Beds and Breakfasts

Posted by Scott, Contributing Style Editor

One of the perks of a French boyfriend is having a talking French-English dictionary with you when traveling through his native country. On a recent month long trip to France, my boyfriend, Christophe, and I zigzagged all over the country. We started up north in Lille, where Christophe is from. That's where I saw this amazing cow -- a true cover girl! Could the setting be any more perfect?

La vache qui ne rit jamais

Then we went south for a week, bon vivant-ing our way through the Côte d'Azur. We stopped in Roquefort les Pins, a tiny village located in the foothills of Nice, where an unspoiled beach was less than a half hour away. We laid our heads at Mas Shabanou, a quaint bed-and-breakfast owned by a Dutch couple.

Like van Gogh and Cézanne before me, I was inspired by the beauty of Provence, where we were for a week. In Saint-Rémy de Provence, we stayed at Mas Shamrock, another quaint B and B, this one owned by an Irish couple. 

Here is my bed ...

... and this is where we ate breakfast. 

Lavender, roses, and olive trees grew in the yard and neighboring fields. I continue to ask myself why my life isn't like this every day.

We dropped in at Versailles (which I called 'Versillies') on our way to Paris. It was practically deserted the day we went, which made the visit even more surreal. It's hard to imagine that this vast palace was once an actual home; it's so magnificent, well-groomed, and magical!

Versailles to myself

Vélib, Paris's recently instituted free bike-rental program, was by far the most amazing part of my trip to France. You can't ask for a better way to explore and discover Paris than on a bike. You can pick one up and drop one off every few blocks, just by putting down a 1 euro deposit. I can't say enough about this system: We need it in New York!

The Vélibs even come with baskets!

So many Vélibs!

Everyone looks better on a bicycle

 

Comments

[ali]

Now THIS sounds dreamy. Good for you!

[melissa]

check out this weeks new york magazine - there is an interview with the gentleman that created the free bike system in Europe - he's meeting with New York officials this week!

[Courtney Baker]

Oh I just love the rooms at the Mas Shamrock, such lovely, simple decor! And I share your feelings for that gorgeous cow :) She is quite the cover girl!

[kathleen]

a month an entire month!! my gosh!! How long do you have to be employed with MSO before your vacation benefits accrue to fours weeks? To afford such a fantastic holiday it certainly can't be LWOP (leave without pay) sorry for all the personal questions I do suppose they are rhetorical but most average janes could only dream of such a trip as a once in a lifetime event. One has to ponder the logistics but you make it sound as if it is going to get the morning paper. Free Bike rental my community tried that had bright yellow bikes available for a week only a week you say well GUESS WHAT people STOLE them and re painted them yeah we are SOOO community minded in this town the City Fathers are--- those that throw the tax payers money around and then I guess if you need a bike so bad have it -- But there are Far to many people that have SO few HONEST bones in their body I suppose France being a bit more HOMOGENIOUS as in homoginized milk where the fat particules are equally distributed in the container of milk not bobby likes billy any way they can be closed minded in that the French are wonderful and we uncivilized folk eat corn on the cob this is so gouche they feed corn only to Elsie and Elmer the cow