Insights into the French way of life and European travels by an Australian living in the Loire Valley
Header photo: Blois in spring, 2016. All photos on website copyright by Rosemary Kneipp unless specified otherwise. All rights reserved.Sign up for the latest posts below and don’t forget to click the confirmation email link:
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Category Archives: France
A City Break in Angoulême
We haven’t had a break since we went to New York in September what with having to fill the coffers again after our three months’ holiday in 2016, digging the trenches for the automatic watering system and Jean Michel’s varicose … Continue reading
Posted in Accommodation, Architecture, City breaks, France
Tagged angouleme, le saint andré
8 Comments
French-Style Primaries
The first time I voted in the French presidential elections in 2007, there were no primaries. In 2012, the main parties held their own primaries but it was an internal vote and you had to be a party member. This … Continue reading
Posted in France, French customs
Tagged benoît hamon, françois fillon, french politics, French primaries
12 Comments
Discovering Canal Saint Martin in Paris
We’ve come to Paris for a long week-end to celebrate a friend’s 60th birthday, organised by her daughter as a surprise. As usual, we’ve fitted in a few medical appointments, as there is a severe lack of specialists in Blois, … Continue reading
Posted in Accommodation, Architecture, Cycling, France, Home exchange, Paris, Sightseeing
Tagged bastille market, canal saint martin district, le bataclan, velib
9 Comments
Why it’s so great to cycle in France – Experience France by Bike
I have just read a post by Maggie Lacoste on her blog “Experience France by Bike” and I wanted to share it because it so exactly explains why I love cycling in the Loire Valley. I’m sure you’ll agree with … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling, France
4 Comments
Cycling along the Loir – Vendôme to Lavardin: troglydytes and murals
Before I begin, just a little note to say that I really am talking about the Loir and not its cousin, the Loire River. We’ve been to Lavardin before – on a cold winter’s day in December last year during … Continue reading
Troyes – A Taste of Late Mediaeval France
We are on our way back to Blois from our cycling holiday in Germany and are looking for a stopover in France. There is nothing interesting midway but Troyes is about 3/5 of the way which is fine. We book … Continue reading
Posted in Accommodation, Architecture, Cycling, France, Sightseeing
Tagged cycling in troyes, rood-screen Saint-Madeliene's troyes, troyes
7 Comments
I Have Not Disappeared
I do not understand where all my time goes. When I lived in Paris, I had lots of time for blogging. Now that we live in Blois, I don’t seem to have any spare time at all! I do keep … Continue reading
Posted in Closerie Falaiseau, Cycling, Flowers & gardens, France, India, Italy, Life in France, Loire Valley, Travelling
Tagged cycling in Italy, flooding in the Loire
7 Comments
A Monumental Afternoon
We’re in Amboise in front of the Church of Saint Denis, waiting for our friends Susan and Simon from Days on the Claise. We’re here for a purpose. Susan wants to see some artworks in the church that she has … Continue reading
Posted in Art, France, History, Loire Valley
Tagged babou family, mise au tombeau saint denis amboise
17 Comments
Chickens with Blue Legs – Introducing Susie Kelly
I am an avid reader and being a translator gives me every excuse to indulge my passion. If I didn’t read at least one or two books a week, I could lose my English. Not that I haven’t lost it … Continue reading
Colmar – the Magic of Alsace
Alsace is one of France’s most picturesque regions and has a lot in common with its neighbour, Germany, in terms of architecture, customs, cuisine and even language. It is famous for its white wines and the vineyards grow at the … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, France, Sightseeing, Travel photos
Tagged Colmar, house of heads colmar, pfister house, visiting alsace, visiting colmar
16 Comments
