🇫🇷 Cities I Explored in France (Part 1) ✨

After returning home, memories of France started fading like the tide 🌊. But when I really think back, I realize just how many places I’ve been! 📍 Saint-Nazaire My school’s opening ceremony was held here at the Gavy campus—right by the beach 🏖️ and ocean! Later, I revisited for a fall trip (submarine base tour 🚢) and then again with friends. Surprisingly, this quiet port city became my most-visited spot, even though it’s nothing extraordinary. 📍 Pornichet Went here for half a day during a fall outing—the sun, sand, and sea were even better than Saint-Nazaire! 🦐🦀 Locals say it’s a great spot for catching shrimp and crabs in certain seasons. 📍 Rennes Capital of Brittany 🏰, mostly known for crêpes (though not much else to do). A good transit point for Mont Saint-Michel ⛰️. After two visits, I lost interest… but their Pitaya (bubble tea) was oddly better than elsewhere! 😆 📍 Saint-Malo A medieval pirate town 🏴‍☠️—visited as a side trip from Mont Saint-Michel. The old walled city and offshore islands were cool, but the rest felt too remote. Also had a bad experience with a racist McDonald’s employee here… 😒 📍 Lyon I prefer it over Paris! 🏙 A big city with a calm vibe. But the Festival of Lights? Not worth it unless you enjoy crowds like China’s Golden Week… 🚶‍♂️💨 📍 Clisson A "big countryside village" 🏡 just 30 mins from Nantes—I loved it so much I wrote a whole post about it! 📍 Angers Often ranked France’s most livable city, but I didn’t see the hype (maybe I didn’t stay long enough). Not many Chinese restaurants, but you can take a bus to La Flèche Zoo (meh 🦁). 📍 Bordeaux Visited Château Saint-Émilion (though I know nothing about wine 🍷). Took a pic at Jay Chou’s photo spot, found the Water Mirror plaza overrated, but La Cité du Vin (Wine Museum) was AMAZING! The city itself is sunny, spacious, and elegant—though watch out near the train station 🚉. 📍 Nice The legendary vacation spot! 🏝️ Got the classic photo angle, but the sea wasn’t as "jelly-like" as expected (maybe the season?). Still, the coastal walk was lovely. PS: Avoid Chinese food here… it’s bad. 😅 Stay tuned for Part 2! 👀 #TravelDiaries #FranceExplored #HiddenGems #StudyAbroadMemories #FrenchCities #Wanderlust