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)

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!

Travel Journaling – It’s Easier Than Ever

I’m not sure who, or what, prompted me to keep a diary during my trip to France in 1979, but I’m sure glad I did. Without it, my book, French Illusions, My Story as An American Au Pair in the Loire Valley, probably never would have been written.

Name Changes in French Illusions

Back in 2007, when I decided to write a story based on my diary, I knew that I would have to change the names of people and places to protect identities. This was especially true with regard to my host au pair family. Acquiring permission from them was out of the question. Totally out of the question. Read my book and you’ll understand. Additionally, over thirty years had passed since I spoke with anyone I’d met in France. I no longer had any contact information.

French Illusions: Photos Introducing Parts Three and Four

As promised, here is the second installment explaining why I chose the photos introducing the four “parts” in French Illusions, My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley. In my earlier blog, I focused on Part One and Part Two, and today I will move on to Parts Three and Four.

French Illusions: Photos Introducing Part One and Two

Recently, a reader asked about the photos introducing the four “parts” in French Illusions, My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley. It was my publisher’s design team that came up with this fantastic idea.

A Letter to France Magazine

Four months ago, France Magazine featured The Loire Valley in their May, 2019 issue. Thanks to a dear friend, I obtained a copy of this edition and spent an afternoon pouring over the articles and photos.  

The Château de Montclair

The Loire Valley in central France is dotted with elegant, large, stone structures, or manors. Many of these “chateaux,” flanked by rows and rows of fertile vineyards, have been handed down through generations of families.

Nanny Anxiety  

Looking back at my life choices in 1979, when I was twenty-one, I still can’t believe I pretended to speak French to acquire a nanny position in France. Aside from the obvious fact that this deception was wrong, I didn’t have a lot of experience with childcare, especially infants. The bulk of my knowledge on this subject came from some unexpected sources during my youth, which you will read about below.