Kristi and her mother, who has been struggling with an autoimmune condition, embark on a two-day trip to the Camargue, hoping to uplift Jules’s spirits. Despite initial reluctance, Jules eagerly participates, reveling in family connections and new experiences. The journey brings joyful memories and strengthens their bond, emphasizing resilience and adventure. Continue reading Cheval: Jules meets the Wild Horses of the Camargue
TODAY’S WORD: petite virée PRONUNCIATION: [puh-teet vee-ray] DEFINITION: A short, casual trip or outing, often for pleasure or adventure. Typically used to describe a spontaneous or relaxed excursion. A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse Before my family flew back to the States, while the house still buzzed with activity, Jean-Marc and I slipped away for an overnight escapade. My husband’s 58th birthday … Continue reading La Petite Virée: A Romantic Getaway in Saint Mandrier-sur-Mer
Villefranche-sur-Mer, where Jackie and I spent three days last week. TODAY'S EXPRESSION: SOYONS FOUS let's be crazy" or "let's be wild". Soyons fous is a playful and light-hearted expression that encapsulates the idea of taking risks, having fun, and embracing the unexpected. It's a reminder that life is short and should be lived with enthusiasm and a willingness to explore new horizons. A DAY … Continue reading Soyons fous! A Mother-Daughter Trip to La Côte d’Azur
Did you know that "GR" of “GR20” is an acronym for “Grande Randonnée” or “long hike”? Today, Jean-Marc recounts his recent adventure along this mythical footpath, one of the most difficult treks in Europe—located on the beautiful island of Corsica. In books: Granite Island: A Portrait of Corsica. TODAY'S WORD: la randonnée : hike, trek, ramble, walk OUR GR 20 TREK IN … Continue reading La Grande Randonnée: Jean-Marc’s GR 20 trek in Corsica: Part II bilingual story + full audio recording
One of the many "points d'eau" Jean-Marc talks about in his update, below. The English version follows and the entire story is available on sound file, below. Today's French Word: "le défi" : challenge, dare Sound File: Click below to listen to Jean-Marc read his story. Note: Jean-Marc repeats a few of the sentences in this long recording (where an error was made). … Continue reading Le Défi: An upcoming challenge for Jean-Marc + full story recorded in French
Les flamants roses–pink flamingos in the Camargue. More photos from our weekend in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer on my Instagram (please follow for upcoming entries), and all our recommended addresses are at the end of this post. Today's Word: un hébergement : accommodation, lodgingsFrench Audio/Listening: Click the following link to hear Jean-Marc pronounce the French words in the following story. Then scroll down to the vocabulary list … Continue reading Lunch in Arles, “Séjour” in Camargue, wild horses and a cool rancher’s hut
For those reading our autobiography, The Lost Gardens, see the update at the end of this post. If you have purchased our book-in-progress and lost your passwords to access the chapters, leave a message in the box at the end of this post. The beauty of an online book-in-progress is all that can be included in it! I've just added the first photo album to … Continue reading Ragout: Simple recipe for Provencal stew + kitesurfing in Giens peninsula, near Hyérès
Stone stairs leading down to the beach in Rayol-Candadel-sur-Mer Que nenni? If you think today's expression has anything to do with the following travelogue…que nenni! (Not at all!) It's just an expression that jumped off the page as I sat reading an article on sardines, recently, chez le coiffeur. Speaking of fish, we ate a lot of this when Dad and Marsha visited. We also discovered magnificent … Continue reading Que nenni! A fun, useful new expression + a must-see beach along the French mediterranean!
At beach restaurants like this one–and over at the old port in St. Tropez–everyone is asking for un rosé piscine. When June already feels like August, the "glass of rosé on ice" really hits the spot. But if you're like me, you might prefer "de l'eau gazeuse." To each his own, à chacun son goût! (If you are new to this blog, here is a picture … Continue reading A trend in France this summer + photos of Ramatuelle
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
