It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with  Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Ok, I promise this is the last post about France (unless I get to go there again LOL).

So here are five non–running-related things that I loved about my vacation in France.

1. The People I met.

I know many people think that French people are snotty. Many people think that the French don’t like us Americans.

I found that both of these feelings to be far from the truth.

All of the staff in our “small” typically French hotel in Paris were so helpful.  They served us breakfast the day we arrived even though breakfast hours were over.  They made me breakfast to go the morning I left before it was too early for the hotel breakfast.  They were always helpful is giving me advice on where to go, how to get there, etc.

I stayed with a family in Sanguinet. The wife got up at 5 am each morning to take the train to Bordeaux where she was getting another college degree and when she came home each night at 7 pm, she prepared us a multi-course gourmet meal…every night!

In many of the cities, we got lost. Each person we encountered was super helpful in getting us directions. (We even had to stop at a vet’s to use their landline the first night we arrived in Sanguinet…long story!)

I could go on and on about other friendly folks – the runner on the subway and the lady in the airport shuttle.

2. Their Transportation System

So easy to get everywhere…subways in Paris, TGV from Paris to Bordeaux, Tram in Bordeaux, train from Facture to Bordeaux, RER from Paris to St Germain-en-Laye.

Not to mention boat tours, train tours and bus tours.

Wish it were that easy to get around here.

3. The Food (and Wine)

I got spoiled. But everything tasted so good. Did I eat healthy? Well, most of the time…but those desserts….

4. The Architecture

Since I had visited Paris at least 10 times prior, I wanted to see things esp. buildings that I had never seen before.

I visited districts in Paris (new to me) like La Bastille, La Nation, Vincennes, Saint Sulpice and St Germain en Laye. I also toured Bordeaux, Bicarosse, Arcachon and Cap Ferret (SW of Paris).

5. The Art Museums

I’ve always loved art.  When I was a kid I wanted to be an art teacher. That was before I realized that I had no talent.

To get my fix, I would illustrate everything when I taught French and I would visit art museums when I got the chance.

Well, as you probably know, France is a mecca for art.

I have in the past visited Musee d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, Musee Marmottan, Louvre, Rodin museum and more.  I wanted to see the special exhibits in the Petit and Grand Palais but no time.

I did get to see the new Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Happy Running! What are your favorite non-running-related things about your favorite city? 

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with  Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

Ok, you are probably tired hearing this but I RAN.In.France.

As a former French teacher, this was a dream come true. So I am pretty much obsessing about it until something better comes along.

So here are five running-related things that I loved about my vacation in France.

1. Running in person with someone I met online.

I first met Karen virtually through her blog. (Now I follow her on IG.)  I also have met her IRL during two of her trips to NYC. She is as nice in person as she is online.

She lives in Paris and I was excited to run with her there.

It was a real treat to meet up, run, chat, and experience in person the route that she normally runs on.

2. Running in Bois de Vincennes.

On a previous trip to Paris ages ago, I visited Bois de Boulogne. But I only know Bois de Vincennes from Karen’s IG posts.

I was able to run there at both the beginning and end of my trip.  I entered the park in different locations to be able to run on different paths..

As you can see it is beautiful!!

3. Running in a small rural town.

I spent several days staying with a family in Sanguinet which is located in the SW, not too far from Bordeaux.

It was totally different experience than running in Paris. I ran there almost everyday. Luckily I spoke French because I did get lost the first day on my way back from the lake.

But I ran the next two days on different roads without getting lost 🙂

4. Walking on an above ground walkway (Coulee Verte).

I asked the hotel owner for a different place to walk/run besides along the Seine and in the parks.  He explained that I could take some stairs near Place de la Bastille and walk/run forever on this walkway.

He was right. It was a great place walk or run.  If it weren’t the day before my race, I would have joined all the other runners on this path.

5. Running a Race.

I was fortunate to find a race that was scheduled during the time that I was in France. (That was part of the plan.) I ran the 20 km de Paris at the end of my trip.

It was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget.

Happy Running! What is your favorite city to run? Why?

It’s Friday so I’m also linking up with  Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five linkup! Join in! Don’t forget to link back to your hostess and visit some other bloggers.

I was pretty naive about running in Paris and let’s face it, anywhere besides America.

So here are five things that surprised me about running in Paris:

1. Running is really popular.

All times of day and all places I went, I saw men and women running!

Over 26,000 runners finished the 20 km race and another half marathon was scheduled for the following weekend.

2. The runners are serious and fast.

Hey, I finished 23,xxx out of 26,xxx.  I’ve never considered myself to be a BOTPer. Well, I guess I am in Paris.

3. There are so many beautiful flat places to run.

There are many parks, paths along the river and to my surprise, la coulee verte – above ground walkway for runners.

4. There are more public bathrooms and water options.

Public bathrooms are easily accessible and there are many water fountains (as pictured above.)

5. Female runners don’t wear skirts.

Shorts, capris or tights. I am pretty sure that I was the ONLY one running in a skirt!!

Happy Running! Have you ever run in Paris or another foreign city? If so, anything surprise you?