Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Staying in the Toulouse area long enough to look around at some of the hidden gems around Occitanie? We recommend Saint Bertrand de Comminges, a bucolic and inspiring village in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Elyse tells us how the gorgeous Cathedral came to be built and about other interesting sites nearby such as the Basilica of Saint Just Balcarère, the painted neolithic cave called Gargas, Bagnères de Luchon and Montmaurin. 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/1771 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 THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Phil Roberson, a World War II history enthusiast and avid traveler, shares his fascinating insights on visiting Mont Saint-Michel. He highlights the breathtaking views and the dramatic tides that define the experience. Roberson offers practical tips for avoiding the crowds, exploring hidden gems, and enjoying local cuisine. He reflects on the historical significance of the abbey, the charm of the island, and how to navigate its narrow streets, all while weaving in anecdotes from his journeys.

Dive into the enchanting history of Mont Saint-Michel, a site that evolved from a pagan sanctuary to a key Christian landmark. Discover its intriguing past, including a period as a notorious prison. Learn about the resilient abbey that thrived as a center of learning during turbulent times and how cultural influences shaped its destiny. Personal anecdotes and vivid storytelling bring this remarkable destination to life, offering insights that will change how you see this iconic site before your visit.

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Our discussion about Collioure starts at [28:24]. Today, Matthew Gamache takes us to Collioure, a lovely beach town at the very bottom of France next to Spain. Like the French Riviera, Collioure is rocky and picturesque, but being far from the Riviera, the destination is not as pricey or exclusive. There are a lot of beach towns between Montpellier and the Spanish border, most of them you've never heard of because they only attract French families.  The one I went to all the time as a kid is called Valras plage, next to Béziers. It's a nice long sandy beach, playground on the beach, free concerts several times a week during the summer. It had everything a working class French family on vacation wanted and I had a great time there. Kids don't care if it's scenic or not, they love the sand, the water, the sun. And you'll hear Matt describe how his daughters loved that part of the vacation. Collioure is also a stone's throw away from Spain, so if you want to take a little detour into Catalunia, it's a great place to be. our conversation on Collioure starts at [28:24].  On this episode we also talk about:  The Dordogne [07:19] How you'll find the same vendors at lots of food markets [18:37]  How Matt and his family took the TGV between Perpignan and Paris[42:00] Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne [54:00] French History Brief about a powerful man and a woman who didn't really want him [58:45] Places Mentioned in this Episode Beynac, Sarlat, Fond-de-gaume, Niaux, Collioure, Modern Art Museum in Ceret, Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne 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 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 THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast What are the best destinations in Corsica? William Ciardiello tells us how he made friends in Corsica and how they showed him a fantastic time in Corsica, an island in the Mediterranean that is not on  many people's radar, but is stunning in every way: landscape, food, wine, activities, all are outstanding on Corsica! Call the show and leave a voice mail +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon 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. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Today we talk about traditional French recipes for Thanksgiving. By that we mean recipes you can use to bring a little bit of France into your own family traditions, although you will hear in the episode that Annie and Elyse don't quite agree on what that means. We don't talk about "French cut green beans" (which are NOT a thing in France!) but rather talk about all the traditional French foods that would fit in well on your Thanksgiving table. Sometimes putting together a Thanksgiving Feast in France requires a little bit of creativity, but Annie and Elyse do it with good humor.  Whether or not there is room on your Thanksgiving table for new dishes imported from France, we hope you have fun listening to this episode and have a wonderful celebration with your friends and family! Leave a Voice Mail for the Show: 1-801-806-1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode, or visit https://joinusinfrance.com/172 Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast In this trip report, Nancy Calkins tells us about her visit to the Chenonceau and Cheverny Chateaux in the Loire Valley. They are both spectacular, and Cheverny also offered stimulating activities for her teens, including the hunting dog pack and the tie-in to the Tintin stories. Nancy has some recommendations of where to stay in Montrichard which were quirky and fun. Then, in the French History segment of the podcast, Annie shares the Chenonceau Chateau History and the story of the rivalry between Diane de Poitiers et Catherine de Medicis. She also describes how two French Kings died: François I and Henry II. You decide, which one was worse? To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast People who live with food allergies are often more stressed than others whenever they travel away from home. The reality is that any time any of us travel abroad, we are going to be exposed to new potential allergens in what we breathe, touch or eat. For most of us, that is not a problem at all. But for some of us, it can become a major worry. Erin Zebelman comes on the show today to share with us what she did to prepare, and what she did to deal with her son's nut allergies while in France.  To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast   To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast In this episode of the podcast, we answer one big question: What are a few Loire Valley castles you shouldn't skip? The answer, of course, depends on what you like and who you are with. Janice Chung spent 6 days there in the spring of 2017 and she visited 12 of them on that occasion. But, as a true francophile, this was also her 5th visit to the area, so she's more qualified than most to give us a unbiased primer on the area and point out gems that are truly worth your time. Janice recommends staying at various castles instead of going to hotels. This can be surprisingly affordable, and a definite plus for honeymooners. She gives pointers for those visiting the area with children (as a former school principal she knows what works and doesn't work with kids!) We also talk about her long-time desire to take a hot-air balloon ride over the Loire Valley, and her adventure tasting Loire Valley wines. Janice is the editor of a wonderful blog about travel to France called France Travel Tips, you should check it out, it's great. Places Mentioned on this Episode: Loire River, Cher River, Blois, Tours, Chambord, Chenonceau, Château d'Ussé, Château Villandry, Saumur, Amboise, Le Clos Lucé, Château de Cheverny, Château Beauregard, Château de Valmer. To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!