p Christmas is almost upon us (yay!) and if you are anything like me, one of the joys of Christmas is tracking down just the right gifts for my loved ones. One of the reasons I’m so excited to be visiting Europe right now is the fact that I will get to do much of […]
The Distant Francophile Blog
445 posts
To Frenchify Your Friday this week perhaps you could…fly to France… Ok, ok so I know this is about the least helpful or practical Frenchify Your Friday idea I’ve ever come up with. But given we are actually heading to France tomorrow (well, we’ll be landing in Frankfurt first, then heading to France), it does […]
I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again but I love the fellow francophiles I’ve come in contact with since starting Distant Francophile. I adore the fact that they love France as much as I do, and I love the stories they share about ‘their’ France. Although we’ve never met (but hope […]
In the wake of last Friday’s tragic events in Paris, I feel like this week’s Frenchify Your Friday is more important than ever. While I recognise that a blog post about bringing a little bit of French inspiration into your day is completely insignificant when compared to what occurred in Paris, I find myself thinking […]
How do you cope with the flights? That’s the question I get asked most often when I share that we are heading back to France. (Read how we deal with the other question we are regularly asked). Now, the question about coping with long haul flights is perfectly fair given we live in Melbourne. If […]
It’s been heartbreaking to learn of the second terrorist attack on Paris during 2015. Our hearts go out to all who have been touched by this tragedy. It is devastating to see so much pain being inflicted on a city that brings great joy to so many. Since the Paris attacks, we’ve had lots of […]
The end of the week is almost here – which is exciting for me on so many levels – but mostly because it’s time for me to help you Frenchify Your Friday! And this week I’m recommending you add a little French flavour to your attire in the form of Breton striped top. First designed […]
Some of my favourite photographs from our French travels have been the photos that convey the energy and the spirit of the country I love so much. And those shots often contain a whole lot of movement. While it’s gratifying to be able to capture crystal clear images without blur, sometimes it’s fun to convey […]
I’ve been thinking about last week’s Four Days In Paris piece… While I think I covered a host of Parisian shopping opportunities, I omitted one vital stop. The French pharmacy. Now, while you are unlikely to spend an entire day hanging out in a French pharmacy, you do need to make sure you fit […]
We have to start out this week’s Frenchify Your Friday post with a big, big welcome to all of you who are new to Distant Francophile. We’ve had stacks of interest in the whole Distant Francophile concept recently and, given how much we adore connecting with people who love France as much as we do, […]
Here’s the third instalment in our Four Days In Paris series and I will admit right up front that four days of shopping in Paris is not going to appeal to every traveller. In fact, I’m guessing that some of Distant Francophile’s most loyal readers have just stopped reading. And I’ll also admit that it […]
Is it just me or is anyone else surprised by the fact that it is November already? I really can’t believe how quickly this year has flashed by. But I’m also thrilled that November is here, because we head back to Europe for a little mini-break at the end of the month – yes, it’s […]
The signs have been building for a little while now. Our weather has been getting warmer. The days are becoming longer. Invites to cocktail parties and barbecues are starting to flow in. Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival hits full swing this weekend. A dear friend of mine even has a Christmas party booked in for the […]
It has been years since we engaged with a travel agent to book our travel. The last time we did so, we received a stack of gift vouchers because we found the same flights on-line for a cheaper price than the agent could offer. After that incident, we decided to back ourselves and manage all […]
Want to Frenchify Your Friday and do us a huge favour at the same time? We really hope so! We genuinely get so much joy out of crafting Distant Francophile every week. Our only aims are to share our love and knowledge of France and to help anyone who wants to add a dose of […]
Last week on Facebook, Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat. Pray. Love. fame, and more recently the author of Big Magic, an inspiring book for creative souls posted a thought-provoking piece on how little we need to give up in terms of every day luxuries in order to fulfil our travel dreams. Liz’s argument goes something like […]
Well, I finally know what I want to be when I grow up. Yes, while it has taken me a little longer than most to work it out, I feel I now have clarity. I want to be Janelle McCulloch. And I figure I’m half way there – I’ve got first name covered. Obviously this […]
Ok, let me make it clear. I’m not a sweet tooth. I’ve written about this fact before. Generally, I’m more your cheese platter kind of girl. Generally. But every now and then, I crave chocolate. Good chocolate. Really good chocolate. This week has been one of those weeks. One of those weeks where I’m looking […]
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 […]
It’s time for Part Two in our sporadic Four Days In Paris series (check out Part One here). Some big names, gorgeous gardens and heaps of opportunity to people watch grace this particular itinerary. It’s perfect for travellers who want an authentic experience but who don’t want to exhaust themselves in the process. Day One […]