France

Paris in Three, Provence in Three

France is the country where any honest post has to start with 'I know, I know.' Paris in three days is a cliché. I did it anyway. The unexpected bit was Provence — quiet, lavender-coloured, slower than Paris by a factor of ten. The route below is what I'd recommend to make the trip feel less greatest-hits-y.

Route, day by day

Day 1 — Paris, Marais. Land, settle in the Marais. Walk the neighbourhood: Place des Vosges, the Jewish quarter, falafel at l'As du Fallafel. Sunset on the Île Saint-Louis.

Day 2 — Paris museums. Louvre at opening, two hours, leave. Lunch in the Tuileries. Musée d'Orsay in the afternoon. Late evening at Sacré-Cœur.

Day 3 — Paris, slower. Latin Quarter walk, Luxembourg Gardens, Shakespeare and Company, a long lunch. Eiffel Tower from Trocadéro at sunset (you don't need to go up).

Day 4 — Paris → Avignon. TGV south (3 hours). Avignon is small, walled, beautiful. The Palais des Papes is bigger than its photos suggest.

Days 5–6 — Provence. Day trip to the Pont du Gard, Les Baux-de-Provence, and a lavender field if it's June–August. End in Aix-en-Provence for a final dinner.

Practical notes

• Métro is your friend in Paris; carnet of 10 tickets is more economical than singles.
• TGV bookings: book Paris → Avignon at least 2 weeks ahead. Prices double on the day.
• Restaurant timing: kitchens close 14:00–19:00. Plan or you'll be eating crêpes.
• The Louvre is not skippable; the Mona Lisa room is.
• Provence rentals: car is better than train for the smaller hill villages.

What I'd write more about

• Why Aix-en-Provence is the right Provence base.
• A piece on the French refusal to be hurried.
• Paris museum strategy for people who don't actually like museums.

Note: Working draft based on memory and a route I'd recommend. I'll expand each day with photos, specific places, and longer reflections as I revisit my notes.