Join Us in France Travel Podcast

On this trip report Annie takes you on a quest for the Maid of Orĺéans with her guest Kim Loftus. Have you ever wanted to go searching for Joan of Arc in rural France? She's in a lot of villages in northern France! That was the theme of Kim's latest trip to France and she tells us about several of the must-see sites related to this world-famous heroine. Book recommendation: Joan of Arc, a Life Transfigured Hotels Recommended in this Episode In Reims they stayed at the Hotel Campanile. This is a great location where you could walk to the city center and they have parking. Campanile hotels are typically inexpensive as well. In Reims they also enjoyed the restaurant Au Bureau near the Cathedral and Au Café de Reims. The best hotel of the trip was in Rouen: Best Western Hotel Gustave Flaubert Searching for Joan of Arc in Rural France Joan was born in the middle of the 100-year war which went poorly for the French, particularly with the terrible battle of Agencourt (listen to episode 89 for the story on how that went). France was being ruled by an English King. She was born in Domremy, which has now been renamed Domremy-la-Pucelle. You went there and will tell us what you saw there in a moment. Her father was a successful farmer and she was the oldest of 5 children. She was extremely pious and went to pray in the village church several times a day. Joan started hearing voices at age 13 telling her that it was her calling to deliver France from the wicked English rulers and put a French King on the throne again. At age 16 (or was it 17?) she set off to meet the rightful heir of the throne, raised an army, inspired French people to support the cause and she did it! She’s been a legend ever since as the unlikely savior of a country in big trouble. She was at the center of two big trials which is why her life is well-documented and also why it’s hard to talk about her without being a specialist because it’s complicated! There is also plenty of lore surrounding her life. But she was a real girl who died young in a tragic end and achieved amazing results by turning the 100-year war around in favor of the French. I found the Wikipedia page about her to be one of the best summaries out there of who she was and what she did. I also read the Wikipedia page about her in French and that’s got so many details that it’s horribly confusing. Château-Thierry Aisne-Marne Memorial Cemetery WWI Château-Thierry monument WWI Porte Saint Pierre, Joan of Arc entered the town of Chateau-Thierry through this stone gate. This is a fortress related to 100 Years War: The town was under the control of the English, Joan of Arc marched through and took it over for the French. Newly crowned King Charles VII was with her there. Reims This is where Charles VII was crowned and where many other French Kings were crowned too. Joan had to take the city from the English first, and then have him crowned. There is a Joan of Arc sculpture outside cathedral and chapel inside. You’ll have to find the statue of the smiling angel of the Cathedral too! Reims is a good place to stay when you go searching for Joan of Arc. They took day-trips to Domremy-la-Pucelle and Vaucouleur while staying in Reims. Domremy-la-Pucelle This is where Joan of Arc was born and raised, and she set off on her quest from here at age 16. What did you see there? L'Arbre des Fées, the gift shop staff was so fun for a Joan geek like me, maybe because I was the only one there. It was another chance to practice my French. Centre Johannique Joan’s childhood home and the garden where she heard the voices giving her instructions Remy church next to Joan’s home. Vaucouleurs Visitors Center, which is where you request to see Joan of Arc Museum. Next to the Visitors Center, a shop called Mercerie Lagny. Nathalie, owner, was so delightful. Bought French made socks, Berthe aux Grands Pieds. Eglise St. Laurent - chapel to Joan. Up the hill is the gate of France where Joan left the city with her troops to go the dauphin at Chinon. An old lime tree probably dates back to Joan’s time. Sign explaining only living thing remaining that would have been there to see her off in 1429. The old castle’s chapel were Joan attended the Mass on mornings and stayed for hours in front of the statue of Notre-Dame-des-Voûtes. It was not open. Compiègne Came through on a Sunday and everything except the Château de Compiègne was closed. Many half-timbered buildings in the city center. Joan of Arc on city hall and sculpture in the plaza. Joan captured nearby. Tour Jeanne d’Arc, origninally called La Grosse Tour du Roi. After Charles VII was crowned, he entered into pragmantic agreements with various Lords, some of whom used to be his enemies. Joan still wanted to get rid of all the English. When the English laid siege Compiègne the inhabitants send word to Joan of Arc that they needed her. She was able to rally 400 men to try and chase the English away from Compiègne but she was captured. They put her in various prisons, she tried to escape, no ransom was negotiated and she was burned at the stake in Rouen a year after her capture. Rouen Chemical plant explosion and awful smell in the air The Joan of Arc Historical, an immersive experience - quite moving. Rouen Cathedrale - light show in the summer months Eglise St. Jeanne d’Arc, Rouen right next to Place du Vieux-Marché - Joan’s execution site, marked with a towering sculptural cross. Best dinner at D’eux-Mêmes restaurant - Palet Breton, Tube Choco-dessert and a Daurade. Searching for Joan of Arc in Rural France Useful Links Joan of Arc cities website aka "villes johaniques" and map of the area in English Also a Facebook page for events in Domremy and Grand 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 Aisne-Marne Memorial Cemetery WWI Château-Thierry monument WWI Porte Saint Pierre where Joan of Arc entered the town of Chateau-Thierry Reims Domrémy-la-Pucelle Vaucouleur Compiègne Rouen Subscribe to the Podcast Apple Google Spotify RSS Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): The Battle of Agincourt, Episode 89 Chateau-Thierry and the Battle of Belleau Wood, Episode 256 A Perfect Day Trip to Reims from Paris, Episode 13 Categories: Alsace and Lorraine, Champagne Area, Hauts-de-France, Normandy & Brittany

Today’s episode of the podcast is a conversation between Annie Sargent and Greer Ball about her wonderful Provence cycling tour. Greer is from New Zealand, I think she’s my first Kiwi guest on the podcast and she was a lot of fun! I don’t know about you but I am ready to day-dream about a nice visit to Provence and I am confident we’ll be able to do that again soon. Soon to me would be this time next year. And why not? It seems doctors and researchers are making great progress in learning how to handle this pandemic. Greer’s cycling tour in Provence has everything you might want: lots of exercise, great meals, a fun group and tour leaders, she loved it and gives lots of tips for a cycling trip to France. The company she used is called Obscure Tours The tour took them through the towns of Avignon, Remoulins, Pont du Gard, Uzès, Tarascon-en-Provence, Arles, Les Baux de Provence, Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Camargue, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, and Montpellier. For my personal update after the interview I’ll tell you about the announcements made by the French Prime Minister and how things are going to change in France after May 11. Hotel Recommendations In Avignon they loved the Cloitre Saint Louis Hotel where you can have your breakfast around the cloister and has a pool! In Remoulins they stayed at Hôtel Restaurant Le Colombier which had great outdoor eating under a big tree for meals. It's a couple of kilometers away from the Pont du Gard, an easy walk. Hotel in Uzès, Hostellerie Provençale an old building with modern art. Hotel Les Echevins in Tarascon Hotel du Forum in Arles Hotel Les Palmiers en Camargue in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Hotel Royal in Montpellier More Conversations About Active Vacations in France 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 Tour group with guide and luggage service [03:42] Electric bike option [04:18] Steep ride up to Les Baux de Provence [04:50] The tour started in Avignon [05:23] Taking the TGV between Paris and Avignon [06:08] Great hotel in Avignon [07:10] Pont d'Avignon aka bridge to nowhere [08:28] Why you should take the iPad tour at the Papal Palace [08:45] Vibration sound and light show at the Papal Palace [10:15] Riding between Avignon and Châteauneuf-du-Pape [11:06] Riding to Remoulins and the Pont du Gard [12:21] Canoeing under the Pont du Gard [12:35] Hotel recommendation in Remoulins [13:50] Parking situation at the Pont du Gard [14:23] Riding between Remoulins and Uzès [15:07] Is Uzès the best market in France? [15:38] The Duke's Castle in Uzès [16:56] Claustrophobic castle staircase! [17:45] Walking to the source of the acquaduct that fed the Pont du Gard in Uzès [18:43] Hotel recommendation in Uzès [21:14] Ride from Uzès to Tarascon [21:40] La voie verte du Pont du Gard: and old railway line converted into a bike trail [22:55] Chateau du Roi René in Tarascon [24:08] Ride between Tarascon and Les Baux de Provence [24:36] Les Carrières de Lumière in Les Baux [25:33] Is the village of Les Baux de Provence worth it? [27:23] Ride between Les Carrières de Lumière and Arles [28:28] Roman ruins in Arles [28:58] Van Gogh stuff in Arles [29:19] Saint Trophime in Arles [30:55] Arelate festival in Arles in August [31:23] Riding to the Camargue [32:18] Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Sainte Sarah [32:59] Ride to Montpellier [35:21] Stop in Aigues-Mortes and La Grande-Motte [36:02] La Grande-Motte is popular with French vacationers [36:57] Riding to Montpellier and restaurant recommendation [38:49] What should you have done differently for this trip? [39:18] French people don't deserve their "rude" reputation [41:20] Tour company: Obscure Tours [42:49] Thank you Patrons [44:48] Personal update [47:20] Summary of new announcements by the French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe [47:48] Subscribe to the Podcast Apple Google Spotify RSS Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise Categories: Active Vacations in France, Provence Edit "Provence Cycling Tour, Episode 283"

On today’s episode Annie and Elyse ask the question we've all been wondering about: Will the pandemic change the way you travel? We asked the Join Us in France community on Facebook and got a lot of different responses. Some surprised us, some were controversial, but mostly we hear you! We don't have all the answers, but as friends who live in France, Annie and Elyse have a good feel for how things are likely to proceed. Will the Pandemic Change the Way You Travel? On April 12th Annie asked listeners the following question: “How will this pandemic change the way you travel in the future?” There were so many responses I can’t read each one, but you’ll find the thread in the Join Us in France Closed group on Facebook if you’d like. Here's What We Learned Financial considerations, Jennifer says “Economically, it is difficult to tell what the future will bring for the world. Certainly things will recover eventually, but realistically it could take several years.” Reba says “I’m afraid to think how many quaint businesses aren’t going to survive this” Personal space and hand washing (lots of people mention those two) I will wear a mask on airplanes, use sanitizer, use Clorox wipes to clean the tray table, armrests, seat pocket, same at hotels. Lots of people mention increased hygiene anywhere they go. No more cruising (several responses), another person says maybe cruise on smaller ships. One person says “I have seen people here say they will not ever cruise again, but IMHO cruise ships will become the safest places on earth! There will be better passenger health screening, better staff training, more cleaning, less people handling utensils in buffets, more passenger education. This is the only way they can save the industry.” I will only travel by car for a while, so much to see right where I live! (A few people mention that) Some people mention travel to more rural places. Marianne says “I dream about 3 months in the French or English countryside with a car to go exploring. I’ve always gone to Paris before.” Lachlan Cooke says “Probably be avoiding large festivals, but those were never my cup of tea.” I’ll make sure I have enough leave time accrued just in case I get sick on my vacation I’ll travel more because it’s precious and I want to give the travel bug to my kids, two moms mentioned that. Pandemics are not new; we’ll go back to normal like it never happened within a few years. I’ll quote this one by Laura: “On reflection, probably the biggest thing I’ve noticed is how slowing down our lives is reflected in nature’s response. I want to do better at traveling in a way that leaves less of an impact on the earth.” Susan also talks about that “I am planning one really long trip to hit all of the places I have wanted to see or revisit. I want to reduce my carbon footprint, so no more back and forth trips lasting a couple of weeks.” Several people mention the “No more one week vacation crap.” Stay longer, make it count. But there are also people who say exactly the opposite: I will travel more frequently and not spend 18 months planning a trip even if it means closer destinations and shorter trips (from Bec) We may not have a choice, there may be restrictions imposed by governments, maybe temperature checks at airports, mandatory masks, etc. We may need visas to travel to France in the future. I will look for more flexible booking options and will pay more attention to cancelation policies. Read the fine print on insurance policies and anything run by travel companies. Bev explains how pandemics were excluded from travel insurance. Life is short so I’ll continue to travel. We got used to getting our stuff searched, body scans, taking off our shoes and belts, we’ll get used to the new normal. Seize the day, don’t delay trips, the opportunity can pass. I’ll make sure my pantry is well stocked so if I come home and need to quarantine I’ll have what I need. It won’t affect my behavior at all, you can catch something far away or at home, I’m not going to spend my time worrying. Too early to know how this will change our travel behavior! I will appreciate every trip more. I may not be able to travel with elderly relatives any more. Business travel will be more impacted than pleasure travel. We’ll all gravitate to pre-covid behaviors as soon as conditions become safe (eradication and vaccine). Travel will resume once we have a vaccine (at least half of responders mentioned waiting for a vaccine) “After” could be a long time, there could be a second and third wave. I’ll quote this one from Lynn “After COVID-19, I honestly have to say I’m happy I’ve done extensive travel over the past 8 years as I have no interest in traveling post COVID-19. I’m perfectly happy right here at home. I think I may purchase a camper and travel my own continent.” Several people mention having second homes and grandkids in France, they will travel again but it makes them nervous. Bev who helps me moderate the group wrote “Being in our 70's, with my husband severely immune compromised, our twice yearly treks to France look like a distant dream. We are trying to remain hopeful that an effective vaccine will be developed, and that we will be able to travel to France again by Christmas 2021 or in early 2022, but as we all have learned well, life is uncertain...if we are able to visit in the future, I will no longer prepay to save a few hundred dollars...the 18 month vouchers they are giving will not be any use to us...” Melissa says “It’s maddening how many people are in this “world is ending as we know it” mentality, hopefully they will get back to logic soon.” Cheryl says: “Well, I'm concerned that the government is going to FORCE people into having vaccines which I am against. They might say we can't travel unless we are vaccinated. People need to resist this.” And then several people respond saying that’s a selfish attitude from folks who are privileged and folks asking me to remove that post which I didn’t do, so long as it stays civil and not about Trump I’ll allow it. Tracey says “I will research more about where I am going and be more intentional about my visit.” And my friend Brenda posted the response that made me laugh: My future traveling suit and it’s someone wearing a full yellow suit and mask waving their arms”. Get one for me too Brenda! How-to in France 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.   Subscribe to the Podcast Apple Google Spotify RSS Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): Sheltering in Place in France, Episode 278 President Macron on the French Covid-19 Plan, Episode 275

This is Join Us in France episode 281, bonjour I'm Annie Sargent and in this episode of the podcast, I bring you a conversation with Patty Lund who was really fun to talk to, I think she will cheer you up! She is checking out places in France where they might want to move at some point. On this trip she and her husband explored the area of Béarn and Pau because it's close to the mountains (they love snowboarding), also close to great surfing around Biarritz, and the Béarn is an area with almost zero non-French tourists, which means house prices are still reasonable as long as you stay away from cities. They were based out of Sauveterre-de-Béarn (an hour from Biarritz) and from there spiraled out to several scenic villages such as Navarrenx, Salies-de-Béarn, Oloron Sainte Marie and more that we talk about and you will find them all listed in the guest notes for episode 281. Exploring the Béarn A lot of villages in the Béarn on the Chemin de Compostelle (Compostella pilgramage route) which means many of them have a huge Basilica church for little population today. That's one of the things that makes them wonderful. Another thing is many of these villages have interesting people living there. She talks to me about one restaurateur that aims to have zero waste. In France we produce less garbage anyway, but how do you get to zero waste? She decided to talk to me on the podcast about this area because there isn't much information in English about it on-line. And I am grateful for that because it IS way too hard to get good information about minor travel destinations. The sad reality is that if you want to make a living in the travel blog business you need to talk about the things that people search by the millions and never "waste your time" with places that don't get much search volume. So, they all talk about Paris. It could be something totally inconsequential in Paris, but it has to be Paris. How to Find Genuine France As a result, there are a lot of places in France that never get talked about because travel bloggers know they won't get the clicks. So, here's a tip for you listeners. If you're looking for information a place in France that is not on the top 10, don't stay on the first page of results on Google. They'll show you results from Trip Advisor forums and Booking.com and because those site "rank" well, but really the information is useless there. Imagine some unknown person took the time to write up all this info about that one little known place that's so delightful, that blog will appear on page 3 or 10 of the results because it doesn't rank. So, click on the results on the first page if you must, but also go to page 2 and 3 and possibly 4 and 5 too. Go deeper. Also, Patty explains that you should use French terms to find local information because there are few (or zero) sites in English about these places in France. Say you'd like to know if there is a food festival or a local event of some sort. If you use the word "festival" in your search you'll find a lot fewer results than if you use the word "fête". We have a word "festival" in French but the connotation is big event with 50,000 people or more. If you're looking for a local village event they won't call it a festival, they'll call it a "fête". She mentions a fun salt festival they ran into, which the locals called "Fête du sel". If you don't know what the right word is, send me an email, I'm happy to answer such questions for my listeners annie@joinusinfrance.com Patty shares some great restaurant recommendations in the southwest of France too! Anyway, this is a fun episode, I'll give you my personal update after the interview and I think you should stick around for that because I may be losing my marbles! More Episodes About the South West of France 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 Sauveterre de Béarn [10:00] Navarrenx [16:42] Salies de Béarn [19:35] Oloron Sainte Marie [22:39] Xavier Cheese Shop in Toulouse [26:28] Pau [28:18] There is little urban sprawl in France [29:00] Favorite restaurants on this trip [31:58] Visit other cities besides Paris! [40:33] Not every town in France is equally charming [43:44] If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): The Rules of Driving in France, Episode 16 A Great Visit to the Chateau of Pau, Episode 191 Bordeaux, France a Historical Perspective, Episode 44 Basque Country, Episode 60 Bayonne France in the Basque Country, Episode 47

On this episode of the podcast, Elyse takes us to a place of legend called Rennes-le-Château, and we also discuss Bugaratch, and Arques. They are all in the Aude department not far from Carcassonne and Limoux. These are small villages with a big reputation for the metaphysical, hidden treasures of gold, end of the world gatherings and other mysterious events. Are you ready for some New Age? Have You Heard of Rennes-le-Chateau? If you've heard of Renne-le-Château or Bugarach, you're probably a local OR you’re interested in the paranormal. But how much do you really know about it? In this episode Elyse explains the history of the area and why the legend grew so big. A fabulously rich monk called Abbé Saunières had a lot to do with it. But how did he get so wealthy? Did he really sell his soul to the devil? When the legend became part of the Dan Brown novel The Da Vinci Code things went out of control and the village gets a lot of visitors that just have to see it for themselves. As it turns out, it's a lovely village and there are other things you should check out nearby (see related episodes), so we both vote YES, you should make your way to Occitanie and visit Rennes-le-Château!   We have to confess that neither Elyse nor Annie are into otherworldly things, but this part of France area is full of such  great stories! To purchase Elyse's Tour of Toulouse email her. New Version of the VoiceMap Marais Tour Annie has released a new version of her Marais tour on the Voicemap App and this one includes a photo of each of the stops I take you on.  You can purchase the tour here. For those of you who've already bought the tour, you can update it for free by following these steps: Open the VoiceMap App Go to Account Swipe left on the Marais tour Confirm the delete Go to the Purchased tab Tap Download 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 Download the new version of my Marais tour! [01:21] The Aude Department and New Age beliefs [04:04] The ancient village of Rennes-le-Château [05:33] The treasure of the Gauls [07:30] Nobody knows what happened to the gold of the Tectosages when the Romans arrived [09:15] The gold of the Visigoths [09:53] The gold of the Cathars [15:33] and [26:17] The start of the Voisin dynasty in Rennes-le-Château [18:44] The gold of the Knight Templars might be hidden in Rennes-le-Chateau![19:51] People start digging for treasure around Rennes-le-Château in the late 1700s [27:27] Monks in Rennes-le-Château make fortunes from selling Indulgences [29:30] The arrival of Abbé de Saunières in the early 19th century [31:42] Did Abbé de Saunières make a deal with the Devil? [35:11] Reactionary monarchists and their support for Abbé de Saunières [37:11] Le Diable au Bénitier [37:40] A movie called L'Or du Diable [38:47] New Agers in Rennes-le-Château [39:20] People are still trying to dig for treasure in Rennes-le-Château [40:56] Apparently Mary Magdalene came to Rennes-le-Château and might be buried around there (super serious historical source being Dan Brown and the Da Vinci Code) [41:50] Waiting for the end of the world in Bugarach [43:29] Why you should see Rennes-le-Château for yourself [48:08] Hundreds of books have been written about this place [50:19] The Auda as an area filled with mystery [51:27] Support the Show Tip Your Guide Extras Patreon Audio Tours Merchandise If you enjoyed this episode, you should also listen to related episode(s): The Medieval Walled City of Carcassonne, Episode 23 A visit to Limoux in Occitanie, Episode 277

Categories: Lyon Area, Provence Today’s episode is a trip report with Deepa Seonie about her family vacation in Provence and the French Alps. She came to France with her husband, daughter and son. Best Destinations in Provence and the French Alps We talk about Aix-en-Provence, Cassis, the Calanques, Nimes, Pont du Gard, the Haribo candy museum, Sault, Lavender fields, Notre Dame de Sénanques and lots more in Provence. They also went to Annecy, Chamonix, Yvoire, Mer de Glace (and how they wish they had done Aiguille du Midi instead). Deepa talks about three things that haven't come up often on the podcast: Why you shouldn't pay so much attention to Yelp reviews in France because it doesn't work the same way here. How you can get your VAT tax refunded when you get to the airport to fly home, be sure to follow those steps or it won't work! This discussion starts 42 minutes into the episode. How to find a doctor in France In general Deepa has great recommendations for restaurants, how to conduct yourself in France, and how you shouldn't pack too much in! A Few Restaurant Recommendations To see all her restaurant recommendations go to the Guest Notes page (blue button below). Divan d'Antioche and Chez Charlotte in Aix-en-Provence Nino (for Bouillabaisse) and Le Bonaparte in Cassis Le Lilas Rose, Les Chineurs de la Cuisine, Le Pekin for Chinese, Le Poivrier in Annecy General Tips for Visiting France Always say "bonjour" and "au revoir" Pack your swimming suits! Don't pack too much in a day Every place is unique, take the time to enjoy it Don't paid too much attention to Yelp ratings, some of their best restaurant experiences had few reviews and yet were fantastic! Many French people don't know what Yelp and Trip Advisor are, they don't use those sites! Shopping in Le Marais in Paris is wonderful How to get your VAT tax refunded step by step More Episodes About Provence and the French Alps 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 Why Deepa loves France so much [04:44] Young son loves paragliding [08:28] What they loved in Aix-en-Provence [09:27] Restaurant recommendations in Aix [11:56] Calissons d'Aix [12:43] A visit to Cassis [13:30] Bouillabaisse in Cassis [15:42] Plan enough time for the Pont du gard [17:56] Haribo museum and store [19:14] When are the bull fights in Nîmes? [20:50] In Nîmes don't miss La Maison Carrée [21:28] Lavender fields in Sault [22:23] La Garde Adhémar and Parc naturel régional des Baronnies provençales scenic drive and lavender fields [22:30] Vallon Des Lavandes Lavandin and Lavandor [23:51] Sault is a good place to buy lavander souvenirs [24:40] Watch out for opening times at Notre Dame de Sénanque! [24:54] A visit to Annecy [25:30] Airbnb in Annecy: La Perle de la Vielle ville d’Annecy [26:00] Seeing a doctor in Annecy [27:37] Annecy is picture-perfect! [28:47] Coffee truck in Annecy [29:18] How much French do you need to know? [30:15] Paragliding in Annecy [31:07] Boating on the lake in Annecy [32:46] Most beautiful village of Yvoire [34:05] Mer de Glace or Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix? [35:19] Chamonix or Annecy? [36:12] How to behave in France [37:14] Don't pack too much in each day [38:00] Should you pay attention to Yelp in France? [38:34] A few things about Paris and shopping in Le Marais [41:30] How to get the VAT tax back [42:12] How patrons can get rewards automatically on their smartphone [46:08]

On this episode of the podcast Annie talks to two Americans who reside in France: Patricia Perry who lives in Paris and Michael Groves who lives in Antibes. We discuss their experience with the mandatory home confinement that started in France on March 16, 2020. What is it like sheltering in place in France? Patricia talks about deserted Paris where she can hear the birds because the streets are deserted. She can go for a run, but she has to stay close to home and limit her time outside. She tells us what it's like getting groceries in Paris right now. And what about that silly form everyone in France has to fill out before going outside? Why is it required? And what got into them that they closed the banks of the Seine and all the places that were fun to go to? Sheltering in place isn't all negative In many ways we're very lucky to have a safe and comfortable place to stay as we shelter in place. Many people don't have it near as easy as we do, and getting stuck in a hospital bed sounds terrifying right now. The people of Paris turn lemons into lemonade by going out on their balconies every night at 8 PM to clap and cheer for medical workers and first-line workers. And French people have kept their priorities during this home confinement! You can still go to the boulangerie, tobacco shop and wine store! We might start another revolution otherwise 😉 The groceries problem Nobody we know is at any risk of going hungry right now, but isn't it crazy that we're all nervous about going to the grocery store? Annie tried to sign up with Auchan Drive to purchase groceries from a pick-up service. They are so busy they won't assign a appointment for several days! Police Checkups in Antibes Michael tells us how the police patrols around Antibes and gave him a hard time about stopping to take a photo. Taking photos of the port is not part of approved reasons to leave the house said the police officer! The authorities are definitely trying to force people to only go out for things that are necessary. You'd be surprised what people think is a first necessity if you give them free-reign! And how do you keep French people who normally have small personal space from keeping their distances? Duct tape, which we all know is magic. Overall we hope this episode won't induce any stress because we're pretty upbeat about the situation we find ourselves in. And, of course, stay at home and stay healthy! If you'd like to hear more from Patricia, check out Visiting Kitchen Supply Stores in Paris, Episode 243. And Michael talked to me about Falling in Love with Corsica, Episode 267.   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 Paris Antibes Sheltering in place in France

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.