Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Moving internationally can really difficult for children but is it worth it? Will the kids adjust to their new life in France? How long does it take to learn French for kids? What are some things parents can do to make the process easier? Annie's daughter, Marianne moved to France at age 7 shares her experience adjusting to France in this episode of the podcast. Discussed in this Episode What was it like moving to France as a 7 year-old? Starting school in France with zero French Some differences between American and French school How long does it take to get comfortable with the new routine and new language? How did French children react to the new American kid? The nature of school in France: very serious and too competitive Doing activities in English like Girl Guides How to maintain reading and writing skills in English while learning French The mandate to take English at school even though the child is already fluent in English Doing sports and after school activities in France Grades in French schools Graduating from College in France The cost of studying in France International students in France Part time jobs for students in France Full show notes for this episode Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking  

Do you love medieval streets, beautiful literature and sweet wine? Then it's possible you're destined to visit Bergerac and Monbazillac! This episode of the podcast is full of our recommendations for a fun week-end in French wine country. Press play and get ready for some fun in the southwest of France! Bergerac and Monbazillac are neighboring towns in the Dordogne department and an area called Perigord Pourpre (Purple Périgord). The Dordogne is part of the Aquitaine Region. The historical center of Bergerac is pretty small, but if you're going to visit Monbazillac as well, you'll need one or two nights. Hotel Recommendation Annie and her husband stayed at the Hotel de France, a short walk away from the medieval city center. It was easy to park, an easy walk to all the restaurants, the bed was comfortable, breakfast was great. A nice value for the price. What to Do in Bergerac Walk around the historical city center. If you just drive around Bergerac you won't find it all that special. You have to park and go into the medieval pedestrian streets. Go to the tourist office. It's right by the river in a lovely area. The tourist office often hosts local wine makers who will ask your questions and do a mini wine tasting. The one who was there that day was very friendly and knowledgeable. Rent a bike at the tourist office to ride along the Dordogne river, it's lovely. Take a boat ride in a Gabarre. There are lots of birds on the banks of the Dordogne because they keep the river as wild as possible. You should go to Monbazillar because it's not far at all. The wine tasting was nice but they only do it at set times. Otherwise you can proceed to the wine store where you can taste and buy. Monflanquin and Villeréal are about half an hour away, both worth a stop. You could also visit the nearby village of Yemet that French people in the area call "the English village" because there are so many British people who live there. A Brief History of Bergerac Elyse gives a great summary of the history of this area. Her explanation starts around 25 minutes into our conversation. You can also read her notes by clicking on Show Notes below. But for the purposes of this summary let's just say this. Bergerac was generally a wealthy area because of its wines and agricultural production. It was raided many times and recovered. Much later it became a stronghold of Protestantism who chased the Catholics away. The chateau of Monbazillac went back and forth between the two denominations causing much loss of life and emotional turmoil. Cyrano de Bergerac Once upon a time (in 1897) there was a young playwright who had one play performed in Paris. He was poor and desperately wanted to find more success. This was the time when dramatic realism was taking hold in the art world. Popular plays were dark and full of tortured souls. Edmond Rostand didn't want to make a burlesque play or a somber play. Rostand was a romantic and going through a terrible bout of depression himself. That's when he remembered reading about a poet called Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac in the 1600s. This man had been rejected by his lover and had spent his life trying to get her attention. Edmond Rostand made the story better and he wrote the play in alexendrin. Everyone said it would be a total failure, but Rostand had persuaded a great actor to premiere it and it's been a huge hit ever since. Intro for the episode 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: Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking  

Moissac is "only" a minor city in the southwest of France, but if you're interested in the Saint Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage or the churches connected to it, you must make it one of your stops! In this episode of the podcast, tour guide Elyse Rivin explains how Moissac became so prominent, how it is a Unesco World Heritage Site and a great place to visit today! #joinusinfrance #unesco #camino Discussed in this Episode Saint Jacques de Compostelle The largest library in France and a major scriptorium The golden age of Moissac Moissac during the war against the Cathar heresy Moissac during the French Revolution The Abbey of Moissac becoming a historic monument Moissac protecting Jewish children during WW2 Visiting the abbey today: the remarkable architecture of the doorway Church and cloister The cloister of Moissac: the first capitals that tell stories Walk around the capitals with the list in hand The romanesque doorway The tympanum of the Moissac cathedral A gothic church in the south of France Visiting Moissac and local gastronomy How life in France can resume thanks to the French Health Pass New travel rules are implemented in September 2021 but vaccinated visitors still welcome in France 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/354 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

In this episode of the podcast, Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Scott Toporek who went back to Paris at last! This trip was supposed to happen in 2020, but didn't happen because of the pandemic. They came back in August 2021 instead. They had air vouchers they could use up and a week of vacation, so they thought why not? Scott has been to Paris 5 or 6 times before, although never before in August. He knew what he wanted to do and see and he was in a position to compare Paris pre-pandemic to what he experienced this time. We talk about his favorite spots in Paris, but we also go into details about what it’s like visiting Paris while this pandemic still drags on. Some of you aren’t ready to leave the safety of home yet, some have plans to come soon. As you'll hear in this episode, Paris isn’t scary. If you are subscribed to the Join Us in France Newsletter, you've read Annie's advice about getting the French Health Pass and what the recent European Directive means for you.  As a recap, this is the link visitors need to apply for the French Health Pass. The process is different for students coming to a university in France. Discussed in this Episode What Is Paris Like in 2021? La Samaritaine Mask Compliance in Paris Will I Test Negative Before I Return Home? The Carnavalet Museum The Parvis de Notre Dame is still not fully open to the public Classic restaurants in Paris L'Escargot de Montorgeuil La Rotonde Le Train Bleu Chez Dumonet Chez Janou Poilâne bread How to get a nice shot of the Eiffel Tower A great walk in Paris A favorite spot on the Île Saint Louis: Place Louis Aragon Pay attention to the details on your Covid test Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/353 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

On this episode of the podcast, Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin talk about their visit to the Chateau de Chantilly. You can visit the chateau of Chantilly on a day trip from Paris by train and have a great time in the countryside! The Chateau de Chantilly has a long history, an amazing art collection, beautiful stables and horses, and it's a favorite for weddings and events. Click play to see why you might want to go yourself! If you're ready to venture out of Paris and learn about French history, this episode is for you! A Few Gotchas About the Chateau de Chantilly When you are looking for a ticket to Chantilly, go the "Grandes Lignes" machines. Because the train that goes to Chantilly goes all the way to Amiens, it's not a regional train but a train that changes regions. Don't get on the city bus that says "Chateau de Chantilly" because it will take you a long way around. There is a tourist bus that picks up visitors, but we're not sure what the schedule is. It's only about a mile on flat terrain to walk to the chateau, it's probably best to hoof it. Renting a bicycle would be a great way to visit. You can arrange that here or here. There are probably more, these are a couple of the first results on Google. There are horse shows, but it looks like the shows are only in the evening. This is a great place to bring a picnic and there is a bathroom in the horse museum. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/352 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking    

Have you ever thought about buying a new condo or house in France? My guest on this episode bought a new town home in Provence and a new studio in Paris. She bought them from plan because it was a great deal and she wanted a place of her own in France. In this episode she breaks down the process and shares why she's happy she did it! Buying New Constructions in France I know that many of you hope to move to France someday, so today I bring you a conversation with Maria Trenzado about buying a brand new apartment or single-family home in France. She’s bought two apartments from plans in the past. She’s heard me talk to different people about buying existing homes, and she thought hey wait a minute! She explains what is it like buying a brand new condo in France. How she went about it, the advantages, what should you be on the look-out for, all that good stuff. Make sure to check out the guest notes for details we didn't necessarily cover during our conversation. In the first quarter of 2021 developers sold more than 30,000 new dwellings in France, this is a popular option for French people because we’re not all cut-out for an old house and a renovation project. You’ll find links to a few of the big players in the new construction space in France in the show notes joinusinfrance.com/351. After the interview I’ll update you the pandemic and how things are progressing in France. Consider These Providers If you're hoping to find new constructions in France here are a few of the biggest players in the new construction space: Vinci Immobilier Nexity Bouygues Prix Maison French Estate Agents Leggett Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/351 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Are you eager to go back to Paris but the latest wave of the pandemic is holding you back? My guest on today's episode of the podcast, Whitney Szypula, certainly didn't let the pandemic stop her. She got vaccinated and made a plan to come immediately. But what is it like to travel to France in Covid times? Did it feel risky? Are there restrictions? What are they like? Is it even worth it? What happens if you don't wear a mask in the Paris metro? Americans were welcome back in France on June 9th, 2021 and she landed on June 10th! This is the first day Americans were allowed to enter France after several bouts of covid-related lock-downs. Whitney was in France for 3 weeks with her partner who is French. They explored Paris together and then went to visit Provence and Savoie where he lives. She shares some wonderful suggestion Let's talk about it! Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/350 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

This is Join Us in France Episode 349.  Bonjour, I’m Annie Sargent and Join Us in France is the podcast where we look around France so you can best enjoy France as a destination. We talk about places you might want to visit in France, French news that relate to travel, French culture, history, gastronomy, and everything it takes to have a great time in France. Today I bring you a conversation with Elyse Rivin about the liberation of the Mediterranean in 1944. We’ve talked about the incredible feats of valor surrounding the liberation of France via Normandy, but that was only part of the job. Lots of Allied troops participated in the liberation of Algeria, Corsica and Provence all around the Mediterranean. And, unlike Normandy, 50% of the troops who participated were French. But the liberation of the Mediterranean wasn't only done by French soldiers! I bet some of you have relatives who fought in those battles and they rarely get acknowledged because all we ever talk about is Normandy. Aug 15th marks the 77th anniversary of the landing of Allied troops in Provence and it’s an amazing story that Elyse and I will share with you now. This time the France travel update on how to get your health pass and QR code is at the beginning of my discussion with Elyse and not after the interview. Stay tuned for that. If you like what we do here at Join Us in France, consider supporting us by visiting Annie's boutique to check out my cookbook Join Us at the Table, my self-guided VoiceMap tours and my services such as my itinerary review where I help you craft the best vacation in France specifically for YOU. 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. Remember that there were 3 major military operations to push back Germans in the  Mediterranean: Operation Torch (North Africa November 1942) Operation Vésuve (Corsica October 1943) Anvil Dragoon (Provence August 1944) German Bunkers you can see in Provence: Blockhaus des Goudes Bunker Faben (Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/349 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Are you thinking about making a stop in the city of Montauban in Occitanie? Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin visit Montauban today and share their insights about this town in the southwest of France. Montauban is a city with lots of history and some recent controversy. Should you put it on your list? It's definitely off the beaten track and that's a plus to many people. Take a listen to decide for yourself if you'd like to check it out! If you have time for nothing else, here's what you should put on top of your list in Montauban: The Ingres Bourdelle Art Museum inside of the former Bishop's Palace. It would make a good base to set off to see gorgeous villages in the Aveyron area (Penne, Castelnau de Montmiral, Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val, Bruniquel to name just a few that we've done episodes on in the podcast) Here is a selection of accommodations we like in Montauban For Americans planning to visit France in Aug or Sept of 2021: Information on how Americans can get a QR code starts 59 minutes into the episode. This is the Sherpa site where you can see up-to-date information on what it takes to travel to France from your country. It also explains what you'll need to return home AND lets you print travel documents. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/348 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking

Are you thinking about visiting the city of Èze near Nice in Provence? Welcome to the Join Us in France Travel Podcast. We are making a stop in Èze today! Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with licensed tour guide Elyse Rivin about the hill-top village of Èze. We talk about the history of this beautiful place, discuss ways to get there, and a few gotchas you should be warned about. Annie has visited Éze several times. It's a touristy place, but there's a good reason for that! And once you know the tricks, you'll have a grand time! French news about the new health pass requirement starts 35 minutes into the episode or visit the show notes to read what's happening. Here are a few useful links for you on the new health pass: This official web page gives step-by-step instructions on what health professionals need to do to generate a QR code for foreign nationals. Paris By Mouth, a tour company, has published a very good blog post about how to do this for people who are in Paris right now. Things are changing fast. There are a lot of conversations about this on the Join Us in France Closed Group on Facebook, see the latest there. Full show notes for this episode are here: https://joinusinfrance.com/347 Patreon | Boutique | Newletter | Booking