ganderhere - France-Scotland-2024

A look back at France & Scotland

May 22 - June 4, 2024

Leta and I kicked off our trip paragliding through the Alps, riding bikes around Lake Annecy (a Tour de France route), and hanging with family in the French village Menthon-Saint-Bernard. My cousin Michael, his lovely wife Mia and kiddos Max and Luke moved to this magical French community recently and we were lucky to launch our vacation with them.

Then we hopped on a train to Paris where we wandered in the rain for three days, experiencing a historic city transforming for a modern summer Olympics. Despite loads of construction and obstruction, we walked, we ate, we walked, we ate. We gandered the city's brilliant architecture, the colorful people, and the - equally colorful - art at the La Fondation Louis Vuitton and Musée Carnavalet (fantastic finds, Leta).

After a few days in Paris, a quick flight landed us in Glasgow where we united with friends and meandered through the gothic city for a night and an afternoon before shuttle buses picked us up to travel to the instigator of the trip: A Midsummer Nights' Dream art party at the splendorous Dunskey Estate, a late 17th century castle estate on the western coast of Scotland.

Michael and Thom - longtime friends - manifested a most memorable castle party with 70 friends - some we knew and others were new, but all were a blast. A mood board sent out in advance inspired brilliant costumes across three nights of themed dinners and shenanigans: Night 1: Dress as your favorite art or artist. Night 2: Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night's Dream. Evening 3: Posh Scottish Beach BBQ (and Dunskey's Got Talent show). Cheers and gratitude to Michael and Thom from dreaming this up, our hosts Anne, Ali and the Dunskey team, and all the artistic party-goers who showed up brilliant, beautiful, generous and hilarious.

I experience the world through my camera, so per usual, most of the trip it was glued to my hand. Here’s 200 snaps from our two weeks in France and Scotland, in no particular order. Enjoy.

\\ coming soon: portrait series coffee table book from the Dunskey art party. previews below. \\