What do you prefer a Michelin star restaurant are going to the Brocante?

A shopping spree at an Haut Couture shop, or a shopping spree at a Brocante?

Croissants, or the brocante?

On a very hot day, going to the beach, such as the Mediterranean, or going to a brocante?

Having front row seats at any of concert of your choice, or go into a Brocante?

Here is an easy one/ bungee cord jumping— that’s no-brainer- I know what I would choose.

Jewelry or the brocante?

Chocolaté, or the brocante?

The list could go on…

What would be better than going to the brocante in France?

                

Comments

• Brocade for me for the most part but, Croissants would have to ... by Susanawee
• Rain or shine, hot or cold…I cannot think of anything that ... by Diogenes
• Especially with you Corey🥰 by Ali
• The answer to any and all of these questions is BROCANTE! by NancyO

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Provence, usually provokes colors of blue and yellow, lace curtains, shuttered windows, sidewalk cafés, and all of that is true- until you see the underlines of green.

                

Comments

• In reply to Leonie. ❤️ by Corey
• Lovely comment by Beth. So many shades of green, so cooling. by Leonie
• In reply to Beth Schultz. Thank you so much for saying that!!! by Corey
• In reply to Marilyn Miller. Kindred spirits ! by Corey
• I love the greens or spring and summer. And then there are my ... by Marilyn Miller
• The bottom painting reminds me of you and Annie! by Beth Schultz

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I’ve lived in France for 40 years. It was hot last year, but this year is off the charts, and they expect things to get even worse.

I grew up in California’s Sacramento Valley, where summer heat was simply a fact of life. For years, whenever people in Provence complained about the heat, I would say, “No, this isn’t hot. Sacramento Valley is hot.”

Last year, and especially this year, the conversation has changed. The first thing people ask each other now is, “Do you have air-conditioning?” Most of us just shake our heads. Why would we? Until recently, it was rarely needed.

Installing air-conditioning – Outdoor units often can’t be placed on buildings because of historic preservation and or regulations, and in many apartment buildings there is simply no practical way to vent the system. or in our case we have 3 feet thick plus stone walls, actually hard to vent them.

What makes the heat especially difficult is that life in France is very different from life in the USA. If your home isn’t air-conditioned, there’s usually no cool refuge. Many people don’t have garages. You walk to your car, and parking is often limited, so you may have to park far from where you’re going. The Metro and the buses are not air-conditioned either. The places you visit frequently might not be  air-conditioned. In small towns, most daily activities are done on foot, not by driving from one air-conditioned space to another.

When you live in a climate that is hot, such as Arizona or parts of California the infrastructure is designed around the heat. You moved from one air-conditioned space to another. Here, even when temperatures reach the same extremes, life is different. People walk, shop, meet friends, and go about their daily lives outdoors. but without the infrastructure to keep cool the heat is ruthless.

                

Comments

• In reply to Leonie. France as prepared at citizens telling ... by Corey
• In reply to Kathie B.. True by Corey
• In reply to TracyH. Downstairs in our house is cool. Upstairs ... by Corey
• In reply to Ali. Yes they do- on the bottom floors. by Corey
• In reply to Diogenes. To drill through the stone wall takes a ... by Corey
• In reply to jeanne. Thank you x by Corey

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photos and text via Keys to France.

                

Comments

• In reply to CAROLE. Remember that!! by Corey
• In reply to Teddee Grace. Staying inside, or by a pool, or go ... by Corey
• In reply to Kathie B.. The chicken coop is under the trees ... by Corey
• In reply to Rachel Scott. Noted! by Corey
• In reply to Judy Wilcox. As hot and uncomfortable as it is, ... by Corey
• I am so sorry you are experiencing this devastating heat. I ... by Judy Wilcox

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