I am at my happiest when I am surrounded by good food, wine and people and my recent trip to Aubeterre included all three. Located in the South West of France, this sleepy town can be covered on foot in less than 20 minutes but with stunning views of the French countryside and a glass of champagne for less than a fiver, you could easily spend a few days here.
When I think of Southern France, the glitz and the glamour of Monaco and Cannes comes to mind but I was told that Aubettere would be a little bit different so I didn’t know what to pack. I decided to bring outfits for every situation and occasion which included heels, trainers, swimwear and this beautiful grey jumpsuit from Emile Vidal Carr. Jumpsuits are perfect for dinners and nights out when the sun has just started to set and the earth begins to cool down.
Aubeterre was the place where my friend was getting married and within minutes of stepping onto the cobbled streets, I knew exactly why she chose this place. Stoney streets, beautiful scenery and live music in the square. Welcome to Aubeterre.
I woke up early every morning to discover France on foot, by myself. I love running in foreign countries because I always stumble across things that I didn’t see during my lengthy research sessions on Googles. During my runs I took in the French scenery and being on my own gave me a chance to think about my goals, ambitions and the steps needed to achieve them. Runs were followed by breakfasts and day time activities which included canoeing, countryside walks and tasting the wonderful food that France has to offer.
Around every corner, there is something beautiful waiting for your eyes to see. It could be a view of the countryside, a pretty building or just the friendly smile of a local. Happiness is everywhere; it must be the French water (champagne).
This was the first holiday in years where I had been accompanied by my friends. I used to go on girls holiday’s yearly but as you become older, things change and I’m not the party girl that I used to be. But I loved spending the evenings dancing to Justin Bieber as we got dressed up for dinner and drinks. I went away with my friends from uni, some of them I hadn’t seen in years but nothing had changed. That’s the kind of friendship that people dream of. The trip also brought back memories of holidays in 2009 and 2010 with a group of girls I once called my college friends, but I now call them my life friends.
My new year’s resolution was to travel more, and Aubetterre was never even on my ‘to visit list’. But crossing paths with an old friend and rekindling our friendship saw me explore a town that otherwise would have remained unknown to me, and what a beautiful place it was.
Next Stop, Bali.
