FRANCE - TRAVEL TIPS

There are few people who wouldn't say that Paris is the city of love and France a country with every landscape possible to enjoy. It starts from the northern charming Lille, to mid-country wine regions, to the stunning Alps, bordering with Switzerland, then the whole southern coastline from the Italian border along the Mediterranean in wealthy tax-cheap Monte-Carlo, Nice (pronounced Niece), to Marseilles, (Maarsay) where its gorgeous rocky coastline is hugged by high mountains. Further west are the Pyrenees and up north again along the Atlantic coast, there is Bordeaux and in a slightly northern centre, the historic and chic, sophisticated La Paris! There is so much to see and do you need a few holidays in France. Most tourists with limited time though will settle for Paris, and due to its size I would advise taking the 48 hour hop-on hop-off buses, as taking the underground you will miss much of what is above ground. Pass by Cafe Voltaire, tree-lined royal avenues and exquisite architecture, decorating huge monumental buildings, stations et beaucoup les Rues (roads) with their apartment buildings all showing off  their characteristic solid, iron Parisian balconies. One can almost here the chants and revolutionaries whispering Viva la France or the majestic sounds of honour from Les Miserables, as one gets lost in all that Paris has to offer.

 

The Eiffel tower is of course the first landmark to see and on the way back, do some lunching or shopping on the Champs-Elysee, with it European terrace cafes, where you can drink your Cafe Au-lait (milk coffee) and nibble your deliciously fresh croissants. Paris is decorative, with its bridges lined with lanterns, and if you are there in summer and good weather all the more fun will be had. Walk along the Seine river looking at artists' work or book stalls and just mingle into the Parisian flow of life. Of course, one should not miss museum Le Louvre, to catch a glance at that lady who has been staring at us for centuries, the Mona Lisa. A very small piece I might add, but the museum itself and area is lovely.  Just as in Florence, Italy, one should climb Michelangelo's hundreds of steps to the statue of David's panoramic view, one too, should walk to La Sacre Coeur. The Sacred Heart is brilliantly white and completely different to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral (Our Lady),  a landmark you certainly do not want to miss. The walk is worth it.

 

 

Paris is expensive, so be aware but there are fascinating restaurants, also in deep underground dungeons, with food to serve every palette and the variety is dizzying! Paris at night is also exquisite. It's cobble-stoned streets, hundreds of subtle lights and yellow car headlights just tell you, you are in another world. I wouldn't drive there myself, it's far too chaotic and lane sharing or changing seems a continuous snake curl.  I didn't see anything at the famous Moulin Rouge but it's another landmark you need to see. 

 

Mid-France almost on the Swiss border, close to Basel is a sweet, quaint little city called Mulhouse, pronounced "Mulooze". The city square is just a ten minute walk from the station and it has a mixture of Swiss, French and German architecture.

 

MULHOUSE CITY SQUARE 

But there are literally, scores of authentic villages and little towns to visit in France, so driving around far away from Paris is a must. Otherwise, you really haven't seen France. When I say authentic, I mean, the villages are left as they are their old medieval cobble non-straight streets, with old brown concrete walls. Nothing is decorated, falsely flashy, perfect or painted to impress. It is as it is and it is gorgeous!

Of course if you are skier France is the place to be. The scenery in winter is just breath-taking. Log cabins at the foot of mountains, winding icy roads (for which you'll need chains around your tyres), and forests all dipped in fairy-tale icing sugar, that soft wet magical snow of winters. There are tiny little villages en route to skiing places, for example, Saint Julienne, with just a few houses and a customary little mini-cathedral. The pictures below is on the way to La Joue -de-Loup (Loup is a wolf) and then onto the village of  Saint Julienne with the frozen water fountain.

 

 

 

THE ALPS IN SUMMER

IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE A CABLE CAR UP FOR THE VIEW

 

The famous postcard pictures of French lavender fields in bloom are normally from Provence. Pronounced (Provonce). I've never seen them in spring but have collected lavender in summer, creating little sprig bags which is a customary French ritual and pass-time worth trying. Personally, I much preferred flying south into Marseilles, which is far more authentic than commercial Nice or Monte Carlo, and then driving north up to Provence. Monaco though is lovely to walk around, up to the palace on the hill for views down over the coast, cliffs and harbour. In Marseilles, the hilly and mountainous countryside is different to the western southern coast and there are wide open spaces with wild flowers, against rock formations, the sea and rocky pools. Quite delightful to holiday and picnic, along with freshly baked baguettes and the host of delicious French cheeses on offer. You can take language courses in more rural northern areas which I hope to one day do as my French is still quite low level. Being tossed into a family or farm where residents only speak French is the best way to learn. 

 
MARSEILLES FROM ABOVE THE HILLTOP
 

France is a big country, there is much to see and if you have the time, it's definitely worth taking at least a month to travel around, because although Paris is the capital, like any country, it is not the actual France. Bon-voyage et bonne appetit!

 
PROVENCE