April 2022: the intention of this trip was less about visiting a new country/region and more about visiting one of my oldest and dearest friends, Sophie. If you caught my post on Vienna
back in November 2019 you would learn that Sophie and I have known each other basically since day one of life. Our dad's met during the 1980's rock and roll scene in Munich, Germany and every so generously passed down their loyal friendship onto us daughters. And for this I will be forever grateful. There is also some underlying coolness factor that this friendship lineage continues on.
Present day - Sophie no longer resides in Vienna but with her french Boy in the seaside surfing town of Lacanau* located on the south-west coast of France. A sleepy village during the off-season (November - March) Lacanau thrives off of its surfing culture and high season tourism. During my visit, this French town was slowly but surely waking up from a long winter's nap with most stores and restaurants closed BUT to everyones luck the local boulangerie and patisserie remain open year round. And open my mouth I did to baguettes, croissants, and chocolatines, consuming them like I would a daily vitamin. To counteract the French carb fe[a]st, we ... well mainly Sophie cooked up many delicious, healthy, vegan/vegetarian meals from scratch. Side note: I highly recommend finding friends with whom you share the same taste palette. I'm known in my crowd to cook well but Sophie takes it up another level. Oh! And of course a moderate consumption of french wine and cheese were also indulged in. And yes they are every bit as delicious as one might believe. Besides eating and cooking we shared stories and chatted till we literally fell asleep at night, went for ocean side walks, had a few collaborative photoshoots, practiced yoga, drank prosecco, attempted to change a car tire, and just vibed out with each other like besties do.
On that particular Saturday we drove to the nearby city of Bordeaux - strolling through the alley ways, snapping pictures, eating, and shopping our way through second hand/vintage shops. This one bakery we went to was the epitome of French patisserie, speechless and drooling I took in the scents, sights, and sweetness of this small piece of French heaven. Bordeaux also offers some awesome second hand/vintage shopping which happens to be yet another key topic of interest in mine and Sophie's longstanding friendship. Among other things Bordeaux also offers street markets, museums, cathedrals and churches, cafes, art, and a river flowing through the city. A short and sweet visit to a small and sweet city.
Bordeaux Second Hand/Vintage Shopping
- L'Éditorial this is not a second hand or vintage shop but offers great selection of chic sustainable clothing brands.
Bordeaux Food
- Boulangerie Jocteur wow - show stopper.
- Massa some of the best falafel, hummus and pita I have ever tasted.
I have and will remember all the travels I call myself fortunate enough to have embarked upon. This one, however hit a little differently for whatever reason. Maybe because Sophie and I hadn't seen each other in almost one year combined with the excitement of visiting a new country. Or perhaps because due to world events no one ever truly knows when travel might become tricky again. Or maybe due to lifestyle choices and factors such as a job or finances one isn't quite certain when in the future one might see each other again. Whatever the reason I enjoyed each day to the fullest, taking it all in and being grateful for this visit with all the new memories being made.
On a personal note the friendship Sophie and I have grown, maintained, and shared over the years is one in which both of us hold the capacity to be our true authentic selves without any hesitation of judgment or justification. Happy, grumpy, hungry, silly, impatient, whatever other human state - we accept one another to the fullest degree and aren't reluctant to call each other out or offer a differing point of view. She continually shares the right words of wisdom and encouragement and inspires me to live larger than any conventional lifestyle could offer. A true inspiration and soul-sister. We will see each other in the future <3
Side note: it was a challenge narrowing down the huge assortment of photos but alas I present a few of my favourites... Lacanau, Bordeaux, and the dunes in Le Pin Sec.
*For my Canadian readers - the vibes of Lacanau are comparable to Tofino, BC.
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