Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Do you want to learn about the city of Nancy, France? It is a great center of Art Nouveau, has a fascinating history, great gastronomy and it's also totally doable as a day-trip from either Paris or Strasbourg. Tour Guide Elyse comes on this episode to give us a great primer into Nancy and Lorraine in general. And be sure to try local specialties! #joinusinfrance #nancyfrance #artnouveau #lorrainefrance

Want to visit Paris by yourself? Paris is ALWAYS a good idea! My guest on today's episode has lots of great suggestions for you, some very unique that I think will greatly appeal to women. Solo travel in Paris is simpler that you might think with a little inspiration from Corrie who tried a lot of things! She loved it because when you travel alone you can move at your own pace and do exactly what you want to do. It is liberating and its a great time to connect with your own thoughts. And there is so much to see and do in Paris!Even if you stayed for a month you'd never see it all. She only had 4 days BTW and she thinks you shouldn't wait to have a lot of time off before you take a trip. Otherwise you may never leave home!

On today's episode we discuss getting around France using public transportation: buses and metros in Paris and national trains & regional buses in the rest of France.  Some places in France you need a rental car, but there are many where you do not. Many places in France having a car could ruin your vacation! This episode is your essential training how the transportation system works in France. Lachlan Cooke has been visiting France since he was a teenager and he loves the French public transit system. He has become very proficient at it and shares his best tips and tricks. We also talk about the best travel Apps out there. Apps will make your life simpler if you get the right ones for France!   Complete show notes and photos are here. #joinusinfrance #PublicTransportation #loves_france_ #pocasts #addictedtofrance #travel #visitfrance #france_focus_on

12 Tips for Visiting Paris You Will Actually Use! #joinusinfrance #firsttimeinparis #parisadvice #IDontSpeakFrench On this episode I am delighted to welcome my first guest from the Philippines, Eric Chao. Eric brings a fresh new perspective on traveling to Paris for the first time and mentions ideas I have never considered! Eric and his wife visited the City of Light between Oct 27 and Oct 31, 2018. He started listening to the podcast after the plans were made, but he went through as many episodes as possible. Those episode helped him get familiar with the "biggies": all the things that trip-up uninformed visitors. But while on his trip he noticed even more things that are confusing to first-time visitors to Paris and those are the ones he shares with us today. #1 Plan Your Transportation To and From the Hotel When you arrive in Paris with suitcases is not the time to figure out the public transportation system! I always suggest taxis. Eric decided to try public transportation and he explains how that went badly. I am not surprised, especially since they were arriving at Gare du Nord from London. This is a rookie mistake you should not make when arriving in Paris! #2 The Bus System in Paris Is Easy but Can Be Confusing At First I've been taking the bus in Paris for a long time. To me, it seems quite straightforward. But Eric managed to identify two things that can make it confusing: On one-way streets for cars, it is possible that buses will run in the opposite direction because they use separate bus lanes. You need to pay attention to the final destination of the bus displayed on the bus. All bus stop names are unique, but some are long hyphenated names that may seem the same at first glance. #3 A Restaurant With a Great View to the Eiffel Tower Everybody wants to know what restaurant has the best view on to the Eiffel Tower! Eric mentions Maison Pradier in the Foyer Chaillot. He reports great food (better than at Les Deux Magots anyway), great service and an amazing view. See the show notes for a photo. The Palais de Chaillot is part of the Trocadero, really easy to find! #4 Always Say Bonjour It is not necessary to speak French to have a great time in Paris. What you need to do is train yourself so the first word out of you mouth is always "bonjour". That's it. Say "bonjour" first. And then switch to English. By the time you are done saying the word "bonjour" they know you're not French. So no need to say "je ne parle pas français" or whatever. The magic word in France is always "bonjour", use it liberally. And have a friendly demeanor, that never hurts as well! Should I Worry About Credit Card Fraud in France? As a side note to our conversation, Eric mentioned that he used cash a lot in Paris because he was worried about credit card fraud. You must know that of all the ways you might get ripped-off while on a trip to France (we also mention scams later in the conversation) credit card fraud is not the one that is likely to happen. Thieves can't do anything with your credit card number alone. They also need your address, the expiration date, and the security code for an on-line transaction.  Those things do not appear on a credit card receipt. But, you must do what feels comfortable and safe to you. I wish I had thought to mention this in the episode, but I didn't. I think it is vital that you don't carry all your credit cards in your wallet all at once. Only carry one and a little bit of cash just in case. #5 If You Can't Say It in Words, Take a Picture! A few shows back I talked about a person who had a terrible time in Paris. One of the things she hated is that when waiting in line at a busy bakery, she could never explain what she wanted fast enough and French people went ahead of her. Eric found the perfect solution for this: when in line at the bakery he would take a picture of the items he wanted to buy. Then all he had to do is show the photo to the person serving him. Problem solved! At this point in the conversation we also take three interesting detours: How to use self-cleaning toilets in Paris How French kids are surprisingly well-behaved at restaurants A recommendation that you book the Private Apartments Tour in Versailles #6 Scooters in Paris Eric's wife tried one of the scooters you now see all over Paris. He explains some of the things they found out about the rules. I'll have to try one next time I am in Paris! #7 Museum Pass : Worth It! I have no affiliate relationship with Museum Pass, but I recommend it all the time because it is great and saves you a lot of time!  Eric agrees, it was worth it and he explains why. We also touch on the length of the security line at the Orsay Museum and a what you need to know about visiting Les Invalides. #8 Ladurée and Angelina's There are many Angelina's restaurants around Paris. The one on rue de Rivoli is lovely, but don't waste hours if there's a long line and you didn't make a reservation. Ladurée is also super popular, but unlike Angelina's, they don't sell all their items at every store. Also, Ladurée was started by a French person in the Philippines! I didn't know that! Now for a place that's less famous and really nice, Eric recommends Fabrique Givrée near the Luxembourg Gardens. He loved their caramel sauce and bought some (after asking for a discount!) to take home as gifts. They even met the owner! #9 Bœuf Bourgignon and Other French Specialties When you come to France you may want to try some of our specialties. Be mindful that Beef Bourgignon is not on the menu at every restaurant in France. Eric recommends the restaurant Au Bourgignon du Marais. It's pretty hard to miss in the Marais but I've never eaten there. They had a some great duck at Maison Plaisir. They also had the duck at Les Deux Magots but it was a not as good there. Remember: famous restaurants don't have to try as hard, they will fill all the tables even with meh food. #10 Watch Out for Scams There are scammers in Paris. We've talked about it often, for example here and here and here.  In the show notes you can see the photo of scammers Eric  took outside of the Opéra Garnier because he knew what to look out for from listening to the podcast. But is seems that scammers are getting more aggressive, especially around the Orsay Museum. He reported this and he's not the first to do so. Be careful that they cannot "pin you" between the cars and a building. Walk in open areas as much as you can so you can get away from them without talking to them. This is one instance when you DON'T want to say "bonjour" and engage conversation! Paris never used to have a City Police. They had National Police and higher.  But National Police doesn't want to mess with petty criminals. That's why these scammers were allowed to continue. The Mayor of Paris has announced that she will recruit a group of city police officers and I hope one of their duties is to rid Paris of the scourge of scammers of every sort. #11 Choose Your Visits Wisely Most people who come to Paris for the first time decide on where they are going to go based on how famous a place is. There are famous places in Paris that are NOT worth it, especially if your time is limited. You want specifics, don't you? Here are two of them in my opinion: for most people a visit to Montmartre is a waste of time. It's to far and it's too touristy. Too many scammers in Montmartre too. Also, most people are now wowed by the Champs Elysées. Unless you're Scott, you love the Tour de France, and you really want to see it. These are the two I think you can safely skip even though I know they are super popular. I'm French, I've been to Montmartre and the Champs Elysées lots, they're not as good as Opéra Garnier or even the Bâteaux Mouches! #12 Minimum Length of Stay for a First Time in Paris: 5 Days You can see the best Paris has to offer in 5 days. Shorter is not ideal. And Eric also mentions that there are European capitals that are not as nice, so don't spread yourself too thin. One Last Word of Wisdom Get travel insurance. This is not an affiliate recommendation, I don't stand to gain anything from recommending that. But flights get cancelled and then what do you do with changing all your plans? And if you do get travel insurance, save your receipts. Learn More: First Time in Paris

#joinusinfrance #modernart #contemporaryart #modernartfrance #modernartparis #modernartmuseum #contemporaryartmuseums #contemporaryartfrance On today’s episode Elyse and Annie discuss the best places to see modern and contemporary art in France. She loves this stuff and pleads her case for the latest iteration of the arts really well. Maybe even people like me who prefer older more approachable art should check it out! Modern and Contemporary Art in France We have a lot of museums in France, many of them in Paris, and most of them filled with beautiful old things. But today we are going to concentrate on modern and contemporary art you can see not just in Paris, but all over France. The Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Art Modern Art includes art from the 20th Century starting in 1901. Contemporary Art includes art from the last 30 to 40 years. Palais de Tokyo in Paris Sometimes Modern Art museums are worth visiting because of the architecture of the building itself. In the case of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, it was part of the Trocadero and was reconverted into a space for contemporary art. So the Palais de Tokyo is an interesting juxtaposition of a structure from another time and some of the most cutting-age art from today. Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris This is the other side of the Palais de Tokyo and displays contemporary art, but not quite as cutting edge as Tokyo. Centre Pompidou in Paris In Europe, this is the biggest center for modern and contemporary art anywhere. We both agree that it is very nice and if you're only going to see ONE modern and contemporary museum in France, it should be this one. There are still some curmudgeons who don't like the exterior look of this museum, but we think it's fun and visually interesting. The view from the top of the Beaubourg is also to die for! Fondation Cartier In the 14th arrondissement not too far from the Catacombs, on Boulevard Raspail is the Fondation Cartier. The building was designed to hold contemporary art. Fondation Vuiton This is a recent museum that opened in 2014 from the private collection of one of the richest men in France Bernard Arnault. Frank Gerhy designed the building which is worth a visit by itself. It is in the middle of the parc of the Bois de Boulogne, so a little bit out of the way in the 16th arrondissement. But you can go by metro + bus or by car. This museum features a permanent collection of art from post WW2 on (last 50 years) and temporary exhibits by major contemporary artists. It is very popular and exhibits do sell out. Picasso Museum in the Marais The Picasso Museum is modern art, it features mostly Picasso work and is included in the Museum Pass. Because it is in the Marais, it is easy to get to  as well. You will see some of Picasso's most famous works there. Jeu de Paume Museum in Paris This museum is very close to the Orangerie Museum and the buildings were built at the same time and look very similar. It was originally designed at an indoor tennis court and it is not a museum dedicated to photography. This is a space for art photography and photography that has political or historical significance. Photography, and especially art photography originated in France. Le Centquatre Paris This cultural center opened in 2008. It's a space that participates in all sorts of arts: temporary exhibits, music concerts, theater, poetry reading, bookshop and restaurant. It is not very far from the Sacré Coeur, in that area. Mac Val Paris in the Val de Marne This is a contemporary art museum in the town of Vitry-sur-Seine in the general area of Disneyland Paris. Only French artists, relatively young, inexpensive and quite popular. Modern and Contemporary Art in France Outside of Paris CAPC Musée d'Art Contemporain de Bordeaux There's more than wine in Bordeaux! The CAPC. It opened in 1983 and it's in a really nice part of the city. They have a small permanent collection that they received from the Beaubourg, but they mostly have really interesting temporary exhibits, and the area is worth a visit. Musée Soulages in Rodez They call him the painter of black due to his interest in this color "non-color" and its reflections. The building itself is interesting. The city center of Rodez is tiny, there isn't much to do there, so this museum and its restaurant are a good option. Musée des Abattoirs in Toulouse The building (a former slaughter house) park and area are interesting. But the permanent exhibit is based on the private collection  of one man and you either love it or you don't. This is contemporary, WW2 and up, sometimes the temporary exhibits are wonderful. There are some pieces by Fernand Léger outside of the museum that are great. Le Carré d'Art in Nîmes Architect Norman Foster was commissioned to design this museum building and he found his inspiration right across the street with the Maison Carrée, a wonderfully preserved Roman Temple. One is made of stone and the other of glass. There is no permanent exhibit here either, they take temporary exhibits that come through. But it's really neat from the architectural point of view. Musée d'Art Moderne et Contenporain in Saint Etienne It's a wonderful surprise to find a modern and contemporary art museum in an industrial and off the beaten track city such as Saint Etienne! Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art - Mamac in Nice This museum has some great art from the middle of the 20th century on. For example Niki de Saint Phalle where she actually lived. Nice also has a beautiful Matisse Museum. MAEGHT Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence Just a few kilometers north of Nice, this private museum is outstanding by both the beauty of the building and the quality of the collection. All major French artists of the 20th century contributed pieces to this museum making it truly exceptional  for a big village like Saint-Paul-de-Vence. LAM Museum in Lille Lille Métropole Musée d'art moderne, d'art contemporain et d'art brut. Art brut means people who didn't train as artists. No folk art or traditional, but art from people who create without training. This is also in a big contemporary building. Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg — MAMCS This museum is housed in a building that is only 20 years old. Half of the building is dedicated to contemporary and modern art and another side to more traditional art. There are surely other Modern and Contemporary Art Museums in France, this episode is not exhaustive. Learn More: Museums in Paris

On today’s episode of the podcast, photographer Jessica Kosmack helps us think about how to take better vacation photos. Capturing quality vacation images doesn’t come natural to most of us. But let's think it through together: what can we do, practically speaking, to make our vacation photos better? It is not out of most people's reach! How to Take Great Vacation Photos What makes a photo great? Is it about the photography equipment or is it something else? We discuss camera gear in this episode, but we conclude that it is not what matters most, especially when doing vacation photography. If you were trying to shoot basketball or dark Cathedrals, then yes, gear matters a lot. But for most vacation pics, a recent smart phone will do great! Let Your Photos Tell the Story of Your Trip When taking vacation photos you want them to tell the story of your trip. The pictures need to reveal the mood and feel of the trip. You want to show the places you went to, but maybe in a coy way, as a tease.  And if you love food, there's nothing wrong with taking photos of the great food you will eat in France! Don't forget to take photos of the odd moments that will stick out in your mind, those are part of the story too! Photo Management Matters a Lot! Backup your phone before your trip, then move all the photos out of your phone to store them in folders on your computer. You will need lots of room on your phone for new holiday photos. On vacation, establish a routine where you delete the photos that didn't turn out. Try to do this a little bit every day. If you took 5 shots of the same moment it's because you hoped one would turn out, not to keep all 5, right? So pick the best photo right away. That will save you a lot of time when you go home! Why Is the Purpose of Your Photos? You need to ask yourself why you are taking photos at all. Do you want to be able to show them to family and friends on your phone? In that case you'll need to get to them quickly. Do you want to print a photo book? Photo books are a great idea BTW! In that case you need to be thinking about your best 20 or 30, however many you want to include. Maybe you are creating a collection of some sort. Beautiful doors or colorful flowers. Decide before your trip, it will help give your photography purpose. Camera Equipment Jessica Brought to France Canon 6D body Canon Rebel 2000 film camera + 20 rolls of film 24mm, 35mm, 50mm prime Canon lenses Point & shoot Lomo film camera for her son Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS30A Waterproof/Shockproof for her daughter The Blessing and the Curse of Digital Photography With digital cameras people often go home from a vacation with thousands of photos. We used to be a lot more choosy when using a film camera because a roll had a limited number of shots. But now we can just shoot away without thinking much. Going home to thousands of photos usually means that you'll never take the time to sort them, which defeats the purpose of taking them in the first place! Have a plan for how you will sort and tag your digital camera photos. Otherwise they'll just sit there unused and unseen. Giving a Camera to Your Kids Giving your kids a camera to shoot with is a great idea, but you have to prepare a few things. If you're going to give a digital camera to your kids, make sure it is sturdy enough so it won't die the first day. Newer point and shoot cameras can do a good job for a young photographer who is not thinking about lighting and composition: they just do a decent job most of the time. Parents should learn how to use the menu system for their kid's camera before the trip so you can help your child use the camera. Disposable cameras are still a good option and there are still many places that will develop your film. Polaroid or Fuji Instax is also an option that would work well, especially for a child who is keeping a journal for the trip and could add the day's photos right away. Keeping Your Stuff Safe in France Use a cross-body purse. Don't bring your full wallet to France, only bring the things you will absolutely need. It's good if your wallet can be latched or clipped to the purse. Lowepro makes bags that zip up against your back, and you may need a bag with a raincoat in France! Only take out what you really need, leave the rest at the apartment or hotel. Because she knows her limits, Annie needs to use a belt with a Peak Design system that looks awful but works great. There are thieves in Paris that target people just to steal their phone. They will grab and run. Especially if you're not in great shape or a little older, you're an easier target. Out your phone away as you enter a train or when the doors open and close. That's when they'll try to grab it an run! Learn More: 26 Tips That Will Make Your Vacation Photos Better

My guest on today's episode, Jessica, is from Toronto where she is a professional photographer. Her daughter is 9 and her son is 6. This was a first time in France for the kids who are in French immersion school at home. Jessica hadn't been in France since 2000 when she was an exchange student in Montpellier, so a lot of things had changed in the meantime. Their trip took place in Oct 2018. They stayed at AirBnB most of the time. That worked out well because they needed 2 rooms and having a kitchen is always wonderful when traveling with children. See the complete list the specific properties where they stayed in the Guest Notes (blue button below). Great Destinations in France for Families Paris with Kids What they enjoyed most overall in Paris was walking around, stopping at parks, riding carousels, using playgrounds, and enjoying every-day life in the City of Light. They also loved to stay on rue Montorgueil, a wonderful pedestrian street in Paris. It's the small things, you know? Eiffel Tower Update The Eiffel Tower security plexiglass is now up. Remember, if you don't buy your tickets in advance for the Eiffel Tower, you will have to go through THREE lines: security line first, then ticket line, then elevator line. You can go under the Eiffel Tower without paying, but you have to go through the security line first. Time-Saving Hack for the Eiffel Tower One hack to not wait so long at the Eiffel Tower is to check the closing time for the day you're there and go an hour or 90 minutes before closing time. This works even in the summer. If you're there so late that there aren't any RER or Metro any more, you can always count on the night bus called Noctilien in Paris. Walk Down to the First Level of the Eiffel Tower! There are no lines to use the bathroom on the first level of the Eiffel Tower and those bathroom are usually a lot cleaner! This is where the kids can enjoy the glass floor, there is room to sit down, you can watch a short movie about the building of the tower. Also, when you walk down you experience the stairs of the Eiffel Tower up-close and personal without having much of a workout. The first level is worth a stop! Montpellier with Kids Montpellier is a very walk-able city and has a lovely downtown. Exploring the  streets and hidden plaza is wonderful there!  Montpellier also gets a lot of sun (anybody who looks at weather averages can see that!) but what I didn't know is that it also has wonderful toy stores. Wonderful for a family with young kids! Provence, Pont du Gard, Roussillon, Le Lavandou From Montpellier they rented a car and drove to Provence. Their favorites there were running around Roussillon, the French red-rock country AND Accrobranches where they got to do dare-devil stuff like climbing trees and doing zip lines. Le Lavandou was also a great find. They hiked Le Sentier du Littoral and loved it! There are hikes all over the place along the Meditarranean, you should look them up! To find one near where you are search "chemin du littoral" in Google. Annecy in the French Alps The had only planned for 2 days there and they wish they had more because it was one of their favorite places this whole trip. They loved renting little boats on the lake, the scenery, going up to a ski resort called Semnoz. What Would You Do Differently? They would spend more time in Annecy. That could have been achieved by spending one fewer days in Montpellier and/or Le Lavandou. Is It a Good Idea to Bring the Kids to France? France is a wonderful family vacation. Don't assume that just because your kids don't even like walking through a supermarket at home they'll complain in France. In France everything is different! Every day is a new day!They will probably really enjoy little treats like crêpes or tarte au citron, use those motivators to get them exploring. Not So Much Time Looking at Screens In France they also don't have their PlayStation or whatever screen entertainment they usually keep themselves busy with. That is a HUGE change for kids! Be aware that they are probably going through withdrawals! AirBnB Is Great for Families Staying at AirBnB is good because you can cook foods they like. Don't plan too much, be prepared to take it easy. French restaurants can't always accommodate kids the way you are used to in the US. French kids are used to eating what's in front of them even if they're not happy about it. Plan Things Out, But Be Flexible When traveling with kids it's good to know about a few possibilities for activities every day and then play it by ear depending on how everybody feels and the weather, etc. But do have suggestions for activities every day! France Has a Lot of Windy Roads If your kids have a tendency to get car sick, make a plan for that because we have a lot of winding roads in France! Part of the charm of France is that we don't have straight roads that cut through the landscape, but it can become a problem. What About Driving in France? Driving in France is great. There was a mix-up at the car rental company and they ended up giving them an automatic for the same price as a manual, which worked out great. Be sure to book your car rental in advance and get a vehicle that will fit your needs! Don't assume they'll have lots of cars on the lot and lots for you to choose from. If using a GPS (and you should!) you will have to ignore it sometimes when it tries to save you 200 meters of driving by taking you on a ridiculously narrow "shortcut". Generally speaking, if you're seeing signs for your destination, follow the road signs. Road signs will take you the safest way whereas GPS will take you the shortest way. You can also work with the preferences in your GPS settings to make this less likely to happen. A Few More Important Points from this Episode Paris is full of pleasant neighborhoods. Make sure you stay in one of them so you don't have to spend so much of your day getting to the most wonderful areas. If you're going to take the train, bring your own food on. They have a restaurant car on the TGV, but selection is limited and it's expensive. The TGV between Paris and Montpellier takes less time than flying between Paris and Montpellier and a train is also a lot more comfortable than a plane. Book your TGV tickets in advance, prices go up as the date gets closer!

On this Trip Report with Scott Fischer from Canada we look at the best way to spend 4 days in Paris. This was Scott's first time visiting France and after listening to this podcast he and his wife were well-prepared for a wonderful experience in the City of Light! In this episode we also discuss in detail the difference between the Museum Pass and the Paris Pass. Pay attention to this: one is a great value and one is a rip-off! Scott is a wonderful photographer and came home with some great Paris shots you can see on the Transcript page (click on the blue button below). We discuss the equipment he took on this vacation and what he ended up using most of the time. Photo nerds will want to hear that part of our conversation because he has great suggestions! All the photos used to illustrate this episode are by Scott Fischer. 4 Days in Paris Trip Highlights Stayed in Le Marais. Arranged for a private car between CDG and Paris. Tour with a Paris Greeter who took them to the 16th arrondissement. Photography tour with Aperture Tour. Scott loves to watch the Tour de France so he enjoyed going up the Arc de Triomphe. They visited 4 museums: Louvre, Orsay, Picasso, and Rodin. Paris Pass or Museum Pass? Difference between the Museum Pass and the Paris Pass. No need for a transportation pass if you plan on walking a lot. You can just buy a "carnet" of 10 t+ tickets. t+ means you can use this ticket on both the metro and the bus (view fare rules). Hotel De Neuve in the Marais: Since recording this episode, Annie has actually stayed at this hotel and enjoyed it, would go back. It's not a luxury hotel, but it is comfortable, clean, great location, friendly staff, etc. As always, this is Paris, rooms in this price range are NOT much bigger than the surface of the bed!

On today’s episode, French Christmas songs! Did you know that there are quite a few songs you probably know in English that originated in France? We'd had several episodes about French Christmas traditions on the podcast, but of all of them, my favorite thing to do at Christmas is sing around the piano. As I explain in the episode, I've done this my whole life. This doesn't mean I'm any good at it, but it bring the best kind of Christmas cheer in my opinion. Every time I prepare a new episode, I think of the people who will be listening to it. I try to picture you, wondering what might lift your mood and tell you cool things about France. And I wonder how many of you are of French descent? If you are, you can be sure that they sang some of these songs around the fireplace and at church because these songs are so old we don’t really know very much about their origin. French Christmas Carols You'll Hear on this Episode Entre le boeuf et l’âne gris One of the earliest Carols we still sing today, it dates back to the early 1500s Il est né le divin enfant Apparently, the melody was a hunting song from the late 1600s and the text we sing today is from the 1800s, but I don’t know much else about it! Noël Nouvelet (Sing We Now of Christmas) Probably late 1500s Les anges dans nos campagnes (Angels We Have Heard on High) This song was first published in a music book called “Choix de cantiques pour toutes les fêtes de l’année” published in 1843 where they say it’s from the Languedoc. Then it was included again in music books in 1846 and 1848. It was probably composed in the late 1700s, but we don’t know where it comes from. Nadal Tindaire Traditional Occitan carol, it talks about how people come to perform “Aubadas” at Christmas. Today “une aubade” means a short informal concert, usually outdoor, something like caroling from door to door. They will play their trumpets, their recorders. One will play this line and the other will respond with this line. They will say beautiful child we’ve come to sing Noël for you. The angels will help us sing. It’s unclear if they are singing to their own children or to the baby Jesus, probably both. La marche des rois Traditional song from the Provence area made famous by Bizet in L’Arlésienne. I thought L’Arlésienne was an opera, but it’s not. It’s a piece (“musique de scène” or incidental music) written to accompany a theatrical performance of a play by Alphonse Daudet, famous author who wrote a lot of pieces taking place in Provence. It talks about the 3 Kings arriving with their gifts. Un Flambeau Jeanette Isabelle (Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella) This one is more satisfying because we seem to know more about it. It from Provence, published for the first time in 1553, music by Nicolas Saboly and Lyrics by Emile Blémont. It tells of two women, Jeanette and Isabelle who hear Mary announce the birth of her son and they rush to her with a torch. It describes how they watch him sleep and that no-one is to disturb his sleep. It is a lovely description of motherhood.

On today's episode, Elyse inspires us to go see stained-glass windows in France. Those windows almost always explore religious themes so we'll take stops at several Cathedrals that are worth a visit just to admire the stained-glass. Stained-Glass Windows from the early 1200s in France One of the places we stop during today's conversation is the Chartres Cathedral. The stained-glass windows you see there today were installed between 1205 and 1240. I don't know about you, but that makes me feel small.   Some of these churches are so tall that we can only see a lot of details with the help of binoculars or zoom lenses. As you know if you've been following the podcast for a while, Annie loves photography and has tried to photograph details of stained-glass windows for many years. Stained-Glass Windows and Abbé Suger I took the photo you see above at the Saint-Denis Basilica in Paris. This is where Abbé Suger lived and worked and where he preached that Divine Light lived in the Cathedral. Some of us choose to see this as a physical phenomenon, some of us choose to see it as a religious experience. Either way, it's beautiful and Abbé Suger was on to something when he linked the beauty light and stained-glass can bring to a Cathedral and the feeling of divinity.