Category: April Fool’s Day

April Fool's Day, Paris

Bougeotte = Wanderlust, the need to move about + A New Attraction The Paris Airport

Terminal 1 at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Photo: Dmitry Avdeev TODAY’S WORD: BOUGEOTTE : wanderlust, travel bug : restless, ants in your pants, move about A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristin Espinasse Special thanks to those who have signed up for one of Jean-Marc’s Provence Wine Tours. For anyone interested, there are a few places left so don’t delay.  And now, … Continue reading Bougeotte = Wanderlust, the need to move about + A New Attraction The Paris Airport

Kristin Espinasse64 Comments
April Fool's Day, Culture, Paris

The French Speedo is Back as France strips down for the Climate

In France, a new law is being implemented to minimize greenhouse gas emissions caused by clothing during the summer season. Citizens are encouraged to wear less clothing, with limits falling from 1 kilogram to 700 grams by mid-June, and another 200 grams by July. Failure to comply will result in a fine or civil service. Some towns along the French coast may even require citizens to go about without clothing.
Continue reading The French Speedo is Back as France strips down for the Climate

Kristin Espinasse55 Comments
April Fool's Day, Bureaucracy

La Cotisation: How much money I earn blogging $$ + a retirement pension for Americans in France?

“La Boucherie” in Pélissanne—Notice the lettering on this shopfront (can you translate the French?). I love typography and have always loved language even if I am still capable of butchering French. In today’s story, you’ll understand why…  For our True Crime readers: The Butcher of Paris  I've not read the book (read at your own risk) but the title goes along with today's story 🙂 … Continue reading La Cotisation: How much money I earn blogging $$ + a retirement pension for Americans in France?

Kristin Espinasse84 Comments
April Fool's Day

France’s “Cité de L’Espace” and SpaceX “dearMoon” + Jules is ready to fly the coop.

Our little wooden boat, an authentic French “pointu” left the old port Monday for a special mission…to accompany my Mom beyond the limits of La Ciotat. Find out what this floating craft has in common with spacecraft in today's intergalactic missive. Today’s word: une fusée      : rocket, space rocket  Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc read the following French and English:Un milliardaire japonais offre huit … Continue reading France’s “Cité de L’Espace” and SpaceX “dearMoon” + Jules is ready to fly the coop.

Kristin Espinasse49 Comments
April Fool's Day

Goodbye La Bise: This Pandemic Marks The End of a French Kissing Custom

Empty streets in La Ciotat. But this isn't the only reason why citizens here may be spared from the coronavirus. It has to do with an unusual sanitary practice dating back to the plague. More, in today's story. Today's Word: épargner     : to spare Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the French below: La Peste épargne La Ciotat. Grâce aux mesures sanitaires, … Continue reading Goodbye La Bise: This Pandemic Marks The End of a French Kissing Custom

Kristin Espinasse86 Comments
April Fool's Day

In the face of bankruptcy : A creative solution to “resserrer les cordons de la bourse”

A controversial "Salon Mixte" in our area.  Photo (c) Le Phare Barber Shop TODAY'S WORD : resserrer    : to close, to tighten, to strengthen resserrer les cordons de la bourse = to spend less, to tighten the purse strings Hear it. Click here to listen to Jean-Marc read the following French sentence Notre ville resserre les cordons de la bourse.Our town is tightening its purse … Continue reading In the face of bankruptcy : A creative solution to “resserrer les cordons de la bourse”

Kristin Espinasse76 Comments
April Fool's Day

Back–With Exciting News From France! The Jetaiau Spectrum

My article in Paris's Journal of Applied Physics. You are viewing the April 1st edition. I stood in line for 8 hours at our local newsstand to obtain copies of this historical printing of yesterday's pivotal discovery of The Jetaieu Spectrum. Bonjour! It is a pleasure to be back! During my two-week absense, I have had the privilege, in connection with France News Media, and physicists from Grenoble … Continue reading Back–With Exciting News From France! The Jetaiau Spectrum

Kristin Espinasse24 Comments
April Fool's Day

Your best wishes needed at this time.

Very sorry for today's hasty letter. I'm in a hurry as I need to be in Paris by 9 a.m. for three days of community service. The authorities contacted us after the herdsman I wrote about filed a complaint. Turns out we are being prosecuted–not for misrepresentation but for empoisonnement! That punk rock shepherd I profiled in January is now claiming his herd suffered gastro-entérite–or le gastro–after grazing in our mustard pasture. (Jean-Marc … Continue reading Your best wishes needed at this time.

Kristin Espinasse241 Comments
April Fool's Day, Traditions

Poisson d’Avril – April Fool’s Day in France & Paper Fish Tradition

It's April Fish Day in France and Smokey's hunting for a live one… Smokey Dear, you still don't get it, do you? But then, I don't understand how the French got "fish" from "fool" either ("fool ish"?). .Poisson d'Avril! (pwah soh(n) dah vreel)    : April Fool! Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce the words in the following sentence: Download MP3 or Wav Attention à votre dos… aujourd'hui, c'est "Poisson … Continue reading Poisson d’Avril – April Fool’s Day in France & Paper Fish Tradition

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