It’s funny how many people automatically assume that the only destination Scotty and I spend any time in during our French holidays is Paris. I guess it makes sense. Paris is spectacular, coveted and, for so many of us, somewhere towards the top of our bucket lists. The City of Light has cast her spell […]
Paris
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Welcome to November! Scott and I arrived home last night, after spending almost all of October in France. As usual, we had an amazing time. But, honestly, we would have been hard pressed not to with cities and towns like Annecy, Bordeaux and Toulouse on our itinerary. Highlights for me included a small plane flight […]
I simply adore writing our monthly inspiration posts from France. While it doesn’t happen all that often, whenever it does I always feel like I have so much more to share with you. It’s probably got something to do with the fact that I’m focussed on taking everything in. Or perhaps it has something to […]
Well, the year continues to fly along. I seriously can’t believe it is April already. But as the days get shorter here in Australia, I’m finding more and more time to track down some excellent French inspiration that I can’t wait to share with all of you. So let’s jump straight in. On Paris Earlier […]
I write regularly about the fact that the whole country of France inspires the imagination. As a result, France brings out the creative side in many who choose to visit and in those who make the eventual decision to call France home. Artists, sculptors, musicians and culinary geniuses all flock to France. And the same […]
I’ve just started reading the highly acclaimed book by author Elaine Sciolino, The Only Street In Paris. Life on the Rue des Martyrs. It’s far too early for me to write you a review. Given the way I’m struggling to find time to read right now, you can expect that in a few months – […]
Last week, I provided the first instalment of a response to the question Which Parisian Arrondissement Is Best To Stay In?which was put to us by a Distant Francophile reader. Let’s be honest – it’s an extremely valid question. Paris is chock full of things to do and see, and it makes sense to locate […]
It probably doesn’t surprise anyone that many of the posts on Distant Francophile are inspired by the questions we receive from people who are keen to visit France. Regardless of how these queries reach us – via the website, email or in person – they always get me wondering whether I might be able to […]
When Paris was so tragically attacked last month, many people questioned whether we were still planning to travel to France, and specifically Paris. While our travel plans were never in danger of changing, we were curious to understand what had changed in France after the Paris attacks. Personally, I was hoping for nothing – but […]
There are so many I things I do while I’m in Melbourne to keep my French dream alive…but catching public transport is very rarely one of them. I am still trying to work out why I am so happy to take public transport while I am abroad, yet avoid it like the plague when I […]
A colleague of mine is lucky enough to be spending four days in Paris soon. She has asked if she can catch up with me as she’d like my advice on what she should do while she is there. I’ve been thinking about how best to answer her. And – believe it or not […]
It’s time for me to finish up our little series of Parisian gems. And today I’m keen to share the Basilique Cathédrale de Saint – Denis with you all. Like the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Musée Carnavalet, the Basilica of Saint – Denis offers visitors a different taste of Paris. Legend has it that […]
Monumental understatement coming up – there is a lot to see and do in Paris. You’d certainly need a substantial amount of time in Paris if you wanted to tick off all the big and small ‘must sees’ in one visit. As a result, most visitors understandably prioritise their precious time, concentrating on either the […]
It’s funny. So many people love travelling to Paris (or they would love to travel there someday). And while they are in Paris they are more than happy to take in the big name tourist sights. Yet (unsurprisingly) no one wants to actually look like a tourist. It’s the big dilemma – how can you […]
Unsurprisingly, we got a few raised eyebrows when we mentioned we were visiting Barcelona as part of our last trip. Clearly, Barcelona is not in France and everyone knows how desperate I am to spend as much time as I possibly can in France. As a result, since returning home, “How did you go in […]
I never thought I’d ever be able to name a favourite place in Paris. When we first visited Paris I loved absolutely everything, and equally. But over the years one special Parisian landmark has drawn me back again and again. In fact, it is now the only place I definitely have to spend time in […]
Well, summer has definitely hit Paris this week. And the high temperatures reminded me that I still owed you all an updated summer packing list. My first Packing For Paris In Summer post was more of a guess than a guide. But as it turns out, I didn’t do a bad job of packing clothes […]
There are so many restaurants in Paris, choosing where to eat can sometimes seem like a bit of gamble. You want to get value for money from every travel dollar, while at the same time finding something authentic and yummy. And you absolutely want to avoid tourist traps. As a result, I’m always on the […]
Regular readers will have guessed that I spend a fair bit of time researching all things French. I have a number of favourite magazines, Facebook pages and websites that I regularly keep an eye on – and one of these is the extremely helpful site Free in Paris. People are always quick to tell you […]
Welcome to June everyone. I am writing this month’s inspiration post from Paris – and seriously, you can’t get any more French inspiration than by spending time in Paris. I’ve found some great new vantage points for people watching and have come up with a stack of other French themed bits and pieces to share […]