A break from paris

Deauville: A weekend beach trip for the Parisians. 

Some Parisians have houses in the south, and some have houses in the north; we decided to check out the relaxed north side of France, Deauville. To give a better description, it's almost like the East Coast compared to the West Coast of the United States. I think of the east as having a dark and old money vibe, while the West Coast relates to bright colors and new money. The south and north of France are very similar. The north portrayed old mansions, a Switzerland approach and an older generation of people. But the tiny little seabird town was the perfect break from the city. 

I did not appreciate fresh air until I stepped foot in Deauville. I finally felt like I could breathe again. Living in a city packed together with constant pollution tends to feel stuffy. You don't notice the difference at the moment, but the impact of purified air is insane once you leave. 

We took the train to the small beach town and stayed next to the famous casino. Our hotel was an old Rhode Island coast hotel vibe with a balcony overlooking the city and the English Channel. We ate lunch on the dock over the water and consumed the best burrata appetizers and one the most astonishing goat cheese salad ever. A block of warm goat cheese placed on toasted bread covered the salad and, once mixed, created a fabulous creamy dish. We drank local wine, walked along the boardwalk and shopped in the cutest boutiques. 

I thought the night would be chill because we weren't in the city anymore, but I was wrong. 

We went clubbing....

Who would have thought a small quiet town would have clubs? I guess Europe is just different. Being used to the Paris parties, we went to the coastal bars and had the best time with the local beachgoers. 

The next day, we found ourselves at the beach, ready to adventure into the English Channel on Jet Skis and tubes. One of my favorite memories is when my friend Luisa and I took hold of the Jet Ski and zoomed past the ocean waves looking up at the coastal white cliffs. Some of our friends decided to tube as well, and if you think tubing in America is wild, these French natives were whipping us around these waves like there was no tomorrow. Tubing in the English Channel with such an adrenaline rush and one of the funniest, most unique things we did in France. 

To end our day, we traveled to the coast of Étretat for a cliff hike. I witnessed some of the most beautiful green and white cliffs along the beach. Hiking up the mountain might have been rugged, but the top view was worth it. It was a breathless sight to look out and see sailboats in the distance, white cliffs for miles along the coast and birds flying around like they owned the town. The north coast adventure ended up being a trip that will never be forgotten.