They say romance is dead when you have teenagers, but I beg to differ. Sometimes, you just have to get a little bit creative with your scheduling.
This year, under the very official pretence of "university hunting" for our youngest, Lee and I managed to sneak away for a beautiful 24-hour trip to Nîmes. The timing just happened to align perfectly with Valentine’s Day. Full photos below!
While our daughter was busy looking at campuses and checking out student life, Lee and I got to spend hours hand-in-hand, wandering through the city's breathtaking historic centre.
Discovering the French Rome
If you have never been to Nîmes, it is often called the "Rome of France"—and for very good reason. The city is absolutely packed with some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world.
We found ourselves completely mesmerised by the Arena of Nîmes, an incredibly preserved Roman amphitheatre right in the heart of the city. Walking around its ancient stone walls on a crisp February afternoon felt a million miles away from our usual daily routine in the Aude.
Just a short stroll further into the old town brings you to the Maison Carrée, an ancient Roman temple that looks so pristine it feels like a movie set.
The Art of the Slow Wander
As much as we loved the grand monuments, the real magic of Nîmes is found in the spaces between them.
The historic centre is a beautiful maze of winding lanes, sun-drenched squares, and independent boutiques. We spent our hours doing exactly what you should do on Valentine's Day: absolutely nothing of any structural importance. We drank espresso at pavement cafés, watched the world go by, and simply enjoyed the rare luxury of quiet adult conversation without a master to-do list in sight.
By the time we met back up with our daughter, our feet were tired, our hearts were full, and we had successfully ticked off both "parent duty" and a romantic city break in one swift 24-hour window.
If this is what university hunting looks like, I might just volunteer us to look at campuses every single weekend!
🏛️ Over to you: Have you ever visited Nîmes? What’s your favourite "accidental" holiday or getaway you’ve managed to sneak into a busy family schedule? Let us know in the comments below!
Jenna xx
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