Welcome to French Views
Keeping a journal, taking too many photos and collecting memorabilia are all part of my travels. I’m sure that I’m not alone. More recently, I’ve also incorporated some sketching and watercolour painting into my journalling as a different way to capture the wonderful memories and this makes me slow down and appreciate the moment. A picture is worth a thousand words.
French Views is a collection of my stories and experiences, which I would like to share with you. The idea was first conceived following our holiday in 2009. I was going to produce a travel booklet to share tips on planning for a long holiday. This evolved into thinking of an e-book. After another long holiday in 2015, I started to think about a blog. To be honest, the technical challenges stopped me and life has been busy with several new careers and additions to our family. My motivation to write increased during 2020. I am lucky to share my travels with my husband, Chris. He is a talented photographer and his photographs, as well as my own, will compliment my stories.
I don’t live in France or even own a property there … I just love to visit. Over the years, I have read many stories of people moving to France to either renovate an old house and become a part of the community or to fulfil their dream to live a creative life in Paris. These scenarios fuel my desire to travel and experience living as a ‘local’ in France.
Australia is such a beautiful, but isolated, country and it is a very long plane trip to my beloved France. Right now, we are experiencing a different type of world where we can’t jump on a plane and head overseas. We all have to be patient and wait for the world to be safer. In the meantime, there is plenty of opportunity to plan the perfect holiday. Map out a great route, research areas, choose accommodation and really search for special experiences, not just the obvious; for example, we once went to a fashion show in the Galleries Lafayette in Paris on a Friday afternoon. It was fabulous. The photo at the top of this post is of the wonderful rooftop view after the show.
With such a diverse and accessible landscape, you can easily explore the varied coastline, immerse yourself in the mountainous terrain and follow the rivers traversing the country. You could have a theme of following a wine, cheese or art route. French people have a real pride in their ‘terroir’ and a love of amazing produce. They are passionate about their country and language. A simple “bonjour” with a smile will go a long way.
I hope that you will find my blog inspiring and, sometimes, amusing. My focus will be on France but I may occasionally slip in a story from somewhere else in the world. Visiting France has changed my life and I invite you to experience my French Views.
Opening the window to French Views
