So far it's been nine days that we've lived in La Ciotat. The residents of La Ciotat are called les Ciotadins or Ciotadines. Listen to the previous sentence in French via the link below. Today's Word: LA CIOTAT     : French town located in the Bouches-du-Rhône from the Occitan "ciutat" — ciutat is also a variety of grape. It seems Jean-Marc cannot get away from … Continue reading Peeping Toms, street-side meltdowns, and this new city life in La Ciotat

Our bright yellow 1960s kitchen. The counter-top reaches the top of my leg. It will take some getting-used-to, as will this new life in La Ciotat.  So far so good! la remoulade     : a kind of sauce Click here to listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these French words:La sauce rémoulade s’accommode avec les crustacés, poissons, œufs mollets et le céleri. – Cuisine à la … Continue reading Bonjour de La Ciotat + La Remoulade

These are now the good old days. Yesterday we drove 2 hours north, to the notary's office, to meet 9 people involved in our complicated, 4-hour transfer of property. Ça y est! We've sold our home and vineyard! We move on August 21st… (Photo by the previous previous owners of this stone mas, the Fraser and Moss family. Thank you, Maggie and Michael, for selling … Continue reading Finally, Some News: We are now squatters…

If there were sharks near our Mediterranean beach, I'd want to swim with my sister-in-law. She's a superhero–Batwoman and Wonder Woman combined! Read on…. SDF (Sans Domicile Fixe)     : "without permanent home", homeless Sans Domicile Fixe–Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following French: Les personnes sans-abri, sans domicile fixe, sans logis ou itinérants, anciennement qualifiées de clochards ou vagabonds, à ne pas … Continue reading Superhero in French & What SDF stands for

Sometimes the best things in life are free…to go swimming in the sea costs nothing. (Photo of the bay in Les Lecques and La Madrague Port in St Cyr-sur-Mer) "des clopinettes"     : peanuts, chickenfeed, next to nothing  Click here to listen to the following French words (English translation above) Parfois les meilleurs choses de la vie sont gratuites – aller se baigner dans la … Continue reading Des Clopinettes & Old slang used by a new generation

Cannes, Cassis, Annecy…what is the best city to live in? Read the response below. la bonne réponse     : good answer Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the following French translation of our opening sentence: Cannes, Cassis, Annecy…quelle est la meilleure ville pour y vivre? Lisez la réponse ci-dessous. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE     by Kristi Espinasse Saturday night we drove to Marseilles to celebrate … Continue reading Best City in which to live? La Bonne Reponse…