Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 197 On today’s episode, I answer a listener’s question. Jacquline is from South Africa and she asks about the prices of common items in France because with the exchange rate, she’s not sure how far her money will stretch, so, let’s talk about food prices at French grocery stores. Cook with French Ingredients! If you're going to be renting an apartment in France via AirB&B or any of the other apartment rental providers (see our episode on the Secrets to Finding an Apartment in Paris) and you'll have access to a kitchen, you can definitely have great food at a great price! Get a Cheap Quick Meal And even if you're going the hotel route, you probably don't need a full sit-down meal 3 times a day, right? Why not pickup some ready-made food at a corner grocery store? It will be cheaper than a restaurant, and a lot fast too. Grab Inexpensive Gifts from France And, listen. If you're looking for original and inexpensive gifts you can take back to your friends and family from France, you'll get lots of suggestions here! Want to get adventurous and try some of those unusual French foods we discussed on Episode 193, Cornucopia of Bizarre French Foods? You can buy many of them at a French grocery store and live dangerously in France! On today's episode you'll hear about French breakfast foods, candy, chocolates, cheeses, condiments, cookies, detergents and personal care, frozen foods, meats and cold cuts, produce, ready-made foods, strange French foods, bottled water, wines and Annie's favorite: YOGURTS! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 196 On today’s episode, Annie and Elyse talk about the things they love about the Saint Germain des Près neighborhood in Paris. It's actually surprising to see how long it took us to devote an entire episode to Saint Germain des Près, and it only happened because we assumed that we had already done it! Saint Germain des Près is the area of Paris where both Annie and Elyse would love to live if they won the lottery. It's never going to happen, but a girl can dream, right? Come along and dream with us, we tell you tales of the oldest church in Paris, wonderful cafés, great shopping, and the wonderful artists of the 1920s who hung out there. If you’re interested in Saint Germain des Près, you should probably also listen to our other episodes about classic Paris neighborhoods: Episode 27 on Le Marais, and Episode 7 on the Latin Quarter. Episode Highlights with Timestamps [03:48] Saint Germain des Près is beautiful and very expensive part of Paris. The prices went through the roof there 60 or 70 years ago. [06:47] What do we mean when we say Saint Germain des Près? What are the boundaries? The definition is a bit amorphous and it depends on who you ask, but it includes a lot of the 6th arrondissement. [07:27] The word “près” means meadow, which it used to be, this is an old area of Paris. The tower of the Church of Saint Germain des Près was part of the oldest churches in Paris. [09:04] The Merovingian Kings established the Saint Germain des Près Abbey and it included a lot of land. [10:10] Definition of Early Middle Ages (500 to 1000), High Middle Ages (1000 to 1400), Late Middle Ages (1400 to 1500s), then came the Renaissance. [11:38] Merovingians made Christianity the official religion and funded Abbeys and Monasteries. [11:58] In Roman times, many people were literate, but in this period of the early Middle Ages, few people in France were literate, so it was vital to have Monasteries to keep literacy alive. [13:15] The Saint Germain des Près Church becomes a Royal Abbey in 558 and the necropole for French French Kings before Saint Denis. [14:04] They built the Saint Germain Church over the top of an old Roman Temple, which is something that happened a lot. [15:03] The Saint Germain des Près church is set a quarter to half mile away from the river in order to protect it from flooding. [16:10] The vital importance of relics in the Middle Ages, and the worship of relics as a driver of economic growth. [17:23] The Saint Germain area was raided and burned by the Vikings three times: in 845, 856, and 861. [17:50] When they rebuilt the church, they added the Romanesque tower in 990, and that’s still the one we see today. This is also the time when it became a Benedictine Abbey. [18:57] Benedictine Monks were always as the center of intellectual knowledge, and the area has retained its reputation of being the place for intellectuals. [21:05] The Procope, one of the oldest cafés in Paris where people like Diderot and Voltaire used to go argue about ideas. This was the beginning of café culture in Paris and is mostly super touristy at this point. [23:41] We’re not sure if they’d let you sit at a table at the Procope and write all day. [24:21] The Procope is also where the people who fomented the French Revolution sur as Danton and Marat hung out. [24:48] Rue Danton where Danton really lived is two streets away from the Procope. Back then the area was not fashionable or touristy. [25:13] You just have to walk these streets. Most are small narrow streets except for Boulevard Saint Germain des Près which has Haussmann buildings. [26:48] Worth visiting, the Delacroix Museum where he had his studio. [28:22] The Saint Germain des Près area is famous for book stores. A couple that are famous today are L’Écume des Pages and La Hune. [29:12] Several of the most prestigious French Publishing houses such as Gallimard and Seuil were also started in this area because it was always the book area. [29:35] Saint Germain des Près is the area where authors would hang out, lots of the famous ones you’ve heard of such as Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, Simone de Beauvoir, etc. It must have been like in Midnight in Paris! [32:05] Jazz clubs opened in Paris in the 20s and were popular with French people. [32:34] The 1920 were paradoxical times: racism and prejudice were pervasive and yet there were vibrant communities of artists in Paris. Many had left their own countries to come to Paris where they could mingle. [35:40] Brasserie Lipp is also an interesting place where filmmakers used to hang out. [36:10] None of that is going on in Saint Germain today because it’s become too expensive. How the gentrification process worked in this neighborhood. [38:25] The Beaux Arts school is on rue Bonaparte and has been there for a long time. It gave a lot of prestige to the area. [41:19] Even rich French people mostly don’t patronize cafés like Deux Magots and Café de Flore because they know the prices are ridiculous. But the area has lots of little wonderful cafés that are more approachable and just as nice. [42:52] Also explore the church of Saint Sulpice, technically in the Odeon neighborhood, but a must-see in this area. [43:03] This is the church with the “gnomon” which can easily be missed if you’re not paying attention. [44:21] Saint Sulpice also has free concerts every Sunday morning. [44:52] Rue de Rennes is a big shopping street in this area, and so it rue Bonaparte. [45:46] The Saint Germain neighborhood is a great place to go buy food for your picnic, then head down towards the river and enjoy it. [48:34] At Saint Sulpice once a day you can go up to see the organ. Check their website to know what time. [50:14] Annie has seen some tour guides come into Saint Sulpice and spend 2 minutes and leave. It’s like speed dating except that it’s speed tourism! [53:42] This is a neighborhood where you will find unique clothes and things you won’t find in the big chain stores. [54:01] Great shopping streets in the Saint Germain des Près neighborhood: rue de Buci, rue de Rennes, rue Saint André des Arts. You could also visit the Bon Marché, the expensive department store. [56:56] Great neighborhood for walking, great neighborhood for looking around. [57:47] Despite what popular guide books recommend, both Annie and Elyse would much rather stay in the Saint Germain des Près or Latin Quarter area. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook  

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 195 On today’s episode, I chat with David Palachek about how to dress for Paris. We’ll be sharing actionable advice you can use to pack your suitcase for Paris and look great in the city of light. Some of the tricks French women use to look good are surprisingly simple. Annie asked a lot of stylish French women how they do it, and it turns out that they all follow the same basic rules! If you’re interested in dressing sharp in Paris, also listen to Paris Packing List, Episode 137. • [03:05] We’re not fashion professional, but rather regular people who care about packing the right clothes for Paris. • [04:03] You don’t have to change how you dress unless you enjoy the process of figuring out how to look best and what to pack to look stylish in Paris. • [05:33] The advice Annie will be sharing comes from stylish women in her life, not from professionals. These are opinions, not commandments! • [06:14] Take basic clothes that can travel well and can be mixed and matched, and buy accessories when you get to Paris. • [07:31] Don’t bring clothes that need to be ironed. If something needs a little help, the steam produced in the shower can help de-wrinkle to some extent. Or you could get a product such as this one that gets great review from travelers. Or get shirts like this one made for travel. • [09:35] The secret sauce that most French fashion-conscious people follow and that you can apply to yourself as well. • [10:03] Break the codes on purpose and thoughtfully. • [11:21] Mix and match formal and casual. • [13:27] Beware of blacks, various colors hide inside of blacks. • [14:13] Mix old and new. • [16:02] Own your clothes, don’t let your clothes own you. • [16:14] Pushing the boundaries with the color wheel. • [16:48] Clothes choices for people who are not afraid of color. • [17:48] Great-looking clothes choices for more conservative dressers. • [18:44] Tie dye is not a thing in France for the most part. I saw a tiny bit of it last summer, but it didn’t catch on. • [19:44] You don’t have to wear heels to go visit the Eiffel Tower or do any of the other things tourists enjoy. • [20:02] There are a lot of cobbled streets in Paris, which is one reason why heels are not be ideal. • [20:52] It’s good if you can pick tennis shoes with some texture or a hint of color. • [21:08] Classy Sunday dress goes with tennis shoes and either a perfecto leather jacket or a jean jacket. • [22:13] Casual cotton dress goes with dressy shoes or dressy accessories. • [22:42] Jeans with holes go with dressy heels, women over age 50 really shouldn’t wear holey jeans. • [23:48] Slacks with a dress shirt and tennis shoes. Dressy shorts with tennis shoes. Jean shorts with dressier shoes. Shorts and heels is trashy. • [24:13] You can either show off your legs or your boobs, but not both. • [25:08] No shirts with the arms cut off on men. • [26:10] T-shirts are OK if they are plain. No Mickey Mouse t-shirts, no bright colors, no t-shirts with jokes. Men can dress up a t-shirt with a jacket or sport coat. • [26:54] Leggings and yoga pants are not really worn besides when doing sports, but if you love them, pair them up with something dressy on top. • [27:17] Fashions change so fast for tights that you’re better off buying your tights when you get to France after you’ve seen what other people wear. • [27:47] Get a nice haircut before you come, so you feel happy with your hair. • [28:16] French women wear big necklaces. • [28:56] French women often own (and bring out!) different color purses. • [29:12] Caps for me are OK, but it depends on the cap. No sports team mascots on your hats! • [30:07] Choose caps that look different from your regular baseball cap. • [30:59] T-shirts are OK, but don’t just throw on a t-shirt just to get dressed. Jokes t-shirts are not big in France. Wear t-shirts that are more “passe-partout” (something that goes everywhere, a master key). • [32:25] Leggings and yoga pants are not pants, which doesn’t mean that you’ll never see them, but they “should” be reserved for exercising. • [33:08] If you like to wear a hat, try paper boy hats or driving caps. • [34:01] The types of sneakers that are in fashion in France now. • [35:04] Beware of Paris weather, it can be wet a lot of the year. • [36:05] French people do not all wear black all the time. • [36:53] Packing mostly neutral colors makes it easier to pack because you can rotate things around and most of them will go together. • [37:13] French people own a lot of different jackets and use them to change their look very effectively. • [38:30] Be careful how you dress or scam artists will target you all the time: David’s experience. • [40:21] How the ring scam works. • [40:36] How not to fall for the ring scam or any other scam: don’t talk to them, pretend they’re not even there and walk on! • [41:11] Shoes are the most important part of your outfit because you will walk a lot in Paris, many visitors walk 20,000 steps each day! • [42:19] If you’re like Beyonce and always wear heels even around your house because that’s most comfortable to you, then so be it! • [42:38] Break your shoes in before the trip! • [42:50] When in Paris, count on getting wet. Bring at least two pairs of walking shoes. • [43:12] Tips for people who travel light and only bring a carry-on. • [44:48] No socks with sandals. No white socks with dress shoes. Only kids get to wear colorful socks. We mostly wear black socks. • [46:27] Keep an eye out for sales men wearing a fitted suit, a colorful dress shirt, and super pointy shoes. It seems to be the unspoken “uniform” of all young sales guys in France! • [47:43] Try walking around Versailles or the Louvre in heels! • [47:57] Basketball shorts are not street attire in France, leave them at home. • [48:43] If you have a teen who is stubborn about what they’ll wear and not wear, don’t fight them too much. Kids get away with a lot, even in France. • [49:12] People in France wear all sorts of types of jeans. • [49:54] Scarves! French people wear them all the time, both men and women. Different types of scarves are good for different times of the year. • [52:12] What about t-shirts? Can I wear t-shirts in France? • [53:10] All the different types of shirts French women wear instead of t-shirts. • [54:10] Do French men wear polo shirts? Not very often. • [54:55] French people wear fitted clothes, even the fluffier French people do that. It looks better. • [55:48] Steve and David’s pre-Paris regimens. • [58:14] Bags for both men and women: it’s about good looks and safety too. • [59:35] Beware of the backpack, they are not safe. • [60:23] What bag should photographers take? They should be more judicious about what lens to carry! • [61:37] By now smart phone cameras do the job really nicely for most things. Not all, but good enough for everyone by photo nerds. • [63:21] Don’t take all your credit cards with you. Don’t take your US driver’s license with you. Only carry a photocopy of your passport with you. Leave all that stuff in the hotel safe! Be super careful with your phone when you’re in Paris also. • [65:27] There are 140,000 theft events in Paris every year. Those are incidents where a person’s purse or phone gets stolen without violence. • [66:16] What coats and jackets to take to Paris. • [67:30] Don’t try to be somebody you’re not just because you’re coming to Paris. Bring yourself and be comfortable. • [68:49] Saying “bonjour” will go a long way, but don’t smile all the time. French people don’t. • [69:16] Misconceptions: We don’t all wear black. We do wear shorts. We do wear tennis shoes. There are poorly dressed French people, you will see them when you come!   Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/195 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 194 On today’s episode, let’s talk about Paris neighborhoods where I would rather NOT stay, or book a hotel, or rent an apartment. There aren’t so many such places, so it’ll be a short episode. I get asked all the time: is this a safe neighborhood? So yeah, let’s talk about it and name the names! If you’re interested in safety while in France, you should also check out How to Stay Safe in France, Getting Caught in a Terror Attack in France, Making Sense of Terror Attacks in France, How to Protect Yourself from Pickpockets in Paris Episode Highlights with Timestamps Beware of Sensational Reporting [01:57] "No-go zones" in Paris are NOT a thing, but there are places where it is wise not to go. Fine by Day, Bad Idea at Night [03:33] Many of the "unsafe" areas listed here are fine during the day, but not so fine at night, which is why you shouldn't book your hotel there. It All Depends on What You're Used to [05:13] Big city folks are not easily startled by dicey neighborhoods, but country folks will probably freak out more. Assessing Your Risk Level [06:16] Men tend to feel safer no matter where they do. It's another story for women. Most Dicey Areas Are Outside of the Paris Belt Road [06:45] It is best to say within the Paris belt road, aka "le périphérique" because that's where most of the projects are located. Keep It Simple: Stay Inside the Belt Road [07:54] Only a few areas outside of the Paris belt road are dicey, but it's too complicated for visitors to judge where exactly. The Only Major Tourist Attraction Located Near a Dicey Area in Paris: Saint-Denis [09:56] The only major tourist attraction located in a "bad" area is the Saint-Denis Basilica. You can still go if you get an Uber ride and go in the day-time. Avoid the "Portes de..." Areas [11:39] As a general rule, it is also best to avoid staying in areas called "Porte de..." This is not true for all of them, but most of them are a little rough. What About Dicey Areas in the Center of Paris? [13:18] There are only a few metro stations in the center of Paris next to which I wouldn't want to book a hotel or AirB&B. Paris Metro Stations You Want to Avoid Most of them are in the northeast quarter of Paris: Stalingrad, Jaurès, Barbès, Place de Clichy, La Vilette, Gare du Nord, République, Goute d’Or, Danube, Place des Fêtes.  Chatelet-les-Halles and Pigale are not great either, but not as bad. Broad Rule: Avoid the Northeast Quarter of Paris [14:56] Broad rules always fail at some point, but it's worth noting that if you avoid the northeast quarter of Paris, you'll avoid most of the dicey areas. What About Taking the Metro Late at Night in Paris? [15:58] Is it safe to take the Paris metro late at night? Yes, if you follow some rules: enter as close to the driver as you can, don't be alone in a car, avoid the tunnels. How to Avoid Cell Phone Theft in the Paris Metro [16:34] Don't have your cell phone out when standing near the metro doors. Someone might grab it and run out just as the doors close. Gun Violence is Rare in France [17:40] There aren't a lot of guns in the hands of the general population in France and gun violence is rare. Biggest Risk: Pickpockets! [17:53] How to protect yourself from pickpockets in Paris. That's what you should be thinking about also. [18:22] Theft statistics vs. murder statistics in France. Learn What to Do in Case of a Terror Attack [20:56] Terror attacks are rare, but terrifying. There are some things you should do to mitigate your risk. Conclusion: Homework [22:13] Tell others where you'll be staying. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Program. Backup your phone before you leave. Take an older phone with you when traveling. Don't take so much! If you need to pick a budget hotel, don't go to the northeast corner of Paris. If you want affordable choices in the center of Paris, check out our hotel selection. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/194 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 193 On today’s episode, Elyse and Annie present to you a cornucopia of bizarre French foods. Even if you never plan on trying any of them, you need to know about them because they’ll pop up on menus here and there and we’ve known visitors who had big surprises when their food arrived! Elyse herself has had some surprises! WARNING: We talk about animal parts in this episode, some of the conversation may be disturbing to some listeners. A Cornucopia of Bizarre French Foods Episode Outline with Timestamps [02:51] Warning: this episode discusses animal parts, it may disgust some of our listeners. [03:33] French people think that if you’re going to eat meat anyway, you might as well eat the whole animal. [04:48] Historically, during a time of siege, people ate all the animals they could find, even ones we do not normally eat. Example: Paris siege of 1870 and Warsaw during WWII. [06:30] How unusual parts of animals have become delicacies in France. [07:16] The reason why we felt it was important to discuss these things is because you will find these foods on the menu in many French restaurants, usually as one of the specials for that day. [07:48] How specials work in French restaurants and restaurants that specialize in regional French dishes. [08:43] What you can do if you want to try these bizarre French foods while you’re visiting France. Go to restaurants that specialize in regional foods, or go to Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne. [10:42] There are also Brasseries in Paris that specialize in regional foods that have unusual dishes. Brasserie Bofinger specializes in Alsatian food and Au Pied de Fouet specializes in Auvergnat food. [11:12] You could also go to any “charcuterie” or “boucherie-charcuterie” or “traiteur”. They will have some of them, but you won’t find all of the ones on our list at any one place in France, that’s not how it works. [12:08] If you want to look up specific recipes for any of these dishes, try the French recipe site called Marmiton. What You Will Find on the Seafood Platter in France [12:40] The Seafood Platter: Oysters “les huitres”. Whelks “les bulots”. Sea Urchins “les oursins ». [15:02] Elyse orders « bulots » without knowing what they were exactly. Foie Gras [15:37] This French food is controversial and there are good arguments made of why we should not eat it. But in the Southwest of France, we eat some of it, mostly in small quantities because it is very rich. It’s a food for special occasions. [17:49] The tradition of making your own “foie gras” in families from the Southwest of France. Steak Tartare [19:31] Steak Tartare is raw ground beef. It’s like sushi, but with beef. One variation on the Steak Tartare is qualified as “aller-retour”. [Addendum: Annie went a little too fast here. They do serve cooked hamburger with a cooked egg on top, that’s called “à cheval”, but they also put raw egg in Steak Tartare, it’s part of the recipe.] French People Eat Horse Meat [21:19] We explain the difference between “steak de cheval” and “steak à cheval”. The first is horse meat, the second means there will be a fried egg on top of your cooked hamburger. Steak Tartare Au Couteau [22:08] Sometimes you’ll see the word “au couteau” which means the meat hasn’t been ground in a machine, but rather chopped with a knife, by hand. Moules Marinières [23:15] These are muscles served in a pot. If they are “marinière” it means they are served with a white wine, onions, garlic and parsley sauce. Or you could get the Normandy kind, which is with cream instead of wine. Gésiers [24:44] Giblets are part of the stomach of ducks or chickens (probably other birds too!) and they are slow cooked in fat until really tender. [Addendum: Giblets have nothing to do with hearts, Elyse was wrong about that, but she’ll never admit to it 😉] Coq au Vin [27:07] Rooster cooked in wine. A classic of French cuisine. We have a lot of classic dishes cooked in a lot of wine, especially from the Burgundy region. Escargots de Bourgogne [28:46] Large snails cooked in a butter, garlic and parsley sauce. Most Americans try them and some actually like them. It’s hard to know if it’s the butter they like or the escargot, but it’s a popular dish for visitors to try. The snails that are served in restaurants do not come from the side of the road, they are bred to be eaten. Rillettes [30:38] This is a meaty spread, usually eaten with bread, could be pork, duck, salmon, tuna. It’s always super fatty. It is served at “aperitif” at lot. We explain the difference between pâté and rillettes. Pot-au-feu [32:24] Delicious beef and vegetables stew, often served with bone marrow. Another extremely fatty food (especially the bone marrow!), but well-loved. Annie shares her technique for making pot-au-feu and how to make it so you skim most of the fat off and it’s better for you. Coeurs de canard [36:35] This is one that will put many people off, but it’s so good! It’s duck hearts, cut in half, and cooked with a parsley and garlic mixture. It’s a specialty of the Southwest. Steak à cheval vs. Steak de cheval [37:44] “Steak à cheval” means a ground beef pattie with an fried egg on top. “Steak de cheval” means horse meat! You don’t want to confuse the two! Croque Madame, Croque Monsieur [37:52] This is the French version of the Grilled Cheese and Ham sandwich. Often contains béchamel sauce, and the Madame version adds an egg on top. Frittons [38:50] This is pork or duck rind cooked until it’s crispy. They serve it all the time in Lyon. It’s mostly an aperitif food and we’d rather have an olive! Pieds de porc [40:07] This is a popular dish in the South of France, both in the Catalan and Basque areas. In France, they serve pig’s feet whole, bone and all. Tripes à la mode de Caen [43 :06] This is one neither of us will eat, it’s so pungent that you can smell it from across the table if someone near you ordered it. It’s the inside of the lining of the stomach of cattle mixed with pig’s feet and baked. Also, the one tip every English speaker can use to know how to say that name, it’s not that hard, say it the same way you say the word “quand”. Andouillettes and Andouilles [45:41] One of the worst foods in our list of bizarre French foods is Andouille or Andouillettes. It turns out the fabrication process is pretty much the same, but one is served hot as a meal and the other sliced and cold for apéritif. Langue de Boeuf [49:12] This is beef tongue, it’s got a strange taste to it, but we won’t die if we have to put it in our mouths. How about that for high praise?! Tête de Veau Ravigotte or Tête de Veau Vinaigrette [50 :43] This is the head of a veal. The preparation is convoluted, but it’s really made from the head of a veal. It can be served in chunks or rolled up into a loaf and sliced. It can be served hot or cold. Ris de Veau [54:06] This is sweetbreads, which is made from the thymus gland inside on the pancreas. It’s usually served with a sauce like mushroom sauce, or sweet and sour sauce. It’s not on the menu often, but it tastes good, especially if you don’t know what you’re eating! Boudin Noir and Boudin Blanc [56:08] This one is admittedly disturbing, but it’s extremely popular in France. It is made with the blood of the pig plus onions and seasonings. Boudin blanc is made with bread, milk, and a little bit of chicken. Lapin [57:55] Lapin means rabbit, French people eat it a fair amount. It is usually served with either a mustard sauce or a cream sauce. Cuisses de Grenouilles [59:42] Frogs legs. We don’t eat them as much as we used to and they’re not on a lot of restaurant menus. Cervelle de Veau en Persillade [60 :03] This is another one that’s really disturbing. It’s calves brains, we find it untouchable, but it is a delicacy. Rognons [61:24] Rognons are kidneys. It is usually served cut up into pieces on skewers. The taste can be strong, but not unpleasant. It’s meaty. The restaurant called Robert et Louise in the Marais in Paris specializes in it. Rognons Blancs [63:09] These are not kidneys at all, they are testicles. They serve those in areas where they still do bull fighting, such as the Basque Country. Cheval [64:00] This is horse meat that French people have always eaten and got popular again when mad cow disease was a problem in Europe. The meat is a little bit healthier for you (leaner) and cheaper also. Salade de Museau [66:09] This is based on the pig’s head, boiled and deboned and cooled into a loaf, then sliced and accommodated with pickles and a vinaigrette dressing. Fromage de Tête [67:13] Fromage de tête does not contain any cheese at all, it’s all meat products, generally from the head of the pig. It can be made from wild bore in some regions as well, in that case it is called “fromage de hure” which Annie has never seen, so it’s not a common variant. La Perdrix [67:33] Perdrix is partridge. This is game and hunters eat it, you can’t buy it at the store. La Pintade [67:51] Pintade is Guinea Fowl. This is like a small chicken but with a more subtle taste. Elyse loves it, Annie doesn’t remember having it. You can see it at the grocery store sometimes around the Holidays. Pigeon [68:36] This is pigeon or squab. It’s very small and difficult to eat. Cailles [68:58] Cailles are quale, it’s the smallest bird that we eat in France, as far as we know. Cerfeuil [69:06] Cerfeuil is a type of venison, technically it’s “chervil”. It’s a game meat, the flavor is pungent (and not pleasing to Annie!) and it was hard to choke it down. Strange Stinky French Cheeses   [70:14] We have so many stinky cheeses in France that most people have a special box in their fridge to contain cheese odors. Most of these cheese smell a lot stronger than they smell, but still, it takes dedication to the cause to take them into your fridge! Époisses [71:22] Époisses is a soft cheese from the northern part of the Burgundy area. Elyse tells us about her first encounter with “époisses”, one she’s never forgotten! Maroilles [74:05] Maroilles is another soft cheese from the north of France. It is also brined, and terribly pungent. Annie tells us about buying “maroilles” by accident and thinking one of the dogs at her house had an accident in the kitchen! Langres [76:16] This one is also a soft cheese from the Champagne area. It is often served after putting a little bit of champagne over it. Camembert [76:46] Some camembert can be really mild, if served right out of the fridge. But if you get raw cheese camembert and you leave it out, it can get really smelly. A favorite in most French households. Brie [77:36] Also a cheese that can be mild when it’s not left out. But “real” brie (Brie de Meaux) is not smelly while it has a strong mouth flavor. You have to be careful how long you let those cheeses ripen in your fridge or they’ll get so strong that you can’t eat them! Pont l’Évèque [78:43] It a little harder cheese, not as smelly as the others, but can be startling if you’re not used to smelly cheese. The flavor is good, it’s an easy smelly cheese to try because it won’t completely gross you out. Munster [79:05] The ones from their region of origin, Alsace, are quite smelly and strong. Others are really mild. The name has not been protected well and it doesn’t mean much anymore. Morbier [79:25] This is a cheese from the Auvergne region, it has a bit of a strong smell to it, but again, nothing that will make paint peel. The flavor is great, it’s a good “strong” cheese for visitors to try. Roquefort [79:49] This is again a cheese from the Auvergne area. The big brands we’ve gotten used to (Société, Papillon) make mild versions of the cheese. Small producers make more extreme versions of the same type of cheese. Aligot and Tartiflette [80:51] Aligot is from the Auvergne and Tartiflette is from the Alps, but both can be found all over France, especially at Christmas Markets. These are hardy winter dishes with potatoes and melted cheeses. They have a strong flavor, but are delicious and are well-loved, even by children and visitors. Tripou [83:25] Tripou is a type of Tripes from the Auvergne, not served in a heavy cream, but still cow tripes. If you’re in the Auvergne and you have a choice between tasting Tripou or Aligot, don’t think twice: try the Aligot! Normal Foods with Strange Names [84:30] In France we also have normal foods with strange names. This is done on purpose, mostly for marketing purposes. For instance, we have “Tête de Nègre” which is a chocolate covered marshmallow with an offensive name. We also have “Pêt de Nonne”, a beignet. We have a jam called “Gratte-cul”. A cheese from Burgundy called “Trou-du-cru”. Annie & Elyse’s Dental Woes [86:10] Why Annie went back to not eating meat. It’s Burger King’s fault! And then Elyse couldn’t stand to have me suffering alone, and she joined in the fun 😉 [89:19] The all-new strange foods you can now find in France: insect pâté! We have come full circle, havent’ we? Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/193 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 192 Full Show Notes at https://joinusinfrance.com/192 *** In this episode Claire and Annie chat about how Claire and her husband moved to France on a long stay tourist visa. Because Claire was born in France and moved to the US at age 4, she thought she could to move to France as a French citizen and apply for a visa for her husband. But the French Consulate in Chicago told her she wasn't really French (we never elucidate why!) and she applied to move to France on a long term tourist visa instead. Moving to France on a long stay tourist visa worked perfectly and on today's show we go through all the steps she had to go through. Things went smoothly, and like we found on Episode 131, Moving to France on a Talents and Abilities Visa, things go smoothly if you are prepared with all the necessary paperwork! Some of the questions we address are where do you start? How do you get an address in France? How do you get a bank account in France? What about moving your dog or pets to France? How fast can you get access to French healthcare? Do you have regrets since moving to France? *** Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/192 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook *** Timestamps for this Episode [2:21] Claire was born in France, but the French Consulate didn’t consider her to be a French citizen when she applied for her national identity card. The rules are explained here, in French. We’re not lawyers or relocation specialists, please don’t ask us about your particular case. List of Papers Needed to Move to France on a Long Term Tourist Visa [05:32] How to get your Consular appointment and list of paperwork they will require for a long term tourist visa. [06:46] Health insurance requirement and how to easily fulfill that. [07:31] Proof of residence requirement is harder to get and how to do it the easy way: rent a Gîte. If you speak French, another great tip is to use Le Bon Coin, there are lots of rentals by owner listed there. [12:39] Proof of sufficient means to support yourself for the time you’re going to be there. Details of what that means exactly. [15:30] Signed statement that indicates what you intend to do while in France and another one that states that you will not work in France. [16:10] Application Fee. They do not accept credit cards even though their site says they do! This whole thing happened in one day because they had all the paperwork ready. They left their passports behind and got their visas a couple of weeks later in the mail. [17:18] Filling with the OFII when you get to France. Medical exam and sticker. [19:14] They will give you an appointment at the Préfecture that you cannot change. Providing the paperwork all over again for the yearly renewal and getting an actual card. [21:53] In France, never take no for an answer. Plead your case! Restate your reasons. Don’t give up too fast! Qualifying for the French Health Card [23:42] Dealing with French health care and getting a carte vitale. [25:08] Reasons why French health care is so wonderful. Opening a Bank Account in France [26:58] Opening a bank account in France. [27:18] Start with getting an address and proper proof that you have an address (i.e. a lease or deed of ownership). [28:00] You can't walk into a bank and open an account in France. They will want you to make an appointment and come back 2 weeks later. [28:43] Some French banks will not open accounts with Americans. [29:53] Americans living in France are supposed to file and pay taxes in the US. Dealing with filing for taxes in France also. Move Your Stuff or Sell It? [35:18]  Moving your stuff over to France and what to pack, what to sell? [36:00] Bringing American appliances to France, worth it or not? [37:45] The sticker shock of moving companies and all the paperwork you will need to keep. Moving a Dog to France [39:24] Moving a dog to France: use Air France, your dog can fly on the same plane as you do. [43:04] What was the most painful part about moving to France? [44:48] Life in a French village is really slow. [46:48] What was a pleasant surprise about moving to France? Rural areas in France are cheap, and French people are not big consumers. [49:11] When people around you don't understand why you'd want to move. [50:47] Resources recommended, see list above. Those books were good because they provide checklists and steps of what you need to do to establish your household in France. [52:22] Container showing up late, very late. It's important to get the timing right. Is It Important that You Speak Some French? [54:58] How important is it to speak French? It's vital! At least one of you needs to have decent French or life will become so full of misunderstandings, you'll get discouraged and hate it. [56:08] How do you decide where to move to in France? How did you pick your place? [59:52] Can you share any tips for buying a car in France? Again, things take time. You won't drive off the lot with the car the day you choose it. You have to line up the payment and paperwork, even if you're paying "cash". [62:17] What do you wish you knew before you moved to France? [63:09] Get involved locally and integrate. Find associations for sports or hobbies or volunteer opportunities. [65:17] Life in small villages in France: how small is too small? Small places don't have enough businesses. [68:18] Why didn't you move to France when you were still working? [69:16] Finding work in France is very difficult. Come as a retiree, or get your job to transfer you, or if you're a freelancer who can work from anywhere. [70:04] Even freelancers get health insurance in France, so if you can pull it off, it's great. And if you pay for medical care out of pocket in France, it's still crazy cheap compared to the prices in America. [71:08] When French people complain about our health care (which we do!) it's usually because some medicine has been taken off the list of reimbursed drugs due to the fact that enough studies have shown that it does nothing. Making Payments in France [72:50] Direct withdrawals in France, "prélèvements", the need to have a Relevé d'identité bancaire with you. Different ways to conduct transactions in France. [74:47] French administration is very picky and paperwork hungry. Set up your utilities bills in both names if you have a significant other! [76:39] Because French administrators are prickly, if you show up for your visa meeting without all of your documentation, they will make you come back two months later or whenever another appointment opens. [77:31] If you hate papers, France is not for you. But Claire thinks that living here is so nice, it's worth putting up with the red tape!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 191 In this episode we talk about  the "good" king Henry the 4th and his home town of Pau. Perched on the top of a cliff with a FABULOUS view of the Pyrenees mountains which are close by, Pau is charming and makes for a lovely stop along the way as you explore the southwest region and head either to Lourdes or the the Basque country further west. The castle, recently renovated, is a wonderful example of Medieval and Renaissance architecture, tower, turrets, and furniture included. It is fun to explore and imagine how different life was like when even a king had to worry about heating his home!! Henry IV was born in the Chateau of Pau and left a lasting imprint on Paris. He was the person who made the Place des Vosges and major parts of the Louvre, but in THIS episode you will hear about  his origins and his attachment to his home country in the principality of Bearn. Timestamps for this Episode [02:42] Henri IV, the French King whose first language was Occitan. [03:48] Pau, the city on top of the hill: geographical location and the Gave de Pau, the local river. [04:53] Circumstances surrounding the birth of Henri IV: the Wars of Religion that we’ll talk about at another time. [05:25] The Castle of Pau started out as a wooden fortified castle. Most castles were built of wood in the Middle Ages, but this is not something most people know because they didn’t survive as well as stone castles. [07:36] It makes sense to visit Lourdes and Pau on the same day. [09:49] Gaston Phoebus turned the wooden castle into a stone castle, and it was renovated again in the nineteenth century. [12:03] Henri IV’s parents were both of royal blood. His mother was a Protestant and his father a Catholic. [13:44] The garlic and wine story about Henri IV. [16:10] When Henry becomes king, the castle in Pau becomes his secondary residence. [20:06] Louis XIII, son of Henry IV, renovates the castle in Pau to make it more genteel. [22:40] The chateau in Pau at the French Revolution. [24:00] The castle in Pau that we see today is what is left from the Louis Philippe era. [25:30] The strange sleeping habits and sleeping arrangements of kings. [29:25] Napoleon III structural renovations. [31:51] The Béarn was annexed to be part of France under Louis XIII, not under Henri IV. [35:14] Local foods you can enjoy when you visit Pau. [36:30] How much time to spend in Pau and what else you can visit in the area. [41:20] Pau is a nice mid-size French city, not so big that it’s expensive, but not so small that it’s boring. [43:17] You can arrange to tour Pau with Elyse. We’ll talk more about Henri IV in other episodes because there is so much to say. [44:00] Thank you Patreon supporters and personal update. Hanging out with a Labrador Puppy. [46:00] French people don’t get fresh bread from the bakery for breakfast! [48:00] Please tell people about your favorite podcast episode and let them know that we’re on Alexa, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more. [49:22] Rail strike about to get under way in France. [51:30] Best way to connect with me. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/191 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 190 Let me tell you what makes for a great picnic in Paris. It's not so much the food (although it can be divine!) but the spot where you have your picnic. You go out of your house to eat outside because of the view, don't you? Otherwise, most of us are more comfortable sitting at a dining room table. But with these Paris spots in the background, it's worth going outside to enjoy your meal! Pont des Arts Vert Galant Park Quai des Tournelles along the Seine Jardin du Luxembourg Place des Vosges Jardin du Palais Royal Champ de Mars or Trocadero Square Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet in Montmartre Buttes de Chaumont Park Square des Batignoles (shopping on rue de Lévis) Parc Monceau (shopping on rue de Lévis) Lac Daumesnil in the Bois de Vincennes Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/190 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 189   On today’s episode, everybody FREAK OUT! There's a train strike happening in France spring 2018! OK, don’t freak out, I think I can help you take back control and have a great vacation in France all the same.   Here are the links you need to have: cestlagreve.fr Find out if your train will be on strike or not Train status info Number you can call for information: 0805 90 36 35 Apply for your refund online Episode 75 of the podcast on taking regional buses in France Bus company you can consider: FlixBus, Ouibus, Isilines, Eurolines, Trans'Bus. Tips for Driving in France Driving in France (the rules) Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/189 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 188 On today’s episode, Annie and Elyse chat about the pitfalls and joys of visiting Paris in August. Things are different in Paris in the summer months and we review them all in this episode of the podcast! Timestamps [05:45] The conversation between Annie and Elyse starts. [06:54] What changes in Paris in July and August. [09:05] Head's Up about what Paris is like in the summer! [10:43] Parking is free in Paris the first 2 weeks of August. You can rent electric cars to get around if you wish. Traffic is much lighter in Paris in the summer. [12:14] Paris can get very hot in the summer. Some metro cars are air conditioned, not all. Buses are air conditioned. [13:09] Some of the small stores and restaurants do close to take their vacation. All the big stores, department stores, are open, but not on Sundays for the most part. Don't save your shopping for Sundays! [14:48] There are masses of tourists who come to Paris in the summer. Museums can be terribly crowded. Use the site J'aime attendre to figure out the best time to go. [24:30] Strategies for visiting museums in Paris. [29:00] Plan which days you'll go to which museums so you don't get stuck waiting in long lines! [32:00] French people love to go to wonderful Paris exhibits also, it won't just be foreign visitors! [34:13] More and more, Museums and attractions will force people to use Apps instead of queueing up. For instance JeFile to go up the Towers of Notre Dame. [35:44] If you are staying 3 or more nights late July until the last week of August, you can negotiate a very good deal. There are lots of tourists, but no business travelers. To get the best rates, call the hotels. [38:05] Air B&B questions you need to know about. Triple rooms for 3 adults (like for 3 adult sisters) are hard to find! [44:08] Small restaurants do close in the summer in Paris! If you have your heart set on a specific place, check it out ahead of time on their site! Big Brasseries never close, but small restaurants do. Have a backup plan! [49:00] Pickpockets in Paris and how to defeat them in the Paris metro, especially when you're on line 1. Leave as much as you can in the hotel safe. [51:54] What bag to take to Paris and why. [52:53] Vélib': Rent a bicycle and enjoy the low Paris traffic! Really cheap, can be free if you switch bikes every 30 minutes. [54:50] Les Guinguettes. You will see them if you go on a ride on the bateaux mouches. There are a lot of fun and you should go! Great place to go for a drink and some dancing. Along the 13th arrondissement is great with free dance lessons! This makes Paris into a summer festival. [58:30] In France in the summer you can always find something to do to find besides museums and restaurants. [61:00] Sunset in France is late in the summer in France, if you want to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night, you have to go fairly late. [63:00] Don't sweat the small stuff: you need to know where you're going sleep and what places you're going to visit. But you don't need to go to any one bakery or restaurant no matter what bloggers and guide books tell you! [65:19] Too many tourists who come to Paris have not put any effort into planning anything, which is why they get in trouble. [68:00] Get AC in your hotel or accomodation in Paris in the summer. It will be hot and muggy and that can ruin a vacation because you'll have a terrible time to sleep. Big thick walls do nothing against muggy. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/188 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook