We headed back to France in mid-July following some time with my family in the US. After being convinced Paris was going to be a disaster because of the Olympics, Boomer, bébé and I headed almost directly to Normandy where Romain met us on the weekends. We had a fabulous time and still managed to hit a few of our Paris favorites before we left. Read on to discover exactly where I ate and drank, shopped, and what I did in the July 2024 recap.
Where I Ate and Drank in July
- Les Antiquaires. Our first stop back of course. They have little totes and pouches (which are incredibly overpriced but cute nonetheless) and they gave us one which was sweet. After having a baby my pouch use has skyrocketed.
- Le Bistrot du Cancale. Definitely one of my most memorable meals of the summer. Cancale is so charming and the color of the water is beautiful, and the restaurant sits just beside the water. We had fresh oysters with five different sauces/toppings, baked clams with butter and breadcrumbs, a delicious thick piece of turbot with hollandaise and a show stopping Langouste from Brittany with this divine salsa. I will absolutely be going back.
Where I Shopped in July
- The twice-weekly Jullouville market. It’s my favorite in Normandy, especially in the summer. The fruits and vegetables are actually insane. Because the weather has been cooler than usual local strawberries, blueberries and raspberries were all still available. We also got fresh butter, cream and goat cheese for a local vendor and tried oysters during the breeding season – not my thing.
What I Did in July
- My luggage always takes a hit, literally, when I fly through CDG. 75% of the time I have damage. The good news is if you report the damage before leaving the airport (which usually adds about five minutes to your day), you can get it fixed for free. So I started this process again, which isn’t horrible other than getting the luggage to the shop to get it fixed.
- Walked around to see the Olympic setups. We got to see some of the stands on the bridges as well as the Olympic flame cauldron in the Tuileries, which was cooler after I realized what it actually was. We left before the Olympics started but after everything around the Seine was closed unless you had a QR code for the Opening Ceremony. I did have a QR code so Boomer, bébé and I walked around and it was so eerily quiet – it definitely gave me 2020 in Paris vibes. From what it sounds like, this was the most complicated period to be in Paris and afterwards was a breeze/very pleasant. While I do regret leaving, I also missed out on some very hot days in Paris so it all felt worth it to me.
- Went to a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Jullouville. It was such a cool moment as an American living in France with a French/American baby. Other than the fact that the entire ceremony was in French it really felt like a Fourth of July parade with American flags everywhere. It really is incredible to still feel the deep impact that the brave men and women made in France so many years ago.
A big merci for being a member! If there’s ever anything you’d like to see more of, don’t hesitate to let me know!
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Where I Ate and Drank in July
- Les Antiquaires. Our first stop back of course. They have little totes and pouches (which are incredibly overpriced but cute nonetheless) and they gave us one which was sweet. After having a baby my pouch use has skyrocketed.
- Le Bistrot du Cancale. Definitely one of my most memorable meals of the summer. Cancale is so charming and the color of the water is beautiful, and the restaurant sits just beside the water. We had fresh oysters with five different sauces/toppings, baked clams with butter and breadcrumbs, a delicious thick piece of turbot with hollandaise and a show stopping Langouste from Brittany with this divine salsa. I will absolutely be going back.
Where I Shopped in July
- The twice-weekly Jullouville market. It’s my favorite in Normandy, especially in the summer. The fruits and vegetables are actually insane. Because the weather has been cooler than usual local strawberries, blueberries and raspberries were all still available. We also got fresh butter, cream and goat cheese for a local vendor and tried oysters during the breeding season – not my thing.
What I Did in July
- My luggage always takes a hit, literally, when I fly through CDG. 75% of the time I have damage. The good news is if you report the damage before leaving the airport (which usually adds about five minutes to your day), you can get it fixed for free. So I started this process again, which isn’t horrible other than getting the luggage to the shop to get it fixed.
- Walked around to see the Olympic setups. We got to see some of the stands on the bridges as well as the Olympic flame cauldron in the Tuileries, which was cooler after I realized what it actually was. We left before the Olympics started but after everything around the Seine was closed unless you had a QR code for the Opening Ceremony. I did have a QR code so Boomer, bébé and I walked around and it was so eerily quiet – it definitely gave me 2020 in Paris vibes. From what it sounds like, this was the most complicated period to be in Paris and afterwards was a breeze/very pleasant. While I do regret leaving, I also missed out on some very hot days in Paris so it all felt worth it to me.
- Went to a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Jullouville. It was such a cool moment as an American living in France with a French/American baby. Other than the fact that the entire ceremony was in French it really felt like a Fourth of July parade with American flags everywhere. It really is incredible to still feel the deep impact that the brave men and women made in France so many years ago.
A big merci for being a member! If there’s ever anything you’d like to see more of, don’t hesitate to let me know!
