Category: French Destinations

Fashion, French Destinations, Recycling, sustainability

How to say zipper + recycle or repair your shoes! + Comps-sur-Artuby

A cobbled path leading to church in the village of Comps-sur-Arturby. More photos at the end of this edition. Today we are talking about repairing or recycling clothing. Please join the discussion, sharing your experience and ideas for staying stylishly up-to-date–while minding ecology and the economy. Provence Villa Rental Luberon luxury home; 4 bedrooms, 5 baths; gourmet kitchen, covered terrace & pool. Views of Roussillon. Click here.   … Continue reading How to say zipper + recycle or repair your shoes! + Comps-sur-Artuby

Kristin Espinasse58 Comments
French Destinations, Grignan, Plants

Pictures from Grignan + an emergency visit to the vet–and the French word “epillet”

 Sweet 16! Today, September 18th, is Jackie's birthday and we've had chocolate cake for breakfast and look forward to Chinese food for dinner. (Meantime she's begun another day at fashion school. But after our dog's recent drama, and Jackie's hands-on response, I think she'd make a great veterinarian! Read on, in today's French infused story column…. un épillet (ay-pee-leh)     : foxtail or grass … Continue reading Pictures from Grignan + an emergency visit to the vet–and the French word “epillet”

Kristin Espinasse128 Comments
French Destinations, Le Vieux Cannet

What does the French word “micmac” mean?

At play in the perched village of Le Vieux Cannet. Mom and I strolled through this town and took these pictures in 2006. Le Vieux Cannet is close Les Arcs-sur-Argens–where we lived for a time. More photos at the end of this post.  France and Monaco Rentals: short-term holiday rental properties throughout France. Click here for pictures.   un micmac (mik-mak)     : an intrigue, … Continue reading What does the French word “micmac” mean?

Kristin Espinasse56 Comments
French Destinations, Grimaud

Pictures of Grimaud + conjugation

Grimaud. Did you know the Gulf of St. Tropez was once called the Gulf of Grimaud? Gives you an idea of its importance. The Grimaldi family once had ties here, which may account for its rank as one of the wealthiest villages is the region (surpassing even "St. Trop").  For no particular reason (except that my computer is full of photo archives that I haven't … Continue reading Pictures of Grimaud + conjugation

Kristin Espinasse60 Comments
French Destinations, French Islands, Port Cros

kif-kif! + list of Arabic words you will hear when in France

The island of Port-Cros, where those who love nature roam…. This protected site, off the coast of Hyères, is a protected paradise. Put this one on your bucket list — unless you suffer from island fever or prefer to lick windows ("shop", that is) when on vacation. Only one boutique on this island–and it sells foutas. Read on. Provence Villa Rental Luberon luxury home; 4 bedrooms, … Continue reading kif-kif! + list of Arabic words you will hear when in France

Kristin Espinasse58 Comments
French Destinations

fluvial

Picture taken at the hilltop village of Les Baux de Provence. fluvial(e) adjective (flew-vee-al)     : river, riverine; flowing Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following example sentence and the list of French terms:  Download MP3 or Wav file Kristi et sa meilleure amie, Susan, sont parties pour une croisière fluviale sur le Rhône. Kristi and her best friend, Susan, went on a Rhône river cruise.  … Continue reading fluvial

Kristin Espinasse25 Comments
French Destinations, Travel

cougar (and the French word for “boy toy”)

Watch out, you middle-aged skirt chasers—here come les couguars! (Note: I didn't see any cougars to photograph on the island of Ré; I hope this cat will do! Also, enjoy these white umbrella flowers, which covered the island, competing with all those hollyhocks.)  un coug(o)uar (koo-gar) Le mot couguar désigne une femme, généralement de plus de 40 ans (la génération de trentenaires qui précède la … Continue reading cougar (and the French word for “boy toy”)

Kristin Espinasse45 Comments
French Destinations, Grignan, Thievery

choper

A rose lover's Shangri-la: the village of Grignan. (Just don't steal the flowers… or the sweetness…. read on in today's story column.). choper (sho-pay) verb     : to steal, to pinch, to nab; to catch Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these French words (Download MP3 or Wav file) Il a chopé un rhume / He caught a cold.Elles ont chopé le sucre du bistro. / They nabbed the … Continue reading choper

Kristin Espinasse33 Comments
France City Guide, French Destinations, Lyon

What to Do in Lyon? / Que Faire a Lyon?

This photo was taken in Italy, the model reads Holland… but, for the purposes of today's edition, we're going to try to pass this off as France — specifically Lyon! What to Do in Lyon? Que Faire à Lyon? Bonjour! J'ai trois amies qui souhaitent découvrir Lyon… mais elles ne savent pas quoi faire! Pourriez-vous aider Suzanne, Margaret, et leur "fabulous" maman, Portia, avec des … Continue reading What to Do in Lyon? / Que Faire a Lyon?

54 Comments
French Destinations, Travel, wine maker, Wine: Burgundy

Aviner: a French verb having to do with winetasting

I've seen a lot of corks in my day, but have never seen them so displayed… picture taken in the village of Nuits St. Georges, in Burgundy. aviner (ah vee nay)     : to rinse one's wine glass with wine before sampling another wine Example Sentence: Avant de déguster un nouveau vin, il faut aviner le verre.Before tasting a new wine, you must rinse your … Continue reading Aviner: a French verb having to do with winetasting

49 Comments