A Lap Through France: Cities, Beaches, Mountains, and a Wedding

A Lap Through France: Cities, Beaches, Mountains, and a Wedding

This August, I had the opportunity to travel back to France to see family, and friends, explore a few new parts of Paris, and attend a friend’s wedding. We started off in Paris, where my brother lives. Paris is a great city, and especially since family lives there, always feels comfortable and welcoming. After a few days in Paris, my brother, parents, and I took the train and then a rental car south to arrive in our favourite beachside town, Cassis. It was beautiful as always, with gorgeout beaches, rugged hiking, and deep blue water filtering inland through the Calanques. Ben and Cynthina’s wedding in Beaucaire was beautiful as well. The ceremony and reception took place on the grounds of an old farmhouse, and we had a great time frolicking in the open fields, picking pears, and dancing all night with the newlyweds. Congrats Ben and Cynthia! Official photos from the wedding were done by Laurent Brouzet. I’ll let the photos and captions speak for themselves – France in the summer is wonderful. Next up after the south, Jason and I ventured northward to Chamonix and Mont Blanc.

IMG_0308-2014-08-07 Paris and South-Donenfeld-Full-WM

Running group in Paris - seeing a town by running through it is my favourite way, for sure.
Running group in Paris – seeing a town by running through it is my favourite way, for sure.
Riding bikes through the outskirts of Paris - there's a great bike rental system.
Riding bikes through the outskirts of Paris – there’s a great bike rental system.
Exploring the Parc Floral De Paris
Exploring the Parc Floral De Paris
Cité de l'architecture & du patrimoine, Pris
Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine, Pris
My father at the musee d'orsay
My father at the musee d’orsay
Exploring Les Invalides
Exploring Les Invalides
My view from the Hotel De La Plage, Cassis, France
My view from the Hotel De La Plage, Cassis, France
Cassis harbor - beautiful
Cassis harbor – beautiful
The Calanques of Cassis, France - beautiful water, people boating and swimming everywhere. From Wikipedia: A calanque (from the Corsican and Occitan words of pre-Indo-European origin calanca (plural calanche in Corsican, calancas in Occitan) with meaning "inlet" ) is a steep-walled inlet, cove, or bay that is developed in limestone, dolomite, or other carbonate strata and found along the Mediterranean coast. A calanque is a steep-sided valley formed within karstic regions either by fluvial erosion or the collapse of the roof of a cave that has been subsequently partially submerged by a rise in sea level.[1][2][3]
The Calanques of Cassis, France – beautiful water, people boating and swimming everywhere. From Wikipedia: A calanque (from the Corsican and Occitan words of pre-Indo-European origin calanca (plural calanche in Corsican, calancas in Occitan) with meaning “inlet” ) is a steep-walled inlet, cove, or bay that is developed in limestone, dolomite, or other carbonate strata and found along the Mediterranean coast. A calanque is a steep-sided valley formed within karstic regions either by fluvial erosion or the collapse of the roof of a cave that has been subsequently partially submerged by a rise in sea level.[1][2][3]
Jason hiking in Cassis
Jason hiking in Cassis
One of the many secluded, beautiful beaches among the Calanque around Cassis.
One of the many secluded, beautiful beaches among the Calanque around Cassis.
One of the many secluded, beautiful beaches among the Calanque around Cassis.
One of the many secluded, beautiful beaches among the Calanque around Cassis.
Touring the town ot Beaucaire with the wedding party.
Touring the town ot Beaucaire with the wedding party.
Touring the town ot Beaucaire with the wedding party.
Touring the town ot Beaucaire with the wedding party.
Touring the town of Beaucaire with the wedding party.
Touring the town of Beaucaire with the wedding party.
Touring the town of Beaucaire with the wedding party.
Touring the town of Beaucaire with the wedding party.
Rehersal dinner in Beaucaire
Rehersal dinner in Beaucaire
A bit of breakfast in the morning at the Mas de Lilou Farmhouse. What a great stay!
A bit of breakfast in the morning at the Mas de Lilou Farmhouse. What a great stay!
Mas De Lilou Farmhouse
Mas De Lilou Farmhouse
Ben and Cynthia getting officially married!
Ben and Cynthia getting officially married!
Gustav Klimpt Display at Les Baux
Gustav Klimpt Display at Les Baux
Gustav Klimpt Display at Les Baux
Gustav Klimpt Display at Les Baux
The Carrieres de Lumieres Limestone Quarries, Le Baux, France
The Carrieres de Lumieres Limestone Quarries, Le Baux, France
Château des Baux de Provence
Château des Baux de Provence
Château des Baux de Provence
Château des Baux de Provence
Getting loose for the wedding
Getting loose for the wedding
Beautiful wedding ceremony, on the grounds of a historic farmhouse.
Beautiful wedding ceremony, on the grounds of a historic farmhouse.
Newlyweds!
Newlyweds!
Morning picnik on the lawn. Wonderful!
Morning picnik on the lawn. Wonderful!
We found a pear tree in the forrest, and feasted on pears!
We found a pear tree in the forrest, and feasted on pears!
Sunflower
Sunflower

DSC01389-2014-08-14 Ben Safdi Wedding-Donenfeld-Full-WM

DSC01397-2014-08-14 Ben Safdi Wedding-Donenfeld-Full-WM