Stories from France

Bonjour and Bienvenue! Want to hop on a plane and travel to France? Why not join me and indulge in a bit of “armchair travel.” As a writer and artist based in Paris, I try to dive beyond the surface, past the elegant historic monuments, and into what it is really like to live in France.

The daily life, the ups and downs, and the everyday moments, let’s go on a little jaunt, shall we? Bon voyage!

Christmas in france

Your guide to a traditional French Christmas Dinner

Wondering what’s on the menu at a traditional French Christmas dinner? Go behind closed doors…

12 French Christmas Songs to put you in the festive spirit

Countdown to the festive season with the most popular French Christmas songs and carols, with…

16 French Christmas traditions you will want to adopt

Christmas in France can be a bit unusual. Beyond the hot wine and oysters, here…

Vin Chaud: Warm up your winter with Mulled Wine (Recipe)

French Vin Chaud or German Glühwein, this classic mulled wine recipe is a perfect treat…

la cure gourmande - dessert and candy shop in provence

13 Desserts of Provence (French Christmas tradition)

Find out what is included in the 13 desserts of Provence, that famous Christmas tradition…

42 Best Souvenirs from France

Find out the best souvenirs from France, why they are so popular, which region they…

Living in France

Cost of Living in France: What to Budget (2022)

Explore the cost of living in France, in big cities as well as countryside. Take…

view from the Seine river in Paris - History of Paris

History of Paris: 30 Key points in Timeline

Learn about major events in Paris’s history, with a timeline and other historical facts about…

French Royal Family: 16 Monarchs of France who changed the world

Meet the monarchs and rulers of France who changed world history. Get to know…

French Assemblée Nationale in Paris: Inside Palais Bourbon

France’s Assemblée Nationale is not open very often, so dive deep into Palais Bourbon, the…

Getting Married in France: The reason it is not easy!

Dreaming about getting married Paris? Unfortunately, it is not that easy to jump through all…

French Bachelor Party: What happens at a stag in France

Get the lowdown on the French bachelor party. From who gets invited, who does the…

continue reading about living in France

French food

French Pork loin roast (with mustard)

Get the recipe for a delicious French-style pork loin roast cooked in the oven with…

French Daube de Boeuf

Get the traditional French recipe for Daube de Boeuf on stove top or in the…

Pan-seared Salmon with Hollandaise sauce

Get the easy recipe for pan-seared salmon with hollandaise sauce that makes a wonderful lunch…

Oven-roasted Eggplant cubes with garlic and parsley

Enjoy these delicious oven-roasted eggplant cubes that make a wonderful side dish for any meal….

Tuna penne gratin in creamy sauce

Get the easy recipe for tuna penne gratin in a delicious pink sauce that can…

Savory Pork and Spinach Pasta

This delicious pork pasta combines the juices of the pork with spinach and various spices…

continue reading about French food

Illustration of Couple walking with baby near Notre Dame and the bouquinistes in Paris

Living in Paris: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

It is called the Paris Syndrome: the severe culture shock that tourists experience upon realizing that the Paris of one’s dreams is not the reality. And that is for visitors, imagine if they lived here!

I don’t intend to dash all your dreams but the reality of living in Paris is that it is not all it is cracked up to be. After being in Paris for over 10 years, I have to bemusedly point out a few pros and cons…

More about living in Paris