Category

French

Fabric, France, French, History, Lyon, Rhone-Alpes, Silk

A Festival of Silk in Lyon

Lyon has a rich history in the silk industry that stretches back to the Renaissance. In the 16th century, King Francis I invited Italian silk weavers to settle in the city, creating a new atmosphere of innovation and craftsmanship. By…

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Ardèche, Blog, Expat in France, Expat Life, France, French, Living in France

A French Citizen’s Spouse: My Visa Experience

I was due to leave for France with my family on 15 August 2023. Just getting my appointment for my visa in San Francisco was like pulling teeth. When I first traveled to France years ago as a college student, all tourists required a…

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Architecture, Ardèche, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Explore, France, French

8 Months of Living in France

It’s hard to believe it’s been 8 months since I moved to France. Can you believe it? We arrived on 16 August and now it’s April. It’s a beautiful spring day and all the trees that looked dead a month…

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Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Food, France, French, Loire, Lyon, Recipes, Rhone-Alpes, Saint-Étienne, Village

It’s Bugnes Time!

We’ve moved into the month of February and now we see bugnes in all the bakeries. What are bugnes, you ask? They are tasty little donut-like treats sprinkled with powdered sugar, traditionally served during the month of Mardi Gras, which…

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Architecture, Ardèche, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Charming, City, Dessert, Explore, Food, France, French, History, Holiday, Loire, marché, market, Rhone-Alpes, Saint-Étienne, Travel, Valence, Village

My First French Noël

Waking up between 5:30 and 6:00 before my family allows me to savor the tranquility of the early hours. Each morning is a solitary affair, embraced by the gentle glow of dim lights. With the onset of the Christmas holidays,…

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Ardèche, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Food, France, French, French Gifts, Rhone-Alpes, Shopping, Travel, Wine

A Gamm Vert Surprise

Gamm Vert is a French chain of garden nurseries, but it’s much more than that. It’s a one-stop shop for French treats and gifts! The original reason for visiting Gamm Vert was that some friends had told us it might…

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Ardèche, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Cafe, Charming, chestnuts, Dessert, Drôme, Food, France, French, Guides, History, Holiday, Loire, marrons, Rhone-Alpes, Travel, Village, Wine

It’s Been 2 Months of Living in France

A New Chapter: Sacrifices RewardedWe arrived in France on 16 August. After being married to someone who was married to a restaurant, we both desperately longed for “quality of life”. No more setting my alarm late at night to be…

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Architecture, Ardèche, Auvergne, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Cafe, Castle, Charming, Chateau, City, Dessert, Explore, Food, France, French, History, Inspiration, Travel, Vacation, Village, Wine

The Wine Towns of Tournon-sur-Rhône & Tain l’Hermitage

It was a warm Sunday and Olivier and I decided to spend the day in the charming towns of Tournon-sur-Rhône and Tain l’Hermitage. Just a short drive from our home, it was a pleasant change of pace.  Tournon-sur-Rhône is a…

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Ardèche, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Charming, France, French, Rhone-Alpes, Village

Settling in Ardèche

We stayed with my belle-mère (mother-in-law) when we first arrived in France. After three weeks, we finally moved into our own place in the Ardèche department. The Ardèche is known for its stunning scenery, including rolling hills, vineyards, and forests. We…

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Architecture, Ardèche, Auvergne, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Blog, Charming, Explore, France, French, Haute-Loire, Loire, marché, market, Rhone-Alpes, Travel, Village

The Big Move

Closing a restaurant, selling our belongings, and giving them away; packing and cleaning up the house for renters was an exhausting experience. I worried for months about how the cats, Toby and Summer, would travel, hoping that they wouldn’t be relegated…

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