Insights into the French way of life and European travels by an Australian living in the Loire Valley
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Category Archives: French customs
The Secret of Coffee in France
Why can’t I get a proper cup of coffee in France? This is a question I am often asked by disappointed Australians and Americans who are used to a very wide variety of coffee beverages and are surprised to see … Continue reading
Exchanging an Australian driver licence for a French licence
A driver licence issued by a country outside France is only recognised for one year once the person acquires “normal residence” in France, normal residence being defined as the place in which you live for at least six months (185 … Continue reading
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
Friday’s French – galette, galet, shingles, gâteau, cake, pancakes, crepes, biscuits
It’s galette des rois time again. This is the cake used to celebrate the Epiphany in France, the 12th day of Christmas, January 6th, the day on which the three kings reached Bethlehem. It has become an essential part of New … Continue reading
Friday’s French – Ecole Normale, normal, standard, norme, norm
The first time I heard the expression école normale was when I took up a post as an assistant English teacher in Nantes many moons ago. I soon discovered that it was a teacher training college. I then heard about the école normale … Continue reading
Posted in French customs, French language
Tagged école normale, normal in French, normal school
1 Comment
Friday’s French – Trêve des confiseurs
I heard a new expression on France Info this week – “l’entre deux fêtes” – which literally means “between two celebrations”, the first being Christmas and the second New Year. It’s the same construction as ‘l’entre-deux-guerres”, which is what the … Continue reading
Posted in French customs, French language
Tagged boxing day in France, l'entre deux fêtes, trève des confiseurs
16 Comments
Great Things about Christmas in France
Phoebe from Lou Messugo – traveller, francophile, expat, mum and foodie now living in Roquefort les Pins near Nice where she runs a gîte after many years of travelling and living in Asia, Eastern Europe and Australia – has come up with … Continue reading
Voting in the provinces
There are no provinces in France but anything that happens outside Paris is called “en province”. In fact, France is divided first into 27 regions, including Normandie, Picardy and Brittany (our region is called Centre and not Pays de la … Continue reading
Invited for Dessert
We haven’t seen Mr and Mrs Previous Owner for quite some time, what with moving, retirement blues, Christmas, New Year, the flu, Granada, getting over the flu and finishing the glass doors and shutters. However, we are now sufficiently en … Continue reading
