Clik here to view.
Driving in France Without a License
Let’s say you are driving on a French country road and find yourself stuck behind a slow driver. A very slow driver. “Can’t this guy go any faster?” you wonder. And the answer might be…no! France is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Visiting St-Rémy-de-Provence
Val and I live part of the year in St-Rémy, a charming town at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains, and we’ve learned a lot in our years here. I’ve written a series of six articles that will be helpful...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Great Women of France, Part 1
Who are the great women of France? There are so many, it is hard to list them all! But let’s start with 15 who have played important roles in the history of la belle France. You’ll find a few...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Provence: Insider Tips
This past spring I was the guest speaker at a meeting of the Alliance Française of Pasadena, one of the most active groups in the US. I gave a Zoom presentation about Provence and answered questions...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Art Meets Wine in Les Baux-de-Provence
Jill Barth is a wonderful wine writer with a particular fondness for Provence…which is not hard to understand! She recently wrote a very interesting article for Wine Enthusiast magazine about art and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Great Women of France, Part 2
Who are the great women of France? There are so many, it is hard to list them all! But let’s start with 15 who have played important roles in the history of la belle France. There is so much to say...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Other D-Day
June will mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied troops landed in Normandy and began their push towards Berlin. Today, places like Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc offer a moving testament to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Great French Hope Hits the NBA
A year ago, French phenom Victor “Wemby” Wembanyama was the world’s most sought-after young basketball player. His skills were so otherworldly that even the great LeBron James could not find the right...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Great Women of France, Part 3
Who are the great women of France? There are so many, it is hard to list them all! But let’s start with 15 who have played important roles in the history of la belle France. There is so much to say...
View ArticleClik here to view.
An American Pastry Chef in Versailles
Molly Wilkinson is a talented and popular pâstissière in Versailles, a graduate of the famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. She has trained bakers around the world and been featured in The New York...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Northern Rhône Valley Wine Guide
I’m sometimes asked about my favorite wines, and there are a lot of them, but I always come back to France’s Rhône Valley. It’s long and skinny, going from Lyon almost to the Mediterranean Sea, and it...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Favorite Picnic Spots in Provence
Val and I live part of the year in St-Rémy, a little town at the base of the Alpilles Mountains. One of our favorite things to do is taking a picnic lunch as we explore Provence’s beautiful little...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A French Controversy: Who Will Sing at the Paris Olympics?
Rumors surfaced recently that French President Emmanuel Macron had invited Aya Nakamura to sing at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. A firestorm immediately erupted, and it has not died down...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Taste of the South
One of the glories of France is its cuisine, and each region has its own delicious specialties. Along the country’s Mediterranean coast, you’ll find three culinary cousins to tantalize your tastebuds....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Cooking in Provence with Jane Satow
Jane Satow is an American who has lived in France for 20 years. She has built a sterling reputation as a private chef (TV personality Stephen Colbert is a client) and runs cooking classes for small...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Best Beaches in Marseille
No trip to Provence is complete without a stop in Marseille, one of France’s largest cities and a major port. It has long been a point of entry for immigrants, making for a rich and varied local...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Transhumance, Part of the World’s Cultural Heritage
For thousands of years, shepherds have moved their flocks seasonally in search of better grazing—a process known in French as la transhumance. Recently, UNESCO inscribed the European transhumance as a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The French Breakout Star of the Olympics?
The Olympic Games are the biggest sporting event in the world, and they are coming to Paris. The Games always create breakout stars, athletes who go from relative obscurity to worldwide fame...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Living Between Two Worlds
Florence Melin is a French woman who has lived in the United States for half her life, and also visits France every year. We met through a mutual friend and had a very interesting conversation, as I’m...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Questions People Ask Me
Val and I live part-time in St-Rémy and I’ve written two guidebooks about the area, so I get lots of questions about the town. Some come from family and friends planning a trip to the area, some come...
View Article