Traveling wasn't enough for this free spirited female. I needed to live abroad. Now I am happily living in Uzes, France. My blogs are about my adventures as a post-career, solo woman maneuvering her way through everyday life in France and on travels to various parts of the world. I hope you enjoy my adventures, photography and the people and places I run into along my way.
These days I’m curious to continue traveling around Languedoc/Occitanie in search of the Cathars– the religious cult that at once lived in the south of France. The more I research, the more I am drawn in by stories of the Cathars, their beliefs, their persecution, and their current-day […]
After spending three months with family and friends in the US, I’m back in Uzès. For the return trip to France, I came by the southerly route: Barcelona to Collioure. While sitting at the beach in Collioure, enjoying the views, the breeze, and an Aperol Spritz at a […]
Searching for lavender fields close to Uzès isn’t just for tourists. Locals take great pleasure in finding them too — off the beaten track — in a charming town — with a great restaurant. Goudargues is one of those special places. Less than an hour’s drive from Uzès, […]
After seven years of living in France, I’ve found a suitable companion. Now I’m learning about life in Uzès traveling with a pet. Meet Fanny. Fanny came into my life six weeks ago. Now, we’re inseparable. My friend Aileen brought Fanny from Sete. Aileen knows how much I […]
After months of lockdown, we’re ready to open again! Tomorrow is the grand re-opening in Uzès of shops and cafes with outside dining. Ready… Set … Let’s Go! There’s lots of activity in Uzès this week with business owners tidying up their spaces after a long, long time […]
Now that I’ve dealt with the humbling experience of failing the French drivers’ code test not once, but six times, I’ll make this post short and sweet After the first disastrous French drivers’ code examination in Nimes — with a translator (read more here) I braved on to […]
Last I wrote about the stress of studying for the French drivers’ code test. It’s one of the most aggravating tasks I’ve encountered since living in France. Now I can attest to the agony of failing it. Yes, I failed the test, along with my two American friends […]
Valentine’s Day is more than a box of chocolates in France. It’s a day to celebrate the myths and legends of Saint Valentine. Roquemaure, a hamlet in the south of France, boasts a special connection to Saint Valentine. Each odd year, on the weekend closest to Valentine’s Day, […]
As much as I’d love to write a blog post this week, I’m too busy stressing! The French drivers’ code test is on tap for February 16th. Finally! there’s a date for the first part of my French Drivers License – the code test. I promise it’s one […]
My BFF Patricia Sands just published the re-release of her novel, The Bridge Club. The book is a celebration of friendship shared with eight women over a half-century… and counting. The Bridge Club: A Celebration of Friendship Patricia and I met in Uzès five years ago at the […]
Snow in Uzès! Remember how excited you were as a child when you looked out your window, and there was snow on the ground? That’s how I felt when we had snow in Uzès. It was glorious! As you can imagine, it doesn’t often snow in the south […]
“Tis the day after Christmas in Uzès. For those who wish you could see the decorations and holiday market in my favorite town, enjoy the tour! While you’re here, I would like to share my thoughts and feelings for the day. I’m no poet, yet it came out […]
During the times I was away from my French home in the winter months, I wished I could see what I was missing. I longed for a December walk around Uzès. Now that I’m firmly planted here for a while, I’d like to share what I’m seeing. So […]
Thanksgiving for Americans in Uzés this year is truly a story of sharing. One traditional Thanksgiving meal fed over two dozen Americans, in thirteen different households, plus leftovers to share with the local Montessori school. The idea was the brainchild of one of our favorite friends and gourmet […]
Do you want to cook like a great French chef and learn the language, too? A French chef’s bilingual cookbook is for you… and definitely for me! If you love French cooking and want to learn a bit of the language, now there’s a cookbook from one of […]
Uzès is on the second COVID lockdown. For a small town, we are experiencing a serious outburst of infections. Stone walls and lofty towers are not protecting us from the pandemic. Right now, there are very few places in the world to hide from the virus. For me, […]
I’m inspired to know people who are staying productive and creative during COVID. While I was in the United States, there were artists in lockdown here in Uzès who created memorable art they are now sharing. British artist Gilly Beal, a resident of Uzès for the past two […]
Renewing my Carte de Sejour mid-COVID was a task I dreaded. To be truthful, renewing my Carte de Sejour is a headache anytime. But it’s the only way that I can continue to live in France. The Prefecture appointment to update my Carte de Sejour was last week. […]
After “lockdown” in the United States, I had the choice to stay in the US with my family or come back to my home in Uzès. It was a tough call. For the present, I believe I made the right choice. I am among the “vulnerable” for COVID […]
Through my Uzès experience, I’ve known and written about quite a few artists. Yet there was something extraordinary about meeting Simon James … aside from his status as an award-winning writer and illustrator. Meeting Simon James Living in a “red zone” COVID world, I miss the small, intimate […]