TRAVEL DIARIES
MENTON, FRANCE
“Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.” – Roy M. Goodman
There are days that feel like poems — warm, fleeting, impossible to explain, but unforgettable. My day trip to Menton was exactly that kind of day. A soft breeze off the Mediterranean, the scent of blooming citrus trees, and that undeniable feeling of spring in the air — like the world is gently urging you to fall in love with it all over again.
Menton, perched on the edge of the French Riviera like a secret whispered between Italy and France, greeted me with pastel buildings and a sky so blue it looked hand-painted. The air was fragrant — part ocean, part citrus grove, and entirely intoxicating.
I wandered through the charming old town, trailing my fingers along sun-warmed stone walls and letting my heart slow to match the rhythm of the place. It didn’t take long before I found a tiny gelateria with a handwritten chalkboard sign promising glace à la lavande. I ordered it without hesitation. One bite of that lavender gelato and time stopped — floral, creamy, and delicate as a spring morning. I sat on a low stone wall by the water, letting it melt slowly on my tongue as the sun kissed my cheeks.
Later, I made my way down to a quiet little stretch of beach. The world narrowed to the sound of waves, the salt in the breeze, and the sketchpad in my lap. With lemon trees dotting the hillside behind me, I found myself painting them — bright, joyful little bursts of yellow, as if the sunshine had rooted itself into fruit. It felt like a tribute to the town, to the season, to the very moment itself.
I stayed longer than I’d meant to, sunbathing in lazy intervals between brushstrokes and gelato-induced daydreams. There was nowhere else I wanted to be. Nothing else I needed to do. Just me, the sea, a handful of painted lemons, and a heart full of sunshine.
Menton is one of best day trip destinations from Nice, fall a little bit in love — with spring, with slowness, with the color yellow.
If you ever find yourself wandering the French Riviera in the springtime, take the train to Menton. Eat the lavender gelato. Paint the lemons. Let the sun write a love story on your skin.
After all, some romances only need one day. 🍋🌿☀️
