Bonjour, mes amours!

I’m officially back from France, and I fear the South of France has completely ruined me. I’ve already started mentally planning my next trip, which is a little concerning considering I only just unpacked my suitcase. But that’s a problem for future Laura.

We spent the first part of our trip on the French Riviera before heading to Paris, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend nine days. October also turned out to be the perfect time to visit. While everyone back home was embracing fall, we were still enjoying summer weather along the Mediterranean. I had packed a few sweaters in anticipation of cooler temperatures, but they barely saw the light of day. No complaints here!

One of my favourite things about the Riviera was how different each town felt. Menton was just as colourful and charming as I’d imagined, and Monaco was every bit as glamorous as you’d expect. Unfortunately, my visit to Monte Carlo did not result in a Charles Leclerc sighting, which feels like a missed opportunity on his part. But there’s always next time.

As beautiful as everywhere else was, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was easily my favourite part of the entire trip.

We spent the morning walking along the coast before making our way to Paloma Beach, and I genuinely think those were some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. The water was the prettiest shade of turquoise, with rocky cliffs lining the coast and little boats floating in the distance. Every time I thought we’d reached the nicest viewpoint, we’d turn a corner and find an even better one.

Naturally, I took about a hundred photos of the same coastline from slightly different angles. My camera roll may disagree, but I think they’re all completely different photos.

When we finally reached Paloma Beach, I could have happily spent the rest of the afternoon there. If there’s one place I’d recommend visiting on the French Riviera, it’s Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. I’m already dreaming about going back, preferably with enough money to buy myself a little villa overlooking the sea. If anyone has a spare few million euros lying around, you know where to find me.

After a 5 days in the sunshine, we traded the Mediterranean for Paris.

I’d been to Paris before, but I always find myself falling in love with the city all over again. There’s something so charming about wandering through its neighbourhoods and discovering little shops along the way. Although Paris has a funny way of making me believe that everything I see is a necessary purchase. Suddenly, a €45 lip balm feels like a perfectly reasonable investment because it’s French. I’m choosing not to look at my credit card statement just yet.

This visit also came with a little unexpected excitement. Between the protests and riots happening around the city, it seemed we’d arrived just in time for the French Revolution: 2026 edition.

I came for the croissants, but apparently a little civil unrest was included in the itinerary. Vive la révolution!

Despite the commotion, we had such a lovely time in Paris. I especially loved wandering through Montmartre and revisiting some of my favourite spots. It’s a city I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of.

Looking back, I loved getting to experience two very different sides of France. Paris will always have a special place in my heart, but I think the French Riviera has officially become one of my favourite places I’ve ever travelled to.

I’m already looking forward to going back and exploring more of the coast. Until then, I’ll be scrolling through my photos of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and pretending I’m still sitting on Paloma Beach instead of preparing for another Montreal winter.

À bientôt, France!

Love, Laura