Welcome to Main Squeeze A culmination of all the things I love; that have a squeeze on my heart. Whether that be places, people, experiences, food, drink, art, music and more.
This fifth issue of Main Squeeze is dedicated to a style of travel I’ve come to love more with age: the loosely planned, slightly laissez-faire kind The trips you book on a whim and somehow end up having the best time. Not moving around too much, but not staying so long you get bored either. My hope is that this transports you to a pebbly beach in the south of France, where you let yourself — as the French say se laisser porter (be carried away) by the summer breeze.
WHYYOUSHOULD
BOOK THAT TRIP
If you asked me about my travel plans for the year in January, a trip to France was not on the docket. I had returned from a trip to Japan a few months prior (more on that in a later issue) and was talking about maybe returning to Argentina with my boyfriend later in the year But when my queen of pop, Beyoncé, announced her Cowboy Carter Tour, I just knew I had to go Long had gone too many tours and my faith in her touring Australia was obesellite. My sister and I put it up to chance, if we could get through the woes of TicketMaster and nab some tickets, then we were going to Paris. And going we were
It feels a bit crazy to buy tickets to a concert on the other side of the world but if you have the means to do it, I can’t recommend it enough. Not only did I finally get to see one of my favourite performers live for the first time, I got to experience a much needed holiday Where the sun shined, the rosé flowed and laughs with old friends were shared. So go on, book that trip, even if you don’t have all the money saved, the leave accrued, or the itinerary set You’ll figure it out, and most importantly, you won’t regret it.
PIT STOP
A city made for exploring on a whim
Lyon is a place that I had long associated with my high school song. The opening lyrics were literally ‘From a village near Lyon, Jeanne Marie started out’. So when my sister and I started planning this trip we thought, why not finally head to this place we’d grown up hearing so much about
While we only spent a night there to break up the long travel day from landing in Paris and heading to Provence, I was totally enamoured by the city. It’s quintinsentially French but with a homey feeling. A sizeable city that still felt like you could get to know it in a short time. Perfect for walking off jet lag after a long flight
Stop 2 - Smell the old books of Le Bal des Ardents and then stroll up the hill of the sorbet-hued street Montée de la Grande Côte.
Stop 4 - Later grab a spritz at one of the brasseries in the Place de la Bourse Head back to your hotel and have a nap before dinner time
Stop 3 - Skim through the alternative electronic record collection at Legram VG. Then, if you’re in need of break after the hike up the hill, stop for a coffee at Le Maison Cobalte (hands down one of the best coffees I had the entire trip).
Stop 1 - Grab a croissant at Maison Terrasson to fuel up for the day and head into the old town.
Stop 6 - Walk back to Hôtel Taggât along the tree-lined Rhône River and tuck yourself back into bed.
Stop 5 - Freshen up and grab a bite for dinner at Bouillon Maurice for a classic French meal to get your trip started I opted for a beef tartare and frites! Along with a delish cucumber salad to get some fresh greens in me
evenwhenitfucks u p .
EN ROUTE TO
Making mistakes when you travel is all part of the journey. A simple click of the wrong button and you’ve accidentally booked a train from Lyon airport instead of the Gare du Lyon Such a mistake wouldn’t be much of an issue, if only you actually check the train booking before you’re at the train station with only 10 minutes until said train is meant to leave This isn’t an imaginary situation, it’s exactly what happened to my sister and I. A comical train of errors (pun intended) that could’ve been easily avoided had either of us bothered to double-check the booking
My sister apologised profusely, I told her to stop because I was also at fault It was time for solutions, not a bunch of sorrys. We had accommodation booked in Aix-en-Provence and we were going to make it there. Initially, this minor mistake put us in a real pickle. It was a bank holiday weekend, so this wasn’t just an easy switch to another train - they were all sold out Lucky for us, we had reserved a car in Aix-en-Provence A cancellation of one booking with Hertz, some kindness from some French man who worked there, an available car at Sixt, a few card declines, then a successful payment and we were on the road. What should’ve taken us an hour, was more like five (thanks to said long weekend, everyone else was on the road too) but we made it there only with the cost of non-refundable train ticket lost Long story short, shit always happens, but you can almost always solve it
TAKEITSLOW
Provence is a region where you can do so much and yet so little. There’s lavender fields galore, rustic towns to explore and rural chalet’s perfect for lazying about in the hot summer sun Get a car, book somewhere that’s straight out of a postcard and pop the cork off a bottle of ice-cold rosé.
GOFORADRIVE
When we weren’t laying by the pool at Domaine Carriere (pictured left), we were in the car traversing the winding roads to the historical sandstone towns of Gordes and Loumarin The drive is breathtakingly green and purple between arid farms and lavender fields. Loumarin had the most charm in terms of the boutiques and restaurants. You don’t need to go to one in particular, just follow whatever lane tickles your fancy
WORTHTHEVISIT
Terre Ugo - lavendar fields where you can try chill in the sun whilst you eat lavendar ice cream
Gaodina - the perfect spot for dinner and a spritz in the garden
Auberge La Coste - skip paying for the art walk and savour their finest drop outside in the courtyard bar
La Colline Maison & Decorationthe cutest homewares, you’ll want to fill another suitcase with them
PEDAL AND FLOAT
GORDES DU VERDON
/MAINSQUEEZE
F R A N C E
Enjoying the finer things in the Côte d’Azur /MAINSQUEEZE
BYTHEBEACH
The coast of Nice is dotted with swanky beach clubs. They're pricey, but worth it for a day or two to avoid roughing it on the pebbles Even without a beach chair, they’re great spots for a seaside cocktail or a fresh lunch. The salmon poke bowl at Ruhl Plage is a treat on a hot summer’s day For frontrow lounging with a spritz in hand, grab a bed at Bocca Mar. Heading to Villefranchesur-Mer for the day? Make sure to stop by Marinières Plage Restaurant.
INTHECITY
Nice is made for slow, sunny strolls. Start your day with an iced coffee from Copenhagen Coffee Lab or Alvin’s If you ' re in the mood to shop, wander through the boutiques on Rue Alphonse Karr or pop into high street staples like Zara Home and Massimo Dutti. Grab a lemon sorbet from a glacier and stroll down the promenade Even a quiet afternoon in the sun at your Airbnb feels dreamy. Pick up some good cheese and a bottle of rosé, and turn your patio into a little moment.
It’s great to have plans and reservations, but sometimes just winging it leads to the best discoveries. Like Barrique, a swanky little wine bar tucked away in an alley of Nice’s Old Town Squint at the wall of bottles to pick your pour, then snack on unique cured meats and cheeses while you peoplewatch from a barrel table in the lane If you’re after something more substantial, head to Les Mimosas and don’t skip the lemon meringue tart for dessert
THEDAYTRIPS
XXX XXX
After Provence, we’d seen plenty of cobblestone towns, so Èze felt like a bit of a hassle to get to and, honestly, a bit underwhelming. I’d have rather spent more time chilling by the beach and soaking up the sun. If you want to get out and about, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Saint Jean Cap Ferrat are stunning. Grab a Lime bike and cruise along the coast It’s truly gorgeous Just note that you can’t park the bikes in Villefranche, so keep riding and catch the train back
THEBOURSEDUCOMMERCE
We headed to the Bourse du Commerce to see the popular Clinamen exhibition, but when we saw the long line, we decided to book online and come back another day. Wasting time waiting just wasn’t our vibe The exhibition was totally worth it thoughessentially a giant sound bath, offering a peaceful, meditative escape from the usual chaos and sirens of Paris. Beyond that, I loved exploring the impressive contemporary art in the Pinault Collection and soaking in the incredible design of the building itself
THEGRANDPALAIS
LAYINTHEPARK
BESPONTANEOUS
SKIPTHERESERVATIONS
I know Chez Janou is the go-to, but something about always needing a booking takes the fun out of it. I prefer just rocking up and trying your luck
Chez Sophie is perfect for a classic steak frites (don’t bother lining up for the one at Relais de l’Entrecôte). Pick any cocktail you like at Bisou - there’s no menu, just tell them what you’re into. Get served burgers and nuggs by French hotties at Dumbo Foderol is cool for interesting gelato and natty wines, but the line will get you And for a sexy little nightcap, head to Rojo.
Or keep it simple: grab a bottle of wine, a couple of glasses, and a corkscrew from your Airbnb and head to the riverside along the Seine to watch the sunset. Trust me, it’s a vibe.
ENJOYTHESHOW
I can’t recommend enough seeing artists you love while travelling It’s such a fun way to tap into a city’s energy and culture. The day of the Beyoncé concert in Paris felt completely surreal So exciting it actually made me lowkey nervous. I spent most of it zigzagging across the city, hitting every costume shop I could find in search of a cowboy hat to match the outfit I’d tried on about five times that morning.
We got to the venue earlier than I have for any show in years, sweat already building in my boots as we queued for merch The vibe outside was energetic - groups were dancing in the street to Beyoncé, people were getting their photos taken, and a girl even complimented me on my “magnifique” outfit, which absolutely made my night.
Eventually we made our way into the Stade de France and found our seats. The sun was blazing, so we grabbed a snack and some drinks and nervously waited as the energy built and the show finally kicked off
Then it was three hours of wow. I cried, I smiled, I screamed when Miley Cyrus came out to sing II Most Wanted I saw Blue Ivy take the stage and even spotted Momma Tina walking through the VIP section. Before I knew it, it was all over. The whole thing was a masterpiece - the kind of show I’d pay good money to relive again and again. Safe to say, I really enjoyed the show
We learn from our failures right?
THEFRENCHAREN’TTHATRUDE
It’s a common trope about the French, but it’s actually something I’ve rarely experienced in my travels there. My theory? A little kindness and picking up some of the local language goes a long way I’m by no means fluent in French despite my attempts to learn it over the years and a quick Duolingo streak before my trip. But learning basics like bonjour, merci, une table pour deux, une carafe d’eau, and l’addition s’il vous plaît makes a huge difference in winning people over.
ALWAYSCHECKTHE TRAINSTATION
We were laughing about the silly mistake we made by the end of our trip but it’s safe to say my sister and I will definitely quadruple-check the train station the next time we book a train overseas.
SAVEITONTHEMAP
There are so many places to see in cities like Paris and Nice, it can get overwhelming trying to tick everything off the list. My hack? Save all the spots to Google Maps beforehand and pick one main thing to focus on each day. That way, you’re not constantly searching for where to go while you’re out exploring.
ALLOCATENAPTIME
Someone said it best in a long-lost tweet I saw on social: “I need naptime more now as an adult than I ever did as a six-year-old.” I never slept during nap time back then, but after long days in the sun, I definitely needed a rest Taking it slow and not rushing gives you space for these little luxuries, and makes for a much more rested holiday.
MAINSQUEEZE/
DON’TOVERPACKTHEITINERARY
If you have friends in the city, whether they’re living there or just travelling at the same time, keep your plans flexible We were lucky enough to catch up with close friends and old mates we hadn’t seen in years, and it truly made the trip extra special. Those moments of reuniting after work or when our itineraries crossed were some of the best. I don’t think they’d have happened if we’d stuck to a rigid schedule.
Flexibility opens the door to opportunity, and it’s one of my favourite things about travelling Life back home can feel so routine and predictable. Scheduling a hangout two months in advance kills the spontaneity, but saying “let’s grab a drink tomorrow” and actually making it happen, that’s euphoric When people ask me about the highlight of the trip, of course it was Beyoncé, duh! But beyond that, it was those reunions with friends that meant more than any meal I ate or souvenir I bought.
My sister and I call these moments “mental snapshots.” If you blink harder, you remember them even better than any photo you take So travel a little lighter, not just in kilos but in plans Embrace the flow and that laid-back c’est la vie attitude that’s so alive in the summer heat.
