My Journey with France: A Lifelong Love Affair

J'Adore Tour de Eiffel

My first international trip was to Paris in 1999. I had just started dating my now-husband, and on one of our first dates, I impulsively asked if he wanted to go to Paris with me. He said yes, and off we went—with paper maps from AAA and hotel reservations made via email. It was before smartphones and online bookings, a time when travel felt wonderfully analog.  We arrived in a rainy, romantic Paris and stayed in a tiny hotel tucked down a quiet alley. Across the street was a small restaurant where we fell in love with duck à l’orange—so much that we ordered it two nights in a row. We had no agenda and no pre-booked tours. We wandered the city, visited Montmartre (still one of my favorite places), and even went to the Opera, though we were too young to appreciate it then. I remember thinking I looked so chic in my new black suede boots.  Over the years, we returned to France a few times, but in 2016, we took a leap. Married with kids, we decided to do a home exchange in France for four months. After nearly a year of planning—applying for visas, enrolling our children in French school, and learning the basics of the language—we landed in Normandy, in a tiny coastal town of just 2,000 people.It was winter, and the town was sleepy and quiet, but we were welcomed with open arms. The locals knew we were coming, and friendships came easily. I learned to drive a stick shift, and we all adjusted to French dairy (which took time!). The town was famous for its seafood—especially oysters—and the dramatic Normandy tides that rushed in like galloping horses. At low tide, we could walk kilometers across wet sand and see rows of oyster beds waiting to be submerged again.Our neighbors owned the local seafood market and introduced us to moussette, a type of lobster you can’t get anywhere else. They taught us to pair oysters and lobster not with Champagne, but with simple white wine. The weather changed often—sun one moment, wind and rain the next—but the beauty of the place never faded.We were an hour from the D-Day beaches and 90 minutes from Mont Saint-Michel, and slowly introduced our kids to the deep history of the region. As our stay came to an end, we traveled to Reims in Champagne, Lake Annecy near the Swiss border, and Dijon—the gateway to Burgundy. I cried on the plane home, knowing France had found a permanent place in my heart.Since that life-changing trip, I’ve returned to France four times. Last year, we explored the Christmas markets—Strasbourg being my absolute favorite. I’ve also led three group river cruises through France, specializing in curated trips for families, companies, and wine-focused groups.Now, in May 2025, my 17-year-old has been accepted into a summer film program at the American University of Paris. We just completed our six-month visa appointment and, if approved, we’ll live in Paris for 50 days, then explore more of France—checking off bucket-list destinations and revisiting old favorites.France has become more than just a destination—it’s part of our story. And every visit adds a new chapter.