I am going to divert from my usual fanfare about gorging on baked goods and learning a language that even native speakers proclaim as difficult. Instead, I will focus on holidaying in France with the newfound wisdom from my accumulated experiences. Since we are a family of four, with sons ages 10 and 14, I … Continue reading How to Holiday in France, not just Paris
Our family is about to mark our two-year anniversary this fall of our seismic move from the U.S. to the south of France. We have settled into our lives quite comfortably, with a lovely terrace that overlooks vineyards and expansive sunsets. This sense of serenity came several months following our arrival, and only after an … Continue reading Ça Va: A French Progress Report
Losing a parent is something that I am finding is taking me time to accept, mourn and grow from. This is why I have been absent from my blog writing for many months. I simply could not write about “ma vie en France” without talking about this significant event in my life. Still, I continue … Continue reading Bon Courage
September marks ten-months since we arrived as newly minted expats to the sud de France. This month also serves as a springboard into glorious saison de l'automne. As the desert heat of the Mediterranean starts to simmer down, the distinctive mistral winds will soon begin to stir. The mistral is just one of the thirty-two … Continue reading Ma Vie en France
The majestic Mont-Blanc mountain. Home to the highest peak of the Alps. One of Europe’s premier skiing destinations. It is where modern mountaineering was born. A place overwhelmed with such striking scenery that you cannot stop looking towards the sky. Its hypnotizing beauty alludes to both dangers and pleasures. Then there is the storybook-looking village … Continue reading Holiday Road: Journey into the French Alps Part II, The Mont-Blanc Edition
Our summer holiday this year took us about five hours northeast to the French Alps in the Haute-Savoie region. The fact that I can drive for several hours and go from sheer heat to the coolness of the mountains is not lost on this Florida girl. A five hour drive north from my hometown of … Continue reading Holiday Road: Journey into the French Alps Part I
This blog entry first appeared as part of an on-going project to collect narratives about Cubans and Cuban-Americans. The project is called CUBANS WITH WINGS #SOSCUBA and their website is https://cubanswithwings.blogspot.com/. You can also find my original entry at https://cubanswithwings.blogspot.com/2021/07/the-house-of-welcome.html Abuela and I at my 1st birthday Miami signified a new beginning for many Cubans … Continue reading The House of Welcome
The season of l'été is blossoming in Montpellier. This means festivals galore, countless visits to the plage, the glorious ritual of eating perfectly ripe fruits like pastèque, and the deafening sounds of cigales all-day-long. While my fellow Americans are busily enjoying their vacation plans without the sense of doom hovering over thanks to their aggressive … Continue reading Lavender Fields Forever
The Bise Map Legend I expect the bise to make a comeback this fall in France. This is how French family and friends greet one another, brushing cheek-to-cheek while blowing air kisses. The number of “kiss-kiss” depends on the region of France as this map shows. As with most things le français, I have no … Continue reading The Return of the Bise
The mere mention of living in southern France conjures up images of a life devoid of stress and the scenic beauty resembling a Cezanne painting. A place where time is soaked up by the Mediterranean sun and to convey a sense of urgency is shrugged off as a laughable offense. Yes, the pace of life … Continue reading The Dichotomous Life of an American Expat in France (during Covid)
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