Tag: France

A French Alps Chic Chalet in Courchevel

In the land of the griffin, everything is possible.  Just make a wish and it will come true.  It’s magical!  Or so it seemed to Mrs. Raymonde Fenestraz, a native of Courchevel, who embarked on building the chalet of her childhood dream, a pure fantasy of her imagination!  She had set her mind to have her […]

A Mediterranean Journey Aboard the Ship — Star Clippers

On the aft deck of the four-masted luxury clipper ship Star Clippers, a dozen or so passengers stood in the moonlight and howled at the night sky above the waters near southern France. Our intimate little sailing ship had just left the historic medieval port of Calvi in Corsica, France, and the alchemy of the […]

Immersing in Idyllic Rural France on a Luxury Barge with European Waterways

Blessed with historic rustic villages, seemingly never-ending vineyards, and relaxed unhurried canal life, barging on the medieval Canal du Midi in southwestern France’s remote Languedoc Region was the ideal escape after a long, difficult two years with the COVID pandemic. Our tiny 8-passenger first class hotel barge, Anjodi, part of the European Waterways fleet, had […]

Riding the Rails in Europe

On my first trip to Europe many years ago, my sister Patty and I traveled around Ireland, England, Scotland, France and Switzerland via our Eurail Passes.  I found standing in front of the big departure boards in the train stations thrilling. 

Things to Love About the Luberon

The Luberon area of Provence is known for its hilltop towns, lavender fields and its colorful bounty–purple aubergine, scarlet tomatoes, and the orange-fleshed Cavaillon melon that is famous all over France.

Up a Lazy Canal: Cruising the Canal du Midi in France

After a madcap adventure involving getting off the TGV from Paris at the wrong station, my friend Constance and I were horrified to find that we were in Agde instead of Beziers.

A Christmas Tour Of France

France may be a deeply secular nation, but everyone gets in the spirit of what are called “the end of the year holidays” (les fêtes de fin d’année), meaning Christmas and more. [dropcap]A[/dropcap]s the daylight dims and the cool air blows, travelers in France from late November to early January—and beyond in some areas—will find […]

Unexpected Joys of Family Travel to D-Day Beaches of France

As France this year commemorates  the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied Invasion of Normandy and the Liberation of France from German Occupation during WWII, Normandy is likely to move up a few notches on Dad’s and Grandpa’s bucket lists. But why let them have all the fun? Normandy is a destination with a surprising […]