Everything I Learned After 2 Weeks Traveling Around France

Claudia shares her 5 biggest takeaways after visiting Paris, Bordeaux, and a handful of quaint little French villages.

I just got back from spending 2 magical weeks in France. So magical in fact that I am struggling to grasp the fact that they really happened. My best friend, Isabel, and I spent half of the trip exploring Bordeaux, Cap Ferret, and a handful of tiny little villages along the Dordogne River. And then the other half in Paris. The entire trip went off without a hitch. We stumbled upon the most incredible restaurants and shops. We made new friends in the most serendipitous of ways. The weather was perfect. I didn’t get sick. My tummy never hurt. Every meal was perfect. It was just everything you could wish for in a trip.

Now, I’m back in Brooklyn settling into my normal, everyday routine again. And as I unpack my suitcase full of souvenirs, I find myself reflecting on the past few weeks, as one does when they return from a vacation. Because it’s hard to really soak in a moment and take it all in while you’re there, at least for me that is. That part usually comes to me once I’m home, going through my camera roll and my little pouch full of ticket stubs, receipts, and memorabilia.

Since returning from my trip, here are my 5 biggest takeaways/realizations/observations/learnings from traveling in France, a country that has inspired me endlessly for as long as I can remember.

The French Take Lunch Seriously

The French value quality time more than anyone. And their favorite way to spend quality time is over a long ass lunch. I went out for a formal, sit-down lunch twice while in Paris and both times, it was the most indulgent experience I had. If you go to the right restaurant (Chez Georges & Le Petite Chaise) at 12PM, it will be packed with chic women, french businessmen, and elegant families enjoying lunch at a leisurely pace.

Post-lunch views at Le Petite Chaise

They start with wine, radishes, butter, and baguette. Then they move on to appetizers before their main courses, which is often a filet of fish or a filet of beef. Then it is time for dessert and coffee. And never, not once, do these people pull out their phone to check the time or check their Instagram notifications. It was such a beautiful lesson, and one I wish Americans would practice more.

The Best Places Will Be the Ones You Find on Accident

Not on TikTok. Not online. They’re going to be the places you stumble upon by sheer luck. And I’m not saying you should go to France with zero places saved on your Google Maps or zero itinerary at all... What I’m saying is leave room for wandering and for discovering.

My dream store in Citadelle de Blaye

My favorite store of the entire trip was one we serendipitously found that isn’t even on Google Maps. Our favorite restaurant was one Isabel passed by on her way to meet me at a museum. And my favorite cafe was the one across the street from my hotel.

French Skincare is Just as Good as They Say it is

While in Paris, I went to Citypharma and loaded up on 2 things: Ialuset cream and A313 cream. Both are tucked away behind the counter, so you have to ask the pharmacist to grab them for you. I’ve been using both for a week and have already noticed a difference in my skin.

I think what sets French skincare above American skincare is the fact that it is zero bullshit. There are no gimmicks or trends or obnoxious packaging. It’s all about minimalism, effectiveness, and quality over quantity.

The Quality of Food is Incredible—& Incredibly Cheap

While in Paris, it’s essential to have a picnic along the Seine or in one of their many gorgeous parks. You pop into a grocery store and you pick up prosciutto, cheese, olives, melon, cherries, baguette, butter, wine. And guess what? It’s going to be 20€. Maybe 30€ if you go crazy. Do you know how much that would cost in the states? $100. And it wouldn’t even taste that good because our food is filled with chemicals.

Park picnic in the Merais

In France, anyone, no matter their income or status, has access to fresh produce and fresh food at an affordable price. A baguette is 1€. A croissant is 1.50€. A tub of cherries is 4€. It was difficult to grasp and also so infuriating. I never had a tummy ache. I never felt sick from the food. I never felt hungover from the wine. If only the states could adopt these practices…

All Hope is Not Lost

I think being in America lately has left me a bit hopeless for the future. And I am sure living in a big expensive city has something to do with this. Everything is expensive. Nobody talks to each other anymore. Everyone just stares at their phone. People don’t respect Mother Nature. Or the people around them for that matter. There is a mental health crisis. The city is dirty. Etc etc etc.

3 girlies on our cruise reading together

But then you get to Europe, and it’s almost like a sigh of relief. A breath of fresh air. The public parks have clean bathrooms and little swimming pools for babies to splash in. Families are out to dinner together. Moms and their grown daughters hold hands. Trains run on time. Pre-cut melon at the grocery store doesn’t taste like bleach. A glass of wine is 5€ and doesn’t have sulfites. Nobody is in a hurry. They make eye contact. Men smile at you, but not in a creepy cat-cally way. Being in France just reminded me that a sweet world where people value the environment and human connection is still out there <3

That’s all for now. I hope this post encourages you to adapt a few French practices in your daily routine. Or even better, I hope it inspires you to take a trip to France and hire The Martini Service to help plan.

xo,

Claudia