Rewinding last year’s vacation in France while Alex and I are doing our own “Tour de France.”
This trip feels completely different, starting with the timing—our last visit was much shorter than this one. We had 10 days off, but due to visa processing delays, we lost two days. Trust me, those two days made a difference!
2024 was my first time ever visiting France as a tourist—and Europe in general! Yes, you might think I travel a lot, but it’s always for work. As I always say, traveling for work is a whole different experience. When you’re working on a plane, you land, and within 24 hours (if you’re lucky, maybe 30+), you have to squeeze in whatever you can. Whether or not you plan ahead, those first 30–60 minutes after landing are crucial—to shower, sit your a** down, and take a breath after working 5+ hours in the air.
A Quick Fact Check:
Working the same number of hours on the ground and in the air has a completely different effect on the body. Working on an airplane, especially during long flights, comes with additional physical and mental stress due to several factors:
1. Lower Oxygen Levels – Cabin pressure at cruising altitude is lower than at sea level, reducing oxygen levels in the blood, which can cause fatigue and decreased cognitive function.
2. Dehydration – Airplane cabins have low humidity, leading to faster dehydration, which results in tiredness and headaches.
3. Noise and Vibrations – Constant engine noise and cabin vibrations contribute to fatigue over time.
4. Disrupted Sleep Patterns – Time zone changes, artificial lighting, and irregular sleep schedules throw off circadian rhythms, making recovery harder.
5. Limited Movement – Sitting in a confined space for long hours affects circulation and increases discomfort.
Because of these factors, working in the air is generally more exhausting than working the same hours on the ground.
End of fact—back to the trip!
The main goal of our first visit was to meet as many of Alex’s family members as possible so I could get to know his big family better. Since they live in different cities—basically on opposite sides of the country, with some in the north and others in the south—I was lucky to see so many places in between. For example, we explored Colmar, Riquewihr, and Strasbourg in the north, and Avignon, Gordes, and La Grande-Motte in the south. And many others.
Below, you can find series of photos collected from different regions that we've visited.
Consider this: France is massive compared to Lebanon, where you can drive from north to south in only 3.5 to 4 hours!
Moreover, the wedding family dinner, visiting Alex's school, and the places where he spent his teenage years made this short trip especially memorable and dear to me.
This time, though, our trip was more about touring and sightseeing in France—without, of course, forgetting family! Unlike our summer visit, where we stopped at random places along the way, this trip was planned in advance. That said, we still made last-minute changes for places we wanted to see or adjusted our schedule. And sometimes, the places had plans for us too—like Château de Chambord, which was closed the day we visited. Just like that, a 1.5-hour drive went down the drain!
Our route was circular, covering much of France’s borders rather than just going straight north and south. We started in Annecy on the day of arrival as we landed in Geneva as we made our way to Lyon, then headed to Nancy, got a history touch in Verdun, and passed through Eschbourg and Strasbourg. Two days later, we stopped in Reims and Paris, then slept in Caen and Avranches before making our way to Versailles. The original route was switching Versailles and Normandie as the ideal was to do Versailles first but we had a change of plan.
We stayed in Versailles for two nights, taking a day trip to Chambord (where the castle that disappointed us was supposed to be). Then, we continued to Cognac—where, of course, we bought some cognac. Afterward, we spent the night in Arcachon, where we saw one of the most breathtaking sunsets on its beautiful beach.
Why disappointed, you might ask? Because we did an hour something road and almost ran out of gas to find out, on site, that the castle was closed for the day!
The next morning was uncertain, as the weather was unpredictable, but we decided to go to Dune du Pilat anyway. Even though it was rainy and windy, we made it! The sand felt like tiny blades cutting into my skin—something I had never experienced before. But what really mattered was reaching the top.
After that, we drove to Bordeaux, where we had planned to explore and have lunch—but it was raining, so we ended up seeing the city from the car window. Our final stop for the day was Toulouse, which was the perfect halfway point for resting before heading further south.
We spent two nights in Montpellier, enjoying a wonderful time with the grandparents and cousins. Alex suggested we go ice skating, and I was all for it! It was my second time on the ice, the first being in Central Park, NYC, during the winter of 2023-24. Midway through the skating, Alex came up with another idea: to watch the sunset at Palavas-les-Flots, a beautiful spot where we had an afternoon dessert. The following day, we set off early for Le Puy-en-Velay, which unexpectedly took us across one of the most stunning and captivating bridges: the Viaduc De Millau, after which we filled our tummies in Aumont-Aubrac.
Let me share a documentary with you. Click the link below to go to YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYzdwJGJEvw
Traveling around certainly brought fatigue, especially for Alex, who drove us everywhere. It was time to conclude the tour, but not the vacation, as time with family and friends continued.
Starting date: 12 March
Ending date: 29 March
To be update with more photos of this year's tour.
