I always feel that there is nothing like a week in France to inspire me with great ideas.  So when my friend Natasha asked me if I wanted to join her in the south of France, I didn’t hesitate.  I admit, it was only because I was thinking more in terms of  bring your bikini but soon realized it was bring your hoodie weather.

Then again once I got there I was charmed by the kind and unpretentious people of Grenoble.  Unlike Paris, no one looked at me like I was crazy when I asked for piece of  cheese next to my croissant in the morning.     We went to Grenoble via a 2 hour bus ride from Geneva, but it was well worth the trip.   Grenoble is a picturesque college town, of sorts, in the southeast of France, in proximity to the French Alps.  It actually felt like home ,with the changing colorful leaves and the crisp cold air, however their Belledonne mountain was a little bigger than our beloved Mont-Royal.

We also visited her cousin who lives in Sassenage, about half an hour from the city , with his dogs, horse, donkey, and oh-did I mention in his Chateau de Beaurevoir!

Grenoble is also where  Les Galeries Lafayette, a French fashion institution,  first opened its doors in 1893.    I knew we had to celebrate this historical event, so we shopped until the girl on the speakers advised us that they would be closing in 5min and I had no more room on my credit card… What can I say-they had me at  “jusqu’a 50% de rabais”

Just look at the brown leather boots I got from there. They go so well with my fringe purse, don’t you think?