Forêt Domaniale de l'Estérel

I found the most amazing hiking spot down the coast from Mandelieu at Forêt Domaniale de l'Estérel. This picturesque place is a treasure trove of natural beauty. There's a small island just off the main shore that has an ornate little castle on it. The beach is rocky, but the stones are big enough to make sitting on them comfortable. The mountain is high but the hike is not too steep, making it an enjoyable trek. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore in this place, perfect for anyone looking for a little hiking aventure.

Sunset on the peaks of the mountain overlooking the sea is the most stunning site I've found in France. It's a perfect place for a romantic picnic or fun with friends. Although it's farther down the coast from the bustling center cities of Nice, Monaco and Cannes; for me it is a must see.

Joyeux Noel!

Celebrating Christmas in France was a wonderfully delicious experience. Their traditions are pretty much the same as in the States; Christmas tree, nativity scenes, presents, family, and lots of food and drinks. But their cuisine is second to none and that's what makes their celebrations distinctly different.

We had a four course meal on Christmas Eve and another on Christmas day. Each time we started with whiskey drinks and an amazing aray of appetizers that were out of this world. I've now had foie gras two different ways. The second course consisted of sea-food; oyesters, shrimp and salmon. Then there's the elaborate main course, paired with red wine of course. The deserts are inevitably addictive. We had a type of crème brûlée, ice cream cake, chocolates and a yummy treat I've never seen before; nuts on an almond paste. Of course all paired with champagne. My mouth waters just thinking about it all. I felt like I should owe a hefty restaurant bill, I've never had such amazing home cooked food in my life! We were too full from dinner to make it to any midnight mass, so we enjoyed more desert and champagne by the fireplace instead. I could get used to Christmas in France. Bonne fête à tous!

French Faves and Fun Facts

I love absorbing little things about the French culture, and there are many. Here are some of my faves!

- No school on Wednesdays! Mothers don't work on Wednesdays so they can stay home with their kids.
- McDonald's France serves beer. I also love the Deluxe Potato option not available in the US.
- Vintage clothing store Free P Star has two awesome locations in Paris and you can find hip threads for as little as 1 euro. So many good finds, so little suitcase space...
- Gothic art and architecture was born in France and wonderful examples can be seen everywhere.
- Many English phrases originated from French. Now I finally know what à propos means!
(other examples: Déjà vu, RSVP=Répondez s'il vous plaît, Laissez-faire, and numerous cinematic terms of course: Film noir, Femme fatale, Avant garde, Cinéma vérité)
- There are over 1,000 different kinds of French cheese. Cheese for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks! Obviously goes great with the large wine selection.
- Chocolate is also a big thing for breakfast. Can't argue with that~
- Even as an American, you can go to the hospital and they won't charge you. The health care system is pretty sweet here, but citizens pay for it with taxes.
- A lot more French people speak more English than you'd think. If you try to speak a little French, they try to speak English. It's actually pretty adorable.
- The infamous French attitude is a mask to hide their sensitivity. This is from the mouth of a french girl, not me. But I find it to be true. At first it can be a turn off, but it's what I think the world loves about the French. It's that hidden vulnerability that makes them so irresistible.
- Of course their style is second to none. Even kids are trendy here. They generally have great taste.
- They love American culture as much as we love theirs. There are tons of American TV shows on, but they are all dubbed in French. My favorite is the Simpsons. 
- Many people think French people stink. Completely not true. The majority of perfumes are made here and they do use it. 

Not everything is so great here. Just to be fair, here are some things I don't like about France.
- The movie theaters are so small. And generally don't sell popcorn.
- Most stores close really early, especially on Sunday.
- The French postal system scares me. Too many strikes and not enough reliability.
-The customer is NOT always right. It can be hard to find good service and they don't want your tip. Okay, I'm on the fence about this one. It's their sensitive brooding side, remember? And I don't have to tip? That's a relief!

There are clearly more good things about France than bad, that's why it's the number one tourist destination. And there are hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants here too. Don't look at me, I got a visa!

Mandelieu La Napoule

I've been living in Mandelieu, a little town just south of Cannes on the French Riviera. I've been enjoying the peace and quiet that the town brings. Almost everyday I take a walk down a cute little path near my apartment that leads to the Mediterranean Sea. Although it's winter, the sun still shines and I love exploring the nature in my own backyard.

I love the birds that populate this path. They sing to each other and seem to dance in the wind.

Mandelieu is one of my favorite beaches because it is much less crowded than the rest of the coast. It's a sandy beach which is nice because many French beaches have rocks instead of soft sand. The water is so blue and inviting. This time of year it's great for quiet contemplation, there's not many people around except for some fisherman.

Mandelieu La Napoule is less popular than some of the other towns on the coast, but maybe that's what I like about it. It's untouched, still pure. Still clean and full of boundless nature~

Exploring the Côte d'Azur

Although I've been to the French Riveria many times and have now lived here for many months, I continue to find new places to explore. With endless towns to visit, I wonder if I'll ever see everything!

I started the day at Saint Jean Cap Ferrat, a little known place that is almost an island but just barely connects to the mainland. Watching the waves crash and roll onto the beautiful shore, I spied a lone fisherman with a friendly disposition. There is a narrow path that goes around the entire town and as I followed it, I found that each step made me more and more relaxed.

Before heading to the next town, I visited a little church on top of the hill. Although the church was nothing to see, there was an amazing sculpture that was taller than the building itself.

The next stop was Eze, a quant village that sparked my imagination of the years past. This town is built into a hilltop and I immediately fell in love with the cobblestone everywhere. The town has a very artsy and elegant vibe with unique caves of art, sweet cafes and amazing resorts like none other.

 This town was popular among some great people such as the Swiss royal family and Neitzsche himself. There is a street named after Neitzsche that is incredibly romantic in every sense of the word. He is said to have walked that way often, deep in thought.

As the sun was setting, there was an impromtu stop at Fort Boron. This place has an amazing energy, probably from all the people that gave their life protecting this amazing coast. I longed to go inside, but it appears that it is never open to the public. The outside is worth a look anyway.

What a wonderful day of exploring indeed~