Observations, places worth lingering in, and the small French habits that start to make sense once you’re here.

Paul Blanchard 1/19/26 Paul Blanchard 1/19/26

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is Provence turned up just enough that you notice.

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Honfleur almost feels unfair. Like a painting that somehow escaped its frame.

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Carcassonne is one of those places that shouldn’t work as well as it does.

Paul Blanchard 1/11/26 Paul Blanchard 1/11/26

Some places make wine taste better. This was one of them.

Paul Blanchard 1/10/26 Paul Blanchard 1/10/26

Nancy does not announce itself. It just stands there, waiting for you to notice.