The story of Ferdinand Cheval and his “Postman’s Palace” is one that few people outside France recognize. Yet, the monument he built to honor his love for his daughter draws an average of 300,000 visitors yearly. They come to the small town of Hauterives, southeast of Lyon, in […]
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 dream visit to Paris is now a part of recorded history. Today I’m zipping through France towards Nice. When I say “zipping,” it’s no joke. The direct train from Gare Lyon to Nice is traveling at 294 km. In six hours, I’ll step off the train […]
A walk to Luxembourg Gardens and drinks with a Barefoot Blogger follower were the two things I wanted to accomplish today in Paris.
Day two of the Paris Dream was a walking day… to the Eiffel Tower in 8318 steps. Not only did I finish my exercise goal for the day, I arrived at one of Paris’ most iconic sites.
My Paris dream is to visit the French city— the most beautiful, romantic place on earth, like I have all the time in the world.
Uzès Truffle Festival 2023 is here! Let’s take a look back … _________________________________________________________________________ Saturday night I served a fancy pork terrine bought in the Loire Valley to friends who were in town for Uzès’ Truffle Festival. That bite of pork could have been my last. I’m in love […]
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 […]
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 […]