Join Us in France Travel Podcast

On this trip report Annie chats with Heather Nellis about her 12 days solo in Paris. A friend met her in Paris for a couple of days, but for the most part she was alone and got to decide exactly what she wanted to do and see! How would you like that?! For Heather this was the trip of a lifetime and she shares great tips on how to make your own solo trip to Paris a great success. Because she is a police officer, she also has great tips for staying safe while traveling. This is the day use hotel for the day she arrived was Hotel Britannique. It is inexpensive and has a great location downtown. Episode Page | Guest Notes | Transcript Discussed in the 12 days solo in Paris episode [00:00:17] Twelve Days Solo in Paris [00:03:34] Enjoying the Relaxed Pace of Life in France [00:05:23] Is Paris Safe for a Female Solo Traveler? [00:08:32] Don’t Engage with Street Folks, Walk with Purpose [00:09:00] How to Connect with Locals in France [00:10:20] Use French Pleasantries [00:11:54] Favorite Things [00:12:10] Saint Eustache Church [00:12:42] E. Dehillerin Kitchen Supply Store [00:13:56] Palais Garnier Opera [00:15:35] Day Use Hotel for the Day You Arrive [00:17:27] Not Comfortable with Taking the Metro [00:18:00] Visiting the Saint Denis Basilica [00:21:30] Taking the Batobus: the Hop-On-Hop-Off Boat in Paris [00:22:16] Get a Discount on the Batobus with any Metro Card [00:23:15] The Batobus Are Great in Bad Weather [00:23:53] Changing Weather in Paris in October [00:24:21] Taking an Electric Bike Tour in Paris [00:25:47] Be Mindful of the Bikes When Walking in Paris! [00:26:50] Arc de Triomphe Wrapped by Cristo [00:28:25] Notre Dame Reconstruction [00:29:03] The Orsay Museum [00:29:56] The Orsay Audio Tour [00:30:17] Making Time for Down Time in Paris [00:32:37] Lots of Walking When Visiting Paris! [00:32:56] Get an External Battery to Charge Your Phone Mid-Day! [00:33:54] Enjoying the Food in Paris [00:34:22] Use Google Maps to Find Restaurants in the Areas You’ll Visit [00:35:32] Don’t Call an Uber at the Airport [00:36:54] Use a Taxi to Take You into Paris [00:37:44] Luggage Lockers in Paris [00:39:53] What Heather Wouldn’t Do Again [00:41:09] What Tools Did You Use to Prepare for Your Trip? [00:44:07] Using this Podcast to Prepare for Her Trip [00:44:46] Itinerary Plannig Service [00:45:41] Did You Ever Get Bored as a Solo Traveler? [00:46:11] Rue Cler Was Meh [00:47:36] Other Food Markets [00:49:58] Patreon Rewards! [00:51:17] Newest Covid Rules in France [00:56:28] Going All Electric in France [00:57:36] Polution Stickers in France: Crit’Air [00:58:48] Developping New Nuclear and Hydrogen [00:59:38] Presidential Campaign [00:59:58] Macron an Putin More episodes about going to Paris for the first time FOLLOW US ON: Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

Today Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Elyse Rivin of Toulouse Guided Walks about the beautiful city of Dijon. OF course there’s the mustard, the gorgeous roofs (made of varnished tiles which are called "tuiles vernissées" in French), Burgundy wine, crême de cassis, and the great Dukes of Burgundy. What’s not to love? Let’s talk about it and put Dijon, France on the map for you, just in case you're thinking of going there. After the interview we’ll have the French tip of the Week and an update on what’s happening in France as well as travel news. This podcast is supported by donors and listeners who buy my tours and services, including my very popular itinerary planning service. You can browse all of that at Annie’s Boutique A lot the photos I’ll use this week are courtesy of Ellen Shaunessy who was my guest on episode 337 of the podcast. Another great way to stay in touch with travel and podcast news and with the podcast is to sign up for the newsletter. I swear I’ll start sending newsletter again soon. There aren’t enough hours in the day for this podcaster!- Discussed in this episode [00:00:0] Get Ready for Your Visit to Dijon! [00:02:29] The Impact of the TGV between Dijon and Paris [00:04:46] The Medium Sized City of Dijon [00:05:37] Dijon Roofs: “tuiles vernissées” [00:07:37] Dijon: Perfect for Growing Wine and Mustard [00:08:57] Mustard Doesn’t Just Come from a Jar [00:09:16] Dijon Gastronomy: Crême de Cassis, Escargots de Bourgogne, Époisses and Boeuf Bourguignon [00:11:42] Rue Verrerie and the Duke’s Palace [00:13:04] The Dijon Fine Arts Museum [00:14:58] Abbaye Saint-Bénigne and the Archeology Museum [00:16:00] The Towers of Dijon [00:16:41] Museum of Burgundy Life [00:17:15] Place de la Libération [00:18:11] The Role of the Préfet in France [00:19:20] Lynching the Préfet for Collaboration with the Nazis [00:21:02] Félix Kir: Monk, Communist Resistant and Mayor [00:21:37] Have You Ever Had a Kir or a Kir Royal? [00:22:13] Annie and the Kir. Or a Guinness Perhaps? [00:25:25] The Story of Mustard in Dijon [00:27:16] The Confrérie of Mustard Producers [00:29:57] Marc de Raisin [00:31:10] The Four Dukes of Burgundy [00:36:06] Where to Buy Genuine Dijon Mustard in Paris [00:38:03] Mustard with Fries in France [00:38:55] The Dukes of Burgundy Going After the Kingdom of France [00:40:02] Philip the Good, John the Fearless, Philip the Generous, and Charles the Reckless [00:43:19] What Makes Dijon Such a Nice City [00:45:50] New Patreon Reward: Crêpes Day! [00:46:31] Itinerary Planning Service [00:47:06] French Expression of the Week: La Vache! [00:47:56] Related Episodes About Burgundy [00:48:24] This Week in French News[00:48:24] Best Cities and Villages to Live in France [00:49:41] About the French Elections Coming Up [00:52:31] Garbabe Strike in Marseille [00:53:01] The Third Dose of Vaccine [00:53:45] Covid Numbers Are Heading Down in France [00:55:02] Updating the Ile de la Cité VoiceMap Tour [00:56:14] Get a Mask Extender Before Flying to France! Links for this Episode Yearly ranking of best cities and villages to live in France from Villes et villages où il fait bon vivre. Dijon France is number 18/40 in that ranking! Official endorsements of candidates for President by the Conseil Constitutionnel More episodes with Elyse Episode Page | Show Notes | Transcript  

Carl Carlson tells us about the leisurely trip through France he took with his wife in 2021. They have visited France every year for the last 30 years and have only skipped in 2020 (pandemic oblige), that's how much they enjoy France! Carl has a keen eye for great hotels and restaurant (listed below). We also talk about the joy of getting lost in Paris, the lovely river walk in Bordeaux, a great B&B in Bergerac, and his favorite place in France: Sancerre. Episode Page | Boutique | Newletter | Facebook Accommodations recommended in this episode Carl likes to stay at the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile because Porte Maillot is nearby and it's an easy place to pickup a rental car. It also makes it easy to rent a car in Paris and not drive through central Paris, which is difficult when you're not used to driving in France. The old manor house maison d'hôtes called Clos D'Argenson in Bergerac. Room with a large sitting area, large bathroom, laverie and Carrefour Market nearby, comfortable beds, and an incredible breakfast. L’Esplanade hotel in Domme. A nice hotel with a marvelous restaurant. A tad expensive, but the dining room is lovely, the view is great, the food is great, a favorite of French people as well as Anglos. Château de la Bourdaisière near Tours: gorgeous XV century chateau in an outstanding setting. This would be a lovely "pied à terre" to explore the Loire area. Discussed in this Episode [00:04:39] Travel to France during Covid [00:05:53] The Advantages of staying near Porte Maillot at the Hyatt Regency [00:07:28] Sébillon Restaurant [00:09:20] Getting the Health Pass for France [00:10:46] The Apple Store on the Champs Elysées [00:12:07] Getting lost in Paris [00:13:32] Train to Bordeaux and a walk along the Garonne [00:16:08] Driving to Bergerac and stay at a beautiful Maison d'Hôtes [00:21:51] Why choose a B&B over a hotel [00:22:54] Spending a few days in Bergerac [00:25:36] Bergerac to Domme [00:27:49] The market in Sarlat [00:29:21] Getting all "ducked-out" [00:32:24] Covid rules enforcement in France [00:33:14] Driving to Sancerre [00:35:00] Château de la Bourdaisière near Tours in the Loire Valley [00:40:00] Reading French restaurant menus [00:40:29] Why is wine so cheap at everyday French restaurants? [00:45:12] How to ask for restaurant recommendations from French people [00:48:53] Thank you patrons and donors! [00:49:57] This week in French news and pandemic news [00:54:54] French tip of the week Can you name the two new bits of music in this episode? The first 10 people to send an email to annie@joinusinfrance.com identifying them correctly will receive a podcast sticker in the mail!

Porcelain is one of those things that we all take for granted. Some of us are collectors, but most of us (Annie included!) couldn't tell the difference porcelain and  ceramic before this episode. Then you also have "faïence" (earthenware) in its many forms. Some of us have a favorite cup, some of us keep precious pieces handed down from loved ones. On today's episode Elyse Rivin shares a primer on French porcelain. She tells us how a French man broke Chinese secrets and how French manufactures finally started making fine porcelain. And there is no doubt that French Kings favored cities like Sèvres and Limoges that made gorgeous pieces for the royal table. Episode Page | Show Notes | Transcript Do you like to adorn your table with gorgeous pieces? Of all the things you might want to buy while in France, porcelain is not the easiest to transport, but it is definitely made in France (unlike many of the tourist trinkets you'll find everywhere). In the show notes you'll see a list of all the places in France where you can buy these porcelain products at the source. Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking Grab a cup of tea in your favorite fancy china and let's learn about the history of French porcelain! More episodes about French history

Have you ever thought of doing a river cruise? My guest on this episode of the podcast went on a pilgrimage cruise that took her to Paris, Rouen and Lisieux among other places and it was a great way to enjoy France. She did this with her childhood best friend, leaving husbands and children at home. They had a wonderful time and learned a lot about their French heritage. Let's talk about it! #joinusinfrance A full transcript of this episode is available here: https://joinusinfrance.com/transcript/372/ Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/cruise-and-pilgrimage-on-the-seine-river/ Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

    Full show notes for this episode are here: Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking Today Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Keri Maher about her new book The Paris Bookseller. I wanted to talk to Keri because I really enjoyed her book about Shakespeare and Company, the iconic bookstore in Paris. It’s a fascinating story as you will see. After the interview you'll hear Annie's personal update and news about travel to France. This podcast is supported by donors and listeners who buy my tours and services, including my very popular itinerary planning service. You can browse all of that at Annie’s Boutique. You can follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter. Another great way to stay in touch with travel and podcast news and with the podcast is to sign up for the newsletter. The Paris Bookseller The Paris Bookseller starts with the story of two women in the early 1900s. They are in love and start an exciting project: open a bookstore for English books in Paris. As their project gets off the ground they rub shoulders with the legends of the Lost Generation: Ernest Hemmingway, Gertrude Stein and the most central of all: James Joyce. Walk the Latin Quarter with the legendary founder of Shakeaspeare & Company, Silvia Beach. Annie was enchanted by the world of the formidable woman who was the force behind the publication of Ulysse's and the amazing cast of characters who surrounded her.   Category: French Culture

Annie's List of Best Gallo-Roman Sites in France Today Pont du Gard Nîmes Arles Périgueux La Turbie Saint Rémy de Provence Orange (especially to see a show in the Roman theater) Cluny Museum and Arènes de Lutèce in Paris This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/best-gallo-roman-sites-in-france/ Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking  

Is Périgueux on your list of places you might like to visit in France? It's indeed a great city with roots into the times of the Roman "occupation" of France and a beautiful Renaissance neighborhood. The area is famous for its gastronomy and pleasant way of life. Let's get the names straight first. Périgueux is in the Périgord, and isn't that a tongue twister for English speakers? But today it's in the department of the Dordogne and the New Aquitaine region, which means it falls under the jurisdiction of Bordeaux for administrative purposes. Long ago the name Périgord covered all the lands that belonged to the counts of Périgord and so you'll find both names to this day: Dordogne and Périgord. The city today is about 65,000 people within city limits and 150,000 if you count all the towns that surround it, so it's a medium size French city. This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/the-best-of-perigueux-france/ Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Where should you go to enjoy the best of Christmas in Paris? In this episode of the podcast Annie and Elyse roll out all the best ideas: Streets for Christmas shopping in Paris Christmas markets Christmas concerts Where to attend Christmas Mass How restaurants work on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve What's open on Christmas in Paris and more! More episodes about Christmas in France #joinusinfrance This episode features my frequent guest Elyse Rivin. You can book a tour with her through her website and you can also support her on Patreon. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/episode/how-to-enjoy-the-best-of-christmas-in-paris Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking  

The Terror (1793-1794) is a confusing part of the French Revolution. What happened? What started it? Why? Historian Suzanne Levin explains and gives us the context we need to understand these events. There is a tendency to talk about the Terror as if it was happening in a vacuum, but it was far from that. It's a little bit complicated, but it makes sense once you learn about it. To see the transcript of this episode, go to the show notes. Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking Discussed in this Episode The Terror is a construct [03:27] Repression linked to crisis [03:59] High-profile people were the victims of the repression in this case [07:14] Recalling Deputies who went against their mandates [09:00] Trouble with provincial bourgeoisie [10:19] This was the age of Revolutions and not just in France [11:55] Reforms made in 1793 and 1794 that were ahead of their time [12:59] The Terror was both the height of repression and of the democratic movement [14:02] Who's a Revolutionary and who's a Counter-Revolutionary? [14:47] Mirabeau and the Pantheon [15:33] The inability to be openly against the Revolution [17:10] The legislative branch over the executive branch [22:23] Revolutionary Tribunal [23:47] Representatives on mission [24:34] Arrests begin [26:17] Law of Prairial [27:15] The law of suspects [29:03] Fourty thousand fell during the Terror [30:33] The role and donwfall of Robespierre [33:44] Why was Robbespierre arrested [37:17] Was Robespierre a dictator? [43:42] Why did the legend of the Terror persist? [44:51]