Some of the best of France

I took a lot of pictures on my last trip to France, so I figured that I'd share my favorites...

PARIS

Like the boulangeries, there are also Patisseries on almost every corner in Paris, with beautiful pastries.

 And this is why food can be an art...

Ever heard of Maille mustard or Cornichons? French mustard is completely different than American yellow mustard. It's more like whole grain mustard, but it is thick and grainy. My family uses it on cold pot roast the next day along withCornichons- which are french pickles. They are smaller, about the size of a pinky finger, and are kept in a unique vinegar.

La Seine runs through Paris, and "Les Bateaux Mouches" is a great and inexpensive way to sight-see- You sit on top of the boat if the weather is nice, and a recording in multiple languages points out significant sites.

 

You go under lots of pretty bridges

 

"Thomas Jefferson was here"- Alongside the Seine, he stands- Donated in memory of an individual I am unfamiliar with. 

Apparently it's frowned upon to stand up next to him and take a picture. 

Come on, though- We go to UVA- he basically belongs to us!

 

We walked through the Jardin du Luxembourg. 

This man is living the life...

 There are a lot of artists who come to paint the garden and its statues and fountains.

The lady on the left of the picture is probably thinking,

"um, excuse me- you're standing in front of the fountain i'm trying to paint- RUde"
The man on the right-

"I shouldn't have sat so far away, I can't see anything, now I have to squint. 

Those girls must be tourists, they're taking pictures of French people- hron hron hron

One of my favorite places in France: Versailles

And I don't even mean the Castle. 

They have the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen, filled with statues and marble benches.

You can rent pedal boats by the hour

 The "Orangerie" shows the incredible landscaping

BRETAGNE

My great aunt has a house in Brittany, in Cancale. It is a tiny, quiet town by the coast, but her house has a beautiful garden- which would be the perfect place for a wedding reception.

 

These are some views from the garden...

 

 Cancale is famous for its oysters-which are popular on their restaurant menus- "Les huitres"

 

At low tide you can see their perfectly square oyster beds

 Sometimes, low tide is the prettiest time...

 You can walk down on the sand and get closer to the pretty fishing boats

I love the houses, with their little splashes of bright colors and carefully-manicured landscaping. You can tell when someone has put their heart and soul into their garden. I took a picture of this house and its unique flower pot holder- you may only find things like this in France...