Monaco City, Monaco

Stopping in Monaco was a last minute decision when we were in Nice. Markus wanted to visit the Musée Océanographique. So I obviously agreed to a day trip to Monaco, which is only a 32 minute train ride away. The ease of travel makes it the perfect day trip and almost criminal if you spend more than four days in Nice. Many people don't know that Monaco is actually a separate country and only slightly bigger than Vatican City. 

Unfortunately or rather fortunately, it was an overcast and rainy day when we visited. So I didn't feel too bad missing out on a beach day. Since I grew up in Florida, I'm not easily impressed by coastal or beach cities, but let's be real, Monaco is not Florida. Obviously the country is a stunner. I loved the pink and coral hues of the buildings as well the beautiful architecture. We only had enough time to hike up to Monaco City before we headed to the museum. The trek from the train station was a bit arduous in sandals, but it was worth it for the views of the city and the water! I wish that we had just a tad bit more time in Monaco, but I'm grateful we still made the trip. 

Château Lamothe du Prince Noir | Saint-Sulpice-et-Cameyrac, France | Part One

Previously, I posted about our stay at Château de Boucéel in Normandy and we were lucky enough to stay at another château in the Bordeaux region of France. While I was looking for places to stay in Bordeaux, I came across Château Lamothe du Prince Noir. I remember showing it to Markus and us both saying, it looked amazing, but maybe a little out of our league. So I kept searching for another place to stay. No matter how many acceptable and nice places I found, I kept going back to Château Lamothe du Prince Noir. So, in the end, that's where we ended up spending three magical nights during our time in France. 

I'm so glad that we decided to stay at Château Lamothe du Prince Noir. It was very different from Château de Boucéel, but it was just as lovely. The property is owned and run by Carla, a lovely woman from England. When we stayed there, her daughter and her family were helping for the summer and they both had amazing recommendations for restaurants and hot spots in the area. One of my favorite things about the property was the pool. On one of our days in the city, we left a little early because we just wanted to spend a few hours by the pool. It was definitely an idyllic afternoon. Later, I'll be sharing a bit more about the château, including our room which really was fit for royalty. 

Saint-Émilion, France | Part One

As previously stated in my previous post, Markus and I decided to stop in Bordeaux to explore a bit of wine country.  I booked a half day tour with Bordivino tours where we stopped at two wineries and the beautiful Saint-Émilion.  One of the main reasons I booked this tour was because of our stop in the little commune.  I saw a few pictures and instantly fell in love.  It looked exactly like the little village from Beauty and the Beast.

Saint-Émilion is well known as a UNESCO heritage site as well as being one of the regions that produces wine. The area dates back as far as prehistoric times. Despite being an area steeped in history and popular with the tourists, it still manages to retain its charm. I loved walking along the cobblestone streets and exploring the cathedrals and ruins. It never once felt like a tourist trap and I regretted that we weren't able to spend more than a few hours there. I had few regrets on this trip, but this was definitley one of them. 

Wine Tour at Château Soutard and Chateau Cote De Baleau | Saint-Émilion, France

The Bordeaux region of France is very well-known for being wine country. Since Markus and I drink wine every Wednesday for Wine Down Wednesday, we decided to add the area to our road trip. To be honest, I don't know much about the specifics of wine. Whenever I see people tasting wine and picking out certain flavor profiles, I always wonder if we're drinking from the same bottle. I can just tell if it's sweet or dry and most importantly, if I like or not. So this is why I also decided to book a half-day wine tour with Bordovino.  

To be completely honest, I'm not a huge fan of guided tours. I loathe being shuffled around on someone else's schedule. I did a lot of research to make sure that I chose the perfect tour company, because there were heaps. I'm happy to report that I really enjoyed Bordovino. Our tour guide, Soline, was really knowledgeable and very friendly. She took us to the wineries of Château Soutard and Chateau Cote De Baleau. Château Soutard is run like a very tight ship and has a bit of a corporate feel, which isn't a bad thing, but it definitely felt more produced. We did a mini wine class, where I still didn't learn much, but it was informative. Chateau Cote De Baleau was a bit more rustic and down to earth. It's a smaller winery but I liked that it was a little less polished. The wines we tasted were really nice and I ended up buying both bottles. Just waiting for the right time to open them. After a few hours at a winery, I still don't know how to pick out every flavor profile that I'm tasting. It's okay though, I'll still drink it every Wednesday. 

Château de Boucéel | Normandy, France

One of the main things I wanted to do in France was stay in a château. Like most little girls who grew up in the 90s, I watched Beauty and the Beast and dreamed of visiting a place like Beast's castle. Thankfully, I have an amazing husband who helps me fulfill all my childhood wishes. On our road trip through France, we were able to stay at two châteaus. Both were quite different in many ways. The first was Château de Boucéel in Normandy and I have to be honest, it was my favorite of the two. Previously, I posted the exterior of the château, where we took last year's Christmas card photo.  

I loved EVERYTHING about Château de Boucéel. It's been in the same family since 1763 and is lovingly run by Comte Regis de Roquefeuil, who is a delight, and his family. Comte Regis actually lived in 60s era Chicago, and it was great hearing his stories from his time in the U.S. He is very charming and I may have formed a teensy lil' crush on him. The property itself is so beautiful and true to it's roots. All the decor is intentionally placed and displayed as an homage to the history of the château. There are modern conveniences, like the beautiful pool, but they're not over the top. Our room didn't have a TV, which was great because it encouraged us to explore the grounds and nearby area. I enjoyed every minute we spent here and it would be one of the few places that I would return for a second stay. It was that amazing and truly an incredibly unforgettable experience.