After moving to La Ciotat seven months ago, we love our new city more than ever. But there is one thing driving us far far away this week…
Today's French word: échapper
: to escape, outrun, slip away from
…and the popular French expression échapper belle (to have a lucky escape, to escape by the skin of one's teeth, to just make it out in time)
AUDIO FILE
Click here to listen to "echapper" and the following phrase
Pour nous échapper des gros travaux de démolition qui commencent dans notre maison, nous partons une petite semaine sur l'île d'Elbe, en Italie.
To escape the major demolition work that begins at our home, we are going to leave for one week on Elba Island in Italy.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
We have spent two weeks eating our way through cupboards of crackers, chips and dips, gobbling up all the cheese and charcuterie in our frigo, emptying the last drops of olive oil and sirop de pêche, and just this morning I took down my daughter's art school sketches from our kitchen wall, as well as my grandfather's pendule à coucou.
Tomorrow we turn off our home's chauffage central, drop off our golden retriever, Smokey, at the dog sitter's, and begin an 8-hour journey east, past our old vineyard in St Cyr-sur-Mer, past Bandol, past Toulon, and our old village of Les Arcs-sur-Argens…
….past St Tropez, Cannes, Nice, and Menton, and over the border where we will stop, as we always do, at the very first station d'essence–because only in Italy can you get a gas-station espresso that rivals anything served in a 5-star restaurant!
As we get farther and farther away from the sound of sledgehammers, we will breathe a sigh of relief. On va souffler un peu. For the first time in our life as homeowners (having lived on-site through 5 demolition projects beginning when our son, Max, was in my womb), we will have escaped renovation. One week of it, anyway….
This blog will continue in a week or so from a dusty office above the demolished kitchen, where work will continue through May 15th (the cut-off date for this renovation as our now 23-year-old returns from his exchange program in Mexico and will need a place to stay. We'd put him in the upstairs bathtub–but that's where I'll be doing the dishes for the next 8 weeks.
I'll send you a postcard from Elba, when we get there–so check your inbox. Elba, off the coast of Tuscany, is the island in Italy where Napolean famously retreated… only home renovation wasn't the reason for his exile. Or was it?
No renovation pictures yet. For now, a peaceful picture of Smokey and Bianca (Smokey can't wait to see her tomorrow. Bianca belongs to the dog sitter). Below, you'll see a video of our garden last week, when it snowed. Click on the photo (or arrow) to start the video.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
la charcuterie = cold meats
le frigo = fridge
sirop de pêche = peach syrup
la pendule à coucou = cuckoo clock
le chauffage central = central heating
station d'essence = gas station
on va souffler un peu = we're going to breath a sigh of relief
Napolean: A Life – “A thrilling tale of military and political genius… Roberts is an uncommonly gifted writer.” – The Washington Post Order the book here
Teisseire French syrop — for flavoring tea, sodas, and more. I love it in sparkling water. Order here
Book: 365 Days of French Expressions: Learn one new French Expression per Day
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Embryolisse – face moisturizer from France with so many uses. See the reviews!
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We do hope you have a wonderful time on Elba and that your renovations go to plan.
We are coming to the South of France and will be touring for 14 days en Juin. I will be so looking forward to my busman’s holiday (I’m the driver once we land!). We will be staying in St Sandrier sur Mer. Never been there so looking forward to exploring that stretch of the coast.
Bon voyage et bon retour. I loved the snow on celery video. And the photo of dear Smokey et sa petite amie. Bisous from snowy Yorkshire.
Have a great escape and enjoy!
What a cute photo of Smokey Dokey and Bianca. She looks like she is a Keeshond or may have Keeshond in her (I have an 11 year old Keeshond)!
Hi Kristi,
Enjoy your escape to Elba and looking forward to your photos and stories! Are you remodeling your kitchen?
Thanks, Eileen and friends. Yes, the kitchen, and we are taking down a wall between it and the living room. Everything will be painted, too. I forgot the biggest part: everything will be resized, from the old 1960s wiring! For this, the walls will be dug into….
Congratulations. Hope you have a wonderful trip. Snow on the Mediterranean!! Wow!
I spent a few days on Elba many years ago when I was a language student at the University of Pisa. Napoleon’s villa looked rather neglected and was closed, unfortunately, but the plus side of that was that there were hardly any tourists — and certainly no one (except us) going beyond the beach. I am sure the island has changed a lot, and I’ll be so interested to hear your impressions.
Have a wonderful week.
Anne
What exciting renovations! I don’t blame you for making an escape and Elba will be wonderful, sans doute! Send us photos, please. I completely agree about making the first stop at an Italian servicio ! Bon voyage!
If you run into the ghost f Napoleon- let us know. BTW-There is a song called “Echapper Belle” that was part of a French lesson on the CD series-Champs Élysées. Here it is by the group Beau Dommage”
P.S.- Pantoufle says hi
BON VOYAGE AND BEST WISHES!
I’m curious, how did you come to choose Elba? Have you been before?
We have never been before. It was Jean-Marcs idea. He was searching for an island in or near Italy, other than Sardinia, Corsica, or some others we have had the chance to visit.
What a gorgeous photo of the porte of La Ciotat–those colors! What a huge undertaking, but what is more important than a kitchen? [I love to cook and to eat and to feed] May your échapper belle sustain you and your family throughout the process. Love the snow on the celery–everything around you has beauty. You’ll have many of us caring and sending good feelings and strength throughout….
Have a wonderful time! I will be anxious to hear about the vacation and what remodeling they were able to get done while you were gon- very exciting to get a new kitchen! Bon voyage!
Have a GREAT ESCAPE, Kristi, and try to get to Lucca if time allows. Ça vaut le coup! The walls, the piazzi, the shopping, and of course the coffee!
Dear Kristi,
You So Deserve a Break from your Labor of Love!
You will have a Fresh View, when you return,
in many ways!
( I know I did )
Safe and Happy Travels
DD
Dear Kristin,
My daughter will be studying in
Paris for the month of July.
I am planning to go with her.
Do you have any recommendations for flats
to rent in the 6th, 7th or 16th arrondissements?
Do you know of any exceptional language schools for adults?.
Thank you!,,,
Kathy P.
J’adore la neige! Look forward to hearing about Elba.
…..WOW! Kristin… another adventure. I like the way JM thinks! I believe you two will have a wonderful time there together. You can create a travelogue to be published later including some of your excellent photographs. You are very smart to leave… we are stuck here while for the next 2 weeks some guys build us a new deck. Lots of pounding and saw noises from dawn till dusk. Not looking forward to the racket, but am looking forward to many lovely hours spent on the new deck. We will buy all new fleurs and palms and repot them and with our dueling fountains, recreate a ‘little bit of Provence’. Just think of your new fab cuisine and ‘all’s well that ends well’. Judi Dunn, Tallahassee
Hello, Kathy, good question. While I do not know of anything offhand, perhaps somebody reading this can recommend something. Jackie and I had the chance to do the same, in 2015.We found a tiny tiny apartment in the 10th, on Airbnb, and remember fondly our time together.
It was the empire given to Napoleon, but he escaped after a few months. I expect you will enjoy it more than he did. A wise escape and a good phrase to learn echapper belle.
Echapper is also the name of a step – a small jump where the feet separate – in ballet. It’s fun when dance steps perform what the word actually means!
Hi Kristi – I forgot to ask what you decided to do with the pond in the backyard. Maybe you wrote about this in another post that I’ve missed?
Our dear Kristi,
Wishing you a most wonderful time(!) and!Most importantly,some rest,peace and quiet!
Renovations are anything but a picnic;so worthwhile,however,when you see the end result and just enjoy all you have accomplished!
Such beautiful pictures today!
Love
Natalia XO
Hi Kathy – check Adrian Leeds’ website. She promotes many rentals throughout Paris. She has also been featured on many episodes of the US TV show House Hunters International. I have not personally rented through her but have heard many great things about the apartments and their personal services when getting you checked in to your home away from home in Paris.
Hi Kristi – glad you are getting the kitchen remodeled. I recall when you first moved in you commented on how “short” the cabinets and countertops were. Can’t wait to see what you end up with. Elba sounds fascinating. I hope you and JM have a great time.
Lovely story. The verb allude has nothing to do with the French verb échapper. The English verb elude is the correct one I believe☺
Many thanks, Zaineb, for *elude*. I now see the difference! I will fix this when I return.
Oh I love when you can leave your sweet dog in safe hands….. I just had to put my dog down after 15 years…. so I am a sucker for any darling dog posts. Enjoy your vacation.
My heart goes out to you, Robin. I am so sorry for this loss. I will be posting a photo for you very soon. Hugs from here. 💛