Category: Marseilles

Bilingual Story, Friends, Jean-Marc, Marseilles, wine business

A Fun Word for Wine + Jean-Marc’s Epic Farewell at Chateau Beaupin

Jean-Marc and Kristi, center, surrounded by longtime friends. Tuesday Night was my husband's big night and this was no time to stress. So I took a deep breath, asked readers for ideas about how to chill before a social event when you are an introvert and you don’t drink, and received some excellent tips in return. Next, I dressed to the nines and headed to … Continue reading A Fun Word for Wine + Jean-Marc’s Epic Farewell at Chateau Beaupin

Kristin Espinasse19 Comments
Marseilles

Flâner: Francophiles love this word (and so do the French)

A whimsical journey through Marseilles, highlighting the charm of the city and the absurdity of daily experiences. Kristi shares moments of humor and connection, symbolized by a heavy sack of pétanque balls, as she navigates errands, engage with locals, and reminisce about family, ultimately embracing creativity and spontaneity. Continue reading Flâner: Francophiles love this word (and so do the French)

Kristin Espinasse56 Comments
Courtship, Marriage, Marseilles

le mariage civil + noce + the French are softies when it comes to weddings

"The Kiss". Jean-Marc and I celebrated our 19th anniversary with a hike along the sea and a swim at this calanque, in St. Cyr-sur-Mer. la noce (nohce)     : wedding, nuptials faire la noce = to live it upla nuit de noce = wedding nightle voyage de noces = honeymoon A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse Stopping Traffic Memories are like … Continue reading le mariage civil + noce + the French are softies when it comes to weddings

Kristin Espinasse104 Comments
Bureaucracy, Legal Issues, Marseilles, Milestones, Nostalgia

Homesickness strikes during passport renewal at the American Consulate in France

The wind and sea in Marseilles…. French Quote: Les larmes sont les pétales du coeur. –Paul EluardTears are the heart’s petals. Audio File: Reread the above quote, then listen to it here: Download MP3 or Wav file A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse Coming Home   Standing before the great iron gates of the American consulate in Marseilles, I was surprised by a barrage of … Continue reading Homesickness strikes during passport renewal at the American Consulate in France

Kristin Espinasse122 Comments
Characters, Marseilles

âme

Fishing boats, or "pointus", at the end of Marseilles… These vessels have almost as much character as the man in today's story. Read on and enjoy. une âme (am) noun, feminine   1. soul; spirit; heart; essence La patience est le sourire de l'âme.Patience is the soul's smile. –Philippe Obrecht. A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse In the tiny fishing village of … Continue reading âme

Kristin EspinasseLeave a comment
Culture, Filleul, Marseilles, Savoir Vivre, Traditions

un filleul

(photo of my husband, Jean-Marc, and his filleul, Matthieu) Eazyspeak French teaches 800 vocabulary words; quickly extends conversational skills un filleul (fee-yul) noun, masculine1. godson, godchild Also:filleule = goddaughterfilleul de guerre = adoptive son (in wartime) Mon filleul va bientôt partir, ainsi la guerre va devenir plus personnelle pour moi. My godson is going over soon, so the war's about to get personal for me. … Continue reading un filleul

Kristin Espinasse
Characters, Marseilles

âme: soul, heart, spirit in French

une âme (am) noun, feminine  1. soul; spirit; heart; essence ……………………..Citation du Jour:La patience est le sourire de l'âme.Patience is the soul's smile. –Philippe Obrecht ………………………………..A Day in a French Life… In the tiny fishing village of les Goudes, the second to last port along Marseilles' limestone coast, Jean-Marc admires the small Provençal fishing boats while I snap photos. The names of the "pointus" have … Continue reading âme: soul, heart, spirit in French

Kristin Espinasse