And the Winners Are...
It's hard to pick favorites when everything is a contender, but if I were giving awards for what I liked best, these would be the winners. Here are a few of my favorite things. Drum roll please...
BEST VIEW FROM HOTEL ROOM
I loved the view from our room in Reims, especially at night. The different colored lights made it even more magical than it was during the day. So pretty!
BEST VIEW FROM HOTEL ROOM
The view from our room was spectacular! The first thing we saw when we opened our eyes in the morning was snow-covered Mont Blanc. Truly amazing!
BEST HOTEL
All of our hotels were good, but this one was my favorite. It had that mountain chalet/ski cabin feel. The rooms had wood floors, as well as wood panels on the walls and felt very cozy. The location was excellent, right next to the mountains.
BEST WEATHER
We hit it at just the right time in mid-May. It was a little cloudy but warmer than where we had been. We were ready for it after experiencing some cool temperatures and a bit of rain where we were before this. The weather did improve as we went south.
BEST CATHEDRAL
The Notre-Dame Cathedral of Reims was beautiful! Dating back to the 13th century, it is known as the site of the coronation of most of the kings of France. Stellar expample of Gothic architecture. Very impressive inside and out.
BEST CHATEAU
Talk about a fairy tale coming to life, this was it for me. A count lives here with his family and he is the one who gave us a tour of the lower floor. It was built in the 12th century. He said it has been passed down from generation to generation in his family since then. His name is Count Raoul de Ternay.
BEST MARKET
So much to choose from on market day in Aix-En-Provence. Every vegetable you can imagine, some I had never seen before like red green beans, also fruit, fresh baked bread, oysters, shrimp, all kinds of fish, even bags of live crabs, and beautiful flowers. They had it all!
BEST MUSEUM
For me, this hospital museum was very impressive. It was built in the 1400s and was a hospital for the poor. Patients were still being treated here as recently as 1971.
BEST DINNER
This family owned restaurant was "en caveau", in a 16th century cave, underground. Each course was excellent and so was the red Burgandy wine. The boeuf bourguignon was not the usual presentation in a bowl, it was on a plate with two very tender and delicious round pieces of beef smothered in gravy with carrots and onions and accompanied by mashed potatoes. Exquisite!
BEST LUNCH
I had been seeing this on menus but wasn't sure exactly what it was. So glad I tried it! It is like a pizza but with paper thin crust and crème Fraîche instead of pizza sauce. Throw on some mushrooms and voilá. Trés bon!
BEST DESSERT
Divine is the word I used after I ate this. How can you go wrong with chocolate ice cream, whipped cream and hazelnut crumble? I did not have a bad dessert on this trip and it was hard to choose which one I liked best. But in the end, this one won me over.
BEST GELATO
Gelato shops are everywhere it seems in France. It was our last day in Aix-En-Provence and we did a lot of walking trying to make sure we didn't miss anything. A cold treat was the perfect way to end the afternoon. And this place shapes the gelato into a flower! Who could resist? I also discovered Stracciatella is my new favorite flavor!
BEST COFFEE
Ordering coffee in France is much different than ordering it in the U.S. I had tried and failed many times to get it exactly how I liked it, which is a little coffee, a lot of milk and slightly sweet. This one hit the mark. Macchiato with vanilla!
BEST NOSTALGIA
Betty's Resto is a diner that pulled us in like a magnet. It was very retro American and the owner, Betty was warm and friendly. The walls were covered with vintage tin signs, among them Rosie the Riveter, Betty Boop, old Mustangs, Harleys, license plates and a Tombstone poster. Betty fixed us a giant breakfast as we listened to Elvis singing "Crying in the Chapel" and other classic oldies. Great send off as we headed out of town.
BEST ROMANTIC SETTING
While I wasn't here as part of a couple, I would definitely consider coming back for a romantic getaway. We spent part of one afternoon in Seguret and I was with my travel friend and our group, not with a spouse or partner, but I could see how it could be very special for a couple It was the sweetest little medieval village up on a hill, surrounded by vineyards and ruins. Intimate galleries and restaurants dotted the old cobblestone streets. Beautiful!
