Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Limoux is a city of about 10,000 not far from Carcassonne. If you’re exploring the southwest of France, this is another great stop where you can enjoy genuine France and really get to know the French countryside. Limoux in Occitanie Limoux is in the Aude department and is part of the Occitanie Region. The Aude covers a large area west of Castelnaudary and all the way to the Mediterranean. Other cities in the Aude are Lézignan, Narbonne and Carcassonne. The landscape around Limoux is hilly, and is a type of "garrigue" meaning that it's a mediterranean landscape. The city is not heavily populated, Limoux is mostly agricultural, but has a fair amount of tourism as well. But we don't mean Eiffel Tower tourism, but rather the kind of wonderful rural tourism where visitors go to stay a while and enjoy the local culture, hikes, and nature. The local rivers are called the Aude and the Cougoing and that is one of the reasons why the city floods fairly regularly. The local Abbey is called Saint Hilaire and is a little bit outside of the town. The area followed the Cathar religion and was a victim of repression against the Cathars. It is know as "Cathar Country" that is part historical and part lore. One of these days we'll do an episode about the Cathars, but it's hard to untangle what is fact from what is stories. La Blanquette de Limoux The local wine "blanquette de Limoux" is famous (and for good reason as we discuss in the episode!) The soil around Limoux is great for grape vines and olive trees because the soil is poor and does not retain water. Fun Fact: Thomas Jefferson imported 600 bottles of Blanquette de Limoux into America because he considered it to be the best white wine he had ever tasted. The blanquette de Limoux was the first white wine in France to receive and AOC or Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée. They have both a sparkling and non-sparkling wine. Le Carnaval de Limoux The Carnaval de Limoux pre-dates all the carnivals in France and dates back to the 1500s. It starts late January and runs until Easter and goes on every week-end. They use white masks to indicate what band or club they belong to. Alet-les-Bains Alet-les-Bains is a place where there are baths and this started with the Romans. They have a lovely Abbey, it's in ruins but you can visit it. Between Limoux and Alet-les-Bains you get a lovely view of the area. Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode Blanquette de Limoux Cathars Carnaval de Limoux Alet-les-Bains

On today's episode of the podcast I talk with Shauna Dinsart about her recent experience of having a baby in France. Shauna shares how most things went better than her expectations, but she thinks France needs more awareness of post-partum depression. After the interview you'll also hear my update on how things are proceeding in France with the Covid-19 pandemic. For as much as I love to travel and I love to tell people about France, for me it boils down to this: would you rather be stuck at home or in a hospital bed? These are our only choices right now. Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode [04:01] Why did Shauna have her baby in France? [06:46] Will you get good care if you have a baby in France? [07:24] In France they give frequent ultrasounds [08:34] Having a baby in France is not expensive even if you don't have insurance [10:26] Some French doctors charge more [13:52] American expats who live in France dread getting sick while visiting the US [16:04] Having a baby in France was a positive experience [17:53] French doctors take a lot of precautions [20:14] There is too little awareness of post-partum depression in France right now [26:17] Follow-up at home after having a baby in France [28:11] French people will tell you if they think your baby is not covered up enough [31:38] French people don't let pregnant women stand in line [33:26] Getting child-care in France [36:22] Generally speaking French people are frugal [40:27] Will having a big house make you happy? [41:56] Is the choice of café or restaurant that important? [48:22] Being born in France does not make you French [49:47] Have a vacation in France and save money on hospital costs [52:54] What is it like living in France under Covid-19?

What is France doing about the Covid-19 pandemic? The Covid-19 pandemic caught the world by surprise and put a big dent in everyone's travel plan. In this episode Annie summarizes the action plan outlined by French President Macron on March 13, 2020 #joinusinfrance #covid19 Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.  

In today's episode of the podcast, Annie and Elyse wonder how tours make a vacation better. Won't you have a great time in Paris or anywhere in France even if you don't take a tour? To some extent, yes. But we know from experience that tours make it possible for you to make the most of every minute by taking you straight to the best stuff. Tours greatly enhance the visit because we all like to know what were're looking at, don't we? There is no doubt that if you don't take a tour, you'll miss out. We give several examples of how that's happened to us in the episode! Tours Make a Vacation Better If You Are a Curious Person We know one thing for sure: Our listeners are curious about France! The best time to feed that curiosity is while you visit France and walking around the place you've heard about. Would you like to hear about the cool things that happened in a particular neighborhood? Of course you do! Would it make a difference to learn that historically significant people lived where you are? We know it does! But you'll miss out on a lot of wonderful experiences if you walk around with no help. We want you to feed your curiosity about France. Do you need to learn about the cool things that happened in a particular neighborhood? Of course you do! Some people, Annie used to be one of them, aren't in the habit of taking tours. They wonder will I get bored? Will it be a waste of time? Wouldn't I rather have the freedom to do what I want? Well, VoiceMap tours are designed not to be boring, they get to the point, they let you do what you want because you can pause and resume at will, and they are inexpensive! How to Purchase Annie and Elyse's Tours You can get Annie's Tours and Elyse's Tour directly from the VoiceMapApp or download the App and then unlock the tour by purchasing a code. Elyse also does in-person tours in and around Toulouse. Use the contact form on her website to inquire or email her: elysart@live.fr Download your Paris tours now! Email | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter   Did you get my VoiceMap Paris tours yet? They are designed for people who want to see the best of Paris neighborhoods and put what they are looking at into historical context. There are so many great stories in Paris. Don't walk right past them without having a clue what happened there! You can buy them directly from the VoiceMap app or click here to order activation codes at the podcast listener discount price.   Discussed in this Episode [04:35] Rediscovering the London Theater District in London with Ian McEwen's tour on VoiceMap [06:05] What if you don't normally take tours? [06:52] Tours make the experience better [07:33] Taking tours where you've lived for a long time is surprisingly interesting! [08:00] Taking audio tours in Museums is interesting even for an art historian like Elyse! [08:44] You will miss a lot of stuff if you don't take any sort of tour [09:03] Paris is a big city with lots of distractions [10:03] VoiceMap tours give you maximal freedom [10:13} You can run VoiceMap tours without data because everything is downloaded to your phone! [11:08] Tours are great for curious people [12:02] Don't forget to look up! [12:34] Missing the Procope even though it has signs! [13:19} More on the complete flexibility of VoiceMap tours [15:16] A visit to the Royal Albert Hall with a "serious" guide [15:30] Some tour guides are actors and crack more jokes than anything [16:45] We understand why some people don't take tours: some live guides sound like robots! [17:30] Good in-person guides can adjust the tour to their audience [18:13] Are VoiceMap tours too cheap? [20:20] How to buy Annie and Elyse's VoiceMap tours and how they work [21:45] Elyse is working on a tour about the occupation and resistance in Toulouse [22:00] Annie has Paris tours about Île de la Cité Marais Montmartre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés [22:50] Talking to the people who are reluctant about taking tours [24:22] Audio tours enhance the experience [25:06] Don't be purely and Instagram tourist! [26:17] You can actually take Annie and Elyse in your pocket!

Going to Paris by yourself? It's one of the best ways to see the City of Light! What are some unforgettable experiences you can have while visiting Paris on your own? My guest on today's podcast has lots of great suggestions for you! Discussed in this Episode Switching hotels in the middle of the trip [03:57] When traveling solo you can let the weather decide what you're going to do for the day [05:05] Learning what sort of traveler you are when visiting on your own [06:05] Do some planning because not all of paris is equally lovely or interesting [07:04] Ask yourself what YOU want to do [10:26] Places des Vosges for people-watching [13:08] Jardin des Rosiers on rue des Rosiers [13:15] Miznon fallafel shop [14:13] Edwart Chocolatier on rue Vieille du Temple [14:46] Merci concept store on Boulevard Beaumarchais [15:38] Best time to go to the Trocadero is early in the morning [16:47] Pont Alexandre III as a great photo spot [18:44] Le Bon Marché in the 7e arrondissement [19:37] Learn what's near you so you don't go all over the place [21:26] Don't miss la Tour de l'Horloge [22:42] It's easy to miss a lot of Montmartre if you don't take a tour [23:44] Don't stay in Montmartre if your children need a stoller or if you have mobility issues [27:28] Saint-Germain-des-Prés is a wonderful central area and easy to navigate [28:03] Place de Furstemberg [28:40] Jardin du Luxembourg a great place to read [30:18] Restaurant Treize in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and its non-smoking terrace [31:25] What would you do differently next time? [33:15] Arrive in Montmartre early especially on a sunny day [35:31] Butte-aux-Cailles and street art (pick your time carefully!) [35:31] Solo travelers get to see more because they don't need to compromise with anyone [39:18] Lauren got to use her French more because she was solo [39:36] CityMapper Paris [41:12] Pay attention to exit numbers in the Paris metro [43:35] TripCoin for keeping track of expenses [44:53] Orange Holiday SIM card [46:19] Email | Annie's VoiceMap Tours | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter   #joinusinfrance #soloparis #travel

On today’s episode Annie answers a question someone asked on the Join Us in France Closed Group on Facebook that generated a lot of conversation. The question was: “Where would you settle in France for a month? My husband and I are planning on a month in September in France to "live like locals". We both can stay connected to work via computer and plan to have our mornings and afternoons free to roam the town/area. We like markets, museums, gardens and cafe life. We won't have a car. I'd love any suggestions! Thank you.” Sounds like a nice plan, doesn’t it? There are a lot of things to consider, let’s talk about it! Email | Annie's VoiceMap Paris Tours | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter #joinusinfrance #likealocal #liveinfrance #travel #podcast

Annie and Elyse love a great assortment of cookies, but they also love a great assortment of French movies, which is what we bring you on today's episode! One of our listeners asked a thought-provoking question: what French movies portrait France well? And while we were thinking about that, several people pipped in with the name of their favorite French movies. The thing is, a French person's idea of a great French movie is not the same as what English speakers consider good French movies. The most popular movies in France are mostly silly. French people love nothing more than a good slap-stick comedy! My American friends love movies like The Hundred-Foot Journey. A feel-good movie that takes place in a mythical version of France. I went to Saint Antonin Noble Val to see where the movie was shot. I recognized nothing that looks like the movie at all. Having said that, Saint Antonin is still a nice place to visit. Email | Annie's VoiceMap Paris Tour | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter #joinusinfrance #frenchmovies #frenchculture #travel #podcast The Assortment of French Movies Discussed in this Episode We don't present the movies and TV series in any particular order, we just followed our train of thought :-) Le Père Noël est une ordure Les Bronzés L'aile ou la cuisse La Chèvre Le dîner de cons Les Visiteurs La vérité si je mens 100 foot journey Midnight in Paris Amélie Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis Les Intouchables Asterix and Obelix A Good Year Breathless (A bout de souffle) The Passion of Joan of Arc A Trip to the Moon (???) The Grand Illusion Chocolat Ratatouille Les Revenants (TV Series) The Chorus A Very Secret Service (Au service de la France TV Series) Versailles (TV) A French Village (TV) Les Aventures de Rabi Jacob Jean de Florette Manon des Sources Camille Claudel Cyrano de Bergerac Le Chateau de Ma Mère La Gloire de Mon Père

Scott and his fiancé Grant spent 6 wonderful days in the Dordogne and Aveyron, two neighboring areas in Occitanie in the southwest of France. And since that's home for me, it's a pleasure to report that they had a great time! Best Places in the Dordogne and Aveyron They visited Sarlat, La Roque Gageac, Beynac, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Belcastel, Najac, Toulouse and Carcassone so those were busy days and well planned-out days. They have great accommodations and restaurant recommendations too! In the episode we don't talk about Toulouse and Carcassonne because we ran out of time, but check out Scott's Guest Notes for information on those. Scott has been in France several times and loves lots of things about it  including food, wine, and French culture. Accommodations Recommendations They like to stay in one place for 2 or 3 nights and will pick either hotel or rental depending on what the area has to offer. These are the gems they found on this trip: Airbnb in Sarlat (Dordogne) Chateau de Belecastel (Aveyron) Airbnb in Najac (Aveyron) Restaurant Recommendations They only made a brief stop in Bordeaux but managed to find a great restaurant: La Tupina. This is a restaurant with a country feel and an open fire in the middle of it and they serve great local specialties. In Belcastel they really enjoyed the Restaurant du Vieux Pont. It's worth making a reservation to eat at this one-star restaurant because the other food option in Belcastel is a little touristy restaurant Annie tried that was nothing to write home about! About Renting a Car in France Don't let the car rental agency upgrade you to a bigger car, it won't fit anywhere! And also, don't follow Google Maps too closely. If it's taking you on a dirt road, don't go there unless you've been warned that the entrance gate is on a dirt road. You've got to hear what happened when they asked Google Maps to drive them to a parking lot in Belcastel! That starts at [34:27] And you also need to listen to that part because Belcastel is truly one of the most memorable scenic villages in France! Email | Annie's Voicemap Paris Tours | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter #joinusinfrance #Sarlat #sarlatfrance #SarlatlaCaneda #belcastel #travel #podcast #occitanie

Annie and Elyse discuss UNESCO World Heritage sites in France, that they are and why it matters. France has 44 sites inscribed on the list and several more are in the process of applying. Some UNESCO Word Heritage sites in France are man-made and others are natural sites. The fortified city of Carcassonne is one of the man-made sites while the Gulf of Porto in Corsica is a natural site. Some UNESCO sites are very well defined (Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris) others are harder to describe (the banks of the River Seine for example). Some are extremely famous (the Pont du Gard) and others not as much (the fortifications of Vauban). Getting listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site can have a big impact on a site. A great example of that is the city center of Albi. It was a bit of a sleepy town for a long time and since getting listed it get large numbers of visitors. The city center of Toulouse between the Saint Sernin Basilica and the Pont Neuf should probably be listed. But there are still some small medieval streets in that area that haven't been renovated in a long time and don't look great. What does it mean to be a UNESCO World Heritage site in France? UNESCO World Heritage sites must meet several criteria on a list of 10 that we discuss briefly. Then candidates must submit an application that details why they think they qualify. In France it is cities and Departments that decide to make such applications with the help of their region. The national government doesn't get involved officially #joinusinfrance #UNESCO #unescoworldheritage #unescosite #unescoheritagesite #unescoworldheritagecity #unescowordheritage #unescoworldculturalheritage Email | Annie's VoiceMap Paris Tours | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter

On today’s episode Annie Sargent brings you a conversation with Denise Tham from Canada about her 10-day honeymoon in Provence. The newlyweds  stayed in Avignon, visited Arles, the Pont du Gard, Uzès, drove around the the Petit Lubéron (where they found a lovely bed & breakfast listed below), and ended in Marseille. How to Plan Your Honeymoon in Provence Listening to this episode will make your own honeymoon planning much easier because Denise did the hard work: she found great accommodations, great restaurants and she even figured out the best way to get around in Provence! Transportation in Provence Provence is tricky because there are places you can't get to without a car. And yet there are times when having a car in Provence makes everything difficult because there is nowhere to park! Denise and her husband used a combination of train and car rental, which is the best way to proceed. You definitely don't want to hold on to your rental car in large cities in Provence because parking will drive you nuts! On the other hand, parking in small Provençal villages in late September / early October wasn't an issue. The key is to plan ahead and book your rental in advance because last-minute car rentals cost a fortune in France! Is Marseille worth a Visit? In this episode we also discuss the age-old question: is Marseille a good place to visit in Provence? This conversation starts 35 minutes into the episode, but to summarize, we both think Marseille is a wonderful place if moving around multi-cultural environment feels natural to you. What if You Don't Want to Use Airbnb? More and more people are weary of using Airbnb. Denise found great places to rent through Booking. To find the gems, go to this page, then scroll down and on the left you'll see a lot of criteria, including Apartments, Villas, Hostels, and price range. It's worth mentioning because a lot of people don't know it's a possibility! Provence Accommodations Recommendations Great Apartment in Avignon Maison d'Ulyse near Pont du Gard Le Clos des Eydins in Bonnieux Restaurants Recommendations Denise’s husband is a chef, so they paid attention to restaurants and have great recommendations for lovely places to eat. La Fourchette and L'Agape in Avignon Lunch and L'Occitane Spa at La Maison d'Uzes Bistrot le 5 in Menerbes Le Petit Cabanon and Le Bistro du Cour in Marseille Click play to listen or if you'd rather read our conversation click on transcript. You'll also find Denise's notes by visiting the guest notes. Episodes about Honeymoons in France Email | Annie's VoiceMap Paris Tours | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter