France Archive

  • Violet Toulouse

    The Violet Lady of Toulouse (And Her Boat)

    “Did she just coo?” I asked my guide as we entered the riverboat. “Yes, yes she did,” was the smirk-laden rejoinder and my first introduction to the eccentric but absolutely passionate Violet Lady of Toulouse, Hélène Vié. In a city known for its unique obsession...

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  • Aix en Provence France

    A Walk Through Aix en Provence

      The very word Provence stimulates my prefrontal cortex, which in turn creates a response causing my heart to beat faster and my eyes to twitch, just a bit. Provence is one of those dream locations that many of us dream about. Visions of vast...

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  • Marseille France

    Oh Marseille, What Happened?

    It’s partly my fault, I realize that. I was on a crazy schedule around France (which I agreed to) and frankly some cities suffered from lack of time. Marseille was one of those cities. But I refuse to accept all of the culpability, I’d like...

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  • Toulouse, France

    A Walk Through Toulouse, France

    Toulouse was one of those cities that I had heard of many times before, but didn’t actually know anything about. That all changed when I stepped off the train into what is a vibrant, energetic and beautiful city of more than half a million people,...

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  • IMG_6215

    Is the South of France Worth the Hype?

    There are certain places in the world that everyone seems to want to visit. Australia, Paris and New York are almost always on these lists, but so is the south of France and I’m not quite sure why. It probably has to do with the...

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  • Pope's Palace Avignon, France

    Three of My Favorite Views in Avignon, France

    Although my time in the ancient city of Avignon was short, I was determined to see and do as much as possible. Most people are familiar with this southern French town from the children’s song “On the bridge in Avignon,” but as I learned there’s...

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  • Eiffel Tower Paris Christmas

    City of Lights – A Walk Through Paris at Christmas

    Paris excites my travel imagination any time of year, but during the winter holidays the magic of the city seems to expand exponentially. In a veritable travel grenade of food, culture and urban beauty Paris explodes into a city not to be missed around the...

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  • Hermione

    Rebuilding American History in France – The Hermione Project

    In 1789, the Marquis de Lafayette sailed from Rochefort, France headed for Boston, where he would change the course of world history. La Fayette brought with him the news that the French Empire was entering the American Revolution in defense of the rebel colonists and...

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  • french wine gaillac

    Scottish Winemaking in Rural France (No, Really)

    I was already mesmerized by the perfect French countryside on the drive to Chateau de Mayragues. By perfect I mean that the hills dotted with red flowers and rustic barns seemed to have jumped out of a work by Monet. THIS was France, this was...

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  • Pont Avignon

    Finally Dancing on the Bridge in Avignon, France

    When I first started French lessons in middle school, my instructor taught us a popular French folk song, “Sur le pont d’Avignon” or “On the Bridge in Avignon.” According to the song “On the bridge in Avignon, we all dance, again and again.” I don’t...

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  • Albi

    Five Travel Surprises in a City You May Not Know: Albi, France

      Before my French Escape trip, I wasn’t familiar with many of the small towns I visited in Southwest France. I’m not proud of that because not only are these towns amazing places to visit, they each have interesting and long histories which are worthy...

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  • La Rochelle, France

    Five French Towns You Should Visit ASAP

    France is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, thanks in large part to the capital city, the City of Lights, La Belle Ville Paris. But as I recently discovered there are many amazing towns and cities sprinkled throughout the country and...

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  • Arles France

    Following the Path of Van Gogh in Arles

    I may not be an art aficionado, but there are certain artists I love and Van Gogh is near the top of that list. I’m not sure why I enjoy his work so much, but the colors and composition have always spoken to me. That’s...

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  • Cognac France

    More Than Just a Flashy Drink – Discovering the Real Cognac in France

    Cognac in the United States has never been more popular, yet it’s also never been more misunderstood. This classic French after dinner drink enjoys a starring role in the exploits of music super stars and some of the top athletes in the country. But it...

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  • Marseilles, France

    Free Isn’t Always Good – Why You Should Pay for a Tour Guide

    Last year I wrote about my belief that a good tour guide can transform a travel experience into something remarkable. I’m not talking about full-week, coach tours from hell. I’m referring to tour guides you can hire for a day or half a day to...

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  • La Rochelle

    My New Favorite Tour Type – Biking Through La Rochelle, France

    I’ve written a lot about day tours and how much I enjoy them. Rather than committing to a week long, herded around like lemmings kind of experience, a well done walking or day tour can add a lot of value to a trip. One style...

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  • La Rochelle, France

    Thoughts and Musings about Exploring France – Not Paris

    Last week, as I hope you know, I traversed the South-West region of France to see and explore areas completely new to me. I have been to Paris many times, I speak French, I love French culture and yet I had never gone further outside...

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  • Photo courtesy of CDT13/Aix-En-Provence V.Formica

    Cathedrals, Wine and Rural Escapes – Follow Along As I Explore France

    When I was twelve years old I asked my mother to enroll me in after school French lessons. Already at that age I was in love with the idea of exploring the world but knew the best way to do that from small town America...

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  • Diamond Head Sunrise

    Where the Powerful Travel – Top Presidential Vacation Destinations

    Today is Presidents Day in the United States; a day to celebrate, um, Presidents and more importantly it’s a day off from work. What connection does this have to a travel blog? Well, Presidents are human too and need vacations just like anyone else. Not...

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  • Paris Metro sign

    Travel Snobbery and the Importance of Being a Corny Tourist in Paris

    You may have noticed that if I like something, I tend to write about it a lot. You only need search the site for posts on Jordan and New Zealand to see the results of my travel affection. Well my first, and still dearest, travel...

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  • Context travel paris walk

    The Ultimate Food Walk Through Paris with Context Tours

    We were late for the tour; in fact we were dangerously close to missing it all together thanks to a tardy train. I was looking forward to this walking tour in Paris more than anything else, and with good reason. Walking tours are a great...

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  • Frankfurt Altstadt

    Join Me as I Explore the Christmas Markets of Europe

    There are many travel experiences I have hoped to enjoy for a long time. Near the top of the list for several years has been visiting Europe around the Christmas holidays. This year thanks to some good luck, we are finally able to make it...

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  • Sacre-Coeur Paris

    42 Things I Love About Paris

    I was going to do a slightly saccharine, flowing and probably over the top post about my thoughts on Paris. (which, if you haven’t guessed are pretty positive) I couldn’t imagine that such a post would be all that interesting, so instead I want to...

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  • Bateaux-Mouches, Notre Dame, Paris, France

    Celebrating Bastille Day and What France Means to Me

    Today is Bastille Day, the annual event when the French celebrate the storming of the Bastille, an episode that eventually brought monarchical rule to an end. More than just a day for the French to celebrate, Bastille Day has morphed into a day for everyone,...

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  • Bateaux-Mouches, Notre Dame, Paris, France

    Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Paris

    My first trip to Paris was eighteen years ago and while I have returned many times since, that first visit is an experience I will never forget. Here are just a few of the tips I wish I knew before that first great visit to...

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  • Sacre Coeur Basilica

    Interactive Travel Guide – What to do in Paris

    I believe that we are bearing witness to a huge paradigm shift in travel planning and preparation. As social networks continue to grow and mature, they will replace many traditional information sources. In the spirit of this revolution, I want to introduce a new series...

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  • Sacre Coeur Basilica

    Favorite Touron Spot – Montmartre

    I have many favorite places around the world where I love to just relax and revel in being a tourist. One of my favorite spots is Montmartre, in Paris. Montmartre is a top tourist spot not only for its amazing, and free (I’m looking at...

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  • Bateaux-Mouches, Notre Dame, Paris, France

    Strolling in Paris

    There are few areas of Paris as instantly recognizable as Île de la Cité and the fabulous Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Even though this part of town is without question among the most touristed, it remains one of my favorite. I love strolling along the Seine, glancing...

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  • Pantheon, Paris

    Four Offbeat Paris Experiences

      Paris is the most popular tourist destination in the world, so it is remarkable if there is anything new for the visitor to discover.  While these spots may be familiar to some, for many they offer a unique view of the City of Light....

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