Biarritz: The Surfing Lesson
In which the author visits Biarritz, meets a French surfing legend, learns the history of surfing in France, zips up a wet suit, takes a surfing lesson and eventually glides along with the 3-year-olds. Includes photos.
Biarritz Hotels: Hotel du Palais, Café de Paris, Windsor, Edouard VII, Mercure Plaza
Accompanying France Revisited's examination of surfing and museums in Biarritz, here are five notable hotels in the mid and upper price ranges, i.e. 3-,4- and 5-star hotels, including the history of the imperial residence that launched Biarritz as an international resort destination.
The Cranky Foreign Resident: I Love the French, But Sometimes…
Three years ago Polish contributor Justyna Gawąd, her French husband and their European son moved to the Anjou region of France from Warsaw. Justyna...
Alesia: Investigating the Roman Conquest of Gaul in Burgundy
The Battle of Alesia of 52 B.C., the last major stand of the Gauls, led by Vercingetorix, against the Romans, led by Julius Caesar, is one of the most famous battles in the history of the territory that would become France. Yet until recently there was little a visitor could see, even at the very site of the battle in Burgundy, to help understand the logistics of that great confrontation.
Paris Award Ceremonies Honor French Excellence, Heritage and Savoir-Faire (Part 2 of 2)
Awards and award ceremonies tell a lot about a country, if not always about the nation that it is then at least about the nation that the award-givers want it to be. Part 2 of this two-part series concerns Pelerin Magazine’s Un Patrimoine pour demain (A Heritage for Tomorrow) and Cigale TV’s Trésors vivants de l’artisant (Living Treasures of Craftsmanship).
Black Diva and the Roman Theater of Orange
I don't often show pictures of myself with celebrities, artists, winegrowers, chefs, politicians or other living icons that I meet in the course of my work, but that’s the best way to introduce the beautiful local Diva that I met the other day while in Orange, in the Vaucluse area of Provence.
Miss Mimosa and the Big Wheel Over Paris
An encounter with Phileas Fogg in Paris on his way the winter festivities on the Riviera: Mandelieu's Mimosa Festival, Nice's Carnaval, Menton's Lemon Festival.
Drome Provencale: Eat Like a Sixth Grader, Drink Like a Wine Enthusiast, Part 1...
Part 1: In which the author has lunch at a middle school cafeteria in the Provencal town of Nyons, realizes that he can’t remember anything from sixth grade and goes to talk to the principal.
Drome Provencale: Eat Like a Sixth Grader, Drink Like a Wine Enthusiast, Part 2...
In which the author takes a tasting class at Wine University (Université du Vin) in the medieval castle of Suze-la-Rousse, reflects on whether or not he's a wine enthusiast, and wonders if it's true that "there is no pleasure without knowledge." (This 3-part article received the 2013 GOLD AWARD for best culinary travel article written for the internet, awarded by the North American Travel Journalists Association.)