Are you considering visiting D-Day sites with kids? You'll want to listen to this episode! My guests Ginny and Cristina are mother and daughter and the kids were a 12yo boy, a 9yo girl, a 7yo girl, and a 3yo boy. Also on this trip were Ginny’s sister and Cristina’s husband. They took this trip in October 2019. We have a conversation about driving in France, etiquette at French restaurants with kids, and also about taking kids to D-Day sites and how that worked out for this family. What can you do to keep the kids interested? What is there to do in Normandy besides D-Day sites? Recommended in this episode: The Classic Tales Podcast   It turns out that this family has a long history with Normandy. Ginny’s father served in Normandy in WW2 and they had some letters from him. They went looking for the places where he served, including some places we haven’t talked about on the podcast yet. Tips for Visiting D-Day Sites with Kids Learn from the best, folks who did it and learned the lessons! About Driving in France If there are enough adults in your party willing to drive, you might want to rent 2 cars instead of a van. That will allow you to split up if needed. There are speed traps in France, do not go over the speed limit or you may get a ticket in the mail a month after you get home. If you pay for the built-in GPS in the rental car it will tell you what the speed limit is in any particular road section. Everything is far apart in Normandy, you will need to drive. Parking is generally not a problem in Normandy unless you go around D-Day commemorations. Do Kids Need to Be Quiet at Restaurants in France? Cristina's children are used to traveling at lot, at least the older ones are. Like anything else, travel gets easier the more you do it and that's true for children too! But still she worried about how her kids would be treated in restaurants in France. She had heard that kids in France need to be quiet at restaurants and she didn't think that was possible. There is this myth that French children are somehow perfectly well behaved at restaurants. Let's be realistic: French people have kids, they know it's best to serve families with kids promptly and keep them happy. French waiters do not expect perfection from kids at all! How Were the Kids at D-Day Sites? Ginny had prepared the kids for Normandy by sharing with them letters that her father had sent to his sister during WW2. Build-up some knowledge about WW2 with the older kids ahead of time. Get them as interested as you can. The older kids really enjoyed a book called I Survived the Battle of D Day, and there are a lot of books that can help prepare your kids to understand the historical significance of the area. It's not difficult to find food and snacks the kids will enjoy, go to a grocery store where you'll find a lot of variations on Nutella. There are also lots of cookies and crackers in France. They also love brioche, which is different from what they get at home. Stay in the Same Place Every Night They decided to stay in Mondeville near Caen at an Airbnb called Maison Ancienne "style Deauville en Normandie". It was probably the coolest Airbnb Cristina has ever stayed. Everyone had a room and it was wonderful. Omaha Beach Day with Kids They never planned on too many things in one day, made sure there was always time for ice cream. Their priority was to go to the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. It was powerful for the kids to realize that this large field full of crosses is the result of war. The level of appreciation of French people towards the sacrifices of American soldiers is also palpable. The orientation table that faces the ocean and shows where all the battles took place on different beaches is great and they spend some time there. There are no restaurants or cafés at the cemetery per se. But if you drive down to the beach you'll find many services. It's a lovely sandy beach with a monument. There are shells and things on the beach that kids will enjoy. Definitely bring swimming suits if you go in the summer. They visited a small private museum. It didn't take long at all which is great with kids because it kept their interest. Cherbourg Day They wanted to go to Cherbourg because Ginny's father was stationed. They were looking for a museum that had information about the 280th Station Hospital Unit, and they found one. But before they went to the museum they went to La Cité de la Mer which they really enjoyed. They had some information about the Titanic, they have a submarine you can go into, they have the deepest aquarium tank. The kids loved the interactive exhibit where it's an underwater simulation. The Musée de la Libération at Fort du Roule was also interesting and they adults would have liked to spend more time there. They had some information about Ginny's dad's unit. They ticket seller didn't know anything about it but she called the director over and he was able to explain more. The director didn't speak English so it wasn't very easy, but they managed anyway. Ginny and her sister Veronica recognized a cantine from American soldiers displayed at the museum that their dad also had. This was the most meaningful part of the trip for the adults. There is a beautiful view towards Cherbourg from Fort du Roule. D-Day Experience Museum at Carentan les Marais They stopped there on their way back from Cherbourg on the way back to their Airbnb. They got there a little bit late so they didn't have time to do everything. This is intense and they kids enjoyed it. The youngest kid told his kindergarten teacher that he was in a plane crash because it was so realistic. Kid-Tastorphies Cristina produces a podcast called Kid-Tastrophies and there were some kidtastrophies on this trip! Being in a "plane crash" would be one. Kids upset tummies are another one so always carry extra underwear! Also, keep your expectations low. Don't think your kids will get as much as you'd like them to from the trip. Cristina's oldest kid got some good WW2 experiences, but don't think just because you took them Normandy they'll now understand the full scope of WW2. Building family memories is really important, even if kids don't remember the details. Take lots of pictures to remind them of the experience. It's also important for kids to experience the fact that not everything is the same as what they are used to in their own little corner of the world. It broadens their point of view as much as possible for children. More episodes about family travel in France Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Omaha Beach Cherbourg Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Trip Report on Normandy and Paris, Episode 101 Visiting Normandy with Teenagers, Episode 165 A Multi-Generational Trip to Normandy and Brittany, Episode 242 Cristina and family Category: Normandy & Brittany

Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Visiting D-Day Sites with Kids, Episode 297

On today's episode Annie Sargent and Lisa Wylie talk about walking the French Chemin de Compostelle. Lisa started her walk late April, which is the beginning of the hiking season in France. The end of the hiking season is October. On average there are about 100 people walking the French Chemin de Compostelle per day. But as we'll see in the episode, the Spanish part of the Camino is a lot busier with around 1000 walkers per day. It's still perfectly safe, even for a solo woman traveler. There are many ways to get to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle or Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Lisa took the Puy route or via Podiensis, which is the most popular route in France. But she could have taken the route that starts in Paris, or the one that starts in Vézelay or Arles. You'll get to use your French on the Chemin! Lisa had a wonderful time in part because her French is quite good and she can have entire conversations in French. Knowing French is not a must, but if you can speak French you'll have a better time. Won't English be enough? Not everywhere. Remember, you'll be in rural France where most people aren't comfortable speaking English. One instance where speaking French is particularly helpful is when reserving rooms for the next night. It's possible (and sometimes advisable) to plan it all out and make your reservations weeks in advance from home, but what do you do it there's a rain storm that delays you? How about a blister that forces you to slow down considerably or even stop for a day? If you're comfortable speaking French on the phone, all of these things will be a lot easier for you. And speaking of making reservations, find out when holidays and school vacations are because those nights will often be booked up in advance! Walking the Chemin in Sections On this particular trip in 2019 Lisa walked between Cahors and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. 4 years prior she had done the section between Le Puy and Cahors, so she just picked up where she left off. Walking in sections is the most popular way to walk the chemin because most people have to go back to work and can't do it all in one trip. Practical Considerations when Walking the Chemin It took Lisa 3 weeks to complete the section between Le-Puy-en-Velay and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. That was walking 12 to 14 miles per day every day (which is 16 to 20 km per day). It takes some training to do this comfortably even if you're used to walking an hour with your dog every day. But the chemin is not technically difficult, it's just about building stamina. Are you thinking about backpacking it? Lisa carried her backpack and did not use a service to move her belongings around. But, when walking the French chemin de Compostelle you can travel light. You don't need to take a tent or cooking implements, there will be grocery stores and restaurants many places along the way. You won't be  walking in the wilderness but rather in the French countryside. There will be  villages, cafés, shops, pharmacies, at least in the bigger villages. There are transport services that will shuttle your bag between stops. They can also drive a person to the next stop if a walker in your party needs a break from walking. You'll find business cards for transport services at all the gîtes, so this is not something you need to arrange in advance. This is nothing like walking the Appalachian trail where you might be in the wilderness for days. The availability of frequent places to stop also means that you could decide to walk just 10 kilometers per day if that's more comfortable for you. But be aware that not every village has places where you can buy food, always carry some with you just in case. Le "sac à viande" aka sleeping bag liner You do need a change of clothes, a jacket, toiletries, a towel, and a "sac à viande" or sleeping bag liner. You'll use it when staying places where they don't give you sheets. But if you're planning on staying at regular hotels rather than "gîtes"  (youth hostel-like guest houses), then you won't need one. There are many places along the way where regular hotels are not available, so you'll need to make-do with basic accommodations such as gîtes. On the French side even the cheapest accommodations provide blankets, and you can often rent sheets for a few euros. But do bring your own toiletries and a light-weight bath towel. Choosing the right backpack Walking with a backpack is more difficult, but if affords more flexibility in your schedule. A general rule of thumb is a pack that is no more than 38 liters. That's enough to hold a change of clothes and some flip-flops. You'll probably also carry some snacks and maybe a lunch to hold you over until the next stop, but that's never more than a few hours away. Walking sticks help Walking a long way every day can be hard on your knees. Walking with poles can help a lot, especially if you get poles that fit your needs well. Consider poles that you can take apart and put in your backpack. There are poles made for women that fit their hands better. Annie prefers aluminum poles because they don't tend to vibrate when hitting the ground. The Miam Miam Dodo book and app This book is the Bible of the Chemin in French, it lists all the places you can sleep and eat and it's a favorite of French walkers. The app will show you where you are on the map. You can download the map when you're on-line so it'll work even if you're in the middle of nowhere. The book and app will also tell you how far to the next place to fill up your water bottle. Unfortunately it is only available in French. What sort of shoes do you need? You probably don't want simple sneakers, but you don't need heavy hiking boots either. Light hiking shoes are good, something like Merrels. French people and their blisters French walkers are concerned with taking good care of their blisters (ampoule in French which also means lightbulb). To do so they run a thread through the skin and it acts like a wicker. If you don't have the thread the skin will heal itself and the blister will not empty for a long time. Alternatively any French family doctor can cut out the thick skin and it'll allow the blister to heal within a couple of days. Be really mindful of meal-times You'll be walking through rural France so you must pay attention to meal times. Restaurants stop accepting customers after 1:30 PM for the lunch service. Rural grocery stores may close for lunch, they may also be away on vacation. Again, it is wise to carry some food with you. Lisa's stops along the way 17 minutes into the episode Lisa starts explaining the path she walked and where she stayed. They are also listed in the Guest Notes (blue button below). The whole point of walking the French chemin de Compostelle is to walk. There are no particular attractions along the way, although you will run into some gorgeous churches and abbeys you'll want to visit. And there are, of course, beautiful rural vistas. Be aware that many of these really scenic villages are dead unless you happen to be there on a week-end or school vacation. These are also places where it might be hard to get a meal because there aren't grocery stores. Pack ear plugs because you will run into snorers and at a hostel you can't always get away from them! Walking the French Chemin de Compostelle as a solo female traveler Lisa has traveled around the world by herself sometimes as was the case for her 2019 trip to walk the Camino. She never felt unsafe while walking or at any of the stops. Everyone was considerate and friendly. You will probably keep running into the same people and will get to know them quite well so it won't feel lonely. Some parts of the Camino are really busy Whe you're walking the French Chemin de Compostelle you'll run into 90% French people. As soon as you get to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port you'll suddenly be surrounded by a lot more people from all over the world. There are 10 times more people hiking the Spanish side than the French side. What's the best part of walking the French Chemin de Compostelle? The best part of this walk is hanging out with other walkers at the gîte at night. French people love to socialize around a meal and most gîtes provide the evening meal. Most are great cooks, one wasn't (see guest notes). You'll meet a lot of like-minded people and chat about all sorts of things. Wine will be served with dinner, but you probably won't run into much wild partying. Restaurant Recommendation Le Fromage Rit in Moissac is a lovely restaurant where you can eat a good meal for under 20€ More episodes about active vacations in France Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Basque Country, Episode 60 Lise Wylie on the chemin de Compostelle Categories: Active Vacations in France, France How To

Walking the French Chemin de Compostelle, Episode 296

In this episode, Annie and Elyse chat about our favorite summer lunches in France. We talk about eating habits locals have in France during the warm months and the foods we all look forward to every summer in France. We also share a few recipes and cooking tips from our southern France kitchens! #joinusinfrance #frenchfood #frenchwine #summerfoods Support Elyse on Patreon Annie & Elyse's Favorite Summer Lunches in France In France we don't want to turn the oven on. Why? Because most French homes don't have air conditioning! Turning the oven on raises the temperature of an already hot house too much. That's also why many villas in France have a full kitchen outside. Some people just have a barbecue, but you'll also find outdoor kitchens with a "plancha" (large hot plate), a fridge and a sink. And air-fryers are also good for that. Do French People Have Food Traditions in the Summer? French people used to eat a lot more regional foods, but as food distribution has become more global, you can find similar summer foods all over France. Barbecues French people barbecue sausages a lot. There are electric barbecues you can even use on a balcony. Merguez from North Africa Chipolatas from the south of France Porc chops Duck heats Grilled Rocamadour cheese Summer Salads Watermelon salad with feta and mint Caprese salad with garden tomatoes, mozzarela and fresh basil Salade Niçoise (and maybe some Socca to go with it?) Salads with boiled eggs and fruit (fresh strawberries or canned peaches or melons) Melon Charantais with prosciuto ham or with port wine Summer Soups Gazpacho Cucumber soup Royco soup (instant) Zucchini soup with either curry or Boursin cheese Summer Sandwiches Pain Bagnat Sandwich aux mergez Sandwich à la saucisse de Toulouse Summer Pizzas Pissaladière Fig and feta pizza Summer Fruit Peaches Melons Charentais Flat peaches or nectarines Summer Dishes Ratatouille (which you can make in one pot and without much fuss as Annie explains 19 minutes into the episode) Tian de légumes Quiches with a lot of onion or zucchini or Swiss chard or leeks Tomates farçies Dishes with fresh peas Mussels and fries Terrines de poisson or terrines de légume Fresh sardines on the grill Taboulé Apéritif dinatoire is a big thing in France in the summer Summer Is Rosé Season For some reason most French people switch to drinking rosé during the summer, especially in the last 10 years. It's completely OK to drink it with ice, but if you don't use ice it must be served very cold. There are good rosés from Corsica, Provence and Pays de Loire. More episodes about French food and wine   Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): French Food, Episode 17 Dealing with food allergies in France, Episode 170 A Cornucopia of Bizarre French Foods, Episode 193 Food Prices at French Grocery Stores, Episode 197 Do's and Don'ts at Restaurants in France, Episode 209 Cafe Culture in France, Episode 228 Categories: French Culture, French Food & Wine

Summer Lunches in France, Episode 295

On today’s episode, a conversation where Annie asked listeners to share their favorite shopping spots in Paris. Listeners mentioned so many places they love to go back to over and over again! Several stand out for clothing, food, wine, accessories, cosmetics, hobbies, gifts, it’s all here! Favorite Shopping Spots in Paris It’s funny for me to talk about shopping because I’m not much of a shopper myself. I mean, if I need something, I’ll go get it. But I don’t go out just to look around, see what’s at the stores, keep up with the trends. Now when I go back to the US and I have more time on my hands, then I enjoy going to Costco, Malls, look around. I always buy a lot of things in the US. I think it’s because I don’t get to do that whenever I want so it’s a treat. It’s probably the same for you when you come to France. It’s a treat because it’s different to your daily life. So, I asked on the Join Us in France Closed Group on Facebook what your favorite stores are in France and I got a lot of answers. A lot of you have visited France more than once, some of you are repeat offenders indeed! It’s a fun list! Department Stores and Grocery Stores BVH BVH Marais of course, right by the Hôtel de Ville. I like to go there to look for scarves, but they have all sorts of things, including a big hardware store in the basement. Monoprix This is the one that got the most votes and it is much like the French Target! What can I tell you about Monoprix? It’s got a little bit of everything, it’s not super fancy, but they carry solid products at a good price. Galleries Lafayette Galleries Lafayette: In French department stores, don’t forget to go to the basement where all the food is! But on Boulevard Haussmann go to Lafayette Gourmet across the street. Printemps Annie loves the one on Boulevard Haussmann, but listeners also mentioned the one under the Louvre. The mall under the Louvre is really nice actually, last time I was there I walked out with new Bose headphones! Au Bon Marché This beautiful store is in St Germain, we talked about it in episode 287. Despite the name it’s not cheap. Not even a little bit cheap! I’ve never bought anything there, but it’s a beautiful store, worth a visit just for that. La Grande Epicerie I almost added that one to my Saint-Germain-des-Prés tour but it was going to make it too long, but it’s an interesting kitchen supply store not in Les Halles. It’s also a wonderful food store with lots of expensive items. Mariages Frère Expensive teas, they have several locations. I don’t think they serve tea in any of the stores which makes no sense to me. Maisson Plisson This store is at 93 Boulevard Beaumarchais a bit pricey, but excellent food. Wine Stores Surprisingly, listeners only listed Devinis. There are of course many specialty wine stores in Paris, including  Nicolas (a chain) and hundreds of independent wine stores. Bakeries Ladurée Not sure what to say about them because they are really famous and have stores all over the world. They are still a favorite for many people! Pierre Herme Macarons and beautiful pastries, several locations in Paris including one on rue Bonaparte, included in my Saint Germain tour Des gateaux et du pain Two stores, one rue du Bac, one in Montparnasse Cafés Angelina’s Who hasn't heard of Angelina's? Annie particularly loves their Mont Blanc, a pastry with chestnut paste. Cheese Stores It's hard to point to one wonderful cheese store in Paris because there are so many and they're all so nice! La Ferme Saint-Aubin This one is a favorite even though it's pretty small: 76 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, 75004 Paris, France Perfume and Cosmetics Fragonard A chain that you'll find all over France CityPharma Rue du Four in Saint-Germain-des-Prés: skin care products and advice from the sales ladies. Caudalie All sorts of beauty products. The shop at the Carrousel du Louvre is nice. Officine Universelle Buly Historical beauty store in Saint Germain, I considered it for my Saint Germain tour also, but it would have made the tour too long. Very interesting place! Marius Fabre A listener said: I can’t live without the Orange-Cannelle soap, savon de Marseille, olive oil face and body cream Yves Rocher They have stores all over France and they are famous for giving out samples! Jewelry Stores Les Nereides Pretty and romantic costume jewelry Merci Store This store is in the Marais and is great for bracelets Fried Frères Jewelry, Beads, Buttons SEQUINS Paris since 1886 13 Rue du Caire, 75002 Lady Bird On rue des Abbesses. They sell quirky jewelry, hosiery, and other unique fashion accessories. Galerie Le Sud Paris You'll find it in the Marais They sell beautifully-made glass jewelry and art pieces. Clothing Stores, Fashion & Second Hand Stores IKKS There are several throughout Paris and France, they have stores for men, women, kids, etc. Reciproque Paris This is a large confinement store with sells fashions and decor items. 95 Rue de la Pompe, 75116 Paris. Soeur On 88 rue Bonaparte, you walk right in front of it on my Saint Germain tour but I didn’t point it out because I’m really interested in food and not clothes! Derhy Crimson Beautiful cashmere La Petite Maroquinerie A small neighborhood store in Montmartre selling recycled leather goods. Inès de la Fressange The store is on rue Grenelle 24 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris Longchamps Famous bags, of course! Heyraud Lovely shoes Louis Vuiton The original store is on Place Vandome, very posh! Art Supply Store & Hobbies Sennelier Picasso and Degas bought art supplies there. It’s a darling, crowded store with beautiful paint. La Bien Aimée Yarn store- amazing hand dyed yarn La Maison du Pastel Art supplies on 20 Rue Rambuteau, 75003 Paris La Droguerie Near Les Halles. Best wool and craft shop ever! Home Decor & Gifts Durance Amazing candles Pylones This is a chain that you'll find all over the world, but they have nice Paris-specific items. Astier de Villatte Ceramics, candles, fantasy items Deyrolle This one you cannot skip! Saint Germain des Prés, included in my tour, whimsy, nature, gifts for naturalists and gardeners, totally unique. Bazartherapy A little bit of everything for the home 15 Rue Beaurepaire, 75010 Paris Truffaut Nursery, home décor items, items for pets La Chaise Longue Home, accessories, decor. This is in the 16e. Ice Cream Shop Berthillon The original store is on the Ile Saint Louis More episodes about Paris Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Les Grands Magasins in Paris, Episode 287 Exploring the Béarn, Episode 281 Categories: First Time in Paris, France How To, Paris

Favorite Shopping Spots in Paris, Episode 294

 What happens when brothers meet in Paris? Well, they have a great time, of course! Annie's guest on today's episode, Ernesto de Jesus, lives in California and his brother lives in the Philippines.  They decided to spend some time together in Paris. They took the Eurostar to get from London to Paris and that was uneventful. Booking the ticket on-line was easy, then they took a taxi between the train station and their hotel and that made it much easier. They got their first glimpse of the city from the taxi and that was a great experience. Ernesto's Hotel Recommendations They stayed at two different hotels because they wanted to experience both left bank and right bank. Their first hotel was in Saint Germain des Prés and their second was the Hoxton in the 2e arrondissement. The Hoxton is a gorgeous restored building, but the area is not as walkable as Saint Germain. Book Recommendation Ernesto used the Paris in Stride book to walk around the Palais Royal and Covered Passages areas. There is an abundance of Japanese restaurants in this part of Paris. Food Tour Experience Ernesto and his brother took a food tour by Paris by Mouth. The did a Taste of Saint Germain tour and got to try some great food! Baguette tradition are big in France and usually taste better than the normal baguette. After the tour they went to Beaupassage to look at the stores and have some lunch. There are several restaurants and some art installations in the area. They tried an award winning croissant at La Maison d'Isabelle in the Latin Quarter and a small restaurant called Le Timbre. That's a small restaurant near the Luxembourg Gardens run by a husband and wife team. French food at a good price and you can reserve on-line. Another place they tried is called Frenchie and it's really popular, they have a restaurant, a wine bar, a to-go place. It's more American food than anything. They also tried chocolates and fruit jellies at Jacques Genin as recommended by the food tour leader. They thought the best macarons they ever had were at Pierre Hermé. Day-Trip to Versailles They took at tour with Blue Fox. Met the guide at Gare Saint Lazare and rode all over the garden grounds. Ernesto feels like they didn't get to see mych of the inside of the palace because they got there too late and it was already dark in October. On the other hand, they had the Hall of Mirrors almost to themselves. For people who don't want to take the time to go all the way to Versailles, you'll see something similar by going to the Napoleon III apartments in the Louvre or the Opera Garnier. And the Luxembourg Gardens are a wonderful place to relax too! Hiring a Professional Photographer This was a really good experience because it's hard to get good photos while traveling. This particular photographer was really good and has a nice smile. Navigo Easy and Museum Pass The Navigo Easy is the new way to travel around Paris. You don't need a photo and you can recharge it when you run out or to take longer trips like to Versailles. You can take bus #69 that goes by a lot of monuments for the price of one ticket. The museum pass was well-worth it, but rules are going to be changing now due to the pandemic, so check their website for updates. Why Do So Many Paris Taxis Refuse Credit Cards? Paris taxis are supposed to all take credit cards. The reason why they tell visitors that they don't is because they don't want to declare all of their income to avoid taxes. If you don't have euros with you, ask before you board the taxi, but they are ALL supposed to take cards. Paris Is a Walk-Able City Some people say Paris is over-ratted and that it's a cliché destination. But it's really fun to be there and it's a very walk-able city which makes it really enjoyable. Traveling with a Brother Ernesto's brother is an architect and they both enjoy photography. They've traveled together before and knew what to expect. His brother also studied in Italy so he had been to Paris before. Article in the journal Nature I mentioned in my personal update. More episodes about your first time in Paris   Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Subscribe to the Podcast Apple Google Spotify RSS Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Explore the Covered Passages in Paris, Episode 29 Saint-Germain-des-Prés Neighborhood, Episode 196 How to eat like a local in France, Episode 286 Ernesto de Jesus Categories: Family Travel, First Time in Paris, Paris 

Brothers Meet in Paris, Episode 293

There are a lot of Le Corbusier sites in Paris. Would you like to know how you can organize your visit and optimize your time? My guest David Palachek talks about his plan to see as many Le Corbusier sites in Paris as he could in a short visit. David is a designer and as such has a keen interest in all things architectural.  He took a lot of wonderful photos of these sites. You can see them by following Annie and David on Instagram. We discuss how Le Corbusier was a man of startling beliefs, and not just about architecture. Many in France don't think he deserves the money that is spent on keeping his memory alive. Then we also veer off into discussing David's favorite neighborhood in Paris, favorite restaurants, driving in Paris, and Annie's VoiceMap tour of Saint Germain des Prés. Please note that these sites are only open on certain days, plan accordingly. Also, due to the pandemic, some of these times might have changed. Check the official website of each development. Discussed in this Episode Charlotte Perriand exhibit at the Louis Vuiton Museum in Paris [02:42] Visiting the Pompidou Center with a teenager [05:37] Le Corbusier sites in the 15th arrondissement [08:48] Le Corbusier as a controversial figure [13:42] What Le Corbusier and Haussmann have in common [15:57] L'Esprit Nouveau Magazine [16:22] Le Corbusier didn't train to be an architect! [18:26] Problems with Le Corbusier buildings [19:48] Immeuble Molitor in Boulogne-Billancourt his private residence [21:36] Maison Cook {22:46] Villa Savoye in Poissy [25:10] Take note if you're going to be driving in Paris! [25:43] Le Corbusier influenced thousands who came after him [32:30] In the 13th and 14th arrondissement [33:19] Not ideal for teenagers unless you use the Flash Invader App [34:43] Using the VoiceMap App [36:28] Not to miss inside of Saint Germain des Près Church [31:01] David likes Saint Germain better than the Marais now that's he's tried both [38:19] Go inside the stores that are recommended on the tour! [38:49] Speaking some French is a big plus even if it's not necessary [40:10] Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Le Corbusier Architecture, Episode 139 How the Marais Neighborhood Was Almost Razed, Episode 103 David Palachek Categories: Arts & Architecture, Paris

Le Corbusier Sites in Paris, Episode 292

On today’s episode Annie and Elyse chat about the places you have to go if you’re a fan of high fashion or "haute couture" in Paris. Elyse gives us a brief overview of how haute couture got started in France and it turns out that it's fascinating! Support Elyse on Patreon If you're a fan of fashion you really need to go on a pilgrimage on a couple of streets in Paris (see below). These are high fashion boutiques where they sell high-end "prêt à porter". This means "ready-made". But a shirt might cost you 2,000€ so it's  not exactly affordable for everyone. Haute Couture as a Label Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP) is akin to the AOC you've probably hear of for wines. These products have to meet requirements that we call "cahier des charges" in French. Designers who want to enjoy the "haute couture" label must have everything done by hand. You have to have two in-house "ateliers" (workshops) where workers craft beautiful pieces. Everything has to be custom-made and custom-fitted. They must also participate in two shows a years. What the French call a "défilé de mode". You can see the official calendar of défilés in Paris here. Haute Couture Started with Louis XIV and Versailles Haute couture is not new in France. As a matter of fact it started with Louis XIV and his lavish palace in Versailles. And it continued after that with Madame de la Pompadour and Madame du Barry and continued with Marie-Antoinette. Back then they wore elaborate wigs called a "poule" (a chicken!). Women always wore jewelry and heavy makeup. Their dresses were 5 feet wide. It was all extravagant. Nobility All Came to Paris to Buy their Clothes Everybody who was anybody came to Paris to buy their clothes. This included the royal families or Germany, England, Russia, Spanish, Italy, etc. Yes, even the Italians who developed their fashion later. When members of various royal families came to Paris with their entourage, they usually stayed for a while. Local luxury hotels appeared as a result. Women at the time couldn't do much outside of the domestic realm, so they loved to get away and visit Paris to buy clothes. Marie Antoinette's Fashion Minister Rose Bertin was the first woman stylist to be introduced at the court and serve Marie Antoinette. Rose Bertin became very successful and she was called "fashion minister" by Marie Antoinette. In a truly rebellious act, she didn't marry because she didn't want to be under the control of a man. She managed to escape to London before the Revolution could get her and came back to France once it was safe for her to do so much later. More Recent Developments in Haute Couture Louis Hippolite Leroy was the stylist for Napoleon and Joséphine and he also created a business empire based on high fashion. He made the gowns for Napoleon's coronation. He is the one who coined the term "haute couture". Charles Frederick Worth succeeded Mr. Leroy and opened a shop on Place Vendôme. This is under Napoleon III and he's the one who invented the défilé with live people. He also "created" the profession of fashion model that was more respectable than being a dancer or actress. Copyright Protection for Haute Couture The official union of French haute couture came to life in 1911. The idea there was to stop people from copying and stealing styles. Members of this group were Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, Courrèges. More recently Christian Lacroix, Jean-Paul Gauthier, etc. We don't mention all of them, of course! Every fashion house now makes their own perfume. This is probably because anyone can wear perfume whereas most people can't get away with wearing those extravagant gowns. French expression of the week: Si le riducule tuait, on serait tous mort! Places You Should Check Out to See Haute Couture in Paris Boulevard Saint Honoré around number 380. Chanel is around there (on rue Cambon), Gucci, Louis Vuiton, Burbury, Loboutin. It's fun to go in and look around. Rue Montaigne (start around number 48). Place Vendôme More episodes to help you prepare your first trip to Paris Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise 

An Overview of Haute Couture in Paris, Episode 291

Laura Knott, my guest on today's episode,  has a passion for parks. She's a landscape architect, and went looking for the best parks in and around Paris. Laura made two trips to Paris, the first in Aug 2018 and the second in September 2019. The main goal for both of her trips was to explore parks and gardens in and around Paris. She had learned about those parks in graduate school, so seeing them in person was a treat! Laura travels solo and felt safe everywhere she went in Paris. One thing to keep in mind: when visiting parks you have to remain flexible. Parks can be closed due to a weather event, private parties, or other unpredictable issues. Movie Recommended in this Episode: A Little Chaos Discussed in this Episode [04:29] Parc Monceau Les Buttes-Chaumont [15:35] Parc de Bercy [22:26] Bois de Boulogne and Jardin d'acclimatation [31:33] Parc de Bagatelle [31:29] Bois de Vincennes [31:57] The Bosquets in Versailles [32:39] Parc André Citroën and the hot air balloon [34:19] Thank you Patrons and new video Patreon rewards [43:08] If you've appeared on the podcast and would like to join the secret group email Annie! [45:13] Elyse's new Patreon page [45:35] Annie's personal update [46:52] Update on doing a full immersion French course [47:26] Update on France re-opening to visitors [48:07] We're going to be over 300 episode soon after that you'll need to listen to earlier episodes on the website [50:14] Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Château de Vincennes Paris, Episode 203 

Best Parks In and Around Paris, Episode 290

Lagrasse and Villerouge-Termenès are in the Corbière area, to be precise in the Aude department and the Occitanie region. If you're ready for an off the beaten track vacation in the sunny south of France, listen to this episode and hop on a plane! Support Elyse on Patreon! What we love about Lagrasse Lagrasse has a lovely monastery that escaped destruction during the French Revolution, only to become a Gendarmerie later on! The monastery in Lagrasse is the only one in France to have both a medieval church and a classical cloister. A lot of English people have settled in Lagrasse and you it might surprise you to hear quit a lot of English spoken in the village, not by tourists, but by locals too! There is a book fair every year in Lagrasse, but you might also enjoy the marketplace from the 1500s, the famous bridge, the cloister, the remnants of ramparts, and the beautiful village. There is a new group of monks in the Abbey and the village has won a prize for the quality of its restoration. Lagrasse is only 42 km from Carcassonne and Narbonne and 140 km from Toulouse. It is a great place to visit from Carcassonne or Narbonne. From Toulouse it's a wonderful one-day excursion. Not to miss in Villerouge-Termenès This is a small village with a castle. It is gorgeous to see because a lot has been renovated. The audio guide is worth taking. It is called "Villerouge" because the stone is red there unlike in Lagrasse where it's white limestone. This is a place where the last of the Cathars were held and burned at the stake. This castle was the private property of the Bishop of Narbonne in the 1300s when this happened. As such, it was a stronghold of the proponents of the Catholic Church. Guilhem Bélibaste, one of the last Cathar preachers was burned at the stake there in 1321. There is a medieval rotisserie in Villerouge-Termenès where they serve chicken on a slab of bread without utensils and served with spiced wine. The restaurant is inside the castle and it's a fun thing to do when visiting the area! The Vineyards around Lagrasse and Villerouge-Termenès These are not the kinds of wineries that are showy. These wineries are often setup in serviceable agricultural buildings with a small show-room. There are signs inviting drivers to stop and sample the wine, but it's nothing fancy. You will find some of the loveliest Corbières wines in this area. Annie particularly likes to stop at a place called Camplong d'Aude where you can buy a wonderful red called C de Camplong. I said it was called O when we recorded the episode, but I wasn't remembering right, it's called the C de Camplong. This website lists 5 different "wine routes" you can take in the Aude department to get to know the Corbières wines. From there you can download a PDF in French. We think it is useful even if you don't speak French because it has  maps and photos. More episodes about Occitanie     Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): A visit to Limoux in Occitanie, Episode 277 The Medieval Walled City of Carcassonne, Episode 23 When in Lagrasse look up and you may find this wonderful lady and unicorn painted on a medieval beam. Categories: Day -Trips from Toulouse, Toulouse Area

Lagrasse and Villerouge-Termenès, Episode 289

Are you looking for a French immersion program in France? This episode will help you think through some of the things you should consider before making your choice. I must point that this episode NOT sponsored by any language school, my guests are making recommendations based on their experience and preferences only. My guests Janice and Catherine recount their experiences and what they consider the positives and negatives of language programs. Janice Chung has been a teacher and school principal and is now retired. She has a lot of insightful experiences about what makes a good learning experience. That's why I thought she would be a great guest to talk about French immersion programs. Janice also has a blog where she shared more details about all her experiences with French language schools in France. My second guest on the podcast is Kathy Stanford who studied at two French immersion programs. One in Tours and on in Besançon, both medium-sized cities in France. Language Schools Discussed in this Episode Ecoles des 3 ponts near Lyon Janice started going there years ago and keeps returning. The experience is great because you're speaking French 24/7 and class size is small. There are 3 hour of classes in the morning, then either free time to do homework, or cooking classes, or visits. They center the experience around student's needs. If a student is having difficulties with a particular concept, they create lessons to address it. That's very different from schools where they follow the book and don't deviate. For this school you take a short test online to decide what's an appropriate level for you. But on the first day you also get evaluated and then they place you in a class. Accent Français in Montpellier Here you have a couple of hours of class every day. It's not as student-centered as the previous one, but there are games, activities, you pair-up with other students. There's a whole range of things you can do. Janice would be happy to go back. But because you don't stay in the same place as all the other students, you spend more time without anyone to converse with. Also, because there are students from all over the world and they each come with their unique accent and sometimes it's hard to understand their French for that reason. Generally speaking you want to be in an environment that encourages taking risks and using what you know. Alliance Française in Paris Janice had a difficult time at Alliance Français in Paris even though she had taken some of their classes in Toronto. She was placed in a class that was too difficult. There were 10-12 students but the teacher responded to only a few students and did a poor job at encouraging participation from some students. Alliance is a highly structured type of class. They follow a set curriculum that is very teacher-directed with too little interaction with the students. Janice never tried to do phone conversation in French, but she went to a few meetups in Toronto. This was not deep enough for her style of learning. Centre de Linguistique pour les Étrangers (CLE) in Tours Kathy loved this small intimate school where she studied for a whole month in the summer. She loved the fact that there were only between 4 and 10 people per group. Students attend from all over the world. This is in the center of Tours in an old house. The school connected them with a host family where they continued to speak French in the evening. Centre de Linguistique Appliqué in Besançon This is geared towards intermediate or advanced learner, a bigger school with class size between 10 and 20. They did grammar, literature, linguistics, European Union, film, history, lots of topics. For the European Union class students had to make oral presentations. At this school you could take the DELF exam. It is a test that puts you on a scale for French proficiency. It is required for foreign nationals to enroll in French universities. Staying with a host family is wonderful, it gives you a chance to get to know the culture. The university dorm experience is not plush. Most students go home on the week-ends because students don't go far away from home for college in France. General tips for people who want to learn French Put yourself in situations where you'll need to speak French: Visit small towns and villages where you won't be surrounded by people who use English every day. Instead of flying or taking the train within France, use a ride-sharing service like Blablacar where you're more likely to talk to locals. Stay in a Bed & Breakfast or Youth Hostel where you'll meet plenty of French people who have minimal English. Understand that in large touristy cities in France many people you will interact with would rather speak English with you. They want to make you comfortable and it might be faster than taking your order in hesitant French. It is very common for language learners to take classes for years and still be unable to speak. That's because learning grammar is one thing. Memorizing vocabulary is pretty easy. Using the language to converse is much more difficult. You should probably seek out French immersion programs where the emphasis is on conversation and on the student doing most of the talking. Take advantage of the ability to explore other parts of France if you can. You don't need to study all the time! Join Us in France in the news! Article about Join Us in France in the AARP Magazine. There was also an article in the France-Amérique Magazine. Book recommended in this episode: Waking Up White by Debbie Irving   Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Ecoles des 3 ponts near Lyon [05:53] Accent Français in Montpellier [10:00] Alliance Française in Paris [12:10] Centre de Linguistique pour les Étrangers (CLE) in Tours [20:28] The DELF certification [25:25] Staying at a University dorm in France [31:20] Thank you patrons and how you can support the show [34:03] Join Us in France reviews in two magazines [37:32] Annie's take on the current civil unrest in the US [39:12] Update on the Covid-19 situation in France [43:38] Reopening borders [45:24] Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Survival French with Todd Newman, Episode 30 Categories: France How To, French Culture

French Immersion Programs, Episode 288

Department stores in Paris aka Grand Magasins are surprising in many ways. Of course you can shop your heart out and find some of the most wonderful items in Paris, but their history is amazing too! And, that was a surprise to both of us, it has a lot to do with the emancipation of women. In today's episode Elyse discusses the 4 that are left today and what not to miss when you visit them. Department Stores in Paris aka Les Grands Magasins The history of department stores in Paris has a lot to do with what activities were acceptable for women to do outside the home. But the buildings are also gorgeous and worth a visit all by themselves, even for people who aren't big spenders! Les grands magasins mark a revolution in how people shopped. Custom-made items became too expensive and ready-made goods were now a good alternative. Mass production of textiles became possible in the 1840s due to the industrial revolution. If you were a woman of the upper class in the 1800s there weren't a lot of activities that were acceptable for you. You could go to the theater, you could go shopping only accompanied by a man, you could visit parks accompanied by family. But you were not supposed to go wandering on your own. Le Bon Marché Started in 1852 as a Grand Magasin by the Boucicaut family near the métro Sèvres-Babylone. The name "bon marché" means two things in French: good items and inexpensive. Everything they sold was ready-made, prices were good because they sold enough volume, and they could deliver! Something completely new: you could return items you weren't happy with! Women could go shop there and it was acceptable, but the store keepers were mostly men. Eventually Bon Marché started hiring women as sales clerks which was another revolution in the business. Bon Marché advertised a lot and put out catalogs and it was a huge success! So much so that Bon Marché also built a hotel right across the road for all the patrons that came to Paris just to see this new department store. The Bon Marché is the only Grand Magasin on the Left Bank, the other two are near the Opéra Garnier in the Right Bank. Le Printemps Le Printemps grand magasin was inspired by Bon Marché and was started on the right bank in 1865 by two savvy businessmen. This is the biggest department store in Paris in terms of surface. This is the store where the concept of sales was invented. At the end of the year, after Christmas, they decided to make room for new items by discounting the previous year's inventory. Printemps has a gorgeous dome that you can see by going to the Brasserie du Printemps. Follow the signs or ask someone to direct you. There are other cafés and places to eat, but the one under the dome is called "Brasserie du Printemps". A great place to eat in a beautiful environment. A good meal at lunch around 30€. They innovated also with electric elevators which people wanted to see and ride! At Christmas time they have beautiful window displays outside the store. They commission great designers to work on those windows and people come to see them by the thousands! You can have access to the rooftop terrace at Printemps as well as at the next place we'll talk about, which is the Galleries Lafayette. Les Galleries Lafayette The Galleries Lafayette is the only one of the department stores in Paris that has branches all over France. This means that it's a much bigger company. They also opened in 1865. Two cousins from Alsace decided to create this store and they named it after the boulevard. In this store big name clothes makers and cosmetics companies rent space. The building for housewares is spectacular across the street from the building that has the dome. The building is gorgeous and a must-see even if you don't like shopping! They were the first ones to add escalators. The whole center part of the store is open and you can see the dome from street level. There is a glass walk that you can take. It is free but there's usually a long line. When you out onto the glass walk you can be right underneath the center of the glass dome. It is spectacular, but not ideal for folks who are afraid of heights! At the top you'll find a nice cafeteria where you can eat for 20€. It's nothing fancy, but you can look out towards the roofs of Paris. Rooftop access is also free and highly recommended. La Samaritaine This is no longer a department store and it's not going to reopen until some time in 2021. Originally the reopening was slated for 2020, but the pandemic threw a wrench in that. This one is along the Seine River by the Pont Neuf. It was a department store for 135 years, it was built as an Art Nouveau / Art Déco building. We don't know why they other 3 are still going strong and this one has failed commercially. It closed in 2005 and was bought up by LVMH. When it reopens it'll be apartments and stores. More episodes for your first time in Paris Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Le Bon Marché [07:45] Printemps [21:52] Les Galleries Lafayettes [29:54] La Samaritaine [39:07] Thank you Patrons and how too you can support the show [48:10] How France is re-opening following the pandemic [49:51] Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Explore the Covered Passages in Paris, Episode 29 The glass walkway at the Galleries Lafayette

Les Grands Magasins in Paris, Episode 287

When visiting France and important part of the experience is the food, isn't it? This is particularly true for my guest on today's episode, Michael Groves. He spends a lot of time in France and loves to try new restaurants. What are the best ones? He shares his method for finding them with all of us today. But you have to know that most French people (like Annie) are not restaurant critics. We don't spend that much time worrying about where to eat. That's probably because we live in France full-time. We do go out for special occasions, but home cooking is still huge in France. Nevertheless, while touring around France you might as well look for wonderful restaurant experiences. Listen to this episode to find out how you might go about doing that. In this episode we also go through a round of "is it true that in France you can't"... Please don't make those incorrect assumptions even if you've heard them a million times! Do you want to eat like a local in France? Here's how you do it! Have you ever heard of the Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants? These are the restaurants below one star, maybe working their way up to a star. Whatever they may be trying to achieve, they are definitely great places to eat! On that site you'll also find the "Table Simple" with an "assiète" (plate) symbol. David Lebowitz is a great resource in English, so is Patricia Wells, their advice is very reliable. In French it's worth checking Gilles Pudlowski and Simon Says who writes for Le Monde. More are listed in the Guest Notes. The Guide Vert is always a great resource and they have different guides for different parts of France, but most of them have not been translated into English. Websites like Yelp or Trip Advisor are not ideal for France Americans like to read reviews and they use Yelp and Trip Advisor a lot. But French people don't choose restaurants like that, at least not in 2020. So who ends up leaving reviews of restaurants in France on Yelp? Americans and other visitors. There's nothing wrong with that, but how do you know if they know anything about French food? Do they know what classic French dishes are supposed to taste like? They might give an average restaurant 5 stars because the staff was friendly. Again, there's nothing wrong with that, but you're not getting the local perspective. There are some reviews in French on those sites, if you read them you'll have better luck. How about historical restaurants? There are some wonderful historical restaurants in Paris such as Les Deux Magots, Brasserie Lipp, Café de Flore, Le Banaparte, Le Procope are in Saint Germain des Prés also. Sometimes they are a little bit overpriced, but it's worth it for the atmosphere. In Montmartre at the confluence of Boulevard Raspail and Boulevard Montparnasse you'll find several other classic restaurants such as Le Dome, La Rotonde, Le Select, La Coupole, etc. There's also an Entrecôte Restaurant nearby. The Luxembourg Gardens are also walking distance from there. The Bouillon restaurants are also classic. There are different ones in different parts of Paris. The most famous one is Bouillon Chartier (faubourg  Montmartre, 9e arrondissement) where several movies were shot , but Annie likes Bouillon Racine (6e arrondissement), Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse (also 6e arrondissment), Bouillon Julien (10e arrondissement). Bouillon Pigale is fairly new unlike all the other ones. How to eat like a local outside of Paris When in Lyon you must try a "Bouchon" restaurant and go to Les Halles. In Toulouse you must try the Victor Hugo market and restaurants upstairs. Le Pyrénéen a great seafood place in Toulouse. Have you ever tried Cassoulet? There are many great restaurants that serve it all over France. Remember that not every delicious restaurant is Instagram-worthy. In Marseilles you must try a Bouillabaisse as well as Tunisian and Moroccan food, couscous is a favorite. Michael likes a restaurant called Toinou for seafood. Chain restaurants ARE popular with French people Many Americans love TGI Friday's, Olive Garden and the Cheesecake Factory, right? Well, it's the same in France! French people patronize chain restaurants too. We don't have as many chain restaurants as what I saw when I lived in America, but have have a few that are pretty good. So if you want to eat like a local, you can't count them out, especially if you're driving in France. L'Entrcôte has several restaurants both in Paris and outside of Paris and they all serve great steak-frites with a secret sauce. Chez Léon is a place for French fries, beer and mussels.  You'll find it mostly in the north of France. Other chains that are good for people who are driving through France are Buffalo Grill, Hippopotamus, Courte-Paille, Autogrill, L'Arche, etc. You'll find them at freeway rest-stops and in the suburbs. These are places French people really enjoy because the food is predictable and good. They are the Applebee's or Denny's of France! Are these things true about eating in France? More episodes about French food and wine Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Is it true that you shouldn't eat anywhere that has a menu in English? [29:29] You shouldn't eat at a restaurant that has photos on the menu? [30:14] Some say that in France you should not ask for a doggy bag. Is that true? [31:31] People say you shouldn't order red wine with fish and white wine with meat. Is that correct? [33:32] Is it true that you don't need to tip in France? [35:48] Should you try traditional French foods when you're in France? [39:52] Is it true that you must pay for bottled water at a restaurant in France? [43:43] Must you speak French or you'll get terrible service? [45:48] Subscribe to the Podcast Apple Google Spotify RSS Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): A Cornucopia of Bizarre French Foods, Episode 193 French Wine Q&A for Beginners, Episode 162 Category: French Food & Wine

How to eat like a local in France, Episode 286

 In today's episode of the podcast Annie and Elyse ask: Will Covid-19 change France? It is hard to imagine that it wouldn't, but how? As full-time residents of France we talk about some of the things we expect to happen going forward in France. We start the show by wondering how a large institution like the Louvre Museum might adapt. And how about taking tours while visiting France? Will we ever see a flock of people gather around a tour guide? Will we all need to use audio guides? Another big question is will French people continue to kiss on the cheek? And if we can't "bise" one-another, what will we do instead? An even bigger question is restaurants and cafés. Many French restaurants are so small they cannot possibly carry on as before. Will they all go take-out? Will we mostly eat on terraces? Can small mom-and-pop restaurants that are so common in France survive this epidemic? As you can see, there's a lot to talk about, so click play and let's go! Will Covid-19 Change France? Masks will become “normal” in France. How the Louvre might handle reopening. “La bise” may not be as ubiquitous as it used to be. Working from home was weird, now it’ll be a privilege. Staggering work hours will also become normal. Awareness of how important medical services are. Awareness of how important “menial” jobs are. Annie hopes that drive-up windows and curb-side pickup will become the new normal. French people are now painfully aware that we rely too much on Chinese imports. Personal space in France will hopefully get bigger. There may be a revitalization of small villages where those who went to hide may decide to stay. Impact of our constant coming and going on the planet is now obvious. Other side of the coin, people may be scared to use public transportation. Contact-less payments were not popular, now they’ll be the new normal. You know how French people don’t look at their phones so much when sitting at a restaurant, that may be over. Netflix now has over 10 million subscribers in France and some good original programing in French (Criminal for instance). Cafés and restaurants that have a terrace will do better than the ones that don’t. What will happen to all those restaurants in cities where it’s so crowded? People will meet at parks and open-air areas a lot. Even with family, I’ll have them over but we’ll BBQ on the terrace. How about bars and night clubs for the young crowd? Will inhabitants of small Paris apartments invite one-another at home rather than meet at a café? Small business owners in France will now understand the importance of having a website and an email list so they can tell their customers we’re open or closed or drive-up or whatever. The way French people vacation will change.   More Episodes About Life in France EMAIL | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | TWITTER   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Will French people start looking at their phones more? How are French schools handling this? Is Netflix going to kill French TV stations? There are no menial jobs! Hospitals beds are a precious commodity even if they are not full all the time We don't all have to go to work at the same time! SUPPORT THE SHOW Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Will the Pandemic Change the Way You Travel? Episode 282 La bise in France may be going away, at least between people who don't know each other well. Category: French Culture

Will Covid-19 Change France? Episode 285

On this trip report Annie takes you on a quest for the Maid of Orĺéans with her guest Kim Loftus. Have you ever wanted to go searching for Joan of Arc in rural France? She's in a lot of villages in northern France! That was the theme of Kim's latest trip to France and she tells us about several of the must-see sites related to this world-famous heroine. Book recommendation: Joan of Arc, a Life Transfigured Hotels Recommended in this Episode In Reims they stayed at the Hotel Campanile. This is a great location where you could walk to the city center and they have parking. Campanile hotels are typically inexpensive as well. In Reims they also enjoyed the restaurant Au Bureau near the Cathedral and Au Café de Reims. The best hotel of the trip was in Rouen: Best Western Hotel Gustave Flaubert Searching for Joan of Arc in Rural France Joan was born in the middle of the 100-year war which went poorly for the French, particularly with the terrible battle of Agencourt (listen to episode 89 for the story on how that went). France was being ruled by an English King. She was born in Domremy, which has now been renamed Domremy-la-Pucelle. You went there and will tell us what you saw there in a moment. Her father was a successful farmer and she was the oldest of 5 children. She was extremely pious and went to pray in the village church several times a day. Joan started hearing voices at age 13 telling her that it was her calling to deliver France from the wicked English rulers and put a French King on the throne again. At age 16 (or was it 17?) she set off to meet the rightful heir of the throne, raised an army, inspired French people to support the cause and she did it! She’s been a legend ever since as the unlikely savior of a country in big trouble. She was at the center of two big trials which is why her life is well-documented and also why it’s hard to talk about her without being a specialist because it’s complicated! There is also plenty of lore surrounding her life. But she was a real girl who died young in a tragic end and achieved amazing results by turning the 100-year war around in favor of the French. I found the Wikipedia page about her to be one of the best summaries out there of who she was and what she did. I also read the Wikipedia page about her in French and that’s got so many details that it’s horribly confusing. Château-Thierry Aisne-Marne Memorial Cemetery WWI Château-Thierry monument WWI Porte Saint Pierre, Joan of Arc entered the town of Chateau-Thierry through this stone gate. This is a fortress related to 100 Years War: The town was under the control of the English, Joan of Arc marched through and took it over for the French. Newly crowned King Charles VII was with her there. Reims This is where Charles VII was crowned and where many other French Kings were crowned too. Joan had to take the city from the English first, and then have him crowned. There is a Joan of Arc sculpture outside cathedral and chapel inside. You’ll have to find the statue of the smiling angel of the Cathedral too! Reims is a good place to stay when you go searching for Joan of Arc. They took day-trips to Domremy-la-Pucelle and Vaucouleur while staying in Reims. Domremy-la-Pucelle This is where Joan of Arc was born and raised, and she set off on her quest from here at age 16. What did you see there? L'Arbre des Fées, the gift shop staff was so fun for a Joan geek like me, maybe because I was the only one there. It was another chance to practice my French. Centre Johannique Joan’s childhood home and the garden where she heard the voices giving her instructions Remy church next to Joan’s home. Vaucouleurs Visitors Center, which is where you request to see Joan of Arc Museum. Next to the Visitors Center, a shop called Mercerie Lagny. Nathalie, owner, was so delightful. Bought French made socks, Berthe aux Grands Pieds. Eglise St. Laurent - chapel to Joan. Up the hill is the gate of France where Joan left the city with her troops to go the dauphin at Chinon. An old lime tree probably dates back to Joan’s time. Sign explaining only living thing remaining that would have been there to see her off in 1429. The old castle’s chapel were Joan attended the Mass on mornings and stayed for hours in front of the statue of Notre-Dame-des-Voûtes. It was not open. Compiègne Came through on a Sunday and everything except the Château de Compiègne was closed. Many half-timbered buildings in the city center. Joan of Arc on city hall and sculpture in the plaza. Joan captured nearby. Tour Jeanne d’Arc, origninally called La Grosse Tour du Roi. After Charles VII was crowned, he entered into pragmantic agreements with various Lords, some of whom used to be his enemies. Joan still wanted to get rid of all the English. When the English laid siege Compiègne the inhabitants send word to Joan of Arc that they needed her. She was able to rally 400 men to try and chase the English away from Compiègne but she was captured. They put her in various prisons, she tried to escape, no ransom was negotiated and she was burned at the stake in Rouen a year after her capture. Rouen Chemical plant explosion and awful smell in the air The Joan of Arc Historical, an immersive experience - quite moving. Rouen Cathedrale - light show in the summer months Eglise St. Jeanne d’Arc, Rouen right next to Place du Vieux-Marché - Joan’s execution site, marked with a towering sculptural cross. Best dinner at D’eux-Mêmes restaurant - Palet Breton, Tube Choco-dessert and a Daurade. Searching for Joan of Arc in Rural France Useful Links Joan of Arc cities website aka "villes johaniques" and map of the area in English Also a Facebook page for events in Domremy and Grand Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Aisne-Marne Memorial Cemetery WWI Château-Thierry monument WWI Porte Saint Pierre where Joan of Arc entered the town of Chateau-Thierry Reims Domrémy-la-Pucelle Vaucouleur Compiègne Rouen Subscribe to the Podcast Apple Google Spotify RSS Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): The Battle of Agincourt, Episode 89 Chateau-Thierry and the Battle of Belleau Wood, Episode 256 A Perfect Day Trip to Reims from Paris, Episode 13 Categories: Alsace and Lorraine, Champagne Area, Hauts-de-France, Normandy & Brittany

Searching for Joan of Arc in rural France, Episode 284

 Today’s episode of the podcast is a conversation between Annie Sargent and Greer Ball about her wonderful Provence cycling tour. Greer is from New Zealand, I think she’s my first Kiwi guest on the podcast and she was a lot of fun! I don’t know about you but I am ready to day-dream about a nice visit to Provence and I am confident we’ll be able to do that again soon. Soon to me would be this time next year. And why not? It seems doctors and researchers are making great progress in learning how to handle this pandemic. Greer’s cycling tour in Provence has everything you might want: lots of exercise, great meals, a fun group and tour leaders, she loved it and gives lots of tips for a cycling trip to France. The company she used is called Obscure Tours The tour took them through the towns of Avignon, Remoulins, Pont du Gard, Uzès, Tarascon-en-Provence, Arles, Les Baux de Provence, Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Camargue, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, and Montpellier. For my personal update after the interview I’ll tell you about the announcements made by the French Prime Minister and how things are going to change in France after May 11. Hotel Recommendations In Avignon they loved the Cloitre Saint Louis Hotel where you can have your breakfast around the cloister and has a pool! In Remoulins they stayed at Hôtel Restaurant Le Colombier which had great outdoor eating under a big tree for meals. It's a couple of kilometers away from the Pont du Gard, an easy walk. Hotel in Uzès, Hostellerie Provençale an old building with modern art. Hotel Les Echevins in Tarascon Hotel du Forum in Arles Hotel Les Palmiers en Camargue in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Hotel Royal in Montpellier More Conversations About Active Vacations in France Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price. Discussed in this Episode Tour group with guide and luggage service [03:42] Electric bike option [04:18] Steep ride up to Les Baux de Provence [04:50] The tour started in Avignon [05:23] Taking the TGV between Paris and Avignon [06:08] Great hotel in Avignon [07:10] Pont d'Avignon aka bridge to nowhere [08:28] Why you should take the iPad tour at the Papal Palace [08:45] Vibration sound and light show at the Papal Palace [10:15] Riding between Avignon and Châteauneuf-du-Pape [11:06] Riding to Remoulins and the Pont du Gard [12:21] Canoeing under the Pont du Gard [12:35] Hotel recommendation in Remoulins [13:50] Parking situation at the Pont du Gard [14:23] Riding between Remoulins and Uzès [15:07] Is Uzès the best market in France? [15:38] The Duke's Castle in Uzès [16:56] Claustrophobic castle staircase! [17:45] Walking to the source of the acquaduct that fed the Pont du Gard in Uzès [18:43] Hotel recommendation in Uzès [21:14] Ride from Uzès to Tarascon [21:40] La voie verte du Pont du Gard: and old railway line converted into a bike trail [22:55] Chateau du Roi René in Tarascon [24:08] Ride between Tarascon and Les Baux de Provence [24:36] Les Carrières de Lumière in Les Baux [25:33] Is the village of Les Baux de Provence worth it? [27:23] Ride between Les Carrières de Lumière and Arles [28:28] Roman ruins in Arles [28:58] Van Gogh stuff in Arles [29:19] Saint Trophime in Arles [30:55] Arelate festival in Arles in August [31:23] Riding to the Camargue [32:18] Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Sainte Sarah [32:59] Ride to Montpellier [35:21] Stop in Aigues-Mortes and La Grande-Motte [36:02] La Grande-Motte is popular with French vacationers [36:57] Riding to Montpellier and restaurant recommendation [38:49] What should you have done differently for this trip? [39:18] French people don't deserve their "rude" reputation [41:20] Tour company: Obscure Tours [42:49] Thank you Patrons [44:48] Personal update [47:20] Summary of new announcements by the French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe [47:48] Subscribe to the Podcast Apple Google Spotify RSS Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise Categories: Active Vacations in France, Provence Edit "Provence Cycling Tour, Episode 283"

Provence Cycling Tour, Episode 283

Are you getting ready for a trip to Paris? Provence? Normandy? On this podcast we have conversations about France: we share trip reports, chat with tour guides, share tips on French culture, the basics of French history, explain how to be savvy traveler in France, and share our love of French food, wine and destinations in France. And because this show has been around for a while, we also had time to share language tips, every-day life in France, and tips for those who are considering moving to France. By listening to this show you will learn how to make great choices for your own trip to France no matter what part of France you plan to visit. We're also a great community for Francophiles who can't get enough of France and return year after year.

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