Across the Normandy Countryside to Vimy
We start our drive out of France, our longest stay in one country since Australia, by heading to Dieppe (pronounced, we learned last night, as “deep” in Kiwi) and onwards towards the beaches of Normandy and ultimately Vimy. A...
The Long History of Le Mont-St-Michel
Mont St Michel's ramparts and fortifications resisted the English assaults 3 times during the 100 Years War, but today they succumb to the thousands of tourists who assault Le Mount Saint Michel and storm the many stairs to the...
Wander the Ardèche With Us!
Oh, the beautiful Ardèche region of France: its wild and rugged character and climbing, winding roads leading the nature lover into the secluded backcountry of the rolling, curving, cliff-hugging Gorges de l’Ardèche where...
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: France’s Best Kept Secret
France’s sun-dappled southern regions have long been a favorite with both locals and tourists alike. Provence is perhaps too popular: most travelers journey only as far as Avignon; further north, Lyon becomes a food...
Évian les Bains: Perfect in Any Season
The car rounds a sharp corner and our driver, Laurence pulls over and leaves the car running. ‘Usually, at this point, I stop and show you the beautiful view of the lake and the mountains beyond’, she says, a slight...
Spend Christmas in Paris
Ahhh. Une Christmas vacation à Paris is sheer bliss. No crowds, no line ups; just the pure joy of living as Parisians do. Watching as they go about their Christmas and daily shopping, while an ex-pat, student or secretive tourist...
Arriving on the Normandy Beaches
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy to open the way to Germany from the West. Victory in the Normandy campaign would come at a terrible cost. The Canadians suffered the most casualties of any division...
A Pilgrimage to Chartres
The sun finally shines today as we sadly say goodbye to the city that we love so much. We both agree on our fondness for Paris and actually talk about re-routing our trip and staying here. Alas, it is not to be. Paris is...
Discover the Many Charms of Guadeloupe
“Nous sommes en grève.” Thierry, our friendly guide tries to sooth the first-morning bad news. ‘It took me twice as long to cross the bridge this morning as it normally does. We are going to have to change our...
Alsace: Take it In
A bright mix of German, French and Swiss cultures, the troubled past of Alsace History, located on the banks of the Upper Rhine and neighboring Germany and Switzerland, has been heavily influenced by historical decisions,...
We Are In Love with Lyon: Aren’t You?
As the ancient capital of the Gauls, Lyon is not only famous for her heritage but also for her gastronomy, and with a duo of famous chef sons, Bocuse and Boulud, the city makes an excellent historical and tasty home base should...
Provence Beckons!
Traffic on the A9 is light as we head out to Orange, home of the family that includes St. Guilhem, the Dutch royal family, and William of Orange, the King of England. Orange is also home to the only Roman Amphitheater in Europe...
Half-Timbered Rouen: Jeanne d’Arc’s Garden
The days continue grey and autumnal. It is this way as we head out onto the autoroute for our drive to Rouen, and it stays the same until we arrive in the city of the famous St Joan of Arc a couple of hours later. Down the Avenue...
Club Med Les Arcs Panorama: An Alpine Mountain Paradise
Do you love to indulge in all-inclusive resorts, eat the best food and drink the best wine? Do you love a 360-degree, stunning summer and winter snow-capped mountain views of France’s original “mega-resorts” Les...
South of France Treasures You Must Visit
The south of France features prominently in many people’s daydreams of heaven on earth, and deservedly so. Those who haven’t yet seen this perfection, dream of going, and those who have, can’t wait to go back. If you’re thinking...
Marché de Mulhouse: Food, Cheese, and Alsatian Wine.
What better way to start a sunny, crisp Alsatian Saturday morning in Mulhouse than with a little shopping? And shopping is at the Marché du Canal Couvert de Mulhouse the largest public market in North East France. Clothing, meat,...
La Route Causses et Vallées de l’Hérault
We decided to take today a little easier and do some local driving, hitting some of the neighbouring hamlets and following ancient routes and highways that traverse the windswept hills and valleys called La Route Causses et...
A Final Drive Through the Loire Valley: Onto Avranches
Around the corner from our hotel is the Tours Cathedral, and we visit it this morning before we head off on our drive to Normandie with our final destination of Avranches. The cathedral is Gothic in style, flying buttresses and...
Château Hunting in Le Loire: Chenonceau and Chaumont
Today is our last full day in the Loire, and after two intense days of hunting and exploring les Chateau de la Loire, we have planned a much quieter day, including a morning of doing our laundry. I discover that the shop next...
Châteaux-hopping dans Le Loire: Where is Sleeping Beauty?
The brilliant sun shines down on us as we start our second day of châteaux-hopping. We go the opposite direction (downriver) today as we head out of Tours, passing through little village after little village, all alive with life...