Join Us in France Travel Podcast

On this episode of the podcast, Jennifer Gruenke tells us about her 7 day trips from Paris on public transportation. She went to Rambouillet, Auvers-sur-Oise, Fontainebleau, Saint-Cloud, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Provins, and Versailles all in the same week! Which one was her favorite? Click play to hear all about it! Episode Page | Guest Notes | Transcript Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:40] A conversation with Jennifer Gruenke about her 7 day trips from Paris [00:02:45] Rambouillet, Auvers-sur-Oise, Fontainebleau, Saint-Cloud, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Provins, and Versailles [00:03:49] Getting a week-long Navigo Pass [00:04:35] Taking a different day trip from Paris every day [00:05:32] Day trip to Rambouillet [00:10:51] Chateau gardens are often free [00:11:20] Versailles gardens on fountain days [00:13:48] More people willing to speak French with visitors outside of Paris [00:14:24] Rambouillet gets a 7/10 from Jennifer [00:15:09] Auvers-sur-Oise, the town where Van Gogh lived at the end of his life [00:15:41] Finding Van Gogh Podcast [00:15:54] Go to the Orsay Museum then go to Auvers-sur-Oise [00:17:10] Lookout for things to be closed on Mondays or Tuesdays [00:18:06] Van Gogh plus in Auvers-sur-Oise [00:19:26] Fontainebleau [00:20:47] Are these all easy to get to once you get off the train? [00:22:41] Domaine National de Saint Cloud [00:24:29] Virtual Reality at Saint Cloud [00:29:49] Saint Germain en Laye [00:32:58] Provins [00:38:13] Bring ID in exchange for audio guide [00:39:15] Bring cash and toilet paper to Provins [00:42:45] Versailles gardens only: enter at Allée des Matelots [00:44:54] The RER to Versailles is often really crowded! [00:48:31] Ranking these 7 day trips from Paris [00:50:41] Seeing French Chateaux without going to the Loire Valley [00:51:29] Lyon and other cities are not far from Paris on the TGV [00:54:31] Thank you patrons and donors [00:58:53] Travel Tip: Can you ask for a doggy bag in France? [01:00:19] This week in French news [01:01:35] Annie’s personal update [01:02:42] Use the search button on Join Us because there are a lot of episodes! [01:03:12] Share the podcast with a fellow Francophile [01:04:11] Next week on the podcast an episode about the Cathars and their strange theology More episodes about day-trips from Paris

In this episode of the podcast, Annie and Elyse describe Les Vosges, a wonderful part of France for people who love active vacations and slow travel. Looking for gorgeous scenery, happy cows and amazing hikes in France? Listen to this episode! Table of Contents for this Episode [00:03:05] Ancient mountains, like the Adirondacks [00:04:31] Épinal is the only city [00:05:20] Elyse lived in Épinal for a year [00:06:11] Lots of grass and happy cows [00:06:25] Best for active vacations [00:07:01] Vittel and Contrex are west of Épinal [00:07:28] Thermal baths stations [00:07:52] Tourism around natural water [00:08:20] The Vosges department is filled with quaint villages [00:09:39] Clairefontaine paper products [00:10:08] A nice place for affordable summer homes [00:11:24] Second largest wooded area of France [00:11:58] Hills, low altitude ski resorts, hiking, biking, nature trails [00:13:17] Large natural parks with lots of trails [00:14:33] Cross country skiing and summer activities in Gerardmer [00:15:16] Daffodil festival (Fête des Jonquilles) [00:16:15] Blueberries [00:16:34] Festival international du film fantastique de Gérardmer [00:17:07] Ruins of Monasteries hidden in the forest [00:18:25] Why visit the Vosges? [00:19:49] Lots of pretty (and not famous) villages including Domremy where Joan of Arc was born [00:20:34] Hwo Visorando works to plan hikes [00:24:17] Les images d’Épinal [00:27:13] Plombières the flavor of ice cream [00:27:39] Lalique and cristallerie [00:28:10] Canal des Vosges [00:28:44] There are five remarkable gardens in the Vosges [00:29:20] The Vosges is best for slow tourism [00:29:45] Wildlife in the Vosges [00:31:11] Great nature trails for families [00:31:52] Food specialties of the Vosges [00:40:43] New Patreon Reward for Donors! [00:42:10] Annie’s Itinerary Service [00:42:41] Can’t do an itinerary review? Get my VoiceMap tours! [00:43:18] Taking the TGV at CDG [00:47:49] This week in French news [00:48:58] Annie’s personal update More episodes about the Alsace and Lorraine area

In this episode of the podcast, my guest Jeanne Oliver shares her favorite walking tours in Nice. Jeanne is not from Nice originally, she's been living there for a long time, she has written a book about Nice (Nice Uncovered: Walks Through the Secret Heart of a Historic City), a VoiceMap tour (you know how I love VoiceMap tours!): The Best of Nice's Old Town. She also has a website about Nice: French Riviera Traveler. Plus, as a keen historian she puts Nice on the map for us and you'll love her restaurants recommendations! This one is a must-listen! Episode Page | Guest Notes | Transcript Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:37] Introducing Jeanne Oliver [00:01:29] May 1st and other travel tips after the interview [00:02:00] Support this podcast by making purchases on Annie’s Boutique [00:02:19] Feedback about the itinerary planning service [00:03:57] Jeanne’s VoiceMap tour of Nice [00:05:43] Seven walking tours in Nice [00:07:21] Nice started attracting visitors in the late 1700s [00:08:16] Nice offers a wonderful lifestyle [00:09:40] Nice as a city of Art and Architecture [00:11:06] Nice has a rocky beach and that’s good and bad [00:11:46] A brief history of Nice [00:12:43] Roman site at Cimiez [00:14:30] Nice as part of the House of Savoy [00:15:21] Nice is very close to the Italian border and a major seaport [00:17:34] The Siege of Nice and Catherine of Ségurane [00:19:27] Favorite churches in Nice [00:22:29] Louis XIV tries to take Nice [00:23:33] Nice gets attached to France in 1860 [00:26:33] Art Deco in Nice in the 20s and 30s [00:27:48] WW2 in Nice [00:29:36] What to do in Nice in 4 or 4 days [00:32:35] How long do you need to spend in Nice? [00:34:15] Notable restaurants in Nice [00:36:35] Nice and the Meditarranean diet [00:39:04] You don’t need a car on the Riviera or in Nice [00:43:27] Give slow travel a chance! [00:45:05] Thank you new Patrons! [00:45:46] Don’t drive yourself crazy planning your trip to France [00:49:36] There are a lot of taxis in Paris [00:53:27] Open and closed in Paris on Sun, May 1st. 2022 [00:53:44] Demonstrations [00:54:46] Parks will be open [00:55:14] Major shopping centers will be closed [00:55:25] Most museums will be closed [00:55:42] No metro or bus on May 1st in Paris [00:55:49] The Eiffel Tower is open on May 1st [00:56:00] On May 1st walk to the nearest park and have a picnic [00:56:52] What about Easter Sunday? More episodes about Provence

Nantes is a beautiful city at the intersection of the Loire Valley and Brittany. Listen to this episode to hear about the best of Nantes for visitors. Get ready to enjoy the best of the city including Les Machines de L'Isle, the Chateau of the Dukes of Normandy, favorite restaurants in Nantes, and more #joinusinfrance Discussed in this Episode Pedestrian area in Nantes Taxi vs Uber in Nantes Merveilleux de Fred Not enough time for the Jardin des Plantes L'Entrecôte Le Lion et l'Agneau (Michelin Bib) La Cigale Berlingots Nantais Les Petits Lu cookies Anne de Bretagne Edit de Nantes Le Code Noir The Triangular Commerce Episode Page | Show Notes Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking  

How do you travel smart in 2022? That is the question Annie Sargent and Brian Gmutza tackle in this episode of the podcast. A lot of us are itching to travel because we’ve been cooped up for 2 years. Lots of us have travel credits we need to use up or we might lose them. But the pandemic is not really done, is it? And there’s a war in Europe now. How can we travel safely and smartly in 2022? Episode Page | Guest Notes Discussed in this Episode Things we can do to make good decisions How to use our travel credits How does the war in Ukraine change things? Book refundable air and hotels Bonjour App Covered Passages in Paris Visiting the PSG stadium [27:08] Les Invalides and Musée de l'Armée [27:55] Spend more time in fewer places [30:55] 05260 Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes ski resort in the Alps [31:31] Activate Find My Phone on your Apple or Android phone [40:15] Dare to try "scary" French foods [43:55] Planning for a French Immersion Week [50:36] May 1st in France [51:09] Yves Saint Laurent Exhibits in Paris [52:58] Update on the French Presidential Election [53:43] Annie's personal update [54:20] Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

In this episode of the podcast, Elyse Rivin takes us on a visit to the Saint Denis Basilica. We'll hear about Abbé Suger who wrote about how light and color brings you to a sense of eternity and of heaven. We'll also hear about the shocking things Revolutionaries did to Saint Denis and to most of the bodies who were buried there. How Napoleon Bonaparte rebuilt Saint Denis. The restoration work by Violet le Duc. Why Annie and Elyse don't understand the vindictiveness of the French Revolution Links mentioned in the Saint Denis episode Montjoire Saint Denis from Les Visiteurs Le Bon Roi Dagobert Table of Contents for this Episode [00:01:20] Review of Annie’s VoiceMap tours [00:03:24] Annie and Elyse talk about Saint Denis Cathedral/Basilica [00:04:43] Saint Denis Basilica is not in a great neighborhood [00:05:55] Saint Denis Basilica or Cathedral? [00:07:11] Saint Denis Basilica, a church with ancient origins [00:07:39] Les Visiteurs: Montjoire Saint Denis ! [00:08:10] A brief history of Saint Denis, the man [00:09:19] The myth of Saint Denis [00:11:25] Early rulers of France [00:13:08] Le bon Roi Dagobert a mis sa culotte à l’envers [00:14:22] Dynasties of French Kings [00:16:25] The original church of Saint Denis is sacked by the Vikings [00:17:27] Year 1000, between Romanesque and Gothic styles [00:18:13] Abbé Suger [00:19:11] Abbé Suger and gothic architeture: more glass [00:20:00] A sense of eternity and of the Spirit of God [00:22:08] The construction of Notre Dame began right after Saint Denis was finished [00:22:47] Making room for more Kings and Queens [00:24:33] The glorious days of Saint Denis [00:25:49] Louis XIV removes some funding from Saint Denis [00:27:17] The quasi destruction of Saint Denis at the French Revolution [00:28:41] Grave dessecration [00:30:53] Napoleon Bonaparte rebuilds Saint Denis [00:32:15] Only five of the windows are original [00:33:08] Recovering the bones and putting them back into Saint Denis [00:35:08] Lack of funds at Saint Denis today [00:35:54] Scattered stained glass windows [00:37:28] Violet le Duc renovation [00:38:10] Discovering new graves from the 500s under Saint Denis [00:38:35] Queen Arégonde wife of Clotaire [00:41:18] Annie’s impression of Saint Denis [00:42:59] French dynasties at Saint Denis [00:45:27] It’s hard to understand why Revolutionaries behaved the way they did [00:48:36] We recommend Saint Denis for people who’ve visited Paris several times [00:50:01] Thank you Patrons and Donors! [00:51:10] Annie’s Itinerary Planning Service [00:51:42] This week in French news [00:54:14] Archeological find under Notre Dame [00:54:59] The remains of the Jubé at Notre Dame [00:56:08] How French elections work in a nutshell More episodes about French history 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 Read more about this episode Transcript  Category: French History

Sarala and Thad Terpstra moved to France on a long-term tourist visa with a child. They are too young to be retired and Sarala works as a freelancer. Few young families set out to do this, especially since they're not millionaires. But, as they explain, you can have a lovely life near the Mediterranean, you just have to choose the right part of France. How did they do it? What was the process like? Was it long and painful? What tips can they share? Is it really cheaper than life in Michigan? What do they love about it? Click listen and learn how they did it! #France #Relocation #Family Resources Mentioned in this Episode Foolproof French Visas, Complete 2022 Edition by Allisson Grant Lounes Long Term Rentals in France Crédit Agricole International Clients in Toulouse: 1-3, Allées Franklin Roosevelt, 31000 Toulouse. It's not clear if other cities in France have such offices. Procedure to apply for a visa from the US. Adele Peters wrote an article titled In Paris, a new ‘quiet zone’ will ban through-traffic in the city center for FastCompany Audio book recommendations: The Premonition by Michael Lewis and Personal recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. Discussed in this episode Introduction [00:00:00] A conversation about moving to France on a tourist long stay visa with a child [00:01:38] Annie’s Boutique Sarala and Thad Talk about Moving to France on a Tourist Long Stay Visa with a Child [00:03:18] Why did you decide to move to France? [00:04:14] Not allowed to work in France but must prove income [00:04:57] You don’t need to be a millionaire to move to France [00:05:22] Not wanting to wait to move to France after retirement [00:05:49] Living in the Pézenas and Béziers area [00:06:28] Pézenas: art galleries, artisans and the Molière festival [00:07:14] Dealing with French administration is time-consuming [00:08:53] Considering cities in France like Limoux and Montpellier [00:10:19] Renting furnished rentals in France [00:10:56] The lease and bank account catch-22 in France [00:11:43] Getting a certificate of residence from your expat landlord [00:13:01] Next they’ll go to the bank with their landlord [00:13:44] Complications for people moving to France [00:14:44] The French banks they tried so far [00:16:27] Opening an account in a French bank in America will not help you [00:16:57] In France you have to bank locally [00:18:06] How their application for a Long-Stay Tourist Visa Type D is working [00:19:25] Applying for the visa you can qualify for even if that means changing it later [00:20:24] Different visas for different situations [00:20:43] Moving to France as a freelancer [00:21:48] Filling out the visa application on-line and working with VFS [00:22:25] Breaking down the steps they followed [00:24:21] Be prepared with all the paperwork! [00:24:48] The interview process [00:27:16] Bring more paperwork than they need [00:27:29] Paperwork needed for children [00:28:42] What language did you use for the paperwork? [00:29:38] Cost of the long term tourist visa [00:30:35] Covid vaccination [00:31:44] No visit to the Préfecture [00:32:22] Medical appointment [00:33:20] Annie’s husband becoming a French citizen [00:34:47] Were there any surprises about living in France? [00:35:52] Fewer restaurant meals since going Vegan [00:36:20] Best vegan cheese at French grocery stores [00:37:13] Have you tried any medical care in France yet? [00:37:38] What do you love about living in France? [00:38:36] Celebrations in villages and small towns [00:41:24] They don’t have a car so bigger towns are easier because of public transportation [00:42:17] Valras-Plage [00:44:47] Beautiful Mediterranean climate [00:45:57] You can go for it even if you’re not a millionaire! [00:47:38] Some parts of France are really affordable France Travel News [00:52:42] Thank you patrons and donors [00:53:50] Annie’s itinerary planning service [00:54:23] Uptick in Covid numbers [00:55:15] No more mask mandates or vaccine passes starting March 14, 2022 [00:56:20] Ukraine situation [01:00:50] Annie’s personal update FOLLOW US ON: Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise

In 2022 we are celebrating 400 years of Molière's birth. This playwright had such a strong impact on French literature that it is common to say "la langue de Molière" as a synonym for the French language. But Molière's influence is felt on more than just the language. He opened our eyes to all sorts of injustices that French people are still prickly about. Have you ever watched a Molière play? How do you think he compares with Shakespeare? Annie went to the Comédie Française recently to watch Le Malade Imaginaire, and what it treat that was! Annie's new VoiceMap tour of the Latin Quarter is now available, at long last. In this episode you'll also learn how to get the newest version of her Île de la Cité tour if you've bought it already (51 minutes into the episode). Click play and let's celebrate Molière together! #joinusinfrance #travel #podcast #moliere Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:38] Attending a Molière play at La Comédie Française [00:03:31] Annie’s new Latin Quarter VoiceMap tour [00:04:48] Annie and Elyse talk about Molière [00:05:15] French is often referred to as “la langue de Molière” [00:05:42] About the life of Molière [00:06:25] Molière was born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin [00:07:28] A supportive family [00:08:15] Molière makes his start as an actor [00:09:57] Working in Paris and Normandy [00:11:10] The troup leaves Paris [00:11:42] Looking for a Mécène or Patron [00:12:07] Working outside of Paris for 12 years [00:14:17] Molière starts to write farces [00:14:59] Molière heads back to Paris [00:15:43] Molière wins Louis XIV over [00:17:24] Molière performing his duties as the King’s valet [00:19:07] Molière gets his own theater, now called La Comédie Française [00:20:02] Molière had a genius for putting on biting satire [00:21:03] Molière was a secular man [00:21:19] Molière wrote 35 plays [00:21:40] Falling ill while performing The Imaginary Invalid [00:22:36] Molière and the religious burial [00:23:52] Molière’s legacy [00:24:46] Molière plays Annie read in French school [00:25:22] Sacrilege! Annie doesn’t think Shakespeare is funny whereas Molière is! [00:26:48] Molière’s French is still easily understandable today [00:27:49] Molière was a great performer and so was his wife [00:28:46] Did Molière wrote all his plays or did he get help from Corneille? [00:30:45] Molière’s comedy-ballet [00:31:01] Molière working with Lully and Charpentier [00:32:26] Molière wrote several plays about hypocritical doctors and priests [00:33:39] Molière wrote wonderful roles for women [00:34:34] The Tartuffe complications [00:38:45] French people don’t trust anyone who wears their religion on their sleeve [00:41:36] Cachez ce sein que je ne saurais voir ! [00:42:53] The delicate dance French people do with religion [00:44:19] Molière plays are much easier to understand than Shakespeare’s plays [00:45:09] Molière: father of modern theater [00:48:58] Thank you patrons and donors! [00:50:38] How to get an itinerary consultation with Annie [00:51:22] How to get the new version of my Île de la Cité tour [00:52:56] Covid News [00:53:48] Check your airline checkin document carefully for rules [00:55:54] Covid numbers are falling rapidly in France [00:56:20] About Russia invading Ukraine [00:58:51] Emmanuel Macron is officially running for relection [00:59:44] Annie’s personal update [01:00:01] The new VoiceMap tour of the Latin Quarter is live [01:00:31] Next week on the podcast: changes in visa procedures More episodes about French culture 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 Read more about this episode Transcript  Category: French Culture

Annie Sargent and Patricia Perry review the virtual reality experience that they saw at La Défense in Paris. This experience is not recommended for kids under 11, probably because of the size of the backpack and 3D goggles. It will soon come to more central Paris at the Conciergerie and on the parvis de Notre Dame. The Eternal Notre Dame Virtual Reality Experience The Eternal Notre Dame is virtual reality experience developed by Orange and Emissive in association with the Mayor of Paris and the Church. They had also done the VR for the DaVinci Experience at the Louvre which was a sit-down VR experience. Eternal Notre Dame is a walk around VR experience where you are outfitted with a backpack which holds the computer and high-end VR goggles. This is a completely immersive experience where you are exploring Notre Dame throughout the ages and you are moving around. You can see other participants as ghosts so you don't bump into them. It's totally safe but your brain is tricked into thinking that you're going to the top of Notre Dame on an elevator, that you can lean over a non-existing banister, that you need to take steps over obstacles. That is disconcerting but it works. Episode Announcements The Join Us in France YouTube channel is BACK! I don't know why the account got banned or why they gave it back. YouTube is fickle. But I am glad to be back because it’s also a big search engine and people find audio podcasts on YouTube all the time. But it remains true that the best way to get the word out about this podcast is if YOU recommend it to someone you know who’d going to France. The other great thing that happened is that I completed my Latin Quarter Tour. The but the best place for a podcast listener to get my VoiceMap tours is to go to joinusinfrance.com/boutique where you get a discount just for being a podcast listener! The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, while outrageous and horrible, does not change anything in terms of travel to France. More episodes about Paris   FOLLOW US ON: Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Discussed in this Episode Eternelle Notre Dame Virtual Reality Experience Annie's newly created Latin Quarter VoiceMap tour La Cité du Patrimoine et de l'Architecture on the Trocadero Café Lucy at the Musée de l'Homme also on the Trocadero Le Malade Imaginaire at the Comédie Française Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Golden visa? What's a golden visa? In this short episode of the podcast, Annie talks with Jerry Morgan of the Merkan Group and he explains how his program works. If you'd like to know more, shoot him an email: jmorgan@mercan.com Annie also shares both exciting news about her VoiceMap tours and bad news about YouTube. Table of Contents for this Episode [00:00:54] Shorter episode this week and next [00:01:27] Getting banned from YouTube [00:03:43] Updating my Ile de la Cite VoiceMap tour [00:04:04] New custom VoiceMap tour for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel [00:04:23] Not sure how to plan your trip to Paris? Follow my VoiceMap tours! [00:05:01] Ile de la Cité, Le Marais, Saint Germain des Prés, and Montmartre with Latin Quarter to come soon [00:05:19] The easiest way to see a lot of Paris quickly [00:06:10] The easiest way to visit Paris: follow someone who knows Paris! [00:07:00] Staying at the Mandarin Oriental Paris [00:08:51] No coffee creamer in France! [00:09:54] Thank you Facebook group moderators! [00:10:40] About church bells in Paris [00:12:56] Annie’s an empty nester now [00:14:14] Merkan Group helping high net worth individuals gain residency in Portugal and Europe [00:16:09] Getting a Golden Visa [00:16:30] From Golden Visa to Citizenship: a Long Process [00:17:05] Does this process ever fail? [00:17:57] Acquiring a second passport [00:19:12] Developing projects in Portugal [00:19:42] How to get in touch with Jerry [00:19:58] Marker[00:19:58] Marker [00:21:26] Copyright More episodes about moving to France Episode Page | Transcript