Happy Holidays from the City of Lights

We want to wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season. The family are here—Nat and AJ, Kev and Joanna—and we are having fun showing them around (more on that later). In the meantime, here are a few pics to give you an idea of our travels around this city so gorgeous at night, and [...]

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Cheese, Glorious Cheese

If you think of French food and cuisine, one of the top items must be fromage (cheese). In a country that has more than 400 varieties of cheese, how can it not be so? General De Gaulle supposedly famously said “How can you govern a country that has 246 varieties of cheese? “, a statement [...]

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Knowing How to Live, and Loving the Food

 French savoir vivre and gourmandise.
 Paris is known for many types of food speciality stores: fromagerie, boulangerie, patisserie (see pics on earlier post), boucherie, charcuterie, poisonnerie, chocolaterie, fruits et legumes, fleurs.
All of them are fascinating, giving a real insight into French life and cooking culture, and we spent many hours exploring. Yes, there are also bigger [...]

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Keeping the City Clean

Garbage (of all descriptions)
 
 Sidewalk and park “garbage cans” are actually green or clear plastic bags hooked on a metal rim. In the ‘90s Paris suffered a rash of bombings—camp-stove canisters were hidden in metal garbage cans that exploded into bits of metal schrapnel.
Local authorities found this sensible solution. Local workers, in bright green, change the [...]

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Tabacs

Tabacs, or Tobacco Stands
This small slice of Parisian life gives insight into local culture.
A tabac is the only legal place for people over 16 to buy tobacco products in France, including Cuban cigars. But, tabacs do more than sell tobacco—they offer many services to non-smokers too.
These little kiosks, often just a counter inside a café, [...]

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Down in the Cellar

AUVERGNE (Central France) , Clermont-Ferrand, Rue des Chausettes:
This narrow, cobble-stoned street, which runs steeply down hill from the square in front of the black-stoned Gothic cathedral, is lined with small shops, wine bars and restaurants. In the old ‘Hotel’ Savaron we found Restaurant Le 1513, a creperie-grill.
   We entered off the street through a vaulted passageway to [...]

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Christmas Markets

Noël, Christmas, Weihnacht, Kersfees. Whatever you call it, this is a festive time of year, colorful, with a great feeling of anticipation. The commercial element is, unfortunately, very strong, as evidenced by all the ads prodding one to buy bigger, better, more. But, a warmth, a camaraderie, a feeling of goodwill, also exist and you [...]

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Mont St Michel—a French Icon

ANOTHER GREAT SIDE TRIP FROM PARIS Go to the blog page France/Paris Side trips to see Mont St Michel. Well worth the 4-5 hours travel to get there. 
Also see a few more french words under French Language.

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Provins: Medieval Splendor

A GREAT SIDE TRIP FROM PARIS: TO PROVINS
To see this and the pics, go to France/Paris Side Trips.  Or scroll down to ‘Pages’ on the right to find France/Side Trips

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Lunch: an Institution

Lunch is an important part of the French day, to some even sacred.  A time to sit and relax, partake of good food, chat to family or friends. A French person would be horrified if you suggested that they skip lunch, as it’s an institution! The French do the food well – it’s well prepared, [...]

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