My French Life

The new President of France was nominated on 15 May during a very official ceremony of ‘passation de pouvoir’. But even before that, François Hollande had started to work on various fronts, from taxation in France to international matters.

Over the past 65 years, the Cannes Film Festival has become synonymous with glamour, controversy, and some of the biggest stars and films ever made.

Mouzaïa is an oasis of villas or pedestrian walkways and stairways lined with street lamps, cobblestones and stunning houses (not apartments, houses!), most with their own gated yards.

Films, glitz and glamour, flash photography, Haute Couture, the sea, the yachts, the Riviera sun, Brad, Nicole, and everything we love will be at the 65th Cannes Film Festival from 16 to 27 May.

In this last instalment of the series, I continue with The Bad. I recently told you about the things I do not particularly like about the US (‘The Bad (1)’). Now it’s France’s turn…

Every year in spring, Berck-sur-Mer – a charming seaside resort town on the Opal Coast of Pas-de-Calais – hosts les Championnats du Monde de cerf-volant (the World Kite Flying Championships) and the beach and seafront are transformed into a magical sight.

Many people would say that French women have a ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes them … irresistible. I am not sure if I measure up to this reputation; but today, I’m going to share with you some tricks that may help you unravel the mysteries of French women’s sex appeal.

Ever since I started taking French classes back in high school I have been on the search for French music. My theory was that I would get to practise my French and learn about some cool new groups at the same time. I must admit that my taste in French music has not always been that great.

But we had to use our kitchen, didn’t we. And the kitchen was the coldest place in the house. It was too low a temperature to mature a good Roquefort cheese in, for Roquefort requires a steady ten degrees to work its magic. Our kitchen, on the other hand, had the steady temperature of +4°C.

Moving flat in Paris is a stressful experience. In the nearly three months it took me, there were several times when I considered giving up. “I can live in a cold, damp and dark 20 square metre space, pas de problème!” I used to say as I stepped over the puddles caused by my leaky sink, leaky shower, and leaky windows.

On 8 May, the French celebrated the end of World Word II. This was the perfect opportunity for the former and the future president to show that despite a fierce battle, there is continuity in French democracy. Both of them have now stepped into a new chapter of their lives with certainly a fully booked agenda in the coming weeks.

She paused to wipe perspiration off her brow and hands, and to give me a dirty look. Maybe she can read minds as well as music, in which case she’ll no doubt play ‘Funeral for a Friend’ and dedicate it to me.

Discover Lyon Confluence, on Lyon’s city peninsula in the Rhône-Alpes region of France, is one of the largest and most exciting urban development projects in Europe. It’s a vibrant centre-city community with great architecture, landscapes and buzzing waterfront bars and restaurants.

Une balade photographique avec moi dans le vieux Lyon ? Du côté de Saint-Jean, pour traîner dans les petites rues, manger une crêpe et boire un petit café…

A French phenomenon, COlunching started as a way for French freelancers to escape their home offices. Now it has become a popular way of people meeting when they arrive in a new city for work, or for travellers seeking to combine a foodie experience with a chance to meet with the locals.

Let’s go to 35 rue Vieille du Temple in the heart of the French capital, for a My French Life soirée! … We discover, we laugh, we talk in French and English, we share our passion and experiences. All of this in a little bar in the heart of Paris. I even received some great advice and tips! Would you like to be there?

In France, it is exceptionally rare and very difficult to change careers. French people go to school, they go to university and whatever they choose to study is what they subsequently become.

When you think of Nice, France, you think about the Promenade des Anglais, Cours Saleya, and all those lovely cafés and bistros. And oui, it is all of that. But, if you want to explore Nice like a local, then take off that 1980’s fanny pack, get off the tourist track, and head to Vieux-Nice.

One day… I noticed a small square of graph paper taped to Pool Keeper’s ticket window. The handwritten lines indicated a verse of poetry followed by the words “Identifiez le poète et obtenez une entrée gratuite.” If you guessed correctly, you would receive a free pass for the day.

Pool Keeper shook his head, exasperated at our stupidity. He growled, “slip de bain obligatoire pour le monsieur”, … I wondered, what could that be? Uncomprehending, we stared back at him through the plexiglass window.

We had been eating our way through France… and our waistlines were thickening despite all the walking we did… Because gyms and jogging were out, we got the idea of swimming.

When I mention southern France, what comes to your mind? I know what comes to mine, still, after all these years … turquoise seawater … lavender fields … and above all, embracing warmth. This list comes to mind, to vanish immediately, replaced with other phenomena I’ve become accustomed to recently.

Le lundi 19 mars aux environs de 8 heures du matin, dans la cour de l’école de confession judaïque Ozar Hotora à Toulouse, un professeur de 30 ans et ses deux enfants de 3 et 6 ans ainsi que la fille de 10 ans du directeur de l’école sont abattus froidement à bout touchant et portant par Mohamed Merah.

If you had a grand-mère provençale, and asked her about herbes de Provence, she would probably have replied “Qu’ est-ce que c’ est?”. She would, of course, have cooked with the herbs she kept outside her kitchen door or gathered as she walked near the house, perennial plants that could thrive in hot, sunny locations.