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:
Loire Valley Accommodation!
Stay in our beautiful 400-year old Renaissance house in the Loire Valley. Click on Gîte Loire Valley above. Accommodates 2 to 4 adults. 3-night minimum stay.Live like a local and improve your French!
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- Cycling along the Neckar in Germany #2 – Horb – Rottenburg – Türbingen – Bebenhausen | Aussie in France on Cycling along the Danube – Regensburg and the Altmuhle
- Cycling along the Neckar in Germany #2 – Horb – Rottenburg – Türbingen – Bebenhausen | Aussie in France on Cycling in Germany #5 – Bad Schandau to Pirna along the Elbe
- Une semaine au Pays Basque – One week in the Basque Country – Artyfixe on Architecture on the Basque Coast
- Jacqueline on Friday’s French – livret de famille, fiche, fichier
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Category Archives: Wine
A Restaurant for Two and Lavardin
It’s that time again – the anniversary of the day Jean Michel and I met. We’re up to nineteen years. I have friends celebrating their 40th wedding anniversaries but not everyone is lucky enough to meet the right person the … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling, Food, Loire Valley, Restaurants, Wine
Tagged lavardin, manoir de saint quentin, montoire-sur-loir
15 Comments
A Little Trip to Paris Two Weeks after the Terrorist Attacks
We’ve been planning to go to the Independent Wine Growers’ Fair in Paris for some time. During our two-day stay, I’ve lined up three routine medical appointments and organised to see two lots of friends. We decide not to let … Continue reading
Posted in Accommodation, Closerie Falaiseau, Exhibitions, Paris, Wine
Tagged independent wine growers fair, paris after the attacks
12 Comments
The First Day of Summer & Cycling Itinerary N° 9
It’s the summer solstice – 21st June – which in Europe is officially the first day of summer. We get up very late and have a full breakfast, including tostadas, which we were introduced to in Grenada in January. By … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling, Flowers & gardens, Loire Valley châteaux, Renovation, Wine
Tagged châteaux à vélo, gamay grapes
10 Comments
Weekly Blogger Round-Up: Blois Castle – Marsala in Sicily – French Slang for Money
I have three totally different subjects for this week’s blogger round-up. Susan from Days on the Claise gives us a lively and interesting history of Blois Castle, while Mary Kay from Out and About in Paris takes us to Sicily … Continue reading
Weekly Blogger Round-Up: Aperitivo in Italy – Cycling the Nantes-Brest Canal – Cruising through Iceland
Three very different destinations are on the agenda for this week’s blogger round-up. First Rosemary from Le Chic en Rose, shares an aperitivo with us on Lake Como, a must if you go to Italy. Next Abby from Paris Weekender takes … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling, Food, Italy, Sightseeing, Travelling, Wine
Tagged aperitivo in Italy, cycling in brittany, cycling nantes-brest canal, Lake Como, travelling in Iceland
12 Comments
Weekly Blogger Round-Up: Fête des vendanges on the French Riviera – October events in France – Alba Iulia in Romania
This week’s Blogger Round-Up starts with a great discovery. Every month, well in advance, The Good Life France gives a list of national events in France. I know we’re already halfway through October, but you can take a look at November while … Continue reading
Friday’s French – bernache
Today I learnt a new word – bernache – used in Touraine and particularly in Anjou, to designate what is known in other parts of France as vin nouveau, i.e. grape juice at the beginning of its fermentation. I’ve already … Continue reading
Posted in French language, Wine
Tagged beaujolais nouveau, bernache, beurnoche, vin nouveau
5 Comments
Weekly Blogger Round-Up: July & August in France – Wines from the French Riviera – Cruising on the Canal du Rhône
We’re off to the sunny French Riviera for this week’s blogger round-up, starting with Margo Lestz from The Curious Rambler who gives a very interesting historical explanation of the August exodus I mentioned recently. Next, Chrissie from Riviera Grapevine introduces us … Continue reading
Posted in French customs, Travelling, Wine
Tagged August in France, cruises in France, grandes vacances in France, Riviera wines
7 Comments
Photos of the Week – Paris in August
We don’t often find ourselves in Paris on a sunny Sunday in August without our bikes, so after a leisurely lunch on the balcony, testing a new vinho verde, we went for a walk along Berges de Seine from the Orsay … Continue reading
Posted in Paris, Wine
Tagged alexandre III bridge, berges de Seine, paris, Tuileries Gardens
5 Comments
Cycling in Germany #9 – Country Roads around Niederlommatzsch on the Elbe
We reach Elbklause, our Radhaus (bike hotel), in Niederlommatzsch around 12.30. Our room is new, large and airy with a wonderful view of the Elb. The wifi works immediately and doesn’t require endless codes. We are directly on the bike … Continue reading

Posted in Accommodation, Cycling, Germany, Sightseeing, Wine
Tagged cycling on the Elb, elbklause, meissen wine, niederlommatzsch, weissburgunder
38 Comments