France is a visual feast for the eyes. That may be one of the reasons I truly love the place. I don’t often travel long distance alone, but this year I had a special opportunity. My dear friend who I hadn’t seen in 6 years was planning her special 50th birthday celebration. She was throwing a weekend “fete” that she encouraged me to attend. I was going to be the only American, but she insisted it would not be a problem. I would have an amazing time. Hard to pass up!
The day I arrived my friend had to finish up a few things at the office so I took the opportunity to wander around Paris. I ate a savory crepe, I went to a cafe for an espresso, I people watched, I literally smelled the roses at this fragrant flower shop, and I finished off the afternoon at this beautifully embellished restaurant with outdoor seating. I drank an Aperol spritz and watched the French people do their thing. It felt novel to be alone and in such a far away place.
One thing you should all know about me is I’m a gelato fanatic. Dairy and I don’t get along so fruit based gelato is my jam. These lovely artisans in Bordeaux make your scoop resemble flower petals – of course they do. Beauty in every bite! After sipping champagne to toast our adventure (in the train station!) they had a macaroon kiosk on the platform. My youngest Isla loves macaroons so they made a beautiful gift box for both of my girls as we headed on to Bordeaux.
Alexandra is an adventurer. She’s the friend that is always challenging me to do things I would normally never do. This is a friend who talked me into hiking across the Sahara desert. So her birthday weekend was going to be anything but sedentary. We biked, we boated, we swam, we kayaked. She took us all around Bordeaux and I was deliciously tuckered out.
Does everyone remember the movie “Chocolat?” This beautiful shop was calling my name and the thoughtful combinations of aromatics with chocolate was totally divine.
Open air markets in France are a must do. The French love to shop daily for fresh food and flowers. We bought the most gorgeous tiny strawberries and other fruit to snack on during our kayak adventure.
Boating along the coast of Bordeaux was so fun. The Bay of Biscay waters were beautiful. We cruised along the coastline and spied some of the famous villas owned by the French film stars and business magnets. The sandy beaches and quaint villages draw the Parisians from the city to this coast.
Back at the maison, a local sommelier came to do a wine tasting that evening under the stars. It was a beautiful way to learn more about wine from the Bordeaux region. We ended the night dancing to French pop and rock music from the 80’s and 90’s spliced with some American classics. And the next morning one of the women who is a certified yoga teacher lead us in an open air workout.
The theme for the weekend was cowgirl chic. This totally cracked me up as someone who was raised in Texas. The amazing take away from the weekend was how welcoming and kind the French women were. Most of these women had known each other since college but it was only the second time we had met. The first time had been almost 20 years ago at Alexandra’s wedding in Florence. They took me under their wing and I truly enjoyed myself. Alexandra was so touched that everyone met up to celebrate her. We were a very happy group and the weekend was an incredibly memorable way to commemorate her 50th year. This Valentine’s Day I am thankful for all the love and friendship in my life, and I wish you all a year ahead full of love.
