France is a country with which nearly any traveler has a friendship. Often dreams of the pleasures of living are shown by the endless cafés, picturesque villages, and world-famous gastronomy.
Some come to follow the direction of the great French thinkers, authors, and musicians, or to immerse themselves in the beautiful language of the world. Others are also attracted to the country’s geological diversity, with its long coastlines, vast mountain ranges, and spectacular views of the countryside.
Besides my home country, Romania, France is probably the second on the list of places I visited the most, especially after I relocated to the Var.
France isn’t cheap, especially when compared to Romania and other countries from Eastern Europe or the Balkans. But it has a lot to offer beyond the major cities. If you go out into the countryside or to smaller towns close to popular travel destinations, you’ll see that it’s possible to discover France even while on a budget.
Speaking of the popular travel destinations in France, the major ones, in alphabetical order, are Lyon, Marseille, Nice, and Paris (the capital).
The allure of the French Riviera is undeniable, and there’s no better way to visit Cannes than by embracing the gentle waves and the azure expanse of the Mediterranean. Our journey began at the picturesque Santa Lucia Marina in Saint-Raphaël, a hidden gem that’s often overshadowed by its more glamorous neighbors. As we set sail, the promise of adventure and the thrill of the unknown beckoned us forward. The Corniche d’Or unfurled before us like a golden ribbon, its beauty unparalleled and often whispered about in hushed tones among seasoned sailors. This stretch, which lies between Saint-Raphaël and Cannes, is …
The world had been still for so long. The once bustling Santa Lucia Marina lay silent, boats tethered to their moorings, waiting for the winds of change. But as the calendar flipped to June 1, International Children’s Day, a sense of childlike wonder and anticipation bubbled within us. The lockdown had been a cage, but the open sea? That was freedom! With the sun casting golden hues across the marina, we felt the day’s significance not just as a global celebration for children, but as a rebirth of our own adventurous spirits. The sails, which had been dormant for what …
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the tranquil waters of the Mediterranean, we sat aboard our beloved sailboat, Puzzle, anchored in the serene harbor of Santa Lucia. The gentle lapping of the waves against the hull was a soothing melody, a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions we were experiencing. The date was March 16th, 2020, a day that would forever be etched in our memories. It was the day before the unexpected lockdown in France, a day that marked the end of our freedom to sail and the beginning of an unprecedented …
Picture the salty sea air filling your lungs, the gentle sway of a ship beneath your feet, and the endless expanse of the Mediterranean Sea stretching out before you. This was the exhilarating scene as we embarked on our maiden voyage aboard our beloved sailing ship, Puzzle. A maiden voyage, for those unfamiliar with the term, is a ship’s very first adventure on open waters. It’s a significant event, a baptism of sorts, marking the transition from a vessel being merely a vessel to becoming a seasoned sea traveler. For us, this maiden trip was more than just a nautical …
The salty scent of the sea, the gentle lapping of waves against the hull, the promise of uncharted waters, and the allure of distant shores – these are the dreams that led us to our decision. We were going to sail the Mediterranean, and we were going to do it on a budget. The Mediterranean, with its azure waters and sun-drenched coastlines, was a siren call for us. But we knew that such a journey required more than just dreams and desires. It required careful planning of the boat inventory and sailing route, a frugal mindset, and a willingness to …
