Life in Rural France

French food is fabulous, no argument from me there, but part of what makes it great are the stories behind the dishes. Discovering how some of these came into being, and the subsequent festivals that celebrate them, is part of what makes France a culinary adventure.

And, of course, the best way to understand it is to experience it yourself with a rather wonderful c...

Driving in France is a minefield of unexploded little bombs just waiting to come out and get you. I’ve had my own fair share of experiences since living here, and in the more rural parts, where the lanes aren’t big enough for two cars, and you suck in when driving past, you’re quite literally taking your life in your own hands.

You’d think, being that America drives...

The Marais is one of the arrondissements you can’t help but go back to with its relaxed vibe, Falafel on rue des Rosiers, and the perfect place for a Sunday stroll. It’s the neighborhood people call the most Parisian part of Paris.

What almost nobody mentions is that the Marais has been at least five completely different places in roughly 400 years. A swamp, an aris...

I’ve lived in rural Charente since 2016, and one of the many pleasures of that decade has been watching French films and recognizing the shape of my own life on screen. None of which looks anything like a Hollywood movie, I’ll hasten to add. I’ve taken to watching French films as a way to help me learn French, and although I have subtitles, I’m needing them less and less now....

The Latin Quarter, along with Montmartre, are my two favorite parts of Paris. Sadly, many people who visit the Latin Quarter come for the restaurants on Rue de la Huchette, take a photo of Shakespeare and Company, and do a quick look around the Panthéon.

But the 5th Arrondissement has been continuously occupied for over two thousand years, and the students who gave ...