French word of the day: Printemps
Published March 12, 2026
It is a surprisingly sunny start to March here in France! No groundhogs around here, but I’d say spring is sprung. The last couple of weeks have been school holidays, so we have just spent a week in the Alps.
Fresh mountain air and beautiful scenery, little mountainous villages, what’s not to love? I’m not a great skier but the rest of the family enjoys it, so skiing it was.
The only big problem with all this was my packing list. I always make the mistake of thinking I’m off to a Canadian-style deep freeze in the mountains, and yet again I was wrong.
Off we went, with bags stuffed with sweaters and thermals, only to get there and realize that maybe t-shirts and tights would have been better. (I even saw a few people bust out a pair of shorts for walking around in the afternoons.)
It was around 40°F (4°C) in the mornings and around 50°F (10C°) in the afternoons, way too warm for scarfs and snow bonnets. Ah well, nobody says we couldn’t still go for the obligatory fondue though.
Anyway, its now back to la Région Parisienne where the pollen warnings are out.
These next few weeks are considered crunch-time for schools and businesses, so it is back to normal. (This is the period where everyone tries to get stuff done before the May public holidays kick in.)
But that doesn’t mean that we can’t all enjoy a good dose of Vitamin D. Les beaux jours reviennent! (Sunny days are back.)
In other news:
- Paris fashion week is currently on, and I was not invited yet again. Spotted amongst the celebs were Margot Robbie, Zendaya, Victoria Beckham and Naomi Watts.
- The first round of France’s mayoral and municipal elections are being held this weekend. Candidates receiving at least 10% of the vote can stay in the race, while those with 5–10% can merge with another party. Voting cards and ID at the ready!
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission and President Macron of France have acknowledged this week that attempting to move away from nuclear electricity was a “strategic mistake”. This would be after Germany, France, and other EU countries spent the last few years closing down 17 nuclear plants.
- Making the internet rounds is this highly questionable château renovation, in the name of “ecology and social housing” at the Château de Tournepuits in northern France.
- The President of the Louvre Museum has been dislodged from her job after that disastrous theft of Crown jewels last October. Laurence des Cars was placardizé into another job, from which she promptly asked for sick leave. And the President of the Château de Versailles has been moved over to the Louvre to sort this all out. The jewels are still missing.
And in the blog:
23 Famous French musicians for an all-time playlist
The most popular singers and musicians of all-time, as well as up-and-coming French musicians and bands rocking it out today.
Spinach and sun-dried tomato pasta
In 20 minutes or less, this spinach and sun-dried tomato pasta is cooked in herbs and creamy mozzarella (or burrata cheese) for a dish that is bursting with flavor.
Chicken chickpea salad with red onions and feta
In 30 minutes or less, this chicken chickpea salad with red onions and feta cheese in a balsamic vinaigrette is great for lunch, dinner, picnics, or even a potluck.