Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Do you wonder what everyday life in France is like? Perhaps you have this idea in the back of your mind that you'd like to move to France. What will it be like day-to-day when you do? Annie Sargent was born and raised in France but she lived away for 18 years. As such, she has a unique view on her own country. And Elyse Rivin of Toulouse Guided Walks is from New York originally, but has been living in France for a very long time. Today we talk about everyday life in France and how it differs from the other places we've lived. If you've ever moved far from home, you know that how we live in one country is not the same as in another, is it? Did we miss anything? Reach out on social media to share your thoughts! Table of Contents for the Everyday life in France Episode [00:00:14] Intro [00:00:35] Today on the podcast [00:01:42] Self-guided tours [00:03:01] Travel question of the week [00:03:18] The France bootcamp [00:04:28] Annie and Elyse about everyday life in France [00:05:14] French people eat at set meal times [00:06:19] French people don’t eat at their desk [00:09:01] Some restaurants in France only open at lunchtime [00:09:44] Workers’ restaurants [00:11:04] Families eat together in the evenings [00:12:14] Apartment or house? [00:13:17] Coffee Breaks [00:14:49] More pressure to be part of a group [00:15:18] Today, the default is to use “tu” in business situations [00:15:33] Kissing people on the cheeks [00:16:28] Vacations in France [00:17:32] People don’t respond when on vacation [00:17:51] People are discovering vacations in France instead of abroad [00:18:26] Check schedule for long weekends [00:19:41] Appreciating nature more [00:21:05] Arrêt de travail [00:22:44] Cafe culture is important in France [00:24:21] French bookstores don’t have a cafe [00:25:28] Relationship to money [00:26:32] French people save their pennies [00:27:02] Not into consumerism [00:28:12] Don’t talk about how much you earn [00:28:28] French banks issue debit card, not actual credit cards [00:29:16] Bring a debit card to France [00:30:32] Don’t ask people about money, background, religion [00:32:37] French employers can ask questions that aren’t allowed in the US [00:33:31] In France it’s OK to discuss politics [00:36:05] Acceptable topics for people you just met [00:36:19] Talk about food [00:39:53] Talk about books [00:40:00] Talk about TV shows [00:40:09] Talk about travel [00:40:33] Fine to ask what’s your profession? [00:41:03] Talk about your next vacation [00:41:15] Talk about pets [00:42:33] Life is not as busy in France [00:43:40] Don’t count on things in August [00:44:47] Thank you, patrons [00:45:10] Welcome new patrons [00:45:59] Preparing a trip to France? [00:47:32] Self-guided tours [00:47:55] Travel Question of the Week [00:52:04] No French news – Climate change [00:52:48] Personal Update [00:53:56] Next week on the podcast More episodes about French culture FOLLOW US ON: Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Support the Show Tip Your Guides Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise Read more about this episode Transcript 

Today Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Eddie Hamalian about visiting France with a baby. He’s quite the dad and a definite Francophile. His wife has family in France as well, so this was something they wanted to do. Eddie has great tips for all of you young parents who want to come to France with their baby. It turns out that French people love visitor who bring their children, but there are a few gotchas you need to be aware of. On this trip Eddie and his family went to Lyon, Annecy, Beaune, and Paris. France Bootcamp May 21 until May 27 in Toulouse If you haven't already, please fill out this form to let Annie know that you'd like to be invited to the party! France Travel Update For the travel update this week, Annie talks about the Père Lachaise for pets in Asnière-sur-Seine. A serene and very unusual place! Recommended in this episode Quenlles de Lyon Yo-Yo Zen stroller Inglesina chair for restaurants Best Western Hotel International Le Jardin des 5 Sens on in Yvoire Cheese Fondue at Le Monchu in Chamonix Au Raisin Gourmand Restaurant in Beaune Le Caveau des Arches Restaurant in Beaune Restaurant Kalypso in the Batignolles neighborhood in Paris Le Costaud des Batignolles restaurant in Paris La Gazette Batignolles Brasserie in Paris Le Valmy Restaurant in the 10th Arrondissement in Paris Créatures Restaurant on top of the Galeries Lafayette in Paris near the Opera Video of the Pet Cemetery in Asnière-sur-Seine France with a Baby General Recommendations Airbnbs are great because you can make it feel more like home Bring a stroller like the Baby Zen Yoyo Be prepared to change diapers in the stroller or on the grass. Most restaurants in France don't have room for a big changing table. Trains are difficult with a baby or children, it adds a lot of stress. Consider renting a car instead. Don't assume people speak English. Try French first! Ask "parlez-vous Anglais ? Table of Contents for the France with a Baby Episode [00:00:00] Intro [00:00:38] Today on the Podcast [00:00:59] Thank You, Patrons [00:01:29] France Bootcamp [00:02:34] Main Interview [00:03:11] How long was he in Paris? [00:04:04] Paul Bocuse market [00:04:15] Paul Bocuse with a Baby [00:05:22] His Favorite Food in Lyon [00:06:38] Lunch Times in France [00:07:18] The Tête-d’Or Park [00:08:24] Would You Tip a Boat Attendant? [00:09:03] Lyon with a Stroller [00:10:08] No Baby Seats in Restaurants [00:11:29] Annecy [00:12:44] Bad Airbnb experience [00:16:34] Le Jardin De Cinq Sens [00:17:50] Chamonix [00:19:24] Beaune [00:21:14] Baby-friendly country, might feel too friendly to some [00:23:46] Let’s pretend we live in Paris [00:24:59] You Need Time to Visit the Louvre [00:25:43] Paris is inexpensive compared to Los Angeles [00:26:17] You pay for the view, even in Franc! [00:27:50] Favorite Restaurants in Les Battignole [00:28:54] Le Costaud des Battignolles [00:29:56] Gazette Brasserie [00:30:17] Baby trying new foods in France [00:31:46] 10th arrondissement [00:33:17] Areas to avoid in Paris [00:36:27] Unsavory Parts of Paris [00:38:18] Daughter’s baptism at the Armenian cathedral [00:39:49] The Galleries Lafayette, family celebration [00:41:48] General Advice for France with a Baby [00:43:54] Avoid the Train If You Can [00:45:17] Don’t Assume Everyone Speaks English [00:46:58] Thank You, Patrons [00:47:20] New Patrons [00:48:27] The Facebook Group [00:49:48] Hire Me as Your Itinerary Consultant [00:50:24] Self-guided VoiceMap Tours [00:50:52] Pet Cemetary in Asnière-sur-Seine near Paris [00:52:09] This week in French news [00:54:18] Gaillac [00:56:24] Show Notes [00:57:12] Next Week on the Podcast More episodes about Family Travel in France FOLLOW US ON: Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Discussed in this Episode Lyon Annecy Chamonix Beanne Paris Bad Airbnb experience 10e Arrondissement the hip area Areas you want to avoid in Paris Avoid the area between Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est Avoid Barbès Baptism at the Armenian Cathedral in Paris Celebration at the Créatures Restaurant on top of the Galleries Lafayette Asnière-sur-Seine La Rentrée Forum des Associations Gaillac Categories: France How To, Paris Support the Show Tip Your Guides Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise

On this episode of the podcast, Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Elyse Rivin of Toulouse Guided Walks as an Introduction to Victor Hugo. Visit the places where Victor Hugo lived There are places you can visit where he lived. The first is the place where he was born: Besançon.  La Maison Natale de Victor Hugo is where you can learn about his progressive political views. The second is on Place des Vosges where he lived for a few years. This is where you can see his standing desk (picture below) and other furnishings of this posh home. Victor Hugo had an immense influence on French politics and was so well-loved that 2 million people came to see his coffin go by on his way to the Pantheon. His was the first "celebrity funeral" as we know them today. Annie loves his works and shares a poem most French people know by heart" Demain dès l'aube" which he wrote in memory of his daughter. He was an exciting man who wrote wonderful novels. France Travel Update For the France travel update, Annie explains why RoissyBus is a good alternative to taking a taxi in Paris. Not as difficult as the RER and about the same price as taking the train. Don't be scared of French buses, they are lovely! This one has AC and WiFi! Recommended in this episode Les Misérables has been adapted many times in movies, plays and Broadway shows. The more adventurous of us might want to read the novel, but it's very long. Perhaps an audio book would be easier to deal with? Les Miserables, unabridged in Audio book in English. Abridged version of Les Miserables on Audible, also in English. This is the unabridged audio book in French Annie is listening to. Demain, dès l'aube in French Demain, dès l’aube, à l’heure où blanchit la campagne, Je partirai. Vois-tu, je sais que tu m’attends. J’irai par la forêt, j’irai par la montagne. Je ne puis demeurer loin de toi plus longtemps. Je marcherai les yeux fixés sur mes pensées, Sans rien voir au dehors, sans entendre aucun bruit, Seul, inconnu, le dos courbé, les mains croisées, Triste, et le jour pour moi sera comme la nuit. Je ne regarderai ni l’or du soir qui tombe, Ni les voiles au loin descendant vers Harfleur, Et quand j’arriverai, je mettrai sur ta tombe Un bouquet de houx vert et de bruyère en fleur. Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:00] Intro [00:00:41] Today on the podcast [00:02:35] Victor Hugo [00:03:33] Besançon: His birthplace [00:03:50] Places you can visit related to Victor Hugo [00:05:17] Place de Vosges [00:06:41] His Daily Habits [00:07:22] Achieving great success early in life [00:08:21] An author who wrote fast [00:08:47] A prolific author in all genres [00:11:16] Jersey and Guernsey [00:12:05] An Interest in Decoration [00:13:26] A brief recap of Victor Hugo’s family history [00:15:01] Affairs on both sides [00:20:11] How his work is being taught in French schools [00:20:56] Enjoying Victor Hugo’s novels today [00:21:58] Le Jeux Floraux [00:22:17] Victor Hugo started earning with his writing at a young age [00:23:15] Leopoldine’s death [00:25:42] Demain Dès L’aube [00:27:54] His Writing Style [00:36:12] Jean Valjean [00:42:13] His Exile [00:42:54] Victor Hugo was strongly opposed to the death penalty [00:46:37] His return to France [00:47:01] Victor Hugo’s Death [00:48:10] He wanted to eradicate poverty [00:49:41] Outro [00:49:41] Thank you, patrons [00:50:13] Shout out to new patrons [00:50:42] Itinerary consults [00:51:26] Self-guided tours [00:51:52] Trevor Noah’s VoiceMap tour [00:52:35] Alternative to the RER [00:54:03] EU digital passenger locator form [00:54:41] Personal Update: Bordeaux Rosa Bonheur Exhibition [00:57:31] Next week on the podcast More episodes about French culture FOLLOW US ON: Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Jennifer Jerzyk, my guest on today's podcast visited Narbonne and the Mediterranean coast in 2022. She travelled mostly by train because she finds it peaceful and relaxing. She also enjoyed the fact that Narbonne is a great gateway into the Mediterranean and such value! That's because Narbonne is not touristy. As a matter of fact, she wondered if she was the only tourist there! For the travel question of the week, Annie explains why people who take the RER between the airport and the city are asking for trouble. That's 49 minutes into the episode and you should listen to it and heed my advice! Tips for a Visit to Narbonne and the Mediterranean Coast Narbonne is a great place from which to explore the "other Riviera". The Mediterranean coast between Montpellier and Collioure. For example you could go to Agde, Sète, Port Vendres, Banyuls-sur-Mer, etc. Some of these places don't have a train station, but you might get there on a regional bus or by renting a car. Recommended in this Episode For your own peace of mind, you may want to lock your suitcase to the travel rack using a retractable lock. You can see one in Annie's Join Us in France Favs. L'estagnol Restaurant in Narbonne where they serve wonderful seafood and where she also went back for a wine event hosted by the wine maker. Hôtel de la Cité or Best Western in Carcassonne. Restaurant La Voile in Collioure In the conversation we mentioned Les Grands Buffets but they've since announced that the restaurant is moving but haven't announced where yet. Stay tuned, I will talk about it once the move has happened. More episodes about Occitanie

Today Annie Sargent talks with Brian Revel about a trip he took in France with his father on the theme of the Napoleon Route. The Villages on the Napoleon Route This route takes visitors from the Mediterranean all the way to Grenoble in the Alps. It is spectacular because the landscapes are ever changing and often breathtaking. The big hits are the village of Castellane in the Verdon, Tauleanne, Senez and Barrême, Chabrieres, Sisteron, Gap and all the way up the Rhone. And since it's all tied to the steps of a fallen Emperor making his way back up to Paris to reclaim what he saw as his rightful place makes it a wonderful story. Accommodations Recommended in this Episode La Maison du Bois Doré B&B in Montagnac-Montpezat For a Deeper Dive into the Napoleon Route Des Racines et des Ailes brief summary of the Napoleon Route on YouTube (in French). The authentic way to retrace the steps of Napoleon is to walk it. This is the walking path between Castellae and Sisteron called GR 406. You'd rather ride or drive it? Look for la Route des Grandes Alpes between Lac Léman in Switzerland and Nice. These guys did it with electric bikes. They did it in a "camping car" (travel trailer) and their cat. A group that did it on motorcycles and tents (and a dog!). With fancy cars and a drone. You get the idea, there are many ways to do this! Bastille Day in Paris Brian spent Bastille Day in Paris and shares tips on where to stand to watch the parade. It is also quite different in Paris than in other parts of France. Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:00] Intro [00:00:42] Today on the podcast [00:01:10] Thank you patrons [00:02:15] A Brief Intro on the Napoleon Route [00:02:49] Napoleon Route [00:03:56] The Route [00:04:43] A family trip [00:07:05] Friendly people of Provence [00:08:03] Grasse, perfume center of the world. [00:09:47] Car or bike? [00:11:00] What places he enjoyed the most [00:11:56] People tend to rush too much [00:13:25] Lavender and sun flowers [00:13:57] What’s the best time to see the lavender fields? [00:16:57] La Maison du Bois Doré [00:18:08] Moustiers Sainte-Marie [00:20:46] Riez [00:21:22] TGV-only train stations [00:22:41] TGV ride [00:26:41] Luggage security on the trains [00:28:30] ATM problems [00:31:07] Bastille Day in Paris [00:33:09] Would love to try the provincial La Fête Nationale experience [00:34:45] Bring your own utensils [00:38:42] You don’t need to plan every little detail in France [00:46:18] Are French people snotty? [00:49:57] Provence and La Province [00:53:39] Legal notice More episodes about Provence

Are you looking to go from Toulouse to Marseille on the train? Kelly Young has some tips for you, including what to do when the train takes a very brief stop somewhere! This was a bit of a whirlwind trip going to 5 cities in 11 days. Kelly would also like to move to France some day, so they are looking at possibly moving to France at some point. The family of 5 decided they're more interested in the south of France than in Paris. It's great (and unusual) to hear someone who hasn't been to Paris several times before visiting Toulouse! Things you need to know about taking trains in France If you've never taken the train in France, be aware that they don't post the number of the train track until about 20 minutes before the train departs. If you arrive at the train station early, look around at the different tracks and how to get to them. Listen to the episode for details on how to handle trains stations for your first time in France. About Marseille Marseille is a large city. It feels like a European New York, it's a big city, it's loud, there are ambulances, etc. But if you're looking for a city with diversity, Marseille is perfect and everybody was really friendly. If you are looking to explore France using public transportation, be aware that taking the bus between Marseille and Aix was really easy. The bus is also a great way to get around in France if you're willing to go out of your comfort zone which clearly Kelly and her family were! Recommended in this episode Hôtel des Grands Balcons in Toulouse Hire Elyse to give you a tour of Toulouse Best Western in Carcassonne Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:00] Intro [00:01:49] Main interview [00:02:30] The group and how they planned the trip [00:03:13] Hoping to move to France [00:04:33] Didn’t visit Paris at all [00:05:19] Toulouse [00:05:44] A determined person [00:06:02] Flew into Toulouse [00:06:34] Mirror Doors [00:06:58] Careful when you arrive and are jet lagged [00:07:54] La Place du Capitole [00:08:11] Tour of Toulouse with Elyse [00:09:12] A lot of walking [00:10:09] Archeological Museum [00:11:22] L’Entrecote [00:12:19] Apple Maps vs Google Maps [00:14:13] Breakfast near the hotel [00:15:31] Tolouse is quite empty in the summer [00:16:00] Montpellier [00:17:04] Adventures in the train [00:21:20] Trains get cancelled a lot [00:26:45] Carcassonne [00:29:24] Château Comtal de Carcassonne [00:30:21] The torture museum [00:31:50] Narbonne [00:33:10] Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne [00:36:02] Montpellier [00:37:37] Musée Fabre [00:42:34] Marseille [00:43:11] Some issues in Marseille [00:45:22] Aix-en-Provence by bus [00:49:45] Legal notice

Are you thinking of visiting L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Fontaine de Vaucluse? Listen to this episode to understand what it'll be like and make your plans! Episode Page | Transcript Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:00] Intro [00:00:48] Today on the Podcast [00:03:58] 400th episode of the Join Us in France Travel Podcast [00:04:26] Celebrating 400 episodes! [00:05:09] What information could change from old episodes? [00:05:41] Museum Pass no longer a good deal [00:06:31] Tickets no longer available very far in advance [00:07:00] Listen to each episode’s travel update for current info [00:07:36] Why I started the podcast? [00:08:22] Do we run out of subjects? [00:08:46] How do we usually choose our topics? [00:11:18] L’Isle sur la Sorgue [00:11:37] What is Brocante? [00:12:29] The market in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue [00:13:52] International Brocante [00:14:43] The town [00:15:38] The shops and restaurants [00:16:05] Other Brocantes in the world [00:16:55] What do they sell in the markets? [00:17:24] Professionals buy and sell here [00:20:14] How long should you spend there? [00:20:39] Parking might be hard [00:21:31] Remember where you parked! [00:22:06] Take a break around noon [00:23:32] It’s not a ‘pretty’ town [00:25:24] The foods [00:27:03] Special events [00:27:07] Nocturnal festival [00:27:37] Floating market [00:28:09] Monthly arts and crafts festival [00:32:03] Anywhere you want to go – get there early! [00:33:51] Reserve a place for lunch if you can [00:37:25] Fountaine de Vaucluse [00:38:14] The River Sorgue [00:39:22] Three attractions [00:40:42] The Poet Petrarch [00:43:43] The castle ruins [00:44:27] A magical place [00:48:12] Close to Cavaillon [00:48:59] Parking in Fountaine More episodes about Provence Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Are you introducing your partner to France? Perhaps you're bringing your children to France for the first time. This is an episode you'll hear lots of tips on how to make sure things go so well that they'll want to come back. My guest on today's episode, Megan McKay, has visited France 3 times but this was her partner's first time in France. Megan wondered what if he doesn't like France as much as I do? He was willing to try it, but sometimes things can go wrong. She wanted to make sure they did things they'd both find rewarding. Accomodations Recommendations B&B Recommendation: Le Champ des Oliviers. The host gave them great recommendations for local dining as well. Paris hotel recommendation: Belloy Saint Germain Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:41] Today on the podcast [00:01:05] Podcast support [00:01:25] The France bootcamp [00:01:44] On vacation for the next 3 weeks [00:03:10] Main interview [00:03:39] Megan’s first time in France [00:04:37] Champs-Élysées [00:05:20] Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature [00:06:11] Deyrolle [00:08:05] How long was the whole trip? [00:08:14] Train to Marseille [00:08:32] The village of Oppède (zip code 84580) [00:09:13] How was the train trip? [00:10:17] Getting to the B&B with a stop in Lourmarin [00:11:15] Did he like French food? [00:12:11] Not everything can be arranged through a website [00:13:14] Most places have someone who speaks English [00:14:39] A year in Provence in two days [00:15:50] When did they visit France? [00:16:31] Gordes [00:17:00] Lacoste [00:17:57] Fell in love with Rosé [00:19:13] Grocery Stores and markets [00:19:42] Small villages don’t have a lot of grocery stores [00:20:29] Cucuron [00:22:00] The road to La Ciotat [00:22:51] Le Castellet [00:23:28] La Ciotat [00:24:08] Harder to park in La Ciotat [00:24:50] 14 Degree Cave [00:25:40] Connect with people even though you don’t know the language [00:27:17] Is he going to want to come back? [00:27:41] Food is a good culture-connector [00:29:03] Caught out when parking [00:30:26] La Route de Cretes [00:30:50] Gas Stations and Foreign Cards [00:31:41] Back to Paris [00:32:30] Taking the train back to the airport [00:33:46] Say Bonjour [00:34:25] Flying in and out of Paris [00:35:26] Traveling light [00:35:38] Familiarize yourself with the GPS [00:36:56] Researching area before your travel [00:37:29] Rosé and Cognac: New Favorites [00:38:00] French language [00:39:00] Ready to come back? [00:40:05] Thank you, patrons [00:40:37] New patrons [00:41:13] Preparing to visit France? [00:42:18] Self-guided tours [00:42:36] Great review of the self-guided tours [00:43:24] Why the VoiceMap tours are great [00:43:57] Travel question of the week [00:49:44] Show notes [00:50:13] Next week on the podcast Episode Page | Guest Notes | Transcript Listen to episodes about food and café culture in France Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Today Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Elyse Rivin of Toulouse Guided Walks about the Sénanque Abbey and Gordes. This is lavender-central, but there’s more to it than the beautiful flowers! Elyse was just there on a vacation with her sisters, and she’ll tell us all about it with great tips on how to organize your visit and a little bit about the history of this Abbey. We start the conversation about the Sénanque Abbey and then move on to Gordes. #joinusinfrance #provence #Senanque #Gordes #provenceguide #provencefrance #provenceinspiration #provenceaixperience #provencetourisme #travel #podcast  Episode Page | Show Notes | Transcript Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:00] Intro [00:00:39] In today’s episode: Sénanque and Gordes [00:01:11] You can keep this podcast going! [00:01:31] Travel tips about Bastille Day in Paris [00:03:25] Sénanque Abbey and Gordes [00:04:28] Elyse Visited the Sénanque Abbey Recently [00:04:35] Luberon and Vaucluse [00:05:59] May and June, best times to go [00:06:30] When Can You See the Lavender Fields? [00:07:53] Cliché Images of Provence [00:08:31] Commune of Gordes [00:09:02] Getting to the Sénanque Abbey from Gordes [00:10:19] Provence Markets [00:11:23] Three varieties of lavender [00:12:12] Parking at the Abbaye [00:13:17] Product commercialization [00:13:57] Get Your Tickets in Advance [00:14:17] All Visits are Accompanied [00:14:39] Histopad for non-French speaking visitors [00:16:48] Cistercian monastery [00:17:29] Saint Bernard of Cito [00:20:05] Acapella singing [00:20:58] The Sénanque Abbey as a preserved monument [00:22:39] The Center for Lavender Growing [00:24:20] Help with the Lavender Production [00:25:30] Origin of the Word, Lavender [00:26:40] Tickets and Pricing [00:27:12] What Can You See at the Sénanque Abbey? [00:28:17] When Was the Abbey Built? [00:28:53] Not Wheelchair Accessible [00:29:14] How long is the visit? [00:29:54] Visit Gordes Also [00:31:11] You can Visit a Chateau [00:31:32] Markets and Shops [00:32:18] Next Village Over? [00:32:36] You Need a Car to Travel Around the Area [00:34:35] Weather [00:35:02] Eating Out [00:35:09] The Napoli Pizza [00:36:12] The Outsider Restaurant in Gordes (Elyse says the Outlander but she made a mistake) [00:37:46] Restaurants in Gordes [00:38:22] Cave for wine [00:39:12] Restaurants and Stores Prices [00:41:43] Michel Sarran Restaurant in Toulouse [00:42:05] Une Table à Deux Restaurant in Toulouse [00:43:03] Food Budget around Gordes [00:44:52] Check the Opening Times and Number of Visits [00:47:05] Thank You, Patrons [00:47:41] Shout out to new patrons [00:48:06] No Itinerary Reviews for a Couple Weeks [00:48:35] Itinerary Consulting [00:49:40] Annie’s GPS Self-Guided Tours on the VoiceMap App [00:50:18] Travel Question of The Week: Bastille Day in France [00:52:38] Military Parade in Paris [00:53:43] Air Show [00:54:01] Classical Concert [00:54:42] Rooftop Parties [00:55:00] Crowd Control on Bastille Day [00:55:21] Crowds aroud the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day [01:00:20] Personal Update [01:01:19] Heatwave in France July 2022 [01:03:16] If you enjoy the show share it with another Francophile! [01:03:39] Next week on the podcast More episodes about Provence

Today, Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Patty Lund about running into snags while visiting to France. She's visited France many times, but that wasn't enough to avoid minor issues. There are ways to avoid these problems, as she explains. We also talk about differences about life in French cities and in rural places because we have some strange ways to conduct commerce in rural France! What are some things you should think about when you're planning to move to France? Patty gives this a lot of thought, and she's a hoot to listen to, and not just on the podcast! Running into snags while visiting France [00:00:00] Introduction [00:01:23] Thank you, supporters [00:02:31] Main intervieww [00:02:43] Introduction [00:03:43] The oddities of the Geneva airport [00:04:39] Set the GPS before you leave [00:05:24] Switzerland is not in the EU [00:06:24] Should I get full insurance on the car rental? [00:07:12] Cheaper to rent a manual car [00:07:35] How do you pay for tolls when driving in France? [00:08:05] You can avoid toll roads [00:08:30] How to plan on the price of toll roads and gas in France [00:09:30] Toll roads have rest stops [00:10:34] Do you need an International driver’s licence in France? [00:11:02] Big snag in France: getting gas [00:11:25] Grocery Store Gas Stations and Foreign Cards [00:12:26] Getting Gas with Cash [00:14:53] Not everyone has credit cards in France [00:15:36] Getting money from the ATMs in France [00:17:23] Venmo Doesn’t Work in France? [00:18:14] Credit Cards Depend on the Vendors’ Setup [00:19:23] American Express Doesn’t Work Most Places [00:20:32] Order Euros from your bank in US [00:21:12] Driving and parking [00:22:24] Paying for Parking [00:23:43] Phone service in France [00:24:14] Skiing Adventures [00:27:51] Criteria when looking for a place to move to in France [00:29:55] Some French villages pack a lot of people in a small space [00:31:51] Some old French houses don’t have good heating systems [00:32:35] Annie’s brother Bergerie [00:35:25] Do you pick the village first or the house first? [00:35:54] Some small villages in France don’t have a boulangerie, they have a bread truck instead [00:36:51] Service Trucks Visiting Small Villages [00:38:44] Food vending machines in France [00:40:17] Rural France is totally different from life in large French cities[00:40:17] How does the town vote [00:42:02] Looking for an artsy community [00:43:46] In rural France you end up cooking for yourself a lot [00:44:12] Not many ethnic food restaurants [00:46:19] Rural France is very different from Paris! [00:47:28] In rural France you do great if you talk to people and ask for help [00:48:05] Thank you, patrons [00:48:47] New tier for patrons [00:49:37] Thinking of visiting France? [00:49:54] Hire me to be your itinerary consultant [00:50:49] Self-guided tours [00:51:25] Should I get “Skip the line tickets at the Eiffel Tower”? [00:53:56] The busiest times at the Eiffel Tower [00:58:01] Covid update [00:59:03] This week in French news [00:59:44] Personal update [00:59:59] Podcasters are busy people! [01:01:15] Show notes and transcript [01:01:41] Next week on the podcast FOLLOW US ON: Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter 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): Looking for a place to call your own in France, Episode 391 Exploring the Béarn, Episode 281 Categories: France How To, Moving to France