cheapest times to travel

If you've thought that airfares are going up, you're right. According to various travel websites, airfares to popular destinations are increasing, particular at certain times of the year. Seems that January is the cheapest time to travel. Always good time to get to France for the sales. http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/airfares-to-popular-destinations-soared-in-2012-214521978.html

Inexpensive train service Paris to Provence

Reviewing this article about less expensive ways to travel in Europe this summer, and the most important new information for us was the OUIGO high speed train service from Gare Marne la Vallee outside Paris to Avignon, Aix, or Marseille, for about 25 Euro. Services begins next month, April 2013. The Gare or Station is within EuroDisney and can be reached via TGV from Charles de Gaulle airport in about ten minutes. Worth checking out. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-meyers/13-easy-tips-for-saving-o_b_2885792.html

Paris photo exhibit - reflections

We all think of Paris as the City of Light, but one photographer, Joanna Lemanska, views it as a city of water and reflection. On exhibit now. Truly beautiful and creative photographs: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/16/beautiful-paris-photos-reflections-joanna-lemanska_n_2878942.html#slide=more286423

Around the world with J'Adore France

Periodically, we enjoy reviewing our reader statistics to learn where our audience is coming from and we have become a truly international website and blog with readers from every continent (except Antarctica), and we are adding readers from new countries all the time. Our most recent additions include Thailand, Israel, and South Korea. So, bienvenue, welcome, and keep dreaming of France. For those who dream of travel and travel to dream.

Daylight savings in France

As always, discussing the time change with D. sparked us to discern whether the same just occurred for France. Not yet. For a few brief weeks, we are a little closer to France time-wise due to the changes in the US daylight savings schedule. Right now, France is only a five hour difference, but only until March 31. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/clockchange.html?n=195

The French and speaking English

When I was in high school and traveled to France for the first time, few French spoke English and making it difficult for we Americans who are not good at other languages. Now, France is distinctly different, as so many young people are working hard to learn and speak English, while we are working hard to learn and speak French. So it was interesting to read the attached article which describes the French and their difficulty in learning English via the existing educational system and that they are 69th in the world for multi-lingual skills. The article doesn't say what America is but must be lower, as so few Americans even have a passport (about 25% now which is a higher number since post 9/11 travel to Mexico and a few other Caribbean Islands now require a passport. Here's hoping we continue to improve in our language skills and travel experiences, bon voyage: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/09/why-don-t-the-french-speak-english.html

in France is fast food now king?

Fascinating study about food in France shows a huge increase in French eating fast food. They apparently eat more pizza than any country other than the USA. Difference is there is only about 65 million of them, and 300 million of us. The study suggests some of it may be economically driven as fast food there, like here, is much cheaper, and families in France are hurting economically. The number buried in the article is that average French salary is $2300 per month for a family of four with both parents working. The difference is child care is available and health care, subsidized housing etc. so that money goes much farther there then it would here. Not sure if that is gross or net (ie before or after taxes). http://news.yahoo.com/fries-le-big-mac-eroding-frances-culinary-heritage-230007189.html

Should French police be more polite? Oui!

In a recent survey, the vast majority of French think people in France are rude to each other. Most importantly, French police are viewed as rude to the general public and particularly minorities. Thus, French police are being instructed and trained to no longer use the familiar "vu" when dealing with the public. Often, they were using the familiar to demean suspects, particularly minorities. Should be interesting to survey in a few years to determine whether the changes are having any effect in how the public perceives the police. http://www.france24.com/en/20130301-french-police-ordered-be-polite-all-times-0

Paris hotels - major renovations

If you are planning a trip to Paris, don't plan on staying at the Ritz, or after this month, the Crillon. Both are undergoing major renovations and upgrades. The Ritz is still owned by Dodi Fayed's father, and the Crillon was purchased last year by a Saudi prince who is upgrading it and is hiring a new management firm. But it is Paris, and there are so many wonderful, upscale hotels, just pick your neighborhood and that is the major determining factor for us, and why we end up at or near the Plaza Athenee.

Heavyweights battle for Mayor of Paris

Can't say that there are heavyweights in NYC, LA or DC battling to be mayor, a rather thankless job. Definitely not political heavyweights anyway. Apparently the opposite is true in Paris, where it is such a high-profile position, and one with enough power to try to make major innovations in various programs. Perhaps San Francisco would be comparable? http://www.france24.com/en/20130215-france-political-elite-covet-paris-mayors-office

Easter Foods in France

As we begin to prepare for our next journey back to France which will be over Easter, it was time to commence the research. As my son says, all we do is food and markets. So, according to my research the regular markets are still occurring, even in Isles Sur la Sorgue. Monday is a bank and national holiday so it is a long weekend from work, and more celebration food and shopping. Perhaps we'll journey to Cavaillon to see how the market there is on the day after Easter. As always, French food is a center-piece of the holiday with much symbolism from the chocolate decorative eggs, to the chocolate bells, egg dishes, lamb either leg of or stew, and more. Oh, and the April Fish (their version of April fools) http://www.ehow.com/facts_5185789_easter-foods-do-french-eat_.html Another adventure on the way.

Book announcement

Pleased to announce to our many readers publication of two ebooks on Amazon: The first: "The Mommy Handbook" a satire of corporate handbooks in the parenting realm. Priced at $4.99, a fun birthday, anniversary or Mother's Day gift. "Early and Late" a compilation of poems written since about 1977 to present. Priced at $6.99, for fans of modern poetry. Enjoy.