Join Us in France Travel Podcast

My guest on this episode of the podcast is historian Suzanne Levin and we discuss common misconceptions about the French Revolution. Questions we tackle about the French Revolution The French Revolution didn't happen in a vacuum. In this episode, let's set the stage for what happened and why. In the "pop history" version of the French Revolution there is a tendency to compress events into ridiculous simplifications such as "one day peasants got angry and started chopping the heads of Royalty, the end." Another version goes a little more in-depth. The way the French Revolution is often taught is that there are 3 moments: 1789 where all the big events happened (Estates General, Tennis Court Oath, Bastille, Women's March on Versailles) Jump four years to 1793 -1794 with Robespierre who made himself a dictator and chopped off the heads of anyone who disagreed with him. Overthrown and a weak government with a military dictatorship. What we're trying to do with this episode is fill in many important details while still keeping an eye on the big picture. A Brief Explainer of the French Revolution In this episode Suzanne Levin sets the stage for the French Revolution, and touches upon all of the following questions. What are the 3 estates and what's at stake for all 3 groups? What did French peasants want? What mattered most to them and how do we know that? Did they king pay any attention to the demands of his people? Is it true that there were vastly different rules depending on where you lived in France? Did each area have its own money and measurement system? What were the different "parlements"? Why were people supposed to represent themselves in criminal court? Did Marie-Antoinette ever say "let them eat cake"? When they wrote the first Constitution a major question was the role of the king. Was he supposed to get a large stipend? A cabinet? Veto power? Would Louis XVI accept a role as a constitutional monarch? Why did the king and most aristocrats not accept even moderate reforms? Was this a peasant Revolution or a Parisian Revolution? What was the worst decision Louis XVI made? What made people wonder if we needed a king at all? What was the role of the émigrés? Why did the revolutionaries declare war on Austria? What was Lafayette's role in all of this? What about the clergy? Why didn't the king just default on the debt? Why was the church so rich in France? We end this first part of our conversation on how France now has foreign wars, civil war and an Assembly who wants a way to retaliate. They want to punish  generals who help the enemy rather than obey orders, put an end to all the corruption scandals, etc. More episodes about French history   Full show notes for this episode are here: Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Josephine Baker, performer, entrepreneur, mother and war heroine was a force to reckon with. She rose from poverty in America into fame and success by the time she was in her mid-20s in France. On this episode of the podcast, Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin talk about her amazing life and why you should visit the Château des Milandes in the Dordogne where she lived for 20 years. We also discuss the reason why it's so significant that she's entering the Pantheon today. 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/365 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

In this episode of the podcast, Annie Sargent talks to Heidi Hunter about her month in France on a budget. Most of us limit expenses by having shorter vacations. But Heidi and her husband stayed for a month and visited Paris, Nice, Marseille, Annecy, Lyon and Strasbourg! They also went to the Mont-Saint-Michel as a day trip from Paris, to Eze and Colmar on the train. How did they do all that on a budget? Click play and listen to Heidi explain. They started their trip in Paris and worked their way around the country: Nice, Marseille, Annecy, Strasbourg. Their main cost-cutting decision was to stay at hostels and pensions instead of hotels. In Paris they wanted to stay in a central location so they splurged for a hotel. However, there is a very good hostel in central Paris that Annie recommends from personal experience. This is where you need to go to get your Pass Sanitaire starting in November 2021 Hostels and Budget Hotels Recommended in this Episode In hostels sometimes you have to share a bathroom, sometimes there are no elevators. But, often they have other amenities that make up for those inconveniences: hostels often have a kitchen and laundry facilities. Bedrooms are smaller in hostels than in hotels (although in Paris that's not always true). With hostels it is best to book in advance because the best ones get booked up. Hostels are not just for young people. Heidi and her husband are in their mid-40s and they weren't the only ones in that age-range. What makes hostels great is that you talk to the other visitors which people typically don't do at hotels, especially the fancy ones. There are usually kitchens in hostels and when people use a kitchen together they usually talk and get to know each other. French people of all walks of life and all ages stay at hostels when they go on choir trips or family trips where they need to keep the cost down. Budget Hotels in Paris Annie recommends Hôtel Marignan in the Latin Quarter near Notre Dame de Paris.  Book 6 months + in advance, this is a popular hôtel/hostel! In Paris Heidi stayed at the Hôtel des Grands Hommes  near the Pantheon, a great location and a great value. Budget Hotel in Annecy Guest VIP Annecy Lake was really nice because their room had its own little kitchen. They were able to shop just like a local, make their own breakfast and meals which feels great after you've been on the road for a while. Hostel in Lyon Away Hostel and Coffee Shop. This was a nice place and Lyon was a fun city. They particularly liked the Traboules and the Museum of Cinema and Miniatures. Hostel in Strasbourg In Strasbourg they stayed at Ciarus for 5 nights. It was a great location and a good hostel. The Rooster and Hen are on Rue de la Nuée Bleu in Strasbourg and you can see them going off at noon every day.     Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/364 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Today's episode with Elyse Rivin is all about Lafayette, the Hermione and the arsenal of Rochefort in the West of France. The newest way to get a Passe Sanitaire for visitors to France is outlined in this document. More about this on Annie's newsletter. The permanent home of the Hermione is in Rochefort, at the Arsenal de Rochefort 35 miles south of La Rochelle. There is also a lovely resort town on the Atlantic called Royan nearby. The town of Rochefort is similar in style to La Rochelle, but it was built from scratch to be an arsenal town by Louis XIV. It soon became very important strategically. #joinusinfrance #podcast #rochefort #hermione #history #france Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/363 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Today Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Dan Funsch about his trip to France around the theme of WW1. On this occasion, Dan wanted to retrace the steps a WW1 soldier who is very special to him because he was his grandfather.  He had well annotated photos of his grandfather in various places and wanted to see them himself. We also discuss what Dan learned about doing family research in France, Joan of Arc,  and spending Bastille Day in Paris. About Retracing the Steps of a WW1 Soldier Dan went to several places to retrace his grandfather's journey during WW1. Our conversation will take us to Reims, several places in the Marne and Bas-Rhin departments, Strasbourg and Paris. Lots of people have relatives who served in France both during WWI and WW2 and retracing their footsteps is a wonderful way to learn about history and honor their memory. After the interview I’ll update you on the newest way to get a Passe Sanitaire for visitors to France as outlined in this document. Discussed in this Episode Reims Valmy Sainte-Menehould Brizeau Passavant Beaulieu Varennes-en-Argonne Fleury-devant-Douamont Simone Veil American WWI Meuse Argonne Cemetery at Montfaucon La Petite Pierre in the Vosges Logis Hôtel Des Vosges (Famille Wehrung) Domremy-la-Pucelle Spending Bastille Day in Paris Full show notes for this episode Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking  

Are you thinking about celebrating your anniversary in Paris or maybe in Provence? You must listen to this episode with Brianne Cunningham who enjoyed a wonderful anniversary in both Paris and Provence! They packed a lot in in those few days! Do you think you could do that much in 10 days? Brianne is an elementary teacher who keeps a blog about her travels and passions. On this Anniversary trip they were in Paris for 4 days and went to Provence for 4 days and the Riviera for 2 days. This was their first trip to France (and to Europe as well) and it was wonderful as you can hear if you click play. In Provence rented a car and their home-base was in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence at a lovely hotel. She wishes they had spend more time in Saint-Rémy but they often got back after everything had closed. In Paris they stayed at this hotel in Saint Germain des Prés. They loved the location and though it was appropriate for an anniversary. For their anniversary dinner they ate at Les Ombres and it was a great choice because the food is nice and you can go on the patio for the view on the Eiffel tower. They got to see it sparkle, and they lingered for a long-time, it was a special occasion that we can call anniversary-perfect! Discussed in this Episode Avignon Pernes Les Fontaines Isle Sur La Sorgue Fontaine de Vaucluse Uzes & Pont du Gard Saint Remy de Provence Gordes Senanque Abbey Moustiers Sainte Marie Gorges du Verdon Rousillon Menerbes Bonnieux Lourmarin Cassis Grimaud Saint Tropez Antibes Cap d'Antibes Eze Saint Jean Cap Ferrat Saint Paul de Vence  Musee d'Orsay Arc de Triomphe Bateaux Parisien Seine Cruise Les Ombres Anniversary dinner Tuileries Garden Musee de l'Orangerie Ile de la Cite Sainte Chapelle Notre Dame Ile Saint-Louis (Berthillon) Rue Cremieux Breizh Cafe Picasso Museum Eiffel Tower Les Antiquaires Louvre Bouquinistes Shakespeare & Company Odette Catacombs O Chateau Champs Elysees Louvre & Seine at night Marche aux Puces Hardware Societe Place du Tertre Sacre Coeur Cocorico restaurant Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/361 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

What's the difference between a traveler and a tourist? In this episode of the podcast we discuss 16 tips to make your vacation better and how you can become a better traveler. You don't need to be fluent in French and you don't need to spend months in France before you can feel like you belong there, but you do have to try a few things. Let's talk about it! #joinusinfrance #tourism #france #belonging Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/360 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

This episode recounts the history of the martyred village of Oradour-sur-Glane near Limoges. What happened? Do we know why? We like to think things like that can never happen again because the Second World War is far behind us now. But it's never a given and there are senseless massacres going on today still. Let's talk about it and why parents and leaders should never teach hate #joinusinfrance #WW2 #podcast 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/359 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

For this first time in Paris trip report, Annie Sargent talks to Joni and Steve Goldin. They had booked an itinerary review with Annie, so they were better prepared than most. But they still made a few minor mistakes as we discuss. Annie was a guest on the podcast FranceFormation, a show for people who want to move to France. Take a listen! Hotel Recommendation They chose the Da Vinci Hotel. A little boutique hotel in Saint Germain on Rue des Saint Pères that they recommend. Generally they went back to their hotel in the middle of the day to rest up a little which allowed them to stay up later and eat later. This is a good strategy if your hotel (like theirs) is centrally located. Annie's VoiceMap Tours they Took Ile de la Cité on their first day, Saint Germain des Prés a few days later and Montmartre towards the end. Podcast listeners can buy these tours at an amazing low price here. Restaurant Recommendations Les Antiquaires, great Parisian café for sitting outside and people-watching. La Place Royale on Place des Vosges. Bouillon Racine on rue Racine. Robert & Louise in the Marais (Joni loved the honey roasted duck breast) Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/358 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

There were always at least a few dozen famous painters in Nice on the French Riviera in the 1900s. Today Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin talk about three of them in some detail: Matisse, Chagall and Yves Klein. Why did they love Provence so much? Was it because painters and photographers are always in search of great light? Whatever the reason, painting on the French Riviera and Provence in general was really popular. Click on Show Notes below to read Elyse's complete historical outline. Visit our Instagram account to see Annie's photos of Chagall, Matisse, and the MAMAC. Useful link: the price of a taxi between the airport and Paris city center. Discussed in this Episode The School of Nice Matisse Chagall Musée Matisse in Nice Musée National Marc Chagall Musée d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain de Nice (MAMAC) Musée Massena The French expression "yakafokon" Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/357 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking