French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com French la Vie Thu, 10 Sep 2026 22:14:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://www.frenchlavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/poppy-1-150x150.png French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com 32 32 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/09/10/feasting-on-italy/ Feasting on Italy https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968942732/0/tongueincheek~Feasting-on-Italy/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968942732/0/tongueincheek~Feasting-on-Italy/#respond Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:02 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86471 One village after another dots the landscape as we weave along a single-lane road never intended for two-way traffic—yet somehow two-way it is. Around every bend, another picture-perfect village appears, drawing gasps of “ooh” and “ahh” at the view. At the same time, we can’t help but exclaim as oncoming cars squeeze past us, leaving […]]]>

One village after another dots the landscape as we weave along a single-lane road never intended for two-way traffic—yet somehow two-way it is.

Around every bend, another picture-perfect village appears, drawing gasps of “ooh” and “ahh” at the view. At the same time, we can’t help but exclaim as oncoming cars squeeze past us, leaving what feels like only inches to spare.

Feasting our eyes while making decisions about what—and where—to eat. Oohing and ahhing as pesto, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil dance around us. Feeling our waistlines expanding by more inches than the narrow space between our car and those passing us on these winding, hairpin roads.

Returning to our hotel, we fall asleep before our heads even hit the pillow—literally—our hearts and stomachs completely full after another day of feasting.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968942732/0/tongueincheek~Feasting-on-Italy/feed/ 0 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/09/09/eatly-and-be-merry/ Eatly, and be Merry https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968892254/0/tongueincheek~Eatly-and-be-Merry/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968892254/0/tongueincheek~Eatly-and-be-Merry/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:00:25 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86464 When in Italy espressos or hot chocolates are part of the experience, part of being part of Italy. It feels like if you can stand up at the bar order an espresso, say “Ciao” a few times, and walk arm in arm with someone then Italy gets into the blood and soaks the heart. We […]]]>
Sanremo, Italy, espresso

When in Italy espressos or hot chocolates are part of the experience, part of being part of Italy. It feels like if you can stand up at the bar order an espresso, say “Ciao” a few times, and walk arm in arm with someone then Italy gets into the blood and soaks the heart.

We are in Italy- a little over two hours away- so my cousins can have a glimpse, and a taste.

Hand drawn recipe from Elena ❤

Little Gabriel made me smile today.

When I told him I was going to Italy, the first thing he asked was, “For how long?”

I told him, “Just a few days.”

He immediately replied, “That’s too long!”

Then he asked, “Why are you going?”

I said, “To eat pasta, of course.”

He looked at me very seriously and said, “My mommy makes great pasta. You don’t need to go to Italy to eat it.”

That’s amore!

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968892254/0/tongueincheek~Eatly-and-be-Merry/feed/ 6 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/09/08/aix-en-provence/ Aix en Provence https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968850986/0/tongueincheek~Aix-en-Provence/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968850986/0/tongueincheek~Aix-en-Provence/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:00:11 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86454 Facades, the color of sunshine.  Four dauphins, do you know the meaning?  Calissons: have you had one? Do you know the story behind them?  When you were walking about remember to look up: religious statues are for watching you.  A must see; Hotel Caumont—go there for lunch.  Don’t bring clothes; (honestly) just go there on […]]]>

Facades, the color of sunshine. 

Four dauphins, do you know the meaning? 

Calissons: have you had one? Do you know the story behind them? 

When you were walking about remember to look up: religious statues are for watching you. 

A must see; Hotel Caumont—go there for lunch. 

Don’t bring clothes; (honestly) just go there on a Tuesday or Thursday. The market will fill your suitcase plenty. 

Whether religious or not, step into the churches- they are all over 1000 years old with beautiful art.

 Cezanne 

Grillon upstairs

L’oiseau bleu concept store.

Place d’Albertas

First Sunday of any month, the city’s major heritage museums open their doors to everyone for free

and so much more.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968850986/0/tongueincheek~Aix-en-Provence/feed/ 6 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/09/07/what-do-we-see/ What Do We See https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968790764/0/tongueincheek~What-Do-We-See/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968790764/0/tongueincheek~What-Do-We-See/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86448 It’s funny how you can see the same place over and over again and still never really see it. Then one day, someone points out one small, obvious detail, and you’re left wondering how you could have missed it all this time. That happened to me today. A friend asked me what I saw at […]]]>

It’s funny how you can see the same place over and over again and still never really see it. Then one day, someone points out one small, obvious detail, and you’re left wondering how you could have missed it all this time.

That happened to me today. A friend asked me what I saw at the top of a building I’ve passed countless times. I didn’t see anything. She had to point it out to me: the face of an angel, carved high above the street. It had always been there, quietly waiting, and somehow I had never noticed it.

Once I saw it, I found myself wondering: if I could miss something so obvious for so long, what else am I not see? Do we ever really see the whole picture?

Maybe it’s like that with most things. With places. With stories. With the images we build from what other people tell us, from our own observations, and even from the stories we tell ourselves about who we are. We collect fragments and mistake them for the whole.

My two cousins are here visiting, and I’ve been showing them the France I know and love—the streets, the places, the things I’ve come to cherish. Yet today I realized that even in a place I thought I knew so well, there was a beautiful detail I had completely overlooked. It made me wonder what details they’re noticing that I’m not. What stories will they leave with? What will they hold to be true about this place? What small, unexpected moments will stay with them long after they’ve gone home?

Perhaps we never truly see the whole picture. Perhaps all we can do is keep looking, knowing there is always another detail waiting to be noticed.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968790764/0/tongueincheek~What-Do-We-See/feed/ 7 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/09/06/sweet-sunday-to-you/ Sweet Sunday to You https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968565827/0/tongueincheek~Sweet-Sunday-to-You/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968565827/0/tongueincheek~Sweet-Sunday-to-You/#comments Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:00:24 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86434 ]]> ]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968565827/0/tongueincheek~Sweet-Sunday-to-You/feed/ 2 Weekly Top Posts: 2026-09-06https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968558348/0/tongueincheek<ol><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968421344/0/tongueincheek/~Brocante-Spotting">Brocante Spotting</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968279171/0/tongueincheek/~The-Days-are-Full%2c-Which-Means-Sleep-Wins-Over-Writing%21">The Days are Full, Which Means Sleep Wins Over Writing!</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968234588/0/tongueincheek/~Where-the-Wind-Blows-We-Go">Where the Wind Blows We Go</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968446715/0/tongueincheek/~Notre-Dame-de-Paris">Notre Dame de Paris</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/909703430/0/tongueincheek/~After-Dinner-Creation-by-Miss-Pickle">After Dinner Creation by Miss Pickle</a></li> </ol><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/968558348/0/tongueincheek"> Sun, 06 Sep 2026 04:00:01 GMTtag:feedblitz.com,2026-09-06:tongueincheek/2026-09-06T04:00:01-00:00 FeedSplice by FeedBlitz https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/09/05/the-man-at-the-brocante/ The Man at the Brocante https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968555492/0/tongueincheek~The-Man-at-the-Brocante/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/968555492/0/tongueincheek~The-Man-at-the-Brocante/#comments Sat, 05 Sep 2026 11:00:39 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=86413 He carries our stuff, loads it in the car, drives us around. Helps others. He is the Super Sherpa. What did my cousin think of her first brocante? « How much can I carry in my suitcase? This is where all the magazines « homes find all their beau pieces! » « My God this is more than I imagined! » […]]]>

He carries our stuff, loads it in the car, drives us around. Helps others. He is the Super Sherpa.

What did my cousin think of her first brocante? « How much can I carry in my suitcase? This is where all the magazines « homes find all their beau pieces! » « My God this is more than I imagined! »

The man at the brocante packed, carried, loaded the car, and drove us around. Happily!

and he bought this Marlboro man coat. Let’s see if he where’s it, and where. It is pretty cool.

Thank you honey xx

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