Walking the dog Wednesday

 

 

A cobbled street in Montmartre.

Throwback Thursday

 

 

The call of the sea.

 

 Above: evening and night walks in serene coastal villages

Below: sunsets and silhouettes

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Brittany / Normandy / Poitou-Charentes

 3 hours (or less) from Paris

 

 

There’s nothing quite like trading Paris' crowded boulevards for a few days of a rejuvenating seaside escapade. As autumn’s crisp embrace settles over the city, the call of the sea and windswept freedom of France's enchanting North Atlantic seashores beckon. Temperatures dip to invigorating levels. Coastlines unfold rugged cliffs kissed by frothy waves, quaint harbors glow under Golden Hour light, and beaches stretch toward the horizon.

 Unlike those once secret coastal destinations that have become overrun by post-Covid throngs emboldened by Instagram selfies, there are still retreats that remain unspoiled by the clamor of travel influencers in designer flip-flops and cheeseburger-seeking TikTokers waiting to be discovered.

There’s a special alchemy in joining locals gathering at sunset over apéros and oysters and watching the sky change from lavender to amber. These moments, steeped in laughter and the warmth of shared stories, are what pull us back again and again. - BPJ  

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Main points of arrival by train from Paris (+ car rental upon arrival) for quicker seaside village access:

 Brittany
Saint-Malo and Brest for their respective coastal regions (north-east and west)
Farther: Rennes

Normandy
Caen and Le Havre generally faster to access most seaside villages due to their proximity to the coast
Farther: Rouen

Poitou-Charentes / renamed Nouvelle-Aquitaine
La Rochelle for quick seaside village access due to its coastal proximity
Farther: Rochefort, Poitiers, Niort

 

 

Saturday sparkle

 

Lights appear as evening descends on a Montmartre nook.

 

Treeful Tuesday

 Tranquility on a Montmartre square.

Medieval Monday

 

 

An after-dinner promenade through the Marais district.

 

 Above: Rue des Rosiers, gateway to the old Jewish "Pletzl," at night

 

 

Street of roses

 

Old Rue des Rosiers, once lined with roses, dates from the days before street signs when streets were named for a landmark or function.

 

Throwback Thursday

 

 

The Olympics took over Paris last summer.

 

Above: cyclists pedal up rue Lepic, passing #54 where Vincent van Gogh once lived with his brother Theo

Walking Wednesday

 

A labyrinth of streets to explore in the 2nd arrondissement.

Night before Christmas

 

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.... - Clement Clarke Moore

 

Above: La Maison Rose - The Pink House, Montmartre

 

On a rue

 

A cobbled street in the old Jewish Quarter.

 

Parasol

An open parasol on a Paris street.

 

Intersection

Where rue de Lappe meets rue d la Roquette in the Bastille district.

 

 

Cobbled path

 A favorite back street in the Latin Quarter. Where does it lead?

Stacked

Chairs being set up on an outdoor terrace.

A touch of nature

Playful chapotelets conceived by Stéphane Cachelin are placed on already existing posts adding a touch of artful nature to Paris streets.

Street in time

 

The Basilica of Sacré-Coeur emerges like a masterpiece from a Maurice Utrillo canvas.

 

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Autumn in Montmartre

Rue du Trésor

Fellow journalists-bon vivants have an apartment on this cobbled "Street of the Treasure," so named after a cache of coins dating from the 14th and 15th centuries was discovered during its construction.

 

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Merci Monique et Stéphane

Cobbled steps

An enchanting stairway off rue des Abbesses.

Wet street

A back street in the Les Halles district.

Rue du Nil

One of the prettiest back streets in Paris over the holidays.