Monday, June 10, 2024

France 2024

One of my unrealized bucket list trips has been to attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco. I began planning this in January 2023 using Grand Prix Grand Tours.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, our family had exchange students from France, sister (Nathalie) and brother (Vincent). Over the decades, we've kept in close touch with them and their parents. We have visited back and forth several times including an elopement in Las Vegas!

Another bucket list trip was to visit the Normandy beaches and the nearby Mont Saint Michel.

And while we are in France, why not visit Paris?

As typical, we traveled with our daughter and her family so this was the granddaughters first visit to France (and Italy!).

We visited 3 regions of France: Monaco, Paris, and Normandy.

The Monaco segment focused on attending the Monaco Grand Prix. Those not interested in the race visited Menton and Nice with Nathalie and family.



We had an extended family dinner at Nathalie's house one night.


After the weekend, we rented a car and visited the medieval village of Eze and the seaside at Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.



We took a flight north to Paris and met Vincent and his partner Sandrine. The granddaughters got to experience the City of Lights and we got to enjoy the cuisine. Paris was preparing for the Olympics so many streets were blocked.



After three days, Vincent and Sandrine returned to Bassin d'Arcachon, the Toohigs flew to Barcelona, and we rented a car and drove to Normandy.

In Normandy, we stayed in Bayeux. We spent one day on the American beaches, Utah and Omaha. The next day, we drove to Mont Saint Michel and climbed the abbey.



Finally, we drove back to Paris and returned home.

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