We left Avignon early in the morning, taking the 2.5 hour train ride back to Paris where we spent our last two nights in France. We made our way to our final hotel of the trip, the historic grand chateau - the St. James Hotel. What an amazing place to stay the night in Paris! More to follow on our Continue reading
9 November 2014 
Memories of Cassis
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Cassis, France - located on the Mediterranean coast - was our last stop during our side trip to Provence. Cassis is located about 30 minutes Southeast of Marseille, another port village in the South of France. But where Marseille is a large, gritty, commercial port, Cassis remains a small, colorful Continue reading
26 October 2014 
Roman Influence in Southern France
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On our second day in Avignon, France, we drove straight west to visit the small towns of Arles and Nimes. Both towns have been highly influenced by Roman architecture and monuments. While in Arles, which is a quintessential provincial town, we toured the very large Roman arena dating back to 1st Continue reading
23 October 2014 
A Taste of Champagne in France
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By now you should know that I adore Champagne and sparkling wine. So it should be no surprise that after 3 nights in Paris, we made our way North to the Champagne region to taste a bit of the bubbly. Our first stop was in Epernay at Champagne Mercier where we were taken on a short train tour of Continue reading
21 October 2014 
Royal Tour of Versailles
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On our second day in Paris, we ventured out in the St. Germain area for a quick, early morning run in Luxembourg Gardens. Whoever said the French do not run for exercise is mistaken. We saw many runners, men and women, throughout Paris (day and night) but especially throughout the garden, albeit Continue reading
25 August 2014 
Living Renoir
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It is now less than 8 weeks until my trip to France! When I’m not scouring travel blogs and guide books for insiders’ tips to Paris and Provence, I’m getting my France fix in advance by attending French or European style events around the city. Last week, I was thrilled to have attended my second Continue reading
16 May 2014 
Mother’s Day Macarons
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While in downtown Chicago this weekend celebrating Mother's Day, I happened upon one of my favorite French pastry shops outside of France - Vanille Patisserie. (By the way, this charming little shop is a MUST if you enjoy a little taste of French heaven in the Windy City.) While I debated the Continue reading
14 April 2014 
Top 10 Travel Selfies to Take in France
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(photo source) Selfies are the latest craze on social media. From Ellen at the Oscars, to President Obama and now, the Pope - everyone is taking a selfie and, of course, posting it on Instagram, Twitter, and more. It's no surprise that travel enthusiasts are also embracing this phenomenon, using Continue reading
10 February 2014 
Valentine’s Day With a French Twist
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(photo source) Valentine's Day is right around the corner. And whether you're celebrating with your true love, your family, or friends - why not put a French twist on the special day by serving a Paris-inspired drink? Take a look at these simply sweet and tasty French recipes: French Continue reading
3 December 2013 
Traditional European Christmas Cookies
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(Linzer cookie: Photo Source) Bonjour! Throughout the winter holidays, sweets are plentiful at gatherings around the world, and many of these treats represent food traditions of years and cultures past. Even in the United States, Thanksgiving and Christmas get togethers are often celebrated with Continue reading
18 November 2013 
World Flavors of McDonald’s
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(photo source) As a person who tries to live by French or European principles of eating, I normally avoid fast food restaurants for the simple reason that they often use unhealthy cooking methods to cook less than quality food products - not to mention they serve the same foods over and over with Continue reading
11 November 2013 
A Champagne By Any Other Name….
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(photo source) If you're like me and love Champagne (or sparkling wine), you're going to love the December issue of Wine Spectator magazine. The cover story is dedicated to Champagne and details how France is trying to demystify the legend and focus more on the wine itself. As I was reading the Continue reading
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