Paris had record rainfall in the month of May this year. The rest of France was not spared, either. I was in the Languedoc region in late May and took my turn dodging raindrops. The weather in Europe can be touchy. Fortunately, the sun shines frequently in the late spring and summer, what do you do in Paris when the météo doesn’t cooperate? Here is a list of 15 things to do when it rains (and I purposely avoided the…
Marseille, the third largest city in France (and its oldest city) has a sunbaked maritime atmosphere all its own. It’s true Provence with the sunny charm you’d expect. Marseille is also historic (two millennia), and it’s close by numerous interesting places you can access easily by car or train. Suggestions for a car circuit will follow. If you’re interested in an overview of the city and its history, there is a hop-on-hop-off bus available. The city has a metro system…
This post might be a less exciting topic, but it’ll be worth a look. I never bought travel insurance until just a few days ago. Once I started looking into it, I was surprised and informed by what I found. I always thought that travel insurance was only for medical needs, and I already had insurance, so why did I need it? I realized that my current medical insurance hardly covers anything where I live, so why would I think…
What is the Languedoc? It’s a region in France that covers the western curve of the Mediterranean coast. It extends from Provence to Spain and includes La Camargue, Montpellier, Nimes, and Ales, and embodies the South of France with fewer rugged hills. The Languedoc is one of the warmest, windiest, and driest places in France with a coastal area that, unlike Provence, is flat. There are long, sandy beaches, fishing towns, resorts, and medieval villages. All that you’d expect from…
When you think of Provence, France, you might think of lavender fields, olive groves, rocky outcrops topped with walled villages. You’re thinking of an area called the Luberon, at the foot of the Luberon mountain range. This area was put on the tourist map by Peter Mayle with his book, A Year in Provence. People discovered the villages of the Luberon area and were enchanted. Pure Provence! Your Itinerary in the Luberon Here is a circuit of 8 towns you…
In my last post, I gave you a suggested circuit through eastern Brittany. This time, we’ll cover western Brittany, where you’ll encounter wild, rocky coastlines, lush pastureland, and unforgettable villages. If you’re starting off in Paris, think about renting a car in St. Brieuc to return in Vannes or Lorient (to the south at the end of your circuit.) This will save a few hours of drive time from Paris to Brittany. That way you’ll focus on your experiences instead…
