Podcasts about france tours

“Je suis FKJ, c'est l'acronyme de French Kiwi Juice. Je suis né en France à Tours. J'ai commencé ce projet il y a huit ans, à l'ère Soundcloud, en postant des titres depuis ma chambre et, petit à petit, le projet a évolué. J'ai commencé comme un producteur pour après écrire des chansons. Plus le temps passe et plus je me dirige vers de la composition pure. C'est un parcours fait de vagues. Donc pour me décrire simplement, je suis avant tout un musicien.”Huit ans et différentes vagues que nous allons traverser pendant une heure sur Nova avec le musicien franco néozélandais qui sortira début juin son deuxième disque “Vincent.” Un disque composé en Asie du sud est, où FKJ a désormais élu domicile, et sur lequel on retrouve de nombreux invités : Little Dragon, le guitariste Santana, ou encore Toro y Moi. Une heure pendant laquelle le compositeur réécoute avec nous les musiques qui l'accompagnent depuis ses premiers pas. Voir Acast.com/privacy pour les informations sur la vie privée et l'opt-out.

Le jeudi 1er juillet, la 6ème étape du Tour de France s’élançait depuis Tours pour rallier Châteauroux.Radio Campus est allé micro en main prendre l’atmosphère qui régnait sur le village-départ, où nous avons rencontré pêle-mêle: une riveraine qui regarde le Tour depuis sa fenêtre, un retraité mordu du pignon fixe, des collectionneurs de porte-clés, des […] L'article Ambiance Tour de France à Tours est apparu en premier sur Radio Campus Tours - 99.5 FM.

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 206 Thinking about doing the Tour du Mont Blanc? On today's episode I bring you  a great conversation with Lachlan Cooke his experience doing the Tour of the Mont Blanc. This is an active vacation: it's not super technical mountaineering, but you need to be in good shape to do this. This is a great hike around the Mont Blanc that takes several days to complete. You'll be able to make it more or less arduous depending on choices you make as explained by Lachlan. Make Your Own Tour du Mont Blanc What's intimidating about a trip like this is figuring out where you can stay, how you can organize your hike, what you need to know in advance, possible pitfalls, etc. Lachlan has great suggestions on all of those. Take a look at the Show Notes, Guest Notes and Lackan's own blog for all the details. Active Vacations in France and the French Alps This is a great episode for those of you who are interested in the Mont Blanc and organizing a visit to the French Alps. Whether you make it a 2-hour hike or a 2-week hike, you'll be able to enjoy the striking vistas and peaceful feeling of the French Alps. Let yourself be inspired and start planning your own! Annie was a guest on Welcome to my Box Chatterbox #6, you should give it a listen!   Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. http://old.joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 205 On today’s episode, I bring you a trip report with Jennifer Warner about the World War I sites she visited with her husband and sons earlier this year. The whole family has an interest in history. Her teenage sons particularly enjoyed getting a better understanding of what happened on these battlefields. In preparation for this episode, I read a wonderful book called A World Undone: the History of the Great War 1914 to 1918. But the history of this war is a tremendously complex subject. Our purpose was not to discuss the history in depth. Our intention was to learn details of Jennifer's visit to the WWI battlefields in France and what makes some of them better than others for visitors. Centennial Anniversary of the end of WWI WWI ended on November 11, 1918. Making this year the centennial anniversary of the end of the Great War. As a result, battlefield sites like Verdun and Vimy will be holding special celebrations and special events to mark the centennial. We don't go into any details these centennial celebrations, but if you plan on visiting, make sure to do some research to see if you can participate in some of them. You see rows upon rows of not just dead but also missing people. It is so sobering, even for teenagers. WWI Battlefields in France What are the must-see places you need to visit in order to get an overview of WWI or the Great War? In this episode we mention major WWI battlefields in the East and North of France. A sobering topic, but as you can see from Jennifer's report, also a wonderful family vacation. Discussed in this Episode Verdun Verdun Ossuary Fort Douamont Fort Vaux Ossuary Douamont Camp Maguerre Abandoned Villages Arras City and Tunnels Vimy Ridge Wellington Tunnels Thiepval Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

The Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 204 On today’s episode, I talk to Mary-Lou Weisman about the Best of the Vaucluse department and Provence. Not sure where the Vaucluse is? I bet you’ve heard about many of these towns! Mary-Lou is the author of a book called Playing House in Provence and her love for the area certainly comes through loud and clear in today’s episode. We discuss her book towards the end of the episode, but our focus today is to help you have a wonderful time in the Vaucluse. Ready to explore Provence and the Vaucluse specifically? Mary-Lou shares some wonderful tips that will make it easy for you to both enjoy the area and make efforts to fit-in like a local. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 203 Did you know that there is a Medieval Castle just at the edge of Paris? Complete with dungeon, draw-bridge and moat. Meet the Château of Vincennes, one of the most surprising places in Paris! [04:29] Reasons You Might Want to Visit the Château de Vincennes [06:35] Château de Vincennes: a Fortified Castle [10:00] Charles V Made the Château de Vincennes a Royal Residence [12:16] Recent Renovations at the Château de Vincennes [13:00] King Louis XIII Was Raised at the Château de Vincennes [14:52] Vincennes Is Abandoned as a Royal Residence [16:01] Château of Vincennes Is Turned into a Prison [20:42] The Vincennes Arsenal [23:22] Restoration of the Royal Apartments [24:20] What's It Is Like Visiting the Château de Vincennes Today Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

  Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 202 In Paris you only have a few options to get between the airport and the city. In this episode I mention all of them and explain why a taxi is by far the easiest, and sometimes even the cheapest option for you. Comparing the Options from Personal Experience The question of how to get to Paris from CDG or Orly comes up at least once a week on the Join Us in France Closed Group on Facebook. And invariably, helpful group members chime in with their recommendations, which is great. But after getting a few dozen responses, the person who asked the question is probably is no better off than when they asked because the answers are all over the map. Do this! Do that! Don't get ripped off! Call this guy on my behalf! How is a person to decide when there is no consensus? Enter Annie.  I have tried most of these modes of transportation between CDG and central Paris because I live in Toulouse, I have to fly to Paris several times a year. I also have friends who pretty much commute to Paris from Toulouse. So in this episode I answer that question based on personal practice. And we know that practice makes perfect, right? Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Normandy and the sites of Operation Overlord are where amazing feats of courage took place that made it possible to liberate France and eventually defeat Hitler and his armies. But in a practical sense, there are so many important sites and so many parts to the history that it's hard to keep it all straight. The purpose of today's episode is to review the main events that took place during Operation Overlord aka the Battle of Normandy which lead to the liberation of Paris and France. Once you understand how the Battle of Normandy went, you will be able to plan out your trip out and, more importantly, understand the sites you're looking at. We've also found some great hotels that don't get enough love online and that we heartily recommend. Enjoy the show! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/201 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast — Episode 200 You are going to Paris with your children and wonder how to create the best experience for your kids? We've got suggestions for you in this episode! Going to Paris with boys 7 and 10 can be a challenge, but we've given this a lot of thought and we've put the itinerary to the test. In this episode Luke and Max reveal the Paris venues that we're pretty sure your kids will love too. With children, it's often more about not packing too much in while choosing highly engaging activities. Remember, doing Paris with boys 7 and 10 means you have to find activities that are at least as fun and engaging as video games!That's a tall order, but Paris is up to the task. So, listen up, we roll out the best Paris has to offer in this episode! Hotel Recommended on this Episode: Citadines hotel near Notre Dame Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/200 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Each part of Paris has it own feel and understanding the vibe of Paris neighborhoods is important so you can be in the best position to choose where you stay. The question of where should I stay in Paris comes up a lot especially for first-time visitors. Those of us who have been to Paris several times have our favorites, but that doesn't mean that the rest aren't any good, it just means that you like to stick to what's comfortable to you! The neighborhoods we consider today are the Latin Quarter, Saint Germain des Près, Saint Michel, Le Marais, Montmatre, Montparnasse, the Eiffel Tower, La Défense, the Champs Elysées / Arc de Triomphe area. There are some Annie loves and others she does not. In this episode you hear exactly why with examples of what's wrong. What You Will Hear About in this Episode with Timestamps [00:22] What Paris neighborhood is best to stay in? [01:32] This episode is for people who don’t have a favorite Paris neighborhood yet. [02:56] Annie recorded this episode behind Notre Dame in Paris, recording in public is a first for this show! [04:03] Annie just completed the Versailles, Giverny, Paris and Normandy tours, they were great with great customers again. [04:26] What is the vibe of various Paris neighborhoods and how can knowing about that help you choose the best place for you? Let’s start with four neighborhoods on the left bank: Latin Quarter, Saint Germain des Près and Saint Michel. The Saint-Michel Neighborhood [05:06] Saint Michel is great for people who aren’t staying in Paris very long because it’s close to everything first-time visitors should visit, but it’s a loud neighborhood. Saint-Germain-des-Près [06:35] Saint Germain des Près is a little further, but not by much. It is quieter (fewer sirens) but still busy and very popular with visitors. A great place to rent or apartment or book a hotel, although it’ll be a bit more expensive than Saint Michel. The Latin Quarter [07:11] The Latin Quarter is a lot more subdued because it is the home of the Sorbonne which takes up a lot of the space.  It is a wonderful neighborhood but be prepared to walk a little more. The Luxembourg Garden Area [08:07] The Luxembourg Gardens are also a lovely area for you to choose as a place to stay, it is usually attractive to repeat visitors who have visited the area before. It is a little further out, but peaceful and upscale. Le Marais Neighborhood [08:46] On the right bank (I misspoke and said left bank in the audio) you can stay in Le Marais, a wonderful lively area, especially around the Saint Paul metro station. Montmartre, Watch Out! [09:58] Montmatre is a popular area that I don’t recommend. Why not? Because it takes too long to get to and from Montmartre, because it’s hilly, there are lots of stairs to deal with, and the elevator at the Abbesses metro station hardly ever works, it hasn’t gotten any better since the renovation. Montparnasse, More Genuinely  French [12:37] For those of you who would like to stay in a neighborhood with more French people than visitors, Montparnasse is highly recommended (I misspoke and said Montmartre several times, but I meant Montparnasse). The area has a lot of offer and is “real”. La Défense Area [13:38] Some people stay at La Défense when they get free hotels due to miles. There is nothing wrong with staying at La Défense but be aware that the area is lively during the day (when presumably you’ll be away enjoying Paris) and completely dead at night. I don’t recommend you stay there unless you’re going to Paris for work. The Eiffel Tower Area [14:20] The Eiffel Tower neighborhood is wonderful with good hotels, great apartments, a little bit out of the way, but not so much that it would become a problem. Champs Elysées / Arc de Triomphe [15:39] The Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe area is nice, but not as well served by public transportation because the people who live there are wealthy and never take the bus. This is a great area for people who take taxis everywhere they go. Episode Conclusion [16:24] Recap of what I covered in the episode and the vibe of Paris neighborhoods. [18:59] Thank you new Patreon supporters! [20:01] Quick recap of how the tours went, more to come in subsequent episodes. [21:31] Annie is going back to Paris to spend time with her sister-in-law and her two children and will be trying kid-friendly attraction. [21:44] Annie is getting a labradoodle puppy! [22:36] June 2017 was stifling hot and June 2018 has been really wet. Rant: Do Not Walk on the Road! [23:05] RANT: do NOT walk off into the road to take a picture of the Arc de Triomphe! [24:44] You can listen to the show on the Amazon Alexa, on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play and any podcast App you may wish to use on your smartphone. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 198 On today’s episode, I talk to Oliver Gee and his fiancée Lina Nordin from the podcast Earful Tower. They are planning a wonderful honeymoon in France and I bet many of you are doing just that too! They plan to go all around France, exploring a lot of the country as they go along. They are calling their adventures Amour de France, which is so cute and clever, I love it! Discovering and Touring France on a Scooter So, where do you go if you want to see a little bit of every part of France? You’ll find out today. And what if you want to do it with a small budget a nothing much in the way of luggage? That’s what Oliver and Lina go into with me today. I mean, they are traveling light, really really light! The song says all you need is love, doesn’t it? Places mentioned in this episode: Paris, Giverny, Rouen, Caen, Rennes, Nantes, La Rochelle, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Aix en Provence, Marseille, (potentially Nice Monaco), Grenoble, Lyon, Dijon, Nancy, and Reims +champagne country. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 197 On today’s episode, I answer a listener’s question. Jacquline is from South Africa and she asks about the prices of common items in France because with the exchange rate, she’s not sure how far her money will stretch, so, let’s talk about food prices at French grocery stores. Cook with French Ingredients! If you're going to be renting an apartment in France via AirB&B or any of the other apartment rental providers (see our episode on the Secrets to Finding an Apartment in Paris) and you'll have access to a kitchen, you can definitely have great food at a great price! Get a Cheap Quick Meal And even if you're going the hotel route, you probably don't need a full sit-down meal 3 times a day, right? Why not pickup some ready-made food at a corner grocery store? It will be cheaper than a restaurant, and a lot fast too. Grab Inexpensive Gifts from France And, listen. If you're looking for original and inexpensive gifts you can take back to your friends and family from France, you'll get lots of suggestions here! Want to get adventurous and try some of those unusual French foods we discussed on Episode 193, Cornucopia of Bizarre French Foods? You can buy many of them at a French grocery store and live dangerously in France! On today's episode you'll hear about French breakfast foods, candy, chocolates, cheeses, condiments, cookies, detergents and personal care, frozen foods, meats and cold cuts, produce, ready-made foods, strange French foods, bottled water, wines and Annie's favorite: YOGURTS! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 196 On today’s episode, Annie and Elyse talk about the things they love about the Saint Germain des Près neighborhood in Paris. It's actually surprising to see how long it took us to devote an entire episode to Saint Germain des Près, and it only happened because we assumed that we had already done it! Saint Germain des Près is the area of Paris where both Annie and Elyse would love to live if they won the lottery. It's never going to happen, but a girl can dream, right? Come along and dream with us, we tell you tales of the oldest church in Paris, wonderful cafés, great shopping, and the wonderful artists of the 1920s who hung out there. If you’re interested in Saint Germain des Près, you should probably also listen to our other episodes about classic Paris neighborhoods: Episode 27 on Le Marais, and Episode 7 on the Latin Quarter. Episode Highlights with Timestamps [03:48] Saint Germain des Près is beautiful and very expensive part of Paris. The prices went through the roof there 60 or 70 years ago. [06:47] What do we mean when we say Saint Germain des Près? What are the boundaries? The definition is a bit amorphous and it depends on who you ask, but it includes a lot of the 6th arrondissement. [07:27] The word “près” means meadow, which it used to be, this is an old area of Paris. The tower of the Church of Saint Germain des Près was part of the oldest churches in Paris. [09:04] The Merovingian Kings established the Saint Germain des Près Abbey and it included a lot of land. [10:10] Definition of Early Middle Ages (500 to 1000), High Middle Ages (1000 to 1400), Late Middle Ages (1400 to 1500s), then came the Renaissance. [11:38] Merovingians made Christianity the official religion and funded Abbeys and Monasteries. [11:58] In Roman times, many people were literate, but in this period of the early Middle Ages, few people in France were literate, so it was vital to have Monasteries to keep literacy alive. [13:15] The Saint Germain des Près Church becomes a Royal Abbey in 558 and the necropole for French French Kings before Saint Denis. [14:04] They built the Saint Germain Church over the top of an old Roman Temple, which is something that happened a lot. [15:03] The Saint Germain des Près church is set a quarter to half mile away from the river in order to protect it from flooding. [16:10] The vital importance of relics in the Middle Ages, and the worship of relics as a driver of economic growth. [17:23] The Saint Germain area was raided and burned by the Vikings three times: in 845, 856, and 861. [17:50] When they rebuilt the church, they added the Romanesque tower in 990, and that’s still the one we see today. This is also the time when it became a Benedictine Abbey. [18:57] Benedictine Monks were always as the center of intellectual knowledge, and the area has retained its reputation of being the place for intellectuals. [21:05] The Procope, one of the oldest cafés in Paris where people like Diderot and Voltaire used to go argue about ideas. This was the beginning of café culture in Paris and is mostly super touristy at this point. [23:41] We’re not sure if they’d let you sit at a table at the Procope and write all day. [24:21] The Procope is also where the people who fomented the French Revolution sur as Danton and Marat hung out. [24:48] Rue Danton where Danton really lived is two streets away from the Procope. Back then the area was not fashionable or touristy. [25:13] You just have to walk these streets. Most are small narrow streets except for Boulevard Saint Germain des Près which has Haussmann buildings. [26:48] Worth visiting, the Delacroix Museum where he had his studio. [28:22] The Saint Germain des Près area is famous for book stores. A couple that are famous today are L’Écume des Pages and La Hune. [29:12] Several of the most prestigious French Publishing houses such as Gallimard and Seuil were also started in this area because it was always the book area. [29:35] Saint Germain des Près is the area where authors would hang out, lots of the famous ones you’ve heard of such as Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, Simone de Beauvoir, etc. It must have been like in Midnight in Paris! [32:05] Jazz clubs opened in Paris in the 20s and were popular with French people. [32:34] The 1920 were paradoxical times: racism and prejudice were pervasive and yet there were vibrant communities of artists in Paris. Many had left their own countries to come to Paris where they could mingle. [35:40] Brasserie Lipp is also an interesting place where filmmakers used to hang out. [36:10] None of that is going on in Saint Germain today because it’s become too expensive. How the gentrification process worked in this neighborhood. [38:25] The Beaux Arts school is on rue Bonaparte and has been there for a long time. It gave a lot of prestige to the area. [41:19] Even rich French people mostly don’t patronize cafés like Deux Magots and Café de Flore because they know the prices are ridiculous. But the area has lots of little wonderful cafés that are more approachable and just as nice. [42:52] Also explore the church of Saint Sulpice, technically in the Odeon neighborhood, but a must-see in this area. [43:03] This is the church with the “gnomon” which can easily be missed if you’re not paying attention. [44:21] Saint Sulpice also has free concerts every Sunday morning. [44:52] Rue de Rennes is a big shopping street in this area, and so it rue Bonaparte. [45:46] The Saint Germain neighborhood is a great place to go buy food for your picnic, then head down towards the river and enjoy it. [48:34] At Saint Sulpice once a day you can go up to see the organ. Check their website to know what time. [50:14] Annie has seen some tour guides come into Saint Sulpice and spend 2 minutes and leave. It’s like speed dating except that it’s speed tourism! [53:42] This is a neighborhood where you will find unique clothes and things you won’t find in the big chain stores. [54:01] Great shopping streets in the Saint Germain des Près neighborhood: rue de Buci, rue de Rennes, rue Saint André des Arts. You could also visit the Bon Marché, the expensive department store. [56:56] Great neighborhood for walking, great neighborhood for looking around. [57:47] Despite what popular guide books recommend, both Annie and Elyse would much rather stay in the Saint Germain des Près or Latin Quarter area. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook  

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 195 On today’s episode, I chat with David Palachek about how to dress for Paris. We’ll be sharing actionable advice you can use to pack your suitcase for Paris and look great in the city of light. Some of the tricks French women use to look good are surprisingly simple. Annie asked a lot of stylish French women how they do it, and it turns out that they all follow the same basic rules! If you’re interested in dressing sharp in Paris, also listen to Paris Packing List, Episode 137. • [03:05] We’re not fashion professional, but rather regular people who care about packing the right clothes for Paris. • [04:03] You don’t have to change how you dress unless you enjoy the process of figuring out how to look best and what to pack to look stylish in Paris. • [05:33] The advice Annie will be sharing comes from stylish women in her life, not from professionals. These are opinions, not commandments! • [06:14] Take basic clothes that can travel well and can be mixed and matched, and buy accessories when you get to Paris. • [07:31] Don’t bring clothes that need to be ironed. If something needs a little help, the steam produced in the shower can help de-wrinkle to some extent. Or you could get a product such as this one that gets great review from travelers. Or get shirts like this one made for travel. • [09:35] The secret sauce that most French fashion-conscious people follow and that you can apply to yourself as well. • [10:03] Break the codes on purpose and thoughtfully. • [11:21] Mix and match formal and casual. • [13:27] Beware of blacks, various colors hide inside of blacks. • [14:13] Mix old and new. • [16:02] Own your clothes, don’t let your clothes own you. • [16:14] Pushing the boundaries with the color wheel. • [16:48] Clothes choices for people who are not afraid of color. • [17:48] Great-looking clothes choices for more conservative dressers. • [18:44] Tie dye is not a thing in France for the most part. I saw a tiny bit of it last summer, but it didn’t catch on. • [19:44] You don’t have to wear heels to go visit the Eiffel Tower or do any of the other things tourists enjoy. • [20:02] There are a lot of cobbled streets in Paris, which is one reason why heels are not be ideal. • [20:52] It’s good if you can pick tennis shoes with some texture or a hint of color. • [21:08] Classy Sunday dress goes with tennis shoes and either a perfecto leather jacket or a jean jacket. • [22:13] Casual cotton dress goes with dressy shoes or dressy accessories. • [22:42] Jeans with holes go with dressy heels, women over age 50 really shouldn’t wear holey jeans. • [23:48] Slacks with a dress shirt and tennis shoes. Dressy shorts with tennis shoes. Jean shorts with dressier shoes. Shorts and heels is trashy. • [24:13] You can either show off your legs or your boobs, but not both. • [25:08] No shirts with the arms cut off on men. • [26:10] T-shirts are OK if they are plain. No Mickey Mouse t-shirts, no bright colors, no t-shirts with jokes. Men can dress up a t-shirt with a jacket or sport coat. • [26:54] Leggings and yoga pants are not really worn besides when doing sports, but if you love them, pair them up with something dressy on top. • [27:17] Fashions change so fast for tights that you’re better off buying your tights when you get to France after you’ve seen what other people wear. • [27:47] Get a nice haircut before you come, so you feel happy with your hair. • [28:16] French women wear big necklaces. • [28:56] French women often own (and bring out!) different color purses. • [29:12] Caps for me are OK, but it depends on the cap. No sports team mascots on your hats! • [30:07] Choose caps that look different from your regular baseball cap. • [30:59] T-shirts are OK, but don’t just throw on a t-shirt just to get dressed. Jokes t-shirts are not big in France. Wear t-shirts that are more “passe-partout” (something that goes everywhere, a master key). • [32:25] Leggings and yoga pants are not pants, which doesn’t mean that you’ll never see them, but they “should” be reserved for exercising. • [33:08] If you like to wear a hat, try paper boy hats or driving caps. • [34:01] The types of sneakers that are in fashion in France now. • [35:04] Beware of Paris weather, it can be wet a lot of the year. • [36:05] French people do not all wear black all the time. • [36:53] Packing mostly neutral colors makes it easier to pack because you can rotate things around and most of them will go together. • [37:13] French people own a lot of different jackets and use them to change their look very effectively. • [38:30] Be careful how you dress or scam artists will target you all the time: David’s experience. • [40:21] How the ring scam works. • [40:36] How not to fall for the ring scam or any other scam: don’t talk to them, pretend they’re not even there and walk on! • [41:11] Shoes are the most important part of your outfit because you will walk a lot in Paris, many visitors walk 20,000 steps each day! • [42:19] If you’re like Beyonce and always wear heels even around your house because that’s most comfortable to you, then so be it! • [42:38] Break your shoes in before the trip! • [42:50] When in Paris, count on getting wet. Bring at least two pairs of walking shoes. • [43:12] Tips for people who travel light and only bring a carry-on. • [44:48] No socks with sandals. No white socks with dress shoes. Only kids get to wear colorful socks. We mostly wear black socks. • [46:27] Keep an eye out for sales men wearing a fitted suit, a colorful dress shirt, and super pointy shoes. It seems to be the unspoken “uniform” of all young sales guys in France! • [47:43] Try walking around Versailles or the Louvre in heels! • [47:57] Basketball shorts are not street attire in France, leave them at home. • [48:43] If you have a teen who is stubborn about what they’ll wear and not wear, don’t fight them too much. Kids get away with a lot, even in France. • [49:12] People in France wear all sorts of types of jeans. • [49:54] Scarves! French people wear them all the time, both men and women. Different types of scarves are good for different times of the year. • [52:12] What about t-shirts? Can I wear t-shirts in France? • [53:10] All the different types of shirts French women wear instead of t-shirts. • [54:10] Do French men wear polo shirts? Not very often. • [54:55] French people wear fitted clothes, even the fluffier French people do that. It looks better. • [55:48] Steve and David’s pre-Paris regimens. • [58:14] Bags for both men and women: it’s about good looks and safety too. • [59:35] Beware of the backpack, they are not safe. • [60:23] What bag should photographers take? They should be more judicious about what lens to carry! • [61:37] By now smart phone cameras do the job really nicely for most things. Not all, but good enough for everyone by photo nerds. • [63:21] Don’t take all your credit cards with you. Don’t take your US driver’s license with you. Only carry a photocopy of your passport with you. Leave all that stuff in the hotel safe! Be super careful with your phone when you’re in Paris also. • [65:27] There are 140,000 theft events in Paris every year. Those are incidents where a person’s purse or phone gets stolen without violence. • [66:16] What coats and jackets to take to Paris. • [67:30] Don’t try to be somebody you’re not just because you’re coming to Paris. Bring yourself and be comfortable. • [68:49] Saying “bonjour” will go a long way, but don’t smile all the time. French people don’t. • [69:16] Misconceptions: We don’t all wear black. We do wear shorts. We do wear tennis shoes. There are poorly dressed French people, you will see them when you come!   Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/195 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 194 On today’s episode, let’s talk about Paris neighborhoods where I would rather NOT stay, or book a hotel, or rent an apartment. There aren’t so many such places, so it’ll be a short episode. I get asked all the time: is this a safe neighborhood? So yeah, let’s talk about it and name the names! If you’re interested in safety while in France, you should also check out How to Stay Safe in France, Getting Caught in a Terror Attack in France, Making Sense of Terror Attacks in France, How to Protect Yourself from Pickpockets in Paris Episode Highlights with Timestamps Beware of Sensational Reporting [01:57] "No-go zones" in Paris are NOT a thing, but there are places where it is wise not to go. Fine by Day, Bad Idea at Night [03:33] Many of the "unsafe" areas listed here are fine during the day, but not so fine at night, which is why you shouldn't book your hotel there. It All Depends on What You're Used to [05:13] Big city folks are not easily startled by dicey neighborhoods, but country folks will probably freak out more. Assessing Your Risk Level [06:16] Men tend to feel safer no matter where they do. It's another story for women. Most Dicey Areas Are Outside of the Paris Belt Road [06:45] It is best to say within the Paris belt road, aka "le périphérique" because that's where most of the projects are located. Keep It Simple: Stay Inside the Belt Road [07:54] Only a few areas outside of the Paris belt road are dicey, but it's too complicated for visitors to judge where exactly. The Only Major Tourist Attraction Located Near a Dicey Area in Paris: Saint-Denis [09:56] The only major tourist attraction located in a "bad" area is the Saint-Denis Basilica. You can still go if you get an Uber ride and go in the day-time. Avoid the "Portes de..." Areas [11:39] As a general rule, it is also best to avoid staying in areas called "Porte de..." This is not true for all of them, but most of them are a little rough. What About Dicey Areas in the Center of Paris? [13:18] There are only a few metro stations in the center of Paris next to which I wouldn't want to book a hotel or AirB&B. Paris Metro Stations You Want to Avoid Most of them are in the northeast quarter of Paris: Stalingrad, Jaurès, Barbès, Place de Clichy, La Vilette, Gare du Nord, République, Goute d’Or, Danube, Place des Fêtes.  Chatelet-les-Halles and Pigale are not great either, but not as bad. Broad Rule: Avoid the Northeast Quarter of Paris [14:56] Broad rules always fail at some point, but it's worth noting that if you avoid the northeast quarter of Paris, you'll avoid most of the dicey areas. What About Taking the Metro Late at Night in Paris? [15:58] Is it safe to take the Paris metro late at night? Yes, if you follow some rules: enter as close to the driver as you can, don't be alone in a car, avoid the tunnels. How to Avoid Cell Phone Theft in the Paris Metro [16:34] Don't have your cell phone out when standing near the metro doors. Someone might grab it and run out just as the doors close. Gun Violence is Rare in France [17:40] There aren't a lot of guns in the hands of the general population in France and gun violence is rare. Biggest Risk: Pickpockets! [17:53] How to protect yourself from pickpockets in Paris. That's what you should be thinking about also. [18:22] Theft statistics vs. murder statistics in France. Learn What to Do in Case of a Terror Attack [20:56] Terror attacks are rare, but terrifying. There are some things you should do to mitigate your risk. Conclusion: Homework [22:13] Tell others where you'll be staying. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Program. Backup your phone before you leave. Take an older phone with you when traveling. Don't take so much! If you need to pick a budget hotel, don't go to the northeast corner of Paris. If you want affordable choices in the center of Paris, check out our hotel selection. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/194 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 192 Full Show Notes at https://joinusinfrance.com/192 *** In this episode Claire and Annie chat about how Claire and her husband moved to France on a long stay tourist visa. Because Claire was born in France and moved to the US at age 4, she thought she could to move to France as a French citizen and apply for a visa for her husband. But the French Consulate in Chicago told her she wasn't really French (we never elucidate why!) and she applied to move to France on a long term tourist visa instead. Moving to France on a long stay tourist visa worked perfectly and on today's show we go through all the steps she had to go through. Things went smoothly, and like we found on Episode 131, Moving to France on a Talents and Abilities Visa, things go smoothly if you are prepared with all the necessary paperwork! Some of the questions we address are where do you start? How do you get an address in France? How do you get a bank account in France? What about moving your dog or pets to France? How fast can you get access to French healthcare? Do you have regrets since moving to France? *** Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/192 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook *** Timestamps for this Episode [2:21] Claire was born in France, but the French Consulate didn’t consider her to be a French citizen when she applied for her national identity card. The rules are explained here, in French. We’re not lawyers or relocation specialists, please don’t ask us about your particular case. List of Papers Needed to Move to France on a Long Term Tourist Visa [05:32] How to get your Consular appointment and list of paperwork they will require for a long term tourist visa. [06:46] Health insurance requirement and how to easily fulfill that. [07:31] Proof of residence requirement is harder to get and how to do it the easy way: rent a Gîte. If you speak French, another great tip is to use Le Bon Coin, there are lots of rentals by owner listed there. [12:39] Proof of sufficient means to support yourself for the time you’re going to be there. Details of what that means exactly. [15:30] Signed statement that indicates what you intend to do while in France and another one that states that you will not work in France. [16:10] Application Fee. They do not accept credit cards even though their site says they do! This whole thing happened in one day because they had all the paperwork ready. They left their passports behind and got their visas a couple of weeks later in the mail. [17:18] Filling with the OFII when you get to France. Medical exam and sticker. [19:14] They will give you an appointment at the Préfecture that you cannot change. Providing the paperwork all over again for the yearly renewal and getting an actual card. [21:53] In France, never take no for an answer. Plead your case! Restate your reasons. Don’t give up too fast! Qualifying for the French Health Card [23:42] Dealing with French health care and getting a carte vitale. [25:08] Reasons why French health care is so wonderful. Opening a Bank Account in France [26:58] Opening a bank account in France. [27:18] Start with getting an address and proper proof that you have an address (i.e. a lease or deed of ownership). [28:00] You can't walk into a bank and open an account in France. They will want you to make an appointment and come back 2 weeks later. [28:43] Some French banks will not open accounts with Americans. [29:53] Americans living in France are supposed to file and pay taxes in the US. Dealing with filing for taxes in France also. Move Your Stuff or Sell It? [35:18]  Moving your stuff over to France and what to pack, what to sell? [36:00] Bringing American appliances to France, worth it or not? [37:45] The sticker shock of moving companies and all the paperwork you will need to keep. Moving a Dog to France [39:24] Moving a dog to France: use Air France, your dog can fly on the same plane as you do. [43:04] What was the most painful part about moving to France? [44:48] Life in a French village is really slow. [46:48] What was a pleasant surprise about moving to France? Rural areas in France are cheap, and French people are not big consumers. [49:11] When people around you don't understand why you'd want to move. [50:47] Resources recommended, see list above. Those books were good because they provide checklists and steps of what you need to do to establish your household in France. [52:22] Container showing up late, very late. It's important to get the timing right. Is It Important that You Speak Some French? [54:58] How important is it to speak French? It's vital! At least one of you needs to have decent French or life will become so full of misunderstandings, you'll get discouraged and hate it. [56:08] How do you decide where to move to in France? How did you pick your place? [59:52] Can you share any tips for buying a car in France? Again, things take time. You won't drive off the lot with the car the day you choose it. You have to line up the payment and paperwork, even if you're paying "cash". [62:17] What do you wish you knew before you moved to France? [63:09] Get involved locally and integrate. Find associations for sports or hobbies or volunteer opportunities. [65:17] Life in small villages in France: how small is too small? Small places don't have enough businesses. [68:18] Why didn't you move to France when you were still working? [69:16] Finding work in France is very difficult. Come as a retiree, or get your job to transfer you, or if you're a freelancer who can work from anywhere. [70:04] Even freelancers get health insurance in France, so if you can pull it off, it's great. And if you pay for medical care out of pocket in France, it's still crazy cheap compared to the prices in America. [71:08] When French people complain about our health care (which we do!) it's usually because some medicine has been taken off the list of reimbursed drugs due to the fact that enough studies have shown that it does nothing. Making Payments in France [72:50] Direct withdrawals in France, "prélèvements", the need to have a Relevé d'identité bancaire with you. Different ways to conduct transactions in France. [74:47] French administration is very picky and paperwork hungry. Set up your utilities bills in both names if you have a significant other! [76:39] Because French administrators are prickly, if you show up for your visa meeting without all of your documentation, they will make you come back two months later or whenever another appointment opens. [77:31] If you hate papers, France is not for you. But Claire thinks that living here is so nice, it's worth putting up with the red tape!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 191 In this episode we talk about  the "good" king Henry the 4th and his home town of Pau. Perched on the top of a cliff with a FABULOUS view of the Pyrenees mountains which are close by, Pau is charming and makes for a lovely stop along the way as you explore the southwest region and head either to Lourdes or the the Basque country further west. The castle, recently renovated, is a wonderful example of Medieval and Renaissance architecture, tower, turrets, and furniture included. It is fun to explore and imagine how different life was like when even a king had to worry about heating his home!! Henry IV was born in the Chateau of Pau and left a lasting imprint on Paris. He was the person who made the Place des Vosges and major parts of the Louvre, but in THIS episode you will hear about  his origins and his attachment to his home country in the principality of Bearn. Timestamps for this Episode [02:42] Henri IV, the French King whose first language was Occitan. [03:48] Pau, the city on top of the hill: geographical location and the Gave de Pau, the local river. [04:53] Circumstances surrounding the birth of Henri IV: the Wars of Religion that we’ll talk about at another time. [05:25] The Castle of Pau started out as a wooden fortified castle. Most castles were built of wood in the Middle Ages, but this is not something most people know because they didn’t survive as well as stone castles. [07:36] It makes sense to visit Lourdes and Pau on the same day. [09:49] Gaston Phoebus turned the wooden castle into a stone castle, and it was renovated again in the nineteenth century. [12:03] Henri IV’s parents were both of royal blood. His mother was a Protestant and his father a Catholic. [13:44] The garlic and wine story about Henri IV. [16:10] When Henry becomes king, the castle in Pau becomes his secondary residence. [20:06] Louis XIII, son of Henry IV, renovates the castle in Pau to make it more genteel. [22:40] The chateau in Pau at the French Revolution. [24:00] The castle in Pau that we see today is what is left from the Louis Philippe era. [25:30] The strange sleeping habits and sleeping arrangements of kings. [29:25] Napoleon III structural renovations. [31:51] The Béarn was annexed to be part of France under Louis XIII, not under Henri IV. [35:14] Local foods you can enjoy when you visit Pau. [36:30] How much time to spend in Pau and what else you can visit in the area. [41:20] Pau is a nice mid-size French city, not so big that it’s expensive, but not so small that it’s boring. [43:17] You can arrange to tour Pau with Elyse. We’ll talk more about Henri IV in other episodes because there is so much to say. [44:00] Thank you Patreon supporters and personal update. Hanging out with a Labrador Puppy. [46:00] French people don’t get fresh bread from the bakery for breakfast! [48:00] Please tell people about your favorite podcast episode and let them know that we’re on Alexa, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more. [49:22] Rail strike about to get under way in France. [51:30] Best way to connect with me. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/191 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 190 Let me tell you what makes for a great picnic in Paris. It's not so much the food (although it can be divine!) but the spot where you have your picnic. You go out of your house to eat outside because of the view, don't you? Otherwise, most of us are more comfortable sitting at a dining room table. But with these Paris spots in the background, it's worth going outside to enjoy your meal! Pont des Arts Vert Galant Park Quai des Tournelles along the Seine Jardin du Luxembourg Place des Vosges Jardin du Palais Royal Champ de Mars or Trocadero Square Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet in Montmartre Buttes de Chaumont Park Square des Batignoles (shopping on rue de Lévis) Parc Monceau (shopping on rue de Lévis) Lac Daumesnil in the Bois de Vincennes Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/190 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 189   On today’s episode, everybody FREAK OUT! There's a train strike happening in France spring 2018! OK, don’t freak out, I think I can help you take back control and have a great vacation in France all the same.   Here are the links you need to have: cestlagreve.fr Find out if your train will be on strike or not Train status info Number you can call for information: 0805 90 36 35 Apply for your refund online Episode 75 of the podcast on taking regional buses in France Bus company you can consider: FlixBus, Ouibus, Isilines, Eurolines, Trans'Bus. Tips for Driving in France Driving in France (the rules) Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/189 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 188 On today’s episode, Annie and Elyse chat about the pitfalls and joys of visiting Paris in August. Things are different in Paris in the summer months and we review them all in this episode of the podcast! Timestamps [05:45] The conversation between Annie and Elyse starts. [06:54] What changes in Paris in July and August. [09:05] Head's Up about what Paris is like in the summer! [10:43] Parking is free in Paris the first 2 weeks of August. You can rent electric cars to get around if you wish. Traffic is much lighter in Paris in the summer. [12:14] Paris can get very hot in the summer. Some metro cars are air conditioned, not all. Buses are air conditioned. [13:09] Some of the small stores and restaurants do close to take their vacation. All the big stores, department stores, are open, but not on Sundays for the most part. Don't save your shopping for Sundays! [14:48] There are masses of tourists who come to Paris in the summer. Museums can be terribly crowded. Use the site J'aime attendre to figure out the best time to go. [24:30] Strategies for visiting museums in Paris. [29:00] Plan which days you'll go to which museums so you don't get stuck waiting in long lines! [32:00] French people love to go to wonderful Paris exhibits also, it won't just be foreign visitors! [34:13] More and more, Museums and attractions will force people to use Apps instead of queueing up. For instance JeFile to go up the Towers of Notre Dame. [35:44] If you are staying 3 or more nights late July until the last week of August, you can negotiate a very good deal. There are lots of tourists, but no business travelers. To get the best rates, call the hotels. [38:05] Air B&B questions you need to know about. Triple rooms for 3 adults (like for 3 adult sisters) are hard to find! [44:08] Small restaurants do close in the summer in Paris! If you have your heart set on a specific place, check it out ahead of time on their site! Big Brasseries never close, but small restaurants do. Have a backup plan! [49:00] Pickpockets in Paris and how to defeat them in the Paris metro, especially when you're on line 1. Leave as much as you can in the hotel safe. [51:54] What bag to take to Paris and why. [52:53] Vélib': Rent a bicycle and enjoy the low Paris traffic! Really cheap, can be free if you switch bikes every 30 minutes. [54:50] Les Guinguettes. You will see them if you go on a ride on the bateaux mouches. There are a lot of fun and you should go! Great place to go for a drink and some dancing. Along the 13th arrondissement is great with free dance lessons! This makes Paris into a summer festival. [58:30] In France in the summer you can always find something to do to find besides museums and restaurants. [61:00] Sunset in France is late in the summer in France, if you want to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night, you have to go fairly late. [63:00] Don't sweat the small stuff: you need to know where you're going sleep and what places you're going to visit. But you don't need to go to any one bakery or restaurant no matter what bloggers and guide books tell you! [65:19] Too many tourists who come to Paris have not put any effort into planning anything, which is why they get in trouble. [68:00] Get AC in your hotel or accomodation in Paris in the summer. It will be hot and muggy and that can ruin a vacation because you'll have a terrible time to sleep. Big thick walls do nothing against muggy. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/188 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Episode 187 In today's episode, Elyse and Annie give you and overview of Paris museums. Big museums, small museums, museums that present great temporary exhibits, museums that appeal to locals, museums famous for their permanent collection. Odd little museums around a specific topic, museum who are good for visitors who bring children, and museums that are good for people who don’t really love museums. If you’re preparing your first visit to Pairs, this episode is important for you because that’s how you’ll learn about what’s out there for you to enjoy besides the ones everyone has heard about like the Orsay and the Louvre. We don’t list all Paris museums, there are too many, but we do our best to give you a comprehensive review of the wonderful Paris museum scene. And if you don’t understand some of the names of the museums we mention verbally, read on, the list is all written out here! Don't miss our tip about the Museum Pass for children and teens at the end of the episode! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/187 Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Episode 186 The question of today is how to visit the Mont Saint Michel by train from Paris? Lots of people want to know about this because if visiting the Mont Saint Michel is on your bucket list, it's a priority for you! The whole idea of this episode is how to visit the Mont Saint Michel from Paris on your own, so I won't go into booking a tour, but there are lots of companies that offer such day-trips between Paris and the Mont Saint Michel. The Mont Saint Michel isn't that far from Paris, but it's far enough that doing it as a day trip with a rental car can be tricky. We explore that option and I bring up all the things a visitor may not consider that are important. What other options do you have? Are there good train options? Yes, indeed! That's my favorite option. But there are good trains and bad trains. I tell you about both so you don't waste your time. Overall, getting to the Mont Saint Michel from Paris isn't so hard to do, but you definitely need to plan this out so it is a long wonderful day instead of a long painful day! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/186 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Is renting a car in France worth the trouble? In other words, for my intellectual friends: To drive or not to drive, that is the question! Wise visitors will weigh the pros and cons of driving vs. finding another mode of transportation while on vacation in France. Fools will ignore this, do what they want, and get stuck in traffic. As you will find out in this episode, sometimes driving in France is no problem at all. A lot depends on where you are going and when you are going. In general, driving in France is surprisingly easy for most of the people who have talked to me about it on trip reports (see Related Episodes). But there are a few times and places where driving in France is a terrible idea and I want to tell you why because I am a local and I've gotten stuck in traffic myself many time! I also want to give you alternatives that probably won't pop into your mind naturally if you're a visitor from North America. Listen up! This episode will save you a lot of time and aggravation! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/185 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast When we do  a tour in Paris, we always start with the Luxembourg Gardens. Why? Because it's a haven of peace and simple joy for everybody we know who has ever visited it. Our tours also always start on a Sunday, and Sundays and Wednesdays are the best times to go to the Luxembourg Gardens, not that there is a bad time to go, mind you. In this episode of the podcast we explain how the Luxembourg Gardens came about historically and we list most of the things you can enjoy there today. The Jardin du Luxembourg is one of the best places to take a walk in Paris, and it is also something we recommend to everyone, even first-time visitors to Paris. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/184 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast If I ask what part of France you want to visit besides Paris, you will probably respond Normandy or Provence. But if I ask French people where they’d like to move to in France, Toulouse is always at the top of the list. So what do French people know about Toulouse that most visitors to France don’t? Stay tuned and you will hear about it all in today’s Ultimate Guide to Toulouse! These are the things that can make any city wonderful to live in: a strong local culture, strong food and wine traditions, good jobs, strong high tech industries, good universities, great sports teams, proximity to both the sea and the ski slopes, and of course mild weather. Toulouse gets the check mark on all of those. Toulouse is also a lot more affordable than Paris and not as stress-inducing as Paris for everyday life. So yes, French people would love to be able to move to Toulouse and about 10,000 new people do just that every year, it is one of the fastest-growing areas of France. But what does Toulouse have to offer for visitors? That’s the question we answer with our ultimate guide to Toulouse. Here are a few of the reasons: Looking to see a lively yet laid-back part of France? Toulouse. You like great food and wine? Toulouse! You want to enjoy French culture through museums, art events and leisurely walks through Medieval streets? Toulouse, of course! Annie and Elyse are supremely qualified to talk about Toulouse, not just because we’re awesome podcasters who love to share the best of everything France has to offer, but also because Annie was born and raised in Toulouse, and Elyse has been living and guiding in Toulouse for 20+ years. We know the place! We know it effortlessly, like locals do. So, please come along with us on this Ultimate Guide to Toulouse! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/183 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Did you know that the people of Paris have always had a "thing" for lining up major monuments? They exported the idea to Washington DC with French-born architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant. And they definitely implemented the concept with gusto in Paris. Today we look at the monuments that make up the Paris Historical Axis and how you can get the best view of it for yourself! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/182 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast On today's episode of the podcast Annie tells you the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the novel by Victor Hugo. Did  Victor Hugo really single-handedly save Notre Dame through his novel? How bad is the Disney version of the story? Who are the main characters and what happens in the novel? How did the story of the Hunchback become such a favorite for so long? Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/181 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Notre Dame Cathedral is over 850 years old. Oh, the things it must have seen! The stories it could tell! But while Notre Dame cannot tell us all the things that happened within its walls, we can pay attention to what the art is telling us. So, let’s look around together and open your eyes wide.  Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast What are the best things to do in Paris for first time visitors? What are the must-see attractions? If you're looking for info on the best things to do in Paris, we can hook you up. You may also be wondering where to stay for your first time in Paris. We have our favorite magical neighborhoods, of course! Because we're all on such tight schedules, some people wonder how many days are absolutely necessary? Well, it's Paris, stay as long as you can, but we explain why 4 nights is a minimum for people flying from North America. And, Annie's hobby horse: What do you need to prepare in advance and what can you leave to chance?  You need to know these things to make your first trip to Paris a great experience so you'll want to come back time and time again! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/179 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Don't spend your hard-earned dollars and precious vacation time on a trip to France at Christmas without listening to this episode! Some places are amazing at Christmas in France, others are meh, and we list them all. And for those of you not planning a trip to France right away, we'll answer the question What do French people do at Christmas that that they don't do the rest of the year? It turns out we do a lot of fun stuff! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Staying in the Toulouse area long enough to look around at some of the hidden gems around Occitanie? We recommend Saint Bertrand de Comminges, a bucolic and inspiring village in the foothills of the Pyrenees. Elyse tells us how the gorgeous Cathedral came to be built and about other interesting sites nearby such as the Basilica of Saint Just Balcarère, the painted neolithic cave called Gargas, Bagnères de Luchon and Montmaurin. Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/1771 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast It’s a fact: the Mont Saint-Michel is a big rock with an abbey on top. It doesn’t sound that appealing when I put it like that, does it? But that abbey on top of that rock with the sea surrounding it at high tide and the vast expanse of sand at low tide; well, it works. It is one of the most spectacular vistas you will ever see. The Mont Saint-Michel attracts lots of tourists every year, and the word “lots” doesn’t do it justice. There are so many, sometimes it’s unbearable. But like all “touristy” places, there are things you can do to maximize your chances of seeing it in peace, and that’s exactly what Phil Roberson explains to us on today’s episode. Show Merchandise including shirts, totes, phone cases and more! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/176  Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast If you're wondering some of the things you might need to know about Mont Saint Michel history before visiting Normandy, you've come to the right place! Licensed Tour Guide Elyse shares with us some of the highlights that will help it all make sense. And they will also help you look around with a different eye. Did you know that the Monastery on top of Mont Saint Michel was a prison for 200 years? Did you know that the Mont wasn't always an island? It's all in today's episode! Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/175 Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Our discussion about Collioure starts at [28:24]. Today, Matthew Gamache takes us to Collioure, a lovely beach town at the very bottom of France next to Spain. Like the French Riviera, Collioure is rocky and picturesque, but being far from the Riviera, the destination is not as pricey or exclusive. There are a lot of beach towns between Montpellier and the Spanish border, most of them you've never heard of because they only attract French families.  The one I went to all the time as a kid is called Valras plage, next to Béziers. It's a nice long sandy beach, playground on the beach, free concerts several times a week during the summer. It had everything a working class French family on vacation wanted and I had a great time there. Kids don't care if it's scenic or not, they love the sand, the water, the sun. And you'll hear Matt describe how his daughters loved that part of the vacation. Collioure is also a stone's throw away from Spain, so if you want to take a little detour into Catalunia, it's a great place to be. our conversation on Collioure starts at [28:24].  On this episode we also talk about:  The Dordogne [07:19] How you'll find the same vendors at lots of food markets [18:37]  How Matt and his family took the TGV between Perpignan and Paris[42:00] Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne [54:00] French History Brief about a powerful man and a woman who didn't really want him [58:45] Places Mentioned in this Episode Beynac, Sarlat, Fond-de-gaume, Niaux, Collioure, Modern Art Museum in Ceret, Les Grands Buffets in Narbonne Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Ask a question or leave a voicemail comment: +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. See Annie's photos of France on Instagram Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast What are the best destinations in Corsica? William Ciardiello tells us how he made friends in Corsica and how they showed him a fantastic time in Corsica, an island in the Mediterranean that is not on  many people's radar, but is stunning in every way: landscape, food, wine, activities, all are outstanding on Corsica! Call the show and leave a voice mail +1 801 806 1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here to support the show when you shop on Amazon Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. https://joinusinfrance.com/171 (apple podcast app does not display links embedded in words) Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Today we talk about traditional French recipes for Thanksgiving. By that we mean recipes you can use to bring a little bit of France into your own family traditions, although you will hear in the episode that Annie and Elyse don't quite agree on what that means. We don't talk about "French cut green beans" (which are NOT a thing in France!) but rather talk about all the traditional French foods that would fit in well on your Thanksgiving table. Sometimes putting together a Thanksgiving Feast in France requires a little bit of creativity, but Annie and Elyse do it with good humor.  Whether or not there is room on your Thanksgiving table for new dishes imported from France, we hope you have fun listening to this episode and have a wonderful celebration with your friends and family! Leave a Voice Mail for the Show: 1-801-806-1015 To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode, or visit https://joinusinfrance.com/172 Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast In this trip report, Nancy Calkins tells us about her visit to the Chenonceau and Cheverny Chateaux in the Loire Valley. They are both spectacular, and Cheverny also offered stimulating activities for her teens, including the hunting dog pack and the tie-in to the Tintin stories. Nancy has some recommendations of where to stay in Montrichard which were quirky and fun. Then, in the French History segment of the podcast, Annie shares the Chenonceau Chateau History and the story of the rivalry between Diane de Poitiers et Catherine de Medicis. She also describes how two French Kings died: François I and Henry II. You decide, which one was worse? To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast People who live with food allergies are often more stressed than others whenever they travel away from home. The reality is that any time any of us travel abroad, we are going to be exposed to new potential allergens in what we breathe, touch or eat. For most of us, that is not a problem at all. But for some of us, it can become a major worry. Erin Zebelman comes on the show today to share with us what she did to prepare, and what she did to deal with her son's nut allergies while in France.  To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast   To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast In this episode of the podcast, we answer one big question: What are a few Loire Valley castles you shouldn't skip? The answer, of course, depends on what you like and who you are with. Janice Chung spent 6 days there in the spring of 2017 and she visited 12 of them on that occasion. But, as a true francophile, this was also her 5th visit to the area, so she's more qualified than most to give us a unbiased primer on the area and point out gems that are truly worth your time. Janice recommends staying at various castles instead of going to hotels. This can be surprisingly affordable, and a definite plus for honeymooners. She gives pointers for those visiting the area with children (as a former school principal she knows what works and doesn't work with kids!) We also talk about her long-time desire to take a hot-air balloon ride over the Loire Valley, and her adventure tasting Loire Valley wines. Janice is the editor of a wonderful blog about travel to France called France Travel Tips, you should check it out, it's great. Places Mentioned on this Episode: Loire River, Cher River, Blois, Tours, Chambord, Chenonceau, Château d'Ussé, Château Villandry, Saumur, Amboise, Le Clos Lucé, Château de Cheverny, Château Beauregard, Château de Valmer. To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Giverny and Claude Monet The Join Us in France Travel Podcast, Episode 167 In today's episode we take you into the beautiful world of Claude Monet and Giverny. You'll need to put some effort into getting to Giverny from Paris, but it's so worth it! And, as we explain in today's episode, you have several options to get there and all are pretty simple. Giverny is a place of contemplation and that will blow you mind away with an array of colors and shapes that contributed so much to Monet's art. To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast "Big picture of why we like to tour France with our children is because I love the span of history in France. The history that you can get by traveling through France is tremendous: you can go back 20,000 years when you go see cave art paintings, then you've got the Romans, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, WWI, WWII, pretty much anything you want to see history-wise is in France." Recommended in this Episode: La Rocheline in La Chevalerie in La-Croix-en-Tourraine, Gîte in Dinan. Places Mentioned in this Episode: TGV train station at CDG, Tours, Amboise, Chenonceau, Chambord, Mushroom Cave, Dinan, Monterfil, Mont Saint-Michel, Cancale, Fort la Latte, Saint-Malo, Sculpted Rocks in Saint-Malo, Gulf of Morbihan Introduction Brittany was always a place Matt wanted to visit, so he made sure to include it on his last visit to France in June/July 2017.  And since the Loire Valley is right between Paris and Brittany, they decided to make a stop in Tours and visit two Loire Valley Châteaux too. We also talk about dealing with a severe food allergy in France, driving in France, and how, if you do it right, a trip to France is like going into a time machine. This trip took Matt and his family to a lot of places that are lovely and completely off the beaten track for most visitors, some where they never heard a word of English. They planned to go both to both famous attractions and places that nobody ever goes to. I think they did made great choices, what do you think? If you're interested in this episode, you should also listen to: Driving in France and Gulf of Morbihan in Brittany To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time-stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Bonjour everybody! On today's show I talk with Nancy Caulkins about her trip to Normandy and the Loire Valley with her family in early June 2017. She makes outstanding recommendations for places to stay and gives us a tale of misfortune that so we don't fall into the same trap. To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast   On today's show you'll hear from Mike Sheppard, his Paris Marathon experience and what it's like to be in Paris for the first time. Mike is a seasoned runner, but this was his first time in Paris, so he noticed some important details that can help you make your own Paris Marathon experience a success! Annie also goes on a mini rant about how some travel bloggers send unsuspecting visitors on silly wild goose chases, and she gives so me suggestions about what you can do for the Journées du Patrimoine happening Sept 16 and 17, 2017 all over France. To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Narbonne is a city at the crossroads due to its geographical location in France.  But we think it's a great place to visit, especially if you are looking for a lovely beach city at a reasonable cost. To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Wine is even better when you understand it, and French Wine Scholar Dave Walsh comes on the show today to answer wine questions from the Join Us in France Closed Group on Facebook. He makes it fun and simple! To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast There are two things you need to do before coming to France: Get familiar with these sentences that are so often used by French waiters. Go on a diet before the trip because the food is going to be so good, you'll want to eat a lot of it! Listen to this episode a few times and get comfortable with French restaurant lingo. Once it's de-mystified, you'll start understanding a lot of what they're saying to you, and you'll get amazing food in France. Bon appétit ! To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France Subscribe to the email extras and bonuses Click here for show notes with time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Visiting France with your teenagers? On this episode Annie talks to Henry Caulkins, a 13 year-old from Arizona who shares what he liked and didn't like about his vacation in France. He's got recommendations for your teens and what they can do to have a great time. His mother, Nancy Caulkins also  talks about her favorite ice-cream place in Paris, just in time for the summer! Places Mentioned in this Episode: Bayeux, Mont-Saint-Michel, Montrichard, Chenonceau, Cheverny, Paris, Senoble Ice Cream. To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France If you enjoy the show, subscribe to the Join Us in France Newsletter Click here for show notes and time stamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!

Join Us in France Travel Podcast Let me tell you a secret, folks. When you come to France and you go buy some wine, you are going to be surprised! Let's say you step into a supermarket in Paris on your way back to your hotel one night. You will not find a section for Merlot and a section for Pinot Noir. Nope, what you will see is words like Corbière and Bordeaux and Loire. But what's in those wines? If you love Cabernet and hate Merlot, how do know which one to avoid in France? In comes today's guest: French wine scholar Dave Walsh. "French Wine Scholar" is a certification that he took and it's pretty clear he is passionate and knowledgeable about the subject. Dave is better than a sommelier because he's not trying to sell you anything. He is simply trying to help you make sense of it all. We chat about things like what's a "terroir"? What does history have to do with wine-making? What are the basics you need to understand? How do you know what wine to pick to match your taste?  And, of course, we chat about the varieties of wines each French region uses. To learn about Join Us in France Tours, visit Addicted to France If you enjoy the show, subscribe to the Join Us in France Newsletter Click here for show notes and timestamps for this episode. Click here to review the show on iTunes. Join Us in France Book Group on Goodreads Click here to leave us a voice mail question or comment. Send email feedback: annie@joinusinfrance.com Follow the show on Facebook THANK YOU for listening to the show!