Country Number Sixteen: France

Country number sixteen on our 52 countries in 52 weeks world tour is France, and Paris did not disappoint.

Climbing the Eiffel Tower

First stop, the Eiffel Tower. We decided to walk up the stairs, which sounds fun until you realize you just paid to climb what feels like a hundred flights. The weather was wild, which actually made it more exciting. The kids? Always game, never complain.

Macaroon Magic at Studio Patisserie

Next, we had one of the coolest culinary experiences of our lives, a macaroon class with Studio Patisserie. Online booking, world-class pastry chef, hands-on instruction, and we made amazing macaroons from scratch. The kids loved it, and honestly, so did I. Don’t miss this one.

Exploring the Louvre

Of course, we had to visit the Louvre. Famous for a reason. We did a quick stop at the Mona Lisa, slightly underwhelming, but the rest of the museum? Mind-blowing. The collection is massive, surreal, and the sheer scale of art and artifacts is staggering. Even for someone who isn’t usually a museum person, this blew me away.

Family Roots in Brittany

Then came a personal twist. My last name is Pinvinic, French in origin, so I reached out to locals with the same name. We found a cousin in Paris, never met before. Language barrier? She doesn’t speak English, we don’t speak French. Dinner together? Absolutely glorious. She shared stories about our family’s roots, and the next day my son and I hopped a train to Brest, rented a car, and explored the small towns of our ancestors. We even searched local cemeteries and found dozens of family members. An unforgettable experience and one I’ll never forget sharing with him.

Motorcycle Tour and Croissant Class

Back in Paris, we wanted to see the city in style. Txango Tours gave us a classic motorcycle with sidecar, and we toured the sights like locals. The kids had the time of their lives. We followed that up with a world-famous croissant baking class with La Foodist. Private class in an authentic basement kitchen with Fanny, making and tasting croissants, absolute perfection.

Secrets of Paris by Pedal

To wrap it up, we pedaled around Paris on the Secrets of Paris tour with Fat Tire Tours. We discovered hidden corners, tried local treats, and saw a side of the city most tourists miss. Paris is magical, full of history, flavor, and surprises around every corner.

France was unforgettable, and from here, we’re off to country number seventeen, Croatia.