Here are geotracking maps of where we went in France. Although they seem fairly coarse, zoom way in and you can see tremendous details.
I used my iPhone 14 Pro and myTracks app without any in-app purchases.
In myTracks, I set the Time Interval to 60 seconds. Then each morning before we would leave the hotel, I would "Start short time recording" for 16-20 hours. This would cause it to automatically stop recording and create a daily track file. I never had trouble with battery life but I would check it around dinner.
When we returned, I exported each track to e-mail that I then sent to myself. From that e-mail, I saved the resulting .gpx files to my PC.
I used Google My Maps to create a new map. I imported each .gpx file to a new layer and tailored it setting labels and colors.
There is a limit of how many layers you can add to a map so I created a separate map for each segment of our travel.
Once I had added all the tracks to a map, I marked it for sharing so that anyone with the link could view.
I also found a technique to extract the GPS track data from a Google Maps Timeline. Leave me a comment if you want that technique.
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.
Delta had recently added a non-stop from Atlanta to Nice so that really simplified our travel.
Grand Prix Grand Tours arranged for BLADE helicopters to fly us from Nice to the Monaco heliport. This was the girls' first helicopter flight! They had to put some of our luggage on a second helicopter.
We stayed at the Fairmont Monte Carlo which was actually INSIDE the race track and overlooking the iconic Fairmont Hairpin. As a result, we couldn't be dropped off at the Fairmont, The Fairmont had a reception area outside the track.
They collected our bags there and walked us over the track to the actual hotel.
To get access to the hotel, we had to wear badges all weekend.
Grand Prix Grand Tours had facilitated getting us grandstand tickets at Casino Square. We watched Free Practice 2 from there. Afterwards, we discovered that Nikki Beach on the 7th floor of the Fairmont had a balcony that was available to guests that overlooked the hairpin. We watched most of the rest of the race activity from there taking advantage of the shade and drinks and snacks.
We stumbled upon the Formula 3 cars while trying to cross the street while shopping! Only in Monaco!
While several of us focused on the action on the track, Nathalie and her family entertained the rest of us with excursions to Menton and Nice. She even included Italy just to check off an additional country for the girls!
Saturday evening, we relaxed and dined at Nathalie's house with a gourmet meal prepared by her husband, Bruno. Her mother Francoise also attended.
The race was on Sunday. Again, we watched from Nikki Beach at the Fairmont.
After the race on Sunday, the plan was to meet at Bella Vita near the Formia 1 paddocks.
There was quite a line for a table.
It turned out that due to the street closures, half of us couldn't make it there. In the end, we gathered at Trinity Bar in Monte Carlo.
Back at the Fairmont, we ran into some Rebels on a graduation trip. We helped them get into Nikki Bar much to the chagrin of their parents.
Monaco was quieter on Monday so we rented a car and drove to Eze. We had visited Eze years ago and couldn't wait to return. Eze is a medieval village carved into the side of a mountain overlooking the Cote d'Azur. What more could you ask?
After wandering around for a while looking for a parking lot, we found Fragonard, a perfumery at the foot of the village. They had a convenient parking place and we made purchases.
Near the toilets was a fountain with perfumed bubbles.
Eze is just a maze of beautifully flowered alleys and steps.
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.
