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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Emerging amid COVID in Uzès is a tricky business, as it is in other parts of the world where active seniors live among the community’s population
The gates are beginning to open to visitors and tourists in Uzès mid-COVID, welcoming travelers, particularly from Europe. It’s an anxious time for Uzetians who feel they have been somewhat “safe” in their medieval village
Maybe I’m crazy for traveling during a pandemic, but I couldn’t wait any longer. I wanted to get back to France mid COVID. In October, I made a big decision to leave my home in Uzès to go to the States to help my family with some business […]
When we feel safe to travel again, there’s going to be a rush to France, and especially, to discovering Occitanie — the south of France region that includes Languedoc-Roussillon. Nancy McGee of Absolutely Southern France and I took off on a mission to scope out a part of […]
Who knew that the next adventure we would take together would be a worldwide pandemic!? Life never ceases to amaze. And it’s certainly neither black nor white. So here I am, sitting in Atlanta, Georgia, instead of in my sweet apartment in France. While friends in Uzès are enjoying […]
I’m digging way back into the archives of the Barefoot Blogger to republish the post about my first Beaujolais Nouveau day in France. It’s because of stories and friends like this that I’m still loving life here. By the way, Beaujolais Nouveau was this week. Hope you enjoyed […]
The Occitanie Region and the Camargue Aigues-Mortes is at the gateway town to the Occitanie region of the Camargue. The walled city with its history of Kings and crusades is as impressive as its past.“From its earliest days, Aigues-Mortes was significant for its salt fields and its location […]
It’s not a coincidence that the South of France Memories Tour would visit Antibes, Aix, and Arles straight in a row. They are definitely A-List tourist spots south of France. A-List Tourist Spots South of France: Antibes You know by now that Antibes is one of my favorite […]
When Nice was in its infancy, the hills of the Côte d’Azur were where the poor people lived. The mountainous area with sharp cliffs was remote and without water. Today, judging by the opulence of the towns that have sprung up, we wish we could be so lucky […]
A visit to the most famous city on the Côte d’Azur is exciting enough for most travelers. To really appreciate the top spots in Nice, you need to have a good guide. For the Memories Tour, our guide Stephanie Is one of the best. She’s lived in the […]
Next time you’re in Paris, here are 5 places to see in Montmartre
One thing I dreamed about before moving to France was to attend a cooking class in Paris. Little did I know that my wish would come true — without leaving the little town of Uzès. Chef Eric Fraudeau of Cook’n with Class Paris has a cooking school right down […]