. Just an amazing sight and the food is excellent!
And, I mustn't forget all the delectable fresh baked goodies to be found in all the Boulangerie Patisserie's, so tres bon and so very hard to resist.
Cinq
Daytrips from Paris: Auvers ser Oise: Giverny
This Village is only about an hour by train and is one that I recommend most heartedly…It was here that Vincent Van Gogh went to recover from one of his breakdowns but alas the recovering wasn’t permanent. He did spend the last 3 months of his life there and created masterpiece after masterpiece…As you walk though the town you see so many of his subject matter, from the Church of Auvers to the wheat fields which he painted often then one day he just went out one last time and shot himself in the stomach…His gravesite is nearby, a most touching monument where he lies beside his brother Theo, both graves intertwined by the ivy that grows there, a tribute to a brothers love, in death as in life.
Another most fascinating place to visit is the Inn where he lived during those 90 days..kept just the way it was then and climbing up the stairs to that room is like a step back in time. Then, at the Chateau of Auvers, you can take "A Journey into the Impressionist Era". What a great trip that is. Housed in a beautiful chateau, this is a multimedia event, simulating the Montmartre dance halls, listen to the art critics, not too impressed with Impressionism yet. Then, board a virtual train to view the Ile de France, view Monet's retreat on Argenteuil and Pis*aros favorite town, where he lived and painted so many pictures, Pontoise. If you have one-day trip to take I would recommend this one over all the others. But, if you do have another day, a visit to Giverny, Monet’s home and gardens will round out your Impressionist experience.
Six
Of all the regions I’ve visited my favorite has to be The Dordogne/Lot…Also called Perigord.
It is here you can explore prehistoric caves, see cave paintings hundreds of thousand of years old; visit small museums with artifacts that will astound you. I remember a skull we saw that even had dental work..these were cavemen! Unbelievable, see caves where excavations are still going on. Visit the old town of Rocamador where we stayed, one crooked street with ancient buildings along both sides. And the food and wine in the region is just incredible. Forget any thoughts of dieting!
Sept
The chateaux of the Loire Valley are a sight to behold, from Chambord to Chenonceau to Amboise, were Da Vinci lived and died, these castles are a testament to how the Royalty of France lived when excess was in abundance. Each one a jewel in it’s design and beauty. There are chateaux where you can stay and while doing so, imagine what it must have been like, that is, before the revolutionaries took over.
Huit
Heading south to Provence where life was much different then what it was for the Royalty of the Loire, I did so enjoy the small villages, the people and of course the food. In Peter Mayle’s world you find friendliness and abundant charm...In Arles I gaped at the Roman Arena, looked at the Café Van Gogh painted then, in St. Remy, saw the Sanitarium where he was hospitalized after he cut his ear in one of his frenzy’s..More Roman ruins abound, then head further south to my favorite small coastal town, Menton.
Here, on the coast, only a very short distance from Monte Carlo, Nice, Cannes, and the very posh St.Tropez, names most think of when they think of the Rivera, is a small town nestled between the sparkling Mediterranean Sea and the tiny villages nestled in the hillsides above. Menton is only one mile from the Italian border so it has the feeling of both countries, and of course the food…Why do I keep coming back to the food? I can’t exclaim enough how simply wonderful it was there, meals prepared that were fresh from the sea along with the flavors of Provence…Tres, tres Bon. And the hillside villages, each one dripping in charm, some with historic castles or Roman ruins, views of the sea below that boggle the mind..Yes, these back country villages truly are French perfection.
Neuf
Speaking of the South of France, I want to include a restaurant in my list that I think I had more fun than any other restaurant ever..Or at least the most unique. Located in Menton but just on the border with Monte Carlo, it’s called Le Pirate’ Legend has it that the owner is somehow related to one very famous pirate whose name escapes me now, but the prices justify the name! I’ve never experienced such a dining extravaganza. We were there for hours, and I remember we had to go back the next morning to see if it was real, did we really throw glasses at the fireplace? Were chairs thrown? Did Fireworks go off outside? Was there really a donkey parading through the place..The answer was yes to all. It was a meal we will never forget and when we went back 10 years later it was still there and still going strong.
Dix
For my tenth and final favorites, I’m going to go back North, first to Normandy; the somber landing beaches and the moving memorial to those that fought and died for freedom and where we met some of the nicest French people in all our travels…Our hotel owner in Caan who hugged us and told us he would never forget what America did for France, the restaurant owner who went out of his way to give us tips, local maps and directions to all the sights, again with those same appreciative kind words…Then, on to Mont St-Michel where we stayed overnight to experience this world of the past without the tourist buses on hand, the most visited site in all of France, but to us that night, quiet and peaceful as we explored in wonder.
And just one more favorite; Champagne, The Champagne Region…Go, visit the Champagne cellars, stay overnight at one of the wonderful Inns or Chateaux located in or nearby one of the towns …Drink that bubbly and think about the diversity of this country. So much to see, so much to do and all so very different from one region to another, from North to South, East to West...The history, the variety of foods and wine, the cultures, all make up what I consider to be the best vacation destination I’ve ever been too, but then I guess I’m prejudiced, since, if there is such I thing, I’m sure I’ve lived another life in this diverse and most spectacular country. I certainly hope to return again one way or another.
This has been an entry into my write/off-party…I do so hope you join in the fun here
Happy and Safe Travels
A few more links to some of my reviews written about these incredible destinations:
Aix en Provence
http://www.epinions.com/content_69973282436
Eze Village: just ozing with charm in the South http://www.epinions.com/content_77958188676
Roquebrune: another fascinating hillside village:
http://www.epinions.com/content_77404278404
The Museum of Peace in Normandy
http://www.epinions.com/content_142707035780
Monte Carlo
http://www.epinions.com/content_121009114756
The Conciergerie in Paris, Marie Antoinettes's last days
http://www.epinions.com/content_122620776068
My top ten Paris: A few of these links have mysteriously disappeared and I am unable to edit for some reason.
http://www.epinions.com/content_53103988356
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