Gorge du Tarn, Midi-Pyrénées Region, France

I have kayaked the river two times before and it is always a breathtaking and almost surreal experience. This time I think I appreciated it a bit more, partly because the last time was almost a decade ago, but also because of just having moved from the chaos that is New York City. Because the move to France took place so recently, everything seems to stand out in stark contrast to what former life in New York. The abundance of nature, the way of living (especially in the French countryside) and just overall daily experienced make you quickly forget the rush of big cities like New York.

The journey down the Gorge de Tan took roughly 6 hours and, primarily because of the frequent stops to feed the girls or let them swim. Overall, it was a great first full day in the south of France and resulted in a very peaceful first night of sleep, as well.

Montrozier, France

The look, feel and people that are Montrozier are so completely different than any other place I’ve known–especially New York City. The feeling that I get when I arrive here is peaceful, to say the least.

Scenes like the one playing out before me as I write–a father and son wading through the stream that lies before the bridge that acts as the gateway to Montrozier–are a regular occurrence. In a way, much of what I see here in Montrozier seems as though it belongs in a movie, rather than real life.

I consider myself very lucky to have the opportunity to spend time in a place like Montrozier.