It is around seven months until we head back to France. While that seems like an eternity (I’m wishing it was seven weeks, or even better, seven days) I am in full on planning mode. While I’ve developed some fairly decent desktop research skills, I still can’t go past recommendations from people who have already […]
The Distant Francophile Blog
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One item that I never fail to bring home from France is French soap. And it’s not just because they make excellent gifts and souvenirs. Every time I use French soap with its creamy lather, I am immediately transported to the French countryside. Often made in the south of France around Provence and Marseille, French […]
Welcome to March everyone. I just love it when March rolls around. March heralds the beginning of autumn in Australia – and anyone who has been reading Distant Francophile for a while will know that autumn is my favourite season. I adore the light. I marvel at the changing colours. I love warm days and […]
I’ve got to tell you – I’ve always found packing for Paris in spring a bit tricky. I always end up lugging way more weight than I want to – primarily because I’m forever trying to cater for the changeable weather. Shoes are definitely the worst. If there is ever a season that sees me […]
One of the things I love to do while I’m in Paris is to get a manicure. Let’s face it – nobody wants to be in one of the style capitals of the world with tatty nails. Depending on where we are staying, I’ll head with the Parisians to either Le Bon Marché or BHV […]
One of the best things about our (not so) recent trip was the amount of reading I was able to squeeze in. Unfortunately, reading for pleasure seems to have virtually disappeared from my everyday life. Sometimes I have to force myself to read just so I can share the Distant Francophile book reviews! But while […]
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 […]
Whether they are running some of the world’s fastest trains or shaping some of the most recognisable trees on the planet, there is a whole lot to admire about the French dedication to precision and quality. I love how the French go above and beyond when it comes to the fine details. Let’s take French […]
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 – […]
Baby pink blossom, with an Eiffel Tower backdrop. Parisian café terraces bathed in ever brightening sunlight. Yes, the photos that have been popping up in my Instagram feed lately have been sending a clear message. Spring is on the way – at least in Paris. And while the ever appropriate Parisians won’t be looking to […]
Well, it’s time to Frenchify Your Friday and in my mind at least, it is time for something that is both French and sweet. With those two criteria in mind, it is hard for me to go past suggesting you set yourself a mission to find yourself a classic Mont Blanc. Whether you save […]
On Sunday, I shared my Top Five Reasons For Packing Light. Each one of my points were perfectly reasonable and fairly difficult to argue with, even if I do say so myself. But having a stack of motives for travelling light doesn’t make the art of refined packing any easier. These days, I can head […]
We went to a party a couple of nights ago and as it always does, the conversation turned firstly to travel and inevitably to packing. Our host on the evening is planning a three month jaunt to Europe with her hubby. It is their first big trip and it will be their introductory visit to […]
The weather in Melbourne has been more odd than usual lately. I’d almost say it’s been a bit tropical (almost). It’s summer here, so it’s been warm. But it’s also been very, very rainy. And my favourite thing about rain is the fact that I get to pretend that I’m a little bit French and […]
Is it just me or does anyone else feel like we’ve just raced through the fastest January on record? I feel like it is just a few days since we celebrated the new year and I’m already flipping the calendar pages over! But the good news is that the new year seems to have inspired […]
Start a conversation about Parisian arrondissements, as we did on Distant Francophile last week, and inevitably you will end discussing Parisian hotels. Given our love of Parisian apartments, you are probably not surprised to learn that we’ve not stayed in too many hotels in Paris. And truth be told, recommending a hotel can be as […]
This week’s Frenchify Your Friday is all about French crêpes. I know. I know. I can’t believe that I haven’t suggested that you Frenchify Your Friday with a classic crêpe yet either. Especially when you consider how yummy and quintessentially French they are. To my mind, crêpes rival crème brûlée as my favourite French dessert. […]
Do you have a signature style? Something that articulates your brand in the world? A look that everyone immediately associates as being ‘so you’? There’s no doubt about it, developing a signature style is a good idea. Somewhat akin to a uniform – and occasionally described as such – everything you’ll read on the topic […]
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 […]
Personally, I adore perfume. I have bottles of the stuff on my dresser. I’ve had a bespoke fragrance made just for me. I love choosing a scent based on how I feel in the morning. And I am especially fond of French perfume. So, it’s little wonder that I fully relate to the […]