I am so excited - it's almost like giving birth - those months (in my case years) of worry and nurturing to prepare for the event. Then there's the hours (in my case months) of intensive labor to get to the point of "ta dah!" it's finally here! My "Petit Guide to Paris and Nice"! It began many years ago as a microsoft word document for how to make the best of your time in Paris if you only have a few days. I have many friends and family members who have planned short trips to Paris as part of a larger European trip and wanted to know my suggestions for how to spend those days.
I felt honored that my experience and love of that city was valued by others to the point of asking me for advice. And so began my "day by day" itinerary for travelers. Eventually I added ideas for visiting Nice, another of my favorite cities in France. Visiting both cities makes for a good taste of the best that France offers, in my opinion. Yes, I love the Dordogne region, but it is not as easily accessible as Paris and Nice. Both of these cities have international airports, the TGV (the fast train) gets you there in no time and the local train system is great which means visitors do not need a car and the worries of driving in a foreign country.
So, now I finally have a book which gives all of my good ideas for travel to France along with photos that I have taken over the years. For those of you who are "armchair travelers" I think you will find this book a nice addition to your other coffee table books. But it is really designed with the traveler in mind. If you only have one day to spend in Paris, then you follow Day 1 itinerary. If you have 2 days to spend in this beautiful city, then you do Day 1 followed by Day 2. And you continue this plan for up to 4 days.
My advice for Nice is a little different. Here I have the 4 days arranged by interest. The Alpine Adventure will take you into the Alps for a day, the Beach Bum day will take you to a nearby beach set in a lovely old medieval town, the City Culture day will let you see the best of the city of Nice itself, and the Fab and Famous will take you to the renowned city of Monte Carlo for the day.
I hope you will take a look at the book and maybe you will want a copy for yourself! Or maybe you know someone who is planning to travel soon, or just someone who loves France. (The link to the book is at the bottom of the blog page.) My next trip to Paris is scheduled for March 2012. Anyone want to join me? I'll talk about that in my next posting. Til then, à bientôt!
25 August 2011
05 July 2011
These old stones
I have many well-meaning friends and acquaintances who are trying to understand why I want to live in France. They will ask me many questions about the region I want to live in - the area in southwestern France which is called the Dordogne or Perigord (part of ancient Aquitaine). No, it isn't near any large cities. Yes, it's mostly quaint small villages and beautiful country scenery. Probably not any large shopping malls or centers. Mainly agricultural. The least populated area of France.
And then I get the question: "So why can't you just buy an old farmhouse in the US somewhere? Why move to France? In the States you say you like living in a city for all of its amenities, shopping, social events, etc; are you sure you won't miss all of that?" These are fair questions. In the past week I have read a couple of articles written by expat Americans now living in other parts of the world. And I will use part of their answers here. The man who wrote the article in the publication called "International Living" was accused by someone of being unpatriotic or unamerican because of his choice to live in another country. I like his answer. He said that his move was inspired by many things: the dollar goes further there, health care and cost of living are much less expensive, the people are friendly, accepting and supportive. He said it felt like how the US was 40 years ago. It isn't that he does not love his country of birth but that he misses the way things were when he was growing up - a simpler time, a kinder and gentler time. Does that make sense to you? Boy, it does to me!
The other article I read was by the editor of an online newsletter called "BonjourParis.com". She has lived in Paris for many years and calls it "home". She makes frequent trips to the States for business and to visit friends and family. Her latest article was her reflections on the city of Washington, DC and why it just didn't feel like home to her anymore. She missed France and Paris - the place she now calls home. And she said it was because she missed the "old stones"!
Everywhere you look in Paris (and the rest of France; in fact all of Europe) you see the evidence of many civilizations. If you take the time to look around you and learn about the history, you become a part of something that is so much bigger than yourself. We have some of that in the US, but ours is such a young country. In the Dordogne region there is evidence of people enjoying life there since the very beginning of mankind. The stone walls of caves where prehistoric man painted amazing scenes of animals now long extinct. The stone walls of Roman arenas and aqueducts proving the genius of a once mighty empire. The stone walls of castles which protected the power of feudalism for centuries. The stone walls of chateaux where royalty once frolicked and played. The stone walls of medieval abbies and monasteries where the Bible was copied and illustrated eight hundred years ago. The stone walls of giant cathedrals and tiny churches which display beautiful art done by unknown artists from a thousand years ago. Everywhere you go you are surrounded by these stones which echo the voices of the past.
I am enchanted by it all. I want to be a part of it - the art, the architecture, the history, the beauty and culture which only a country that is thousands of years old can offer. Yes, even in my little corner of France, far away from Paris and cities of any great size, I am surrounded by these old stones. I find them comforting, like an old blanket that I wrap up in on a cold winter's night. This feels like home. This is where I want to be. Someday . . . A bientôt!
And then I get the question: "So why can't you just buy an old farmhouse in the US somewhere? Why move to France? In the States you say you like living in a city for all of its amenities, shopping, social events, etc; are you sure you won't miss all of that?" These are fair questions. In the past week I have read a couple of articles written by expat Americans now living in other parts of the world. And I will use part of their answers here. The man who wrote the article in the publication called "International Living" was accused by someone of being unpatriotic or unamerican because of his choice to live in another country. I like his answer. He said that his move was inspired by many things: the dollar goes further there, health care and cost of living are much less expensive, the people are friendly, accepting and supportive. He said it felt like how the US was 40 years ago. It isn't that he does not love his country of birth but that he misses the way things were when he was growing up - a simpler time, a kinder and gentler time. Does that make sense to you? Boy, it does to me!
The other article I read was by the editor of an online newsletter called "BonjourParis.com". She has lived in Paris for many years and calls it "home". She makes frequent trips to the States for business and to visit friends and family. Her latest article was her reflections on the city of Washington, DC and why it just didn't feel like home to her anymore. She missed France and Paris - the place she now calls home. And she said it was because she missed the "old stones"!
Everywhere you look in Paris (and the rest of France; in fact all of Europe) you see the evidence of many civilizations. If you take the time to look around you and learn about the history, you become a part of something that is so much bigger than yourself. We have some of that in the US, but ours is such a young country. In the Dordogne region there is evidence of people enjoying life there since the very beginning of mankind. The stone walls of caves where prehistoric man painted amazing scenes of animals now long extinct. The stone walls of Roman arenas and aqueducts proving the genius of a once mighty empire. The stone walls of castles which protected the power of feudalism for centuries. The stone walls of chateaux where royalty once frolicked and played. The stone walls of medieval abbies and monasteries where the Bible was copied and illustrated eight hundred years ago. The stone walls of giant cathedrals and tiny churches which display beautiful art done by unknown artists from a thousand years ago. Everywhere you go you are surrounded by these stones which echo the voices of the past.
I am enchanted by it all. I want to be a part of it - the art, the architecture, the history, the beauty and culture which only a country that is thousands of years old can offer. Yes, even in my little corner of France, far away from Paris and cities of any great size, I am surrounded by these old stones. I find them comforting, like an old blanket that I wrap up in on a cold winter's night. This feels like home. This is where I want to be. Someday . . . A bientôt!
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