Ringing in my fourth decade in (French) style
January 6, 2009
Is this place gorgeous or what? A seafront view of Villefranche-sur-Mer, one seen by cruise ship passengers who disembark here for day trips on the French Riviera.
The compact Villefranche-sur-Mer train station that transported me around the French Riviera (or Cote d'Azur, as it's called en francais) -- and even across the border to Italy. The local trains were on strike during my visit, making for some challenging travel!
Villefranche became my base for exploring the Cote d'Azur... and one train-enabled day trip took me to the charming town of Antibes (shown here), as well as the larger cities of Nice and Marseille.
I don’t usually get hyped up about birthdays, but it’s not everyday you turn 40. And since I’ll take any excuse to take a foreign trip, I wanted to ring in this Jan. 4 somewhere abroad. Of course, I love Italy to death, am newly fascinated with Greece after stopping there twice with my mom during a 12-day cruise in November… but somehow, my mind kept drifting back to France. Paris is my all-time favorite city, but I felt like I needed to kick off this new year somewhere new. Different, yet romantic and ideally, Mediterranean. While reading one of my favorite twice-weekly e-mails from Adrian Leeds’ Parler Paris newsletter , I saw a listing for “Riviera Experience ,” an assortment of vacation apartments in the charming French Riviera town of Villefranche-sur-Mer, owned and managed by a super-friendly American expat named Shelley Benton. I checked out her Web site, drooled over the incredible apartments – and was immediately hooked!
Those who know me well realize that while I enjoy traveling with family members and friends, I’m equally fond of setting off on my own. And from the start, this 40th birthday getaway felt like one I needed to take alone. I’m thrilled about turning 40 (even though I must admit, it feels strange to type out the number!), and see the start of my fourth decade as a great time for introspection. It’s probably my last best chance to figure out who and what I want to be when I grow up. Do-overs have pretty much run out at this point, so I thought two weeks in a gorgeous place surrounded by folks who’ve long ago mastered that whole “work-life balance” thing was just what the doctor ordered.
While my trip began in Shelley’s to-die-for “Artist’s Atelier ” apartment, right in the center of vieux (old) Villefranche, all roads eventually lead me to Paris, which is where I’ll spend the last four nights of my turning-40 adventure. I’m renting another one of Parler Paris’ stunning apartments in the hopping Marais district, a place I’m sure will inspire and dazzle me just as this city always does.
Perhaps 40 really will be the “new 30” for me – but only if I get to take the hard-knocks wisdom I’ve earned over the last decade with me into my fourth. One thing that’ll certainly go with me into my 40s – a never-ending sense of wanderlust and desire to experience life abroad as often, and as authentically, as possible.
Filed under: Celebrating the big 4-0 in France
4 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Fly Girl | February 5, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Hey Maureen!
Avis told me you had started a blog, it’s beautiful! Turning 40 is an important milestone and you definitely celebrated it with style. Capricorns always like to do solo travel, it’s the control thing.Those photos are gorgeous. I actually considered Florence for my 40th but couldn’t get good rates. Instead, I celebrated in Costa Rica, zip-lining through the rainforest! I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to start a new decade. 40 really is the new 30, the fun has just started! Come visit me at my blog, Farsighted Fly Girl: http//www.rosalindcummingsyeates.com/blog.
Roz
2.
This Time Now | March 21, 2009 at 12:39 am
Happy Belated Birthday!
I too will be turning 40 very soon. I’m so excited!
I’ve lived most of my adult years in Paris and Gothenburg and just spent a year in Korea (may return if work doesn’t pick up) I look forward to checking out your blog.
Felicia
3.
urbantravelgirl | April 8, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Hi there, Felicia… and please forgive me for a VERY belated welcome to my blog! Happy EARLY birthday to you, since it sounds like you’ll soon be joining the 4-0 Club. Good for you for being excited — I was, too. I believe the best is still ahead for us!
How COOL that you’ve been abroad for so long (including in Sweden and Paris, my favorite place on the planet). I promise to get better about regular updates on here… please check back and keep in touch, fellow World Traveler!
4.
torrio | May 14, 2009 at 7:57 pm
This is nice! We went to Beijing/Shanghai, China (my 40th bday trip) and what an eye opening, reflective, loving all that is– trip for me!
I, too think Paris /France is tops for me but so is Sao Paulo Brazil and new on the list for me is Shanghai…loved it!
Keep doing your thing..will be in Chicago, late june/4th weekend..may be able to catch up.
torrio!
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