At the beginning of July, I went on a short one-week vacation to France.

The main attraction was a System of a Down concert at Stade de France, followed by a trip to Normandy: Le Havre, Étretat, and Honfleur.

Paris

There will always be something new to discover in a big city.

This time, two places stuck with me:

  • The Albert Kahn Museum, with its adjacent garden
  • Jardin des Serres d’Auteuil

Besides that, I also visited the Matisse 1941 - 1954 exhibition. It focuses on the final years of Matisse’s life, a period when he explored a new direction and seemed to reinvent himself until the very end of his career.

Note: always get the audio guide if the option is available.

System of a Down

Amazing concert!

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have high expectations—especially since it’s pretty rare to catch System of a Down live.

Check out Serj’s book, Down with the System: A Memoir, where he talks about why they don’t perform often.

All my expectations were exceeded. It’s definitely one of my favorite concerts now.

The sound was perfect, the band played non-stop with barely any breaks between songs, and there were circle pits in every direction. Physically demanding, because whether you wanted to or not, you’d end up in one 😅.

The crowd was really loud on every track.

The atmosphere was electric. It felt like everyone had been waiting for this concert the way you wait for rain after a long drought.

And System of a Down delivered on every level — 10/10. Serj’s voice was on point!

One thing that still isn’t possible in Romania — or rather, is ignored by choice — is that the metro ran with extended hours after the concert, so everyone could get home easily.

Le Havre

From Paris to Le Havre by train, about 2 hours and change.

Here, I got a taste of Romania with a train delay of around two and a half hours. 😅

Honestly, the delay didn’t bother me much. When you’re on vacation, a lot of things just roll off your back.

Le Havre was lovely — I really enjoyed it!

  • Good weather? Check.

We arrived right after France’s heatwave had passed.

  • Good food? Absolutely.

Ethiopian, Indian, French — all great. I think I end up eating Ethiopian every time I’m in France.

  • Beach? Check.

The beaches here seem to be more pebbly than sandy, which is typical for the area.

  • Perfect light for photos? We had that too.

It was incredible how late the natural light lasted — darkness didn’t start setting in until around 10:00 PM.

If you visit Le Havre, make sure to see Les Jardins Suspendus and Église Saint-Joseph.

Étretat

A seaside resort on the English Channel.

We left Le Havre in the morning and took a bus to Étretat — about an hour’s ride. The route was really charming, with all the villages along the way looking well-kept and picturesque.

Once you arrive, it’s another 10-minute walk to the beach, where you’re greeted by a stunning view.

I’d seen photos before, but nothing compares to the experience of being there and seeing that shoreline drop straight into the sea.

From the beach, you can head left for a short hike that can extend all the way to a lighthouse on the shore, with several spots where you can climb down to the beach.

To the right, there’s a climb that leads to Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde, with the Monument “L’Oiseau Blanc” nearby, plus a panoramic view of the entire beach and part of the town.

There are also gardens you can visit in that direction — I wasn’t so lucky; by the time we got there, they’d already closed.

I could get used to that view — climbing up and just staying there. It reminded me a bit of Bilbao, walking along the coast above the beach.

Later in the evening, we returned to Le Havre and wrapped up the day with dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant.

Honfleur

The next day, we took the bus again, this time to Honfleur, which is closer — about 30-35 minutes away.

Honfleur is where the Seine flows into its estuary.

Probably because of the estuary, the beach here had very fine sand, unlike Le Havre and Étretat, where the beaches were covered in small pebbles with no sand in sight.

The town itself is incredibly picturesque. If you imagine a typical Norman locality with its characteristic architecture, Honfleur is exactly what comes to mind.