During Christmas time, I love eating some Christmas cookies with a hot chocolate. The sables cookies are the best! If you like butter cookies with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon, you will love the sables. They are not overly sweet, which is how French people like their snacks or desserts. I have tried multiple recipes for those sables, but this one is my favorite one for sure. Warning: you might have a hard time stopping yourself from eating the entire batch! This recipe is from this website. Ingredients:
It is easier if all the cold ingredients are at room temperature. 300 g All-purpose flour 100 g almond flour blanched 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 200 g butter, at room temperature and diced 2 teaspoon vanilla extract 150 g granulated sugar ⅜ teaspoon sea salt 1 large egg (40 g) Egg wash: 1 whole egg 1 teaspoon water or milk 1 pinch sea salt (optional, I have personally never used it) Instructions:
Those cookies are heaven!! Let me know how they turn out for you! Merry Christmas!
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Since I've been living in the US I have loved to bring my French traditions into my everyday life, but especially on Christmas. If you go to France during Christmas time, you might see some of those traditions at the market, the restaurant, the store, or at someone's house. We have so many traditions, so here is a list of the ones that I love. Sablés (Christmas cookies) In case you don't know it yet, in France we like a lot of butter and not a lot of sugar. Those cookies are vanilla cookies and are very buttery. I have made sablés every year and my family absolutely loves them. In my opinion, they are better than American Christmas cookies (which you don't necessarily eat, but only decorate). These cookies don't usually have frosting, though some people might add some. We eat them on Christmas Eve and Day, but also during the month of December. They are also the cookies we leave for Santa. They can be bought at bakeries and stores, but they taste better when they are made at home. Plus your house will smell like butter cookies for the rest of the day. Santons This is a specialty from Provence (which is where I'm from). Our nativity looks a little different from the traditional ones. Ours is an entire village. The Santons are the characters of that Provencal village. They all have a purpose, and of course there is the typical nativity scene. You can buy them at the Christmas market or at a store that sells them. They can be small and usually made out of clay, but they can also be big, like a doll. Blé de Sainte Barbe On December 4th, everybody in Provence will start planting some wheat and/or lentils seeds on a bed of cotton, usually set up on a little plate. On Christmas Eve, you put it on your table. If it has grown a lot, it symbolizes good fortune for the next year. On the 24th it is put on the Christmas table as part of the decoration. On the 25th we put a yellow and a red ribbon around it. On the 26th we put it by the nativity until the Epiphany (January 6th). It is a fun tradition to do with kids. Christmas markets sell the wheat to use. Chocolate and papillotes Something that I don't always understand with American Christmas is the lack of chocolate. We always offer chocolate to kids and even adults for Christmas. In my family it was a big deal. It doesn't feel like Christmas if we don't have chocolate. If there are any Christmas snacks at some event, chocolate will always be part of it. Also, we often eat some papillotes which are like Christmas crackers. They are made out of chocolate or pâte de fruits (jellied fruit squares). Bûche (Christmas log) We actually have a Christmas cake. It's called the bûche, which is a Christmas log cake shaped. It is sometimes made out of ice cream as well. When it's a cake, it's basically a roll up cake with filling inside and icing on the outside. It can be any flavor you want, but the most common ones are chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, salted caramel, or chestnut spread. Papa Noël Papa Noël is what we call Santa Claus. It means Father Christmas. I have noticed over the years how much Santa is more important to French people over Americans. I'm pretty sure that every kid in France believes in Santa, when in the US, a lot of families don't make it as big of a deal. I have loved believing in Santa as a kid and I love that I can do that with my kids too. Also, Santa gets a glass of milk and some sablés, instead of American cookies. Slippers at the tree On Christmas Eve, we put our slippers by the tree. On Christmas day, we wake up with gifts by our slippers, so we know who they are for. We haven't done that tradition with my kids yet, just because we don't have that much space where we put our tree. Songs I love the French Christmas songs! Some famous ones for kids are "Petit Papa Noël", "Mon beau sapin", "Il est né le divin enfant", and others. I would suggest you to listen to them online. Here is the lyrics for Petit Papa Noël in French with the English translation.
Meals on Christmas Eve and Day We have a lot of food that we typically eat on Christmas. No, there is no turkey or ham. There are multiple options, so here are the ones that I have had when I was little. We had boar (tastes like pork) or a capon (a neutered rooster) as the main meal. For appetizers, we had smoked salmon and butter, lumpfish roe on small toasts, snails, foie gras (duck liver), and oysters. Like I said before, for dessert it was always the Christmas log or bûche and some sablés. We eat a lot during Christmas all sitting around the table for hours. It's actually really fun! Christmas market
I love the Christmas market in France. The most famous one is in Strasbourg and is called the Christkindelsmärik. In Aix en Provence, where I'm from, we also have a very big Christmas market that starts usually at the end of November until December 24th. There you can find a lot of Santons, Christmas treats, warm wine, Christmas decorations and gift ideas. It's so much fun and they are also open at night. They sometimes have a Christmas outdoor festival for kids by the market as well. I love Christmas in France and I think it is so fun to visit this country during Christmas time. It won't be like in the US and you might not find the same traditions that you are used to, but it still feels very much like Christmas in my opinion. Traditions are what makes a country and its culture, and France is rich in it. If you are planning on going to France with young kids, you might be wondering what your kids will snack on once you're there. France doesn't have most of the snacks we have in the US. However, France does have some good options that your kids might like. Here is a list of snacks that I grew up having when I was little, or that my kids now like as well to have when we're in France. BN They come in two sizes, a big one and a mini one. The two main flavor choices are chocolate and strawberry, but I believe they have other flavors too, just not as common. It is two butter cookies with chocolate or strawberry jam in between. Le petit écolier This one is actually available in some stores in the US, like Walmart. It is usually made with milk chocolate, but can also be made with dark chocolate. It is usually a piece of chocolate on top of a butter biscuit. Pompote This is pretty much applesauce in a pouch. Like in the US, French kids love having applesauce as a snack. It comes with similar flavors that we have in the US. Kiri If your kids like to snack on cheese, or if they have The Laughing Cow cheese, this one is a very similar option. You can buy it by itself, or you can buy it with some sticks to dip in. I believe it is also a much better choice than the Laughing Cow, also available in France. Pepito I remember watching commercials everyday after school for those cookies. They are so good. It's a butter cookie that was dipped on one side in chocolate. It has nothing to do with Mexican flavor just so you know. Bread and Nutella Ask any French person what their favorite snack is, and they will all say the same thing: a good bread with some Nutella. Yes, Nutella is also available in the US, but I feel like Nutella and bread in France is like a PB and J sandwich in the US. It's part of French culture. Les petites barquettes This is a great one for little kids. You can choose between chocolate and strawberry but they do have other flavors as well. It's a sponge biscuit in the shape of a little boat with chocolate or strawberry in the middle. It usually comes in a little pack of 2 or 6, so it’s great for snacks on the go. Haribo Candy Candy in Europe will taste different than the ones in the US. If you ask me, I personally prefer candy in Europe. It is less sweet in my opinion. Haribo is the biggest brand for candy in France and is usually the one that French kids prefer. Though it is not considered a snack in France, it can be a nice treat from time to time. I know we have Haribo candy in France, but it seems like France has more options. For example, I am a big fan of the primavera ones. Crepes and Belgium waffles Especially in winter, you can find some booths selling crepes and waffles on the streets. They can be a great snack for little ones, but for adults too. They usually don’t have a lot of options like you could find in the US. The most common flavors you might find are Nutella, whipped cream, sugar, or jam. You can also buy premade crepes and Belgium waffles at the store. Oasis Is your little one thirsty for something sweet? Oasis is like the Tropical Sun in France. They come in many different flavors, but Oasis tropical is usually the one that everybody likes. You can find them in small or large bottles, or cans. It really does taste like Tropical Sun in my opinion. Brioche (pain au lait) A very cheap snack for kids is a “pain au lait”. When we didn’t have any idea of what to eat during snack time, this one was always an option at my house. It’s a delicious buttery brioche that looks like a hot dog bun. We liked to eat it with some chocolate spread or jam on it. Pastries For special occasions we always had some good pastries from the bakery at snack time. It can go from little tarts to chocolate eclairs to macarons. Pastries in France are so delicious. In my personal opinion I would say that they aren't rich and sweet like in the US, which makes it hard to stop yourself from eating more of it. Pastries are not very expensive either and come in different flavors. Even your pickiest kid will find something he or she will like. Madeleines This is another cheap snack in France. Madeleines are a very buttery (yes, we like our butter) little vanilla cake. They come in different shapes and some have fillings. Growing up we liked to buy the ones that look like fingers and then we would dip them in a cup of milk. They can be bought at the grocery store and in some bakeries. Galettes Mont Saint Michel This is a specialty from the northwest part of France called Brittany. They are delicious butter cookies. Those ones are great for babies as they melt in your mouth. Palmiers This one can be bought at the store and at the bakery. It's a buttery puff pastry baked in the shape of a heart with some sugar on the outside. I believe it is available at Costco in the US. It does get messy when kids eat it but it is so so good. Mikado Do you know the game Mikado? Those ones were inspired by it. They can also be found in the US under a different brand (usually in the Asian food aisle). They are French biscuits shaped like a stick, and then dipped in chocolate, though there are other flavor options. It's great for a small snack on the go. My kids eat those within 5 minutes because of how good they are! Petit Beurre Lu If you haven't got the memo yet, French people LOVE butter more than sugar. Those ones are simply butter cookies. This is another great one for babies. It literally melts in your mouth! Prince Lu Those are two Petit Beurre with chocolate in between. They are so cheap and delicious! They do have other flavor options as well. I absolutely love dipping them in my hot chocolate in the morning. French snacks are very different from what you can find in the US but they are so good too. French people have an obsession with butter and not so much for sugar (sweet like in the US). Even candy tastes different! I don't think "healthy snacks" are a thing in France like it is in the US. It is maybe because we do eat good food all day, so we can allow ourselves a little treat once a day. You might have to try different ones until you find the ones that your kids like, but I hope that this list will help a little.
Also, there are some websites that ship in the US some French goods. Check those out: https://yummybazaar.com/ https://www.mypanier.com/ https://lepanierfrancais.com/ https://trulyfoodie.com/ It might help you figure out what your kids like before going, or buy some after your trip because you're craving them!
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I have gone to Carcassonne so many times, I could walk in there with my eyes closed. This is our favorite place to go whenever we're in town. My family owns a property about 30 minutes away from Carcassonne, and we used to go there every summer growing up. It is as famous as the Mont Saint Michel. The medieval city of Carcassonne is inevitably the best place if you love castles and the medieval time. Here are the things you might find useful before traveling through time at the Medieval City of Carcassonne.
The Medieval city
When you get to the city, you first have to go over the portcullis. The city inside is almost exactly how it was during the Middle Age. The streets, the stores, the restaurants, the entertainments are all still from the medieval time. Sometimes, some actors are dressed up and might even play a little show in the streets. You can walk around everywhere for free, inside and around the inner wall. The best time to go is outside of the high season (summer), otherwise the narrow streets can get crowded quickly. You can also take a little train or a carriage with a guide that will drive you around the city. In Summer you can as well have a night visit in the city, which I think it’s nice because that means less crowded with people and cooler temperatures. To get Carcassonne Remparts and Castle skip-the-line tickets click here. To get a private guided tour ticket click here. To get a Day ticket for Carcassonne click here.
The castle
The castle there is open to visits. You do have to pay for an entry ticket. It is 9.50 euros for adults and free for 18 and under. You can walk around the castle and in most places inside. They have a lot of artifacts like pieces of the old walls and decorations, as well as some tombs. The awesome part of that visit in my opinion is the little movie you can watch in one of the rooms in the castle. It introduces you to the history of Carcassonne (I'm a history nerd) and gives you some fun facts about the castle and the medieval city. For example, Carcassonne was the first fortress to use hoardings. How cool is that!
The haunted house
This is the one thing we always do every single time we go to the medieval city. If you like the thrill and being chased by a scary hooded guy, this one's for you. It is usually very busy so keep in mind that you might not go inside right away. The lines can be long and you get an entry time. You usually go in groups, either your own group or other random people combined. They explain the rules before it starts. You pretty much have to walk around the haunted house. Each room has an animation happening and the doors open by themselves. You then have like 15 seconds to go to the next room, otherwise you are stuck in the same room and you'll have to go through the animation all over again. I wouldn't recommend it for kids under 10, though they say they have a soft version. A guy will try to chase you and scare you the entire ride. It's so fun!
The school museum
This is a fun little museum showing how the school system was between 1880 and 1960. In the five rooms you will have different classrooms that will show you different materials used during that time like the ink and the quill on old desks. It is 4 euros for the entrance ticket. It is such a fun little museum to go to with kids to show them how school used to be at the time. I am so glad that the school system has evolved since then though. The torture museum (the Inquisition museum) This is my second favorite thing to go to at Carcassonne. This museum exhibits how the Inquisition used to torture people from the Middle Ages to the French revolution. Some are very gruesome. I will always remember one instrument used to tighten the hands and feet, and people that were in it would not be able to move at all. Can you imagine being in that thing and you have an itch that you can’t get rid of? I would not recommend this museum for young kids, even if most of the exhibition is fake. One thing to note: the museum is in two parts, located in two different locations in the medieval city. One part will have the instruments of torture, the other part will have the dungeon. You can get a map at the entrance of the city to help you find them. The entrance tickets are 10.50 euros.
The restaurants
Something that you have to try in the southwest part of France is the "cassoulet". This dish is mainly made with white beans and duck meat. I absolutely love it! It's so delicious! The medieval city of Carcassonne has some good restaurants that serve cassoulet. I recommend "La Maison du Cassoulet". There are also some good stall-like places to just get treats like crepes, waffles, ice cream… When you plan on going to the Medieval city, you have to plan on staying all day!
The stores
We love going to all the stores in the city. They're all so fun to look around and even find an awesome souvenir to buy. Some will have toys for kids, handmade jewelry, or even some costumes. There is that one store that I have never been to inside, but the windows are so nice to look at. It has a very nice medieval themed chess game made out of stone. It's the biggest one I've ever seen, and it seriously looks so awesome. Even if you don't have the extra money to buy any souvenirs, the stores are just fun to enjoy.
The basilica of Saint-Nazaire
This one is a very cool (pun intended) basilica to visit. It's so cold inside!! It's so nice to visit in summer and get a break from the heat. It is known for its beautiful windows made with stained glass. It is a gothic and roman style church. The mass is on Sunday at 11 am and is open to the public from 9 am to 5:30 pm. It is such a magnificent basilica that can't be missed during your visit to Carcassonne. Plus it’s nice to go inside in summer to escape the heat for a moment.
The shows and events
There are so many things happening throughout the year at Carcassonne. In summer they have a show called the Knight tournaments. We absolutely loved it and it is great for kids too! My husband thought it was the coolest thing to see knights fight. They also have the Carcassonne festival in July that takes place outside the castle or in an outside amphitheater in the medieval city. They have concerts with French and international singers like James Blunt or Ben Harper. On the 14th of July (French Independence day) they have the most beautiful firework shows in France happening outside the walls of the medieval city. During Christmas time, Carcassonnne becomes magical. They have Christmas decorations up, markets, and lots of attractions. In September they have the Games festival where they have outside board games that are on the theme of the Middle Ages throughout the city. For more information on shows and events at the Medieval City go to https://www.tourisme-carcassonne.fr/en/highligths/.
Carcassonne is such a fun place to visit. We really love it because of how unique it is. It’s not everyday you can walk around an actual Medieval city. They really go over the top with all the events happening there. The food is so delicious (for those who like duck). The kids think it’s awesome (I mean, you can’t go wrong with knights and princesses). Let me know what you think next time you get a chance to see it with your own eyes. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Since I've been living in the US I have loved Halloween more and more, especially with my kids. I'm not the one that will dress up into something crazy, but I enjoy all the activities and traditions that Americans have for that day. Back home Halloween is very different and might surprise some of you. Here are a few things you want to know before you go to France during Halloween. Growing up Halloween was a fun day for me for as long as I can remember. We usually had something at school, especially if Halloween was on a school day. We liked to dress up and do scary things, like watch a scary movie or play a scary game. Hide and seek in the dark is terrifying may I add, especially when a lot of streets in France don’t necessarily have street lamps. When we were old enough my mom would help us throw a Halloween party with our friends. We would all dress up and dance and eat candy. So yeah, trick or treating was absolutely not a thing for us, only in American movies, but we still had some fun things to do. Des bonbons ou un sort (candies or a spell) If we ever had a trick or treating event, it would be in a neighborhood where all the neighbors decided beforehand to do trick or treating. I think I did it once in my grandparents neighborhood, and it was only a few houses. What we say though, is not “trick or treat”, but "des bonbons ou un sort" (candies or a spell). For some reason, it makes more sense to me! Halloween is just not a thing in France As you grow up, Halloween becomes less and less a thing, especially in France. You won't see a lot of adults dressing up (maybe teachers at school). It’s pretty common to have adults throw Halloween parties with friends and family. However they are not always dressed up. A lot of French people think it's too American and a marketing operation (by the way, it's the same thing for Valentine's day). I have noticed that lately more and more people are celebrating Halloween and have some trick or treating events, probably because of social media and the internet. My mother recently told me that my 10 year old sister is going to go trick or treating with her friends, so it seems like more and more people are doing it. Also, some stores will also decorate for Halloween, and might even do trick or treating (not all of them though). Costumes have to be scary Something that I don't always understand in the US, is people dressing up into non scary things, like princesses or heroes. In France, even if it's not a big thing, we get the fact that it's about being scared and you have to dress up into something scary! I know some Americans who don't even like to put scary decorations around their house, but then say that they love Halloween. It just doesn't make sense to me! If you see people dressed up in France, it will be for sure into something scary, like a witch or a ghost. We have another day during the year when you can dress up into anything you want, and it's called carnival. Places to go to for a Halloween experience In Paris there are a couple places you can go to if you like the thrill during Halloween. For families, Disneyland has a lot of Halloween decorations (I mean, it is an American park). I have never been to Disneyland Paris during Halloween but I have seen pictures, and it seems like it is like any other disney parks in the world. For another more thrilling experience, there is also the Manoir in Paris. It is a haunted house in the heart of Paris. There are actors dressed up that will scare you, and yes, they interact with you. It looks terrifying! More info on https://www.lemanoirdeparis.com/. Lastly another place you may want to go to during Halloween is the catacombs, underneath Notre Dame of Paris. What a fun place to go during Halloween! It is not necessarily scary, as the skeletons will not move, but I know I would personally be terrified to visit tombs during Halloween. The day of the dead
One thing that you will see French people do on Halloween, or more specifically on November 1st, is going to the cemeteries and honoring their families. This day is called La Toussaint (All Saints day) and it is a public holiday. Families will gather together and bring flowers to their dead. A common flower that is used that day is the chrysanthemum. There is also a special church service that day called All Saints Mass. I have personally never been to one, but I really like the idea of remembering our ancestors. Halloween is not really a big deal in France, but it has been more and more something that the younger generation is trying to bring into French culture. Maybe one day, we will all go trick or treating and say "un bonbon ou un sort" around all the French neighborhoods. Personally I cannot wait for that day to come! Let me know in the comments what you think about the French people not celebrating Halloween like in the US! When you think of French food , you think of… Crepes! That’s right! Crepes have a big place in my childhood. Every Sunday I would make the batter and then my mom would cook them. It was my favorite dinner. Now I’m so happy to share it with my family. It took me a while to figure it out, but this is the best recipe I have found so far. I love how light they are because of the club soda (I know, not very traditional, but it works!) and the buttery taste. Here is my recipe for my crepes, the one that I love to use at home in the US. This recipe is from chef Anne Burrell on Food Network. You can have access to the entire recipe here: Crepes recipe from Anne Burrell Ingredients
2 large eggs ½ cup of milk ½ cup of club soda Kosher salt 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted, plus 3 tbsp unsalted butter for cooking 1 cup all purpose flour Instructions Add the eggs, milk, club soda, and a pinch of salt to a blender and process until completely combined. Pour in the 3 tbsp melted butter Then add the flour and blend until smooth. Add a little more milk if needed. I always do, it has to look like a very liquid pancake batter. Let the batter sit for at least 30 minutes before using. Melt some butter in a flat round pan (preferably one for crepes). Fill a ¼ of a cup almost to the top with batter and pour it into the preheated pan, tipping and rolling the pan as you ladle the batter to evenly cover the bottom. Just so you know I always miss my first crepe and I have made crepes my entire life, so don’t feel defeated if you can make it work on your first try. When the edges of the crepe begin to pull away from the edges of the pan and the bottom begins to brown a little, turn the crepe over and cook it for another minute on the other side. Remove the crepe from the pan to a plate and let cool. Repeat the process until all the batter is used. Why am I not using a crepe recipe from France? My mom has the best recipe, but you know what? It doesn’t work well in the US. The milk and the flour are so different, and my crepes ended up too thick. It took me 2 years to figure out how to make crepes in the US, and I recently found my favorite recipe. It is now the one I use all the time. If I feel like it, I add some vanilla extract, or any other flavor. What do I eat it with? I like to eat my crepes with Nutella, but also with sugar or jam. Since I have been living in the US, I have learned that it is more of a dessert for Americans, so we sometimes add whipped cream and fruits. Hope you enjoy it! Try it at home and let me know how they turn out! How many times have I heard people say that they loved France but all they had were pastries, bread, and wine?? Guys, France is known for its food! Not eating French meals is like going to Paris and not taking a picture of the Eiffel Tower. You would be missing out on something that French people are proud of: their food. So, this is a list of some of the meals that I grew up eating at my house. Some are very homey while some can be found at restaurants. You have to try them next time you go to France! Ketchup, pasta, and cheese I know what you’re thinking. It probably sounds disgusting. But guess what? Putting ketchup on eggs sounds disgusting to French people too. Plus, ketchup is pretty much like tomato sauce right? I’m not sure why, but ketchup actually tastes more tomatoey and has less vinegar. This dish is the French mac and cheese. When we don’t know what to make for dinner, we cook some pasta, put some ketchup on it and then some shredded cheese, usually gruyere. My kids actually love that meal! Give it a try, you might be surprised! Crepes Did you know that crepes are most of the time not considered a dessert or breakfast in France? It is actually a full meal. At my house, we didn’t even have savory crepes. It was the meal that we had almost every Sunday evening. We like eating crepes with Nutella or other chocolate spread, white sugar, or even jam. Depending on the city and the time of the year, you can also find some stands outside selling some crepes. Raclette This dish is actually from Switzerland but it is a very famous one in winter in France. You will need a raclette maker for that one. You will then put some raclette cheese on the little individual tray and put it in the maker so it melts. In the meantime, you get your plate ready with potatoes, ham, dry ham, prosciutto, dry sausages, cornichons (small pickles), and anything else you like to eat it with. This is my all time favorite meal and it announces winter like pumpkin spice announces winter in the US. You can find it at some restaurants, especially those in the Alps by a ski station. Tartiflette Another cheese meal is the tartiflette. It is one of those meals that I can’t have in the US since the FDA doesn’t allow unpasteurized cheese, and the main cheese for this meal is called “reblochon”, an unpasteurized cheese. In a large dish, you put some cooked potatoes, cooked lardons (small cubes of bacon), cooked onions, and spread the cheese on top. It is then put in the oven until the cheese is melted. It’s so so good! It is also one meal you can find at a restaurant. Quiche I love to make this one at home. It’s so easy and so good! There are also so many different ways to make it too. One that I like is with goat cheese, smoked salmon, and spinach. In France you will usually eat it with a green salad. Quiches can be found anywhere from the grocery store, the bakery, or the restaurant. Next time you go to France, I challenge you to try a quiche that you have never had before, like one with tuna or leek. Pistou soup This meal is originally from Provence, where I'm from. It's a soup with beans, small pasta, veggies, broth, and of course some pistou (pesto). It's so satisfying to me to eat some in winter. It's rich in flavors from the south of France. I like to eat it with some crusty bread, like a baguette, and I also add some cheese on top of it. If you are in the south of France in winter, this is another meal you have to try. It can be found in some restaurants. Cabbage soup (soupe au choux) When I was a little girl, my mom showed us a very old movie called "La soupe au choux" (the cabbage soup) with a famous French actor Louis de Funès. In that movie, a man shares a cabbage soup with an alien from another planet. The alien loves it so much that he makes funny sounds when he eats it, and he also comes back to have some more. When the movie was over my mom told us that it was what we were eating for dinner. My siblings and I were so excited to eat it, we didn't even care if it had cabbage in it. It's actually a really good soup with (obviously) cabbage, veggies, potatoes, and a large piece of smoked pork belly. I would recommend trying to watch the movie first and then eat it, just because it makes it more fun. Bouillabaisse If you like seafood, you will absolutely love that dish. It is from Marseille. It's basically a fish soup filled with seafood and different types of fish. We eat it with some rouille spread on bread. If you ever go to Marseille, it's their specialty there and you have to try it! I recommend the restaurant "Chez fonfon". Not only is the food exceptionally good, but the place is beautiful too. Ratatouille
This is probably THE one meal my mom makes the most. It is such an easy meal to make, and so cheap too. It has lots of vegetables like eggplants, zucchinis, bell peppers, onions, garlic… cooked all together with some tomatoes, thyme, and coriander. I like to have it with some couscous, or just by itself. My kids love that one too. If you have seen the Disney movie Ratatouille you might get an idea of what it looks like, though my mom's probably tastes better. Daube provençale This one might be my favorite meal right after the raclette. My grandma used to make it all the time, and I still don't know how she made the meat so so tender. I guess it's a family secret! This is what I know though: it has some delicious tender beef stew cooked in wine and spices (bouquet garni) for hours, sometimes overnight. You then eat it with potatoes or pasta, depending on the family. Mine did both, but I think I always preffered with potatoes. It's also really good at some restaurants in France. You have to try that one too next time you go to Provence! This is such a small list of the things you have to try next time you go to France, but as you probably know, France is known for good food, so the list would never end. I am a big foodie, so everytime I travel somewhere I like to try the local food and dishes. So if you're like me, try one of those ones next time you go and let me know what you think! When my husband went to France with me for the very first time, not only had he never been to another country before, but he had never experienced culture shock. And man did he get a big one! I think a lot of the things I was doing back home, or how I was acting sometimes, started to make sense to him after that first trip. Here are a few things you want to know before you go to France. Always say Bonjour, Merci, Au revoir It might be common sense, but when you go to France and you don't speak french, try to at least learn those 3 things: Bonjour (Hello), Merci (Thank you), Au revoir (Goodbye). Why? Because French people are very adamant about being polite, and you will look like a very rude tourist, which could be an issue at a place where you want good customer service, like a bakery or a restaurant. Also, don't even try to say these things in English (even if they look like they understand), it will be considered rude as well. Something that I have said before, but clients are NOT king in France, and I think a lot of people, especially Americans have a hard time understanding that. Here is what to say at a bakery: When you go to a bakery, always say "Bonjour" as you enter. When it's your turn, order what you want. Bonus if you say "S'il vous plaît" ("please" in a polite form). Then as you leave you say "Merci, Au revoir" (thank you, goodbye). Eating time Like in every country, we all have different times for lunch, dinner, and even sometimes breakfast. In France, we typically have breakfast before 10 am. Lunch is between 12 and 2 pm. Finally dinner is between 7 and 9 pm. It can start a little earlier or end a little later depending on people and places. It is important to know, because most restaurants are only open during those hours. Always, always, always, make sure to check restaurant hours. Also try to eat when everybody else eats so you don't find yourself in a situation where you are hungry but can't find a place to eat. Walking and taking public transportation French people walk everywhere if they can. If it makes sense, they try to use public transportation. For example, in Paris, it is always much better to use the public transportation and walk. Don't ruin yourself in taxis and Ubers. If you plan ahead and use a map (paper or you phone), using the metro isn't that scary. It's good to keep in mind that it's hard to drive in France, and it's even worse in cities with traffic. Also, French people will use the train over the car to travel in the country or the neighboring countries. Tips : download the RATP app when you go to Paris. It is so easy to use and it will tell exactly what metro to take, the schedule, and the price. You can buy your tickets there too. Another app is Citymapper for metros and buses in Paris. It's great because it's connected to Twitter and you can see if there are any delays or strikes. Fashion is the big deal France is known for a lot of things. Among them is fashion. Most French people, men and women, like to look good, all day everyday. Yes, even at home. It is culturally not allowed to go out in pajamas or sweatpants unless you are going to the gym. If you do it, expect judgemental looks. Overall we don't wear a lot of bright colors, or no more than 2 or 3 colors per outfit. When you go to France, pay attention to what French people wear and buy clothes for the stores there if you don't want to stand out. Another part of fashion is perfume, or cologne for men. I always thought it was normal to wear perfume everyday until I lived in the US. I guess French people like to smell good all the time, and not only on occasions. Note : did you know that stores that are also in the US, for instance H&M, have different clothes in Europe? La bise If you go to France and meet people there you are going to experience "la bise". This is how it works: you touch cheeks while making a kiss sound. As a note, you actually don't kiss the cheeks. Depending on where the people are from, it can be from left to right or right to left, and the number of "kisses" can change too. Something that my husband wasn't expecting was that men can also do "la bise" to other men. He didn't know how to feel about that being his first experience! "La bise" is how we say hello, but also how we say goodbye. Also, it is very impolite to not do "la bise" to the entire group of people, even if you don't know some of them. A quiet people Another thing that my husband didn't know about until he went to France for the first time is how quiet we are. In public places we don't necessarily like to speak loudly. It's the same thing in public transportation. If you travel with kids by train, make sure they can stay quiet, and if they can't (like a crying baby), go to the common area where the stairs and bathrooms are. French people will be indulgent just because they are kids. They do expect everybody to be quiet. The food French food is really what France is known for. Food is everything for French people. We like to enjoy our meals, and take our time to savor it. Meals can last between one and two hours. When I first came to the US I was shocked at how fast Americans eat and how little time I had to eat. It probably took me a good year to eat my lunch in less than 30 minutes. Now everytime I go back to France, my family and friends tell me I eat too fast and I don't take the time to savor every bite. Kids are also taught to eat everything. Actually, most restaurants don't even have a kids menu. French food culture is taught right after the womb. Another thing is that French people like to eat fresh food most of the time. They go to the bakery to buy their bread, to the butcher for their meat, and the markets for the produce. Obviously not everybody does that every single day, but it's pretty common. Little to no customer service Like I've said before, the client is NOT always right in France. If you have something to complain about, they will either ignore you, say that they don't care, or they will yell back at you. One time we were at the store and I couldn't find tweezers. I asked a worker and she just said that she didn't know and acted like she didn't care. Obviously not everybody is like that, but I would say that's the case most of the time. My advice is, don't expect the same customer service you get in the US. Wine French people know their wine. It is served at almost every meal. Some parents would even serve their kids some wine after a certain age for certain occasions. I'm not an expert in that matter, but what I would say is ask French people what wine to get for what meal, or ask the server at the restaurant. French people are very proud of their wine, and if you like wine, then you have to drink it like the French do when you go to France. Not very expressive If you expect French people to be excited for you when you announce to them you're pregnant, you might be disappointed. When I announced to my in-laws in the US that we were expecting our first baby, there were happy tears and hugs. When I announced it to my family in France, all I got was an OK and congrats. It's not that they were not happy about it, it's just that they don't express their joy the same way. French people don't express their feelings very much compared to the US. I think it's so interesting to see how different people are depending on where they're from, and it helps to understand them better when you know more about their upbringing. French people have a reputation of being rude. I think that when you know what to expect, they don't seem that rude anymore, and you just understand that it's normal to them.
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I have been to Paris so many times, and though I love to take pictures of the Eiffel Tower from the place Le Trocadero, I also know there is so much more to see. Paris is full of history and French culture. Here is a little list of things you don’t want to miss next time you visit this beautiful city.
Le Louvre
This is obviously the most famous museum in the world. I was told it would take about 6 months to look at every exhibit for 5 minutes. There is so much to see there, I could probably stay all day. Of course you have to see the small Mona Lisa, and if you’re not into arts you can also visit the apartments of Napoleon, see the mummies in the Egyptian antiquity section, or walk through the nice stores and restaurants just outside the museum. They’re also Les Tuileries, one of those famous Paris parks, right outside the pyramid. It is such a fun place to be! To buy tickets for the Louvre, click here. To buy tickets for the Louvre with an audioguide, click here. To buy tickets for a priority entrance and see the Mona Lisa, click here. To buy tickets for the Louvre museum and a Seine river cruise, click here. Tips: Do not use the main entrance by the Pyramid! It’s always full of people and the lines are long. Instead go through the metro station with the line 1 or 7 called Station palais royal - musée du Louvre, then follow the Carrousel exit. It will take you where the stores are. Also try not to bring many bags, or you’ll have to stay in line so they can check your bags. One last tip: go early in the morning, right when the museum opens. It won’t be as full of tourists inside and you’ll be able to see the exhibits.
Les champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe
Les champs-Elysees is a very long and large avenue where there are so many things to see. It is mainly full of chic restaurants and stores, like luxury cars (showrooms), perfumes, LaFayette (a famous french mall), Apple store, luxury clothing brands... Do you like macarons? Then you have to go to Laduree, a pastry shop known for their good macarons. If you want a recommendation for a good restaurant you should try La Brasserie L’Alsace. The Arc de Triomphe is the world’s second largest triumphal arch. It represents the war victories of Napoleon and it took 30 years to build. If you want to go under it, you will have to go through the metro line 1 where you will also find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is the most famous monument of Paris, and is worth visiting. To get skip-the-line tickets click here.
The Place Vendome
At the end of les Champs-Elysees is La Place Vendome. If you're looking for the most famous, yet the most high-end stores in Paris, you're at the right place. You will find stores like Chanel, Rolex, Bvlgari, Dior, and others. Even if you can't afford anything, it's such a beautiful place to visit. The place Vendôme is also famous for the large column in the center, in commemoration of the battle of Austerlitz (Napoleon).
Musee d’Orsay
Are you a fan of Monet or Van Gogh? Then you will appreciate this art museum, one of the biggest in the world. It is full of paintings like Starry night over the Rhone or the Whistler Mother's. The museum is also known for the huge clock as it used to be a train station. Just so you know, the clock is only accessible on the last floor, so you'll have to walk through everything else before taking your famous picture. To get fast track tickets to the Orsay museum click here.
Montmartre
I feel like this one is one that people forget. You will have the most beautiful view of Paris from up there, better than on top of the Eiffel Tower! You can take a funicular, visit the basilica Sacre Coeur, the place of Tertre where you will find a market of artists, the Wall of Love… Just so you know, get some good walking shoes as you will walk a lot there and there are a lot of stairs. But it is so worth it! To access it, stop at the metro station Anvers. Also if you buy a day pass with the RATP (metro), it will pay for the funicular.
Les Invalides and the Army Museum
If you are like me and you are a big fan of history, especially WWI and WWII, you will love this museum. It is full of history artifacts. My favorite part is Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb in the Dome. It's the biggest tomb I have ever seen (for a man not that tall). There's also a cathedral, a collection of arms and armors, exhibitions about the Resistance during the war, among other things. It's a must see for history fans!
The Paris Opera (or Palais Garnier)
If you have seen The Phantom of the Opera then you should know that this opera was the one that inspired the story. It is such a beautiful place! You can visit it with a guide, or you can also attend their shows. For more info visit https://www.operadeparis.fr/en. By the opera there is a very typical Paris cafe called Café de la Paix. They have a very traditional Parisian menu and the decor inside is beautiful. We had the best croque monsieur there. Fore more info visit https://www.cafedelapaix.fr/en/. The Pont Neuf Again, it is one of those places that you typically see in movies that take place in Paris. It is the oldest and the third longest bridge of Paris. You will find a statue of Henry IV, and a beautiful view of Paris with the Eiffel Tower. I love going there just to take pictures of the Seine and the Bateaux mouches (the boats on the Seine). The Pantheon This monument is a large repository for famous French people like Mary Cury, Victor Hugo, and Voltaire. You can visit inside and also go all the way to the top for another beautiful view of Paris. This is another place to go if you like history! Plus it is such a beautiful monument located right next to La Sorbonne (a famous university) and the Luxembourg gardens, a great place for resting from the noise of the city. To buy a Pantheon Skip-the-line ticket click here.
The tourist shop street
The Rue d’Arcole, right next to Notre Dame de Paris, is THE street to go if you want to buy souvenirs. You will find everything there: little eiffel towers, shirts, paintings… Last time I brought my mother in law there, we stayed for hours going through all the shops and trying not to buy everything. This is the best place to find every souvenir you want from Paris. There is so much to see in Paris. I would say that a week should be enough to see most of it. Of course there is more to see as it is such a big city. Tell me in the comments what else someone who has never been to Paris need to see! More tips for you:
Thank you for @lesvisitesd_eli for the tips and the pictures! Go follow her on Instagram!
I am from Aix en Provence which is about 15 minutes away from Marseille. I love going back there to visit my family but to also show my kids and my husband where I grew up. Knowing that our kids are 6, 4, and 9 months old right now, here are a few things that we like to do in the south of France with our kids, or even without them.
Visiting castles: La Barben
Our kids absolutely love visiting castles. We have three girls, so it's all about the princesses over here. We have been to La Barben a couple times but we went for the first time after all the renovations. It is a beautiful medieval castle. Only one part can be visited with a guide. They now have a lot of shows throughout the day. They also have a provencal market with lots of souvenirs like local honey and soap. On the weekends they have shows at night. It was the highlight of our last trip. Everything is in French but my husband was able to follow most of it. For more info, visit the website https://www.rochermistral.com/en/. Going to markets: Aix en Provence My girls love going on walks, and even better if there is a market to see. The one in Aix en Provence on Le Cours Mirabeau is an all time favorite. Be aware though, it is a tourist trap. Be careful with your belongings and if you think it’s too pricey, it’s probably not worth the price anyway. Another market that we like is in front of the Palais de Justice. It is less touristy and more local. We love to buy fresh fruits and veggies there as it is mainly selling produce, but also local honey, light summer dresses, scarfs… Also if you go during Christmas, the Christmas market is a big hit and something that shouldn’t be missed!
A zoo on the hills
At La Barben there is a castle, but there is also a zoo. We have been there a couple times now. My husband thinks it’s an amazing one because the animals have a lot of spaces and don’t necessarily feel like they’re in a small cage. The zoo is very big in size, so there is a lot of walking involved. There is a little train that will take you around as well. I would suggest spending at least half a day there. They also have picnic tables and restaurants. For more info visit their website at https://www.parcanimalierlabarben.com/. The village des automates et Montopoto The outside part is an amazing park filled with animated puppets. They have themes like in the ocean, Aladdin, the ants… The kids will love it. They also have tables and a restaurant so we usually stay all day. Inside they have a playground and an amusement center for kids with another restaurant. They also have racing cars and a helicopter where you have to pedal in order to move. When it is too hot outside it’s nice to take a break and enjoy the light AC inside for a while. For more info visit their website at https://www.villagedesautomates.com/. Going to the beach Whether it is winter or summer, we always go to the beach everytime we go to France. We live in Utah, far away from any ocean, so I need my dose of sand when we go there. My favorite ones are La Sainte Croix and La Couronne, both in Martigues (near Marseille). It is not very busy and there are not a lot of tourists like in Marseille. Some other good beaches are at La Ciotat, Cassis, and Saint Cyr sur Mer. It is also a free activity that can last all day, so win win.
Visiting an island
Near Marseille, there are islands that you can visit. The most famous one is The Frioul. You need to take a boat to get there. It is a cute island with a little town filled with lots of fresh seafood restaurants. Another one that my kids loved is The Chateau d’If. The same boat will take you there as well. There is an old prison on this one that you can visit. In summer it is an escape from the heat because the “air marin” (sea air) cools you down. To book a boat tour with stop on the Frioul islands click here. To get skip-the-line Chateau d'If tickets click here. La Camargue Growing up it was the number one place for a school trip. The Camargue is a region in the south of France and is known for the pink flamingos and white small horses. Be aware of the mosquitoes in summer! We like to go to a little town called Sainte Marie de la Mer. The beach there is beautiful and there is a trail where you can bike along. If you don’t have any, you can rent the bikes there too. You can also go horseback riding on those white small horses. Of course they also have lots of seafood restaurants and especially some Paella, a traditional Spanish dish made with seafood and Spanish rice. For a guided electric bike tour in Camargue click here. Les Carrières des Lumières This takes place near the famous village Les Baux-de-Provence. If you have seen a postcard of the South of France, it is usually the village in the picture. Les Carrieres des Lumieres is a show inside a former quarry projecting arts on the walls with some music. It might sound boring saying it like this, but it was really breathtaking and peaceful. Plus it is cold inside the quarry so it was another break from the heat in summer. The girls loved it. They didn’t have to just sit and watch so they could dance if they wanted to. For more info visit their website on https://www.carrieres-lumieres.com/en.
La Fontaine du Vaucluse
My kids enjoy visiting villages in the South. This one is one of our favorites. It is known for the source of the river Sorgue, a beautiful spring. There is also the paper museum, a museum that shows how to make paper out of water wheels. I love to buy paper from there as a souvenir. There is a history museum about WW2 and the Resistance. They have lots of shops that sell the santons (Provencal figurines). This village is literally a hidden gem for those who want to visit a traditional French village. La Sainte Victoire La Sainte Victoire is the name of the rocky mountain by Aix en Provence. It is very symbolic of the region of Provence. There are many hiking trails for different levels, but there is also a large grass area where people have picnics on a spring day. It is such a fun place to go to with kids if you just want to spend a simple day in the South of France. If possible, you can hike the mountain up to the top and enjoy a breathtaking panorama of Provence and the Mediterranean sea. It is definitely a must do! Those are only a few ideas of what you can do in Provence with little kids. Of course there is so much more to explore. Not that I’m biased, but Provence is such a beautiful region of France in my opinion, and a must do if you visit France one day, even with kids. Let me know in the comments if you can think of anything else to do with kids in Provence! |
AuthorMy name is Melanie Ashby. I am from France and I currently live in the US. Here are some tips about traveling to France from a French and an American perspective! Archives
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