Category: Alps

Alps, Jackie

An exhausting surprise at Jackie’s Alpine “hébergement”

Serre Chevalier Vallée, with its snow-capped cimes. Photo by Jean-Marc TODAY’S WORD: se soutenir  : to help one another, to support one another Audio/Listening: Click the link below to hear the French words in the following story. Then scroll down to the vocabulary list to check your French comprehension. Listen to Jean-Marc’s recording, click here A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse On Monday, Jules … Continue reading An exhausting surprise at Jackie’s Alpine “hébergement”

Kristin Espinasse16 Comments
Alps, Jackie

Guess Where Jackie is moving?… and the expression “être sur son trente-et-un”

The French Alps at Serre Chevalier. Have you heard of this popular ski resort in Southeastern France? TODAY’S WORD: être sur son trente-et-un    : to be all dressed up, all dolled up Audio/Listening: Click the link below to hear the French words in the following story. Then scroll down to the vocabulary list to check your French comprehension. Click here to begin listening A DAY … Continue reading Guess Where Jackie is moving?… and the expression “être sur son trente-et-un”

Kristin Espinasse23 Comments
Alps, Bilingual Story, Driving, Jean-Marc

Le Ravin: Jean-Marc’s car accident in the French Alps

Today's Word: le ravin     : ravine, a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm… Audio File: Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the last sentence in his story, below.A BILINGUAL STORY  by Jean-Marc Espinasse (English version follows, below) Puisque que la météo avait prévu de la neige dans les Alpes, je me suis décidé à partir tout seul ce weekend pour faire de la … Continue reading Le Ravin: Jean-Marc’s car accident in the French Alps

Kristin Espinasse44 Comments
Alps, Jean-Marc

How to say cane (or trekking pole…) + photos from French Alps

Our golden retriever, Smokey, and one of his many sticks. In today's story, Jean-Marc searches for the perfect bâton along the sentier to Fontenil, high up in the Southern Alps. Read along and learn a dozen useful French terms including a funny word for perfectionist… Today's Word: le bâton    : stick, cane, staff    : le bâton de ski = ski pole Sound file: … Continue reading How to say cane (or trekking pole…) + photos from French Alps

Kristin Espinasse17 Comments
Alps

Cheri, did you pay the water bill? Two breakdowns in the Alps….

Today's word (posted in 2004): en panne     : broken down, out of order A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Last winter Jean-Marc and I bought a tiny chalet in the Alps–so small the previous owners named it "Blanche Neige". So far, we have only tested 3 nains (when Jean-Marc, our son, Max, and friend Jorge went skiing early January). I … Continue reading Cheri, did you pay the water bill? Two breakdowns in the Alps….

Kristin Espinasse42 Comments
Alps, Brain, Courage

Ces bottes sont faites pour marcher (These boots are made for…)

Village home in Saint-Chaffrey, Southern French Alps Today's word: la botte     : boot    : bundle (sticks)    : bunch (radishes) Click here to listen to the following sentence in FrenchEh bien, ces bottes sont faites pour marcher et c'est exactement ce qu'elles vont faire. –Nancy SinatraThese boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do.  A DAY IN A FRENCH … Continue reading Ces bottes sont faites pour marcher (These boots are made for…)

Kristin Espinasse37 Comments
Alps, French Destinations

Serre Chevalier + How to say “flat rate” when searching for $ deals in France

Ambition is the downfall of man. (L'Ambition est la perte de l'homme). A message on a lazy sundial in Serre Chevalier.  un forfait (for-fay)     : flat rate, package deal,  un forfait week-end = weekend package (price)un forfait mensuel = monthly subscriptionun forfait boisson = drinks includedun forfait de ski = ski pass Audio File and Example Sentence: Download MP3 or WAV Jean-Marc a trouvé un forfait … Continue reading Serre Chevalier + How to say “flat rate” when searching for $ deals in France

Kristin Espinasse58 Comments
Alps, Cafés

vadrouiller

   Shelter on a rainy day. Read on, in today's story. vadrouiller (vah-drouih-ay)     to roam, wander, trail along     Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc  Download Wav  or MP3 Vadrouiller. J'ai vadrouillé toute la journée à Paris, en attendant mon train. To roam. I roamed all day in Paris, waiting for my train.          I Heart Paris Shopper: made of recycled material. A percentage of sales will support the … Continue reading vadrouiller

21 Comments
Alps

cadran

A cadran solaire in Serre Chevalier. Thank you, "Newforest", for leaving a comment about this sundial: "The inscription in Latin stresses our human condition: VULNERANT OMNES ULTIMA NECAT, = Toutes (les heures) blessent, la dernière tue. = All hours wound, the last one kills." cadran (kah-drahn) noun, masculine    : (clock) face, dial Audio File: Listen to the French word cadran, hear the following phrases: Download … Continue reading cadran

Kristin Espinasse42 Comments
Alps, Publish A Book in 21 Days Challenge, Story Selections, Travel

What does pêle-mêle mean in French? And how to say carpet (moquette)

Photo taken in Barcelonnette Pêle-Mêle (pel-mel) higgledy-piggledy, any old how    Jean-Marc pulled into the snow-n-slush parking lot behind l'Equipe Hotel, got out and searched for the entrance. Ignoring the two-foot-tall board marked ENTREE, he side-trekked around the back of the building. I think he purposely misses these "how-to" signs and, in so doing, he turns life into one man's perpetual back-to-nature quest (and French … Continue reading What does pêle-mêle mean in French? And how to say carpet (moquette)

Kristin Espinasse34 Comments