An Enjoyable Paris Stroll

Are you planning a trip to “The City of Light”? Perhaps you have dreamed of strolls along famous Paris streets or through quaint Paris neighborhoods. In this remarkable city, each turn brings a new café, historical site or a fascinating store to explore. And what about those ornate bridges over the River Seine? Many of these bridges offer stellar views.

Four Favorite Bridges in France

France has some of the most remarkable bridges in the world. Here are four of my favorites, three of which are located in Paris, “The City of Light.”

Gignac Bridge (Joel Berthonneau)

The Lively Loire City of Tours

Tours

In 1979, when I was twenty-one, I traveled abroad and worked as an au pair for a wealthy French family in the Loire Valley. The small town of  where I lived was charming, but I was also drawn to the nearby larger town of Tours.

Homemade Yogurt in France

When I worked as an au pair in the Loire Valley in 1979, baking and cooking chores appealed to me more than other chores, and I particularly enjoyed making yogurt (or yaourt, in French).

thegruardian.com

French Cocktails? Mais Oui!

When I worked as an au pair in the Loire Valley in 1979, I sampled many fabulous wines, from Sauvignons to Cabernets, but it was the cocktails that I remember fondly. The Lillet and the Kir were two of my favorites. Oh, and the French 75, of course!

The Majestic Château d’Angers

This will be the third and final post highlighting my three favorite French chateaux from the Loire Valley in France. Built on a ridge, high above the Main River, lies the Château d’Angers. This incredible feudal fortress with its seventeen massive towers, measures nearly 600 m (2,000 ft.) in circumference and boasts walls almost 10 ft. thick. 

The Incomparable Château de Chenonceau

My photo from 2001

In this second post highlighting my favorite French chateaux from the Loire Valley, I’m featuring  the Château de Chenonceau. Known for its architectural mixture of Gothic and French Renaissance, the château was originally constructed on the Cher River sometime during the 12th century. Destroyed twice and rebuilt, it eventually fell into the hands of French King Henry II, who gifted it to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, in 1547.

The Magnificent Chateau de Chambord

This will be the first of three posts highlighting three of my favorite French chateaux from the Loire Valley. First on my list, is the magnificent Château de Chambord, the brainchild of Franis I, King of France between the years 1515-1547.

Chateau de Chambord

The Petite Prince Returns

When my husband and I moved from Washington to Arizona in 2014, we had to do a lot of downsizing. As I rummaged through old boxes, sorting “keep” piles and “give away” piles, I stumbled across my copy of Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince) from my stay in France, in 1980. My heart lurched as I picked up the well-used book, turned to the first page and discovered  an inscription — long forgotten — from “Michel,” one of my love interests in my sequel, French Illusions, From Tours to Paris.  

French Illusions: My Five Best Writing Tips

My first memoir, French Illusions, My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, took me three years and countless hours to complete. During that time, I studied and learned how to write. Of course I also hired editors to finalize the process.