Posts tagged: Travel in France

Their eyes connected on a train headed towards the Champagne region. Before the weekend filled with bubbles supplied by the cellars of Krug and Dom Pérignon was over, Caroline Jones a proud Australian, and French native Thomas Bertrand had uncorked a little sparkle. Their long-distance romance bloomed and the now married couple lives between the vines at Domaine Rouge-Bleu a vineyard in the heart of Provence.

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Recipes & Travel:
B&Bs in Provence, Domaine Rouge Bleu Wines, Provence Travel, Travel in France, Vineyards in Provence, Wines of Provence

If you had to conjure up a mental picture of Provence – what would it be?

Thanks to talented photographers who have turned their best shots into postcards, books and Internet sites, one of the most iconic images of Provence is the deep purple undulating rows of lavender plants.
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Recipes & Travel:
Lavender Essential Oil, Lavender fields of Provence, Provence Travel, Travel in France

Most readers already know that Ginger is a devoted rodeo fan and Calgary Stampede volunteer. In the last few years, he has embraced Provencal equine traditions surrounding brawny white horses and feisty midnight-black bulls. Ginger can explain the rules of a Course Camarguaise, and he has been to ferrades (branding events). In the process, he has taken hundreds of photos of bulls running in the streets during the annual Fêtes de Village in August.

However, his heart remains saddled to traditional rodeo.

 
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Recipes & Travel:
Cowboy Culture in Provence, French Rodeo Circuit, Provence Travel, Travel in France

Marseille has managed to improve its image in the last few years, from seedy French port to European Cultural Capital in 2013. A financial infusion of several hundred million Euros did a lot for cleaning up the heart of the tourist area and expanding the city’s museums. The last major infrastructure project of this magnitude in Marseille was the post WWII reconstruction of the Vieux Port and le Panier district.

Marseille’s cultural transformation has been significant, including the recently renovated Palais Longchamp home of two galleries the Natural History Museum and the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
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Recipes & Travel:
History of Marseille, Palais Longchamp Marseille, Provence Travel, Travel in France

Salty cobalt-blue waters of the Mediterranean slip into the Port of Marseille under the careful watch of two stoic limestone sentries, Fort Saint-Jean and Fort Saint-Nicholas. In 1660, King Louis XIV ordered the construction of Fort Saint-Nicholas and the reinforcement of existing structures at Fort Saint-Jean. The justification for these monumental building projects was to improve the defense capabilities of the old port. The reality was likely more a show of military force to encourage calm among Marseille’s rebellious citizens than against the threat of external attack, the forts’ cannons faced the city.

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Recipes & Travel:
Fort St Jean Marseille, History of Marseille, Provence Travel, Travel in France

Nutmeg loves France and Ginger tolerates her passion. The way they manage to find moderately stable ground within the quicksand of their personal interests is in those moments when friends come to visit. These encounters are an anchor with the familiar, and the ballast that settles a slightly rocky boat. Sometimes, they are able to convince those friends to explore with them.

One recent occasion was a group bike trip through the now tranquil Dordogne, a region of France that once was the subject of violent tug-a-wars between French and English forces. Either, these were good friends or they were desperate for a vacation as the general descriptions for each day were as follows:
• Moderately hilly
• Mostly hilly
• The odd flat section
• Steep hills
Maybe, it was the draw of history or the promise of wine, but they all came to discover historical Dordogne.
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Recipes & Travel:
Beynac, Collonges-la-Rouge, Confit de Canard, Dordogne Travel, French Food, French Walnuts, Rocamadour, Sarlat History Tours, Travel in France

Jean-Louis Sibuet quickly appreciated the realities of the hospitality trade, once his parents purchased le Fer à Cheval Hotel in Megève. His early grounding in the accommodation business has evolved into a French boutique hospitality chain. Mr. Sibuet and his wife Jocelyne have created a luxurious, contemporary brand while maintaining a resilient respect for the local environment unique to each of their hotel properties.

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Recipes & Travel:
Domaine de la Baume, Exploring the Var, Hotels in the Var, Jean-Louis Sibuet, le Fer à Cheval Hotel in Megève, Provence Travel, Travel in France

Ginger and Nutmeg spent a long Sunday afternoon covering over 600 km on some of France’s super-highways. Their goal was the looming treasure at the end of the journey, a week of biking with good friends through the Dordogne.

Nutmeg admits that an ABC list covering essential sights and local tastes in the Dordogne region might have been a bit more help before their trip. She hopes instead that this post benefits at least one of the G&N readers who plan to visit this beautiful area in the future.
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Recipes & Travel:
Confit de Canard, Dordogne Travel, French Walnuts, Sarlat History Tours, Travel in France

Old meets new, and France meets the world in this Parisian market. The trendy Marais district, the third arrondissement, spills northward with new housing and retail stores invading previously unattractive utilitarian spaces. In the midst of this budding urbanization is one of Paris’s oldest covered markets. The entrance off rue de Bretagne is unassuming; inside this compact culinary corner of the capital city is an artist’s palate of international cuisines. Market stalls flaunt glorious blooms in soft pastels and vibrant Crayola shades, seasonal fruit and vegetables from farms of Europe are piled high and fresh catch from the seas rest on icy cradles.

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Recipes & Travel:
Markets, Paris, Paris Food, Travel in France

The joys of easy entertaining:

Simple food
Great flavours
Easy laughter
And not too many dishes

Doesn’t that sound perfect?
If you want to enjoy your guests and not waste a whole day cooking, keep reading.

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Recipes & Travel:
French Food, French Recipes, Lamb roast, Provencal Food, Provence Travel, Travel in France