As I mentioned in the last French Affaires posting, the country of France is so diverse and rich in things to do, see and experience. Northwest France is home to la Bretagne (Brittany), a rocky and remote region known for its extensive coastline, Celtic influences, ancient forests and legends, native costumes, music of the biniou…

I often get asked about my favorite places to go in France. With the amazing variety of options the country offers, that is indeed a tough question! In fact, it is said that in France the landscape and cultural character of the place changes every 30 kilometers. For a country about the size of Texas,…

With all the wonderful things France offers adults, it’s easy to overlook the kid component of French society. But there are some charming aspects to the life of les enfants (children) in France that make it worth a closer look. First, some cultural background. France takes great pride in taking care of and educating its…

In France, the holidays, or la période des fêtes, are about family, friends and especially feasting. This applies to le Reveillon (New Year’s Eve) in particular. It is common to spend several hours enjoying un dîner de reveillon (New Year’s Eve dinner) complete with oysters, smoked salmon, chestnuts, truffles, mushrooms,foie gras, duck, and all manner…

If you love Paris but don’t live there, have you ever just wanted to take it home with you? Bundle the whole thing up, put it in your suitcase and pull it out when you need a ‘Paris fix’? What if you could “buy Paris”? I like to believe that anything is possible when it…

The first French words I remember learning were la fleur. “The flower.” Our Montessori school teacher held up flashcards with colorful images and instructed us to repeat the French names after her. I was five years old and with those few phrases in our kindergarten curriculum, something French in me must have clicked. After a sprinkling…

There is plenty to love about ‘expected Paris’ – numerous world-class museums, beautiful squares, exquisite palaces, Notre Dame cathedral, majestic parks and gardens, grand boulevards, boat rides on the Seine, outdoor markets, music, theatre, restaurants of every flavor, the list goes on. Guidebooks are full of what makes the French capital the most visited city in the world. But what about…

The French do a lot of things well. A few things that immediately come to mind are art, architecture, literature, fashion, the Paris Métro, technology (yes, technology), wine, and of course, food and cuisine. I would also throw in the French art de vivre, in other words, their style of living. In general, they work…

Shopping in France has its obvious pleasures. Creative window displays are a perpetual source of eye candy. Beautiful goods tempt in small boutiques and in les grands magasins (department stores). And when a French shopkeeper learns you truly appreciate his wares, he will bend over backwards to be helpful and informative whether or not you…