Bonjour!
Bonjour and Bienvenue! In France, we have something called the “Art de Vivre”, which about living in the moment and truly looking at the wonder of the world around. As a writer and artist, I like to translate that into what I like to call “slow travel”. Going beyond the surface so that you can see past the historic monuments and imagine what it is like to live here in Paris.
The daily life, the ups and downs, and the everyday moments, let’s dive into the quotidien together.
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Coucou: The French Informal hello that everyone needs in their life
If there was ever a word to give you that warm fuzzy feeling, Coucou in French is it. The informal French hello, it could be slang, but in a soft and gentle way meaning bonjour. An informal “my darling” kind of thing. The formal way to say hello in French is “Bonjour”, which literally translates to “Good day”. There are a whole bunch of accompanying rules to saying bonjour properly. French people hold a lot of stock in saying Bonjour as a greeting, before proceeding into further conversation. Even small children are expected to know these manners at a young age. ☞…
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How the Alsace Region influenced Europe’s history
The new region may be called Grand Est (Great East) in France today but to its locals, it remains Alsace. It is the region that has been a tinderbox for centuries in the relations between France and Germany, leading vast armies to fight over it causing millions of deaths. The…
15 Easy French apéritifs for your next happy hour
France is the land of the apéro. Lazy long evenings spent with family and friends, eating, drinking and making merry. So it stands to reason that there are many French apéritifs here to indulge in. Apéritif – an alcoholic drink before a meal to stimulate the appetite. French definition –…
French Expression: The Infamous “Mise Au Placard”
“Mise au Placard” is one of those French expressions for which there is no English equivalent. It literally translates to being “put in the closet”, and is only used in the context of the French workplace. The reason there is no direct English translation is that the condition leading to…
10 Fabulous French Digestifs that you need after dinner
You might have guessed from the french word: digestif, meaning “to digest”. The typical dinner in France tends to be very long. With several entrées, mains, bread, fruits, and cheeses, the French have realized over the years that you need a strong alcoholic after-dinner drink afterward to wash it all…
French Snacks: 10 ideas for an after-school nibble
So I should say right off the bat that French people don’t really snack. The afternoon goûter in France is something that is reserved for children, that most French adults give up once they start their working lives. Nonetheless, attitudes are changing and with that, I have put together a…
The Afternoon Goûter: Snacking like the French
If you are wondering what a “Goûter” is, you’ve come to the right place. To translate literally from French, it is a verb meaning “to taste”. In this case though, it has become a noun, referring to the mealtime in between lunch and dinner. An afternoon snack. Goûter – meaning…
French Revolutionary Calendar: When France tried to change time
Once upon a time, the French tried to change time. Or rather how we tell time. You might think it was at a time when people thought the world was flat, but it was actually to embrace logic and coherence that the change was made. It was 4 years after…
Anatomy of the Cost of Living in Paris, France (2020)
Asking what is the cost of living in Paris and France, is like asking how long is a piece of string. The answer is “it depends”. Paris isn’t France, and the cost of living across France varies as widely as the cost of living in the U.S. varies from Manhattan…
The Meaning of “Faire le Pont” (French Expressions)
The expression “faire le pont” probably happens in everywhere around the world, but the reason it is a notable expression is that it happens so often here in France. Or at least in the life of the average French office worker. The word-for-word translation to English is to “make a…
Spinach and Cheese Quiche: The Essential French Recipe
I suppose a spinach and cheese quiche is one of those indispensable French recipes, that every French person has in their arsenal. Quite easy to make and comes out well every time. I should note that while quiche is considered a French recipe, there have been variations of quiche in…
The classic French Ratatouille Recipe
The classic French ratatouille recipe is one that sounds more complicated to make than it is. You probably have more difficulty pronouncing it, than making it. Unless you have watched the Disney-Pixar movie of course, then you are probably already on top of it! (It is pronounced “ra-ta-touiye”). Ratatouille is…
Paris vs Marseille: A History of Rivalry on and off the football field
Full confession: we may be Snippets of Paris, but my OH is a born and bred Marseillais (pronounced mar-say-ay). And he is none too pleased that our kids are born and bred Parisians. The roots of Paris vs Marseille go deep into history. These days, the rivalry mostly raises its…
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