The best (small) gift from France?
Bonjour.
I recorded this video earlier this week. Current events in my adopted country prompted me to wait. It didn’t seem like the right time to publish light-hearted content.
So I am sharing the video today.
Note: The bi-annual sale known as “Les Soldes” did indeed start on Wednesday January 8, the day I filmed.
No, this is not a paid partnership with Peugeot saveurs ;-) — What am I, an influencer?! {Insert Gallic shrug}
France with Vero patrons: See you on Zoom on Sunday. Let’s chat about France!
Véro
An oldie and a goodie: Follow me virtually to "l'Epicerie du Terroir" in Montmartre (mentioned in this video) on a culinary Tour de France. Video link in the comment section below.
#francewithvero #frenchlife #frenchfood #frenchicons #peugeotlovers #frenchgifts
Bonjour,
Au revoir 2024 !
Thank you all for joining my French adventures this year.
Special thanks to France with Vero French students, patrons and paid Substack subscribers who always cheer me on and help grow this business of mine.
My thanks to readers (and viewers) who take the time to “like,” share my publications, leave a comment and help me get the word out instead of just “scrolling through” (the easy part.) I appreciate your support.
Looking forward to more fun interactions with you all in 2025.
Happy New Year!
Véro
#francewithvero #virtualtours #france #frenchlanguage #frenchlife #frenchtravel #frenchadventure #frenchandentrepreneur #happynewyear
Bonjour
Christmas came early for me this year.
At the start of December I got treated to a private visit of a Loire Valley château popular with locals, yet not so well-known beyond French borders.
Located in charming Azay-le-Rideau a short drive (or train ride) away from Tours, le château de l’Islette may get overshadowed by its famous neighbor, one of the area’s “Star” châteaux.
Like many when I first discovered l’Islette a few years ago, I came, I saw, I fell in love.
So did the most famous residents of the château in the late 19th century sculptors Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel.
Let’s wrap up a fulfilling, productive year in style, shall we?
This is my last virtual tour in 2024.
I am happy to introduce you to a special place, a private château almost 5 centuries old.
A local family lives within the walls.
From December 26 through January 5 L’Islette once again opens its doors to the public for magical Holiday celebrations.
It might get crowded in the beautiful rooms decorated by the owners as entire families flock to Azay-le-Rideau during the school break.
The France with Vero community is lucky: You are about to get treated to a private visit of the château de l’Islette with its owner, the lovely Bénédicte Michaud.
Listen to “La Dame de l’Islette” as she talks about her home, its history, her family, the challenges of owning and maintaining a château in France in 2024.
The video is in French with English subtitles. More details in the description (it always pays off to read that section! )
Tipping the tour guide is easy and won’t break the bank: Help me get the word out about magical l’Islette, “like,” comment, and of course, share.
Merci beaucoup.
Véro
#francewithvero #loirevalley #loirevalleytourism #tourainevaldeloire #azaylerideau #chateaudelislette #chateaulife
Bonjour,
A few days ago I spotted a humorous message in one of the window displays of the BHV - Marais, one of Paris’ renowned department stores.
“Le Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville” was not the first department store in Paris (they were born on the Left Bank with “le Bon Marché”) but it may very well have inspired those that opened on the Right Bank just a few years later, in the late 19th century.
The store was humble at first, selling affordable knick-knacks and toys (hence the name “bazar”) and moved on from there with expanded product lines especially in its “quincaillerie” (hardware) department. It’s still here today.
Through the 19th century, the BHV remained affordable and reliable, introducing price tags on the retail scene. Working classes flocked there.
Fashion and the famous Art Nouveau dome that turned the store into a Parisian landmark arrived later, right before WW1. The BHV has not looked back since.
Christmas window displays are a Parisian tradition. What’s more special than a letter written by a child to “le Père Noël?”
This one is wonderful. Can you spot the humorous mistakes and colloquialisms (leading to entertaining puns) in the letter? — I did it for you. Find details below.
Happy Holidays, Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville !
Véro
#francewithvero #paris #parisianlife #Christmasinparis #bhv #departmentstore #holidaywindowdisplays
French tutorial (no, school’s not off yet for the Holidays, not in France at least you lazy bums!)
“Ma chambre est propre comme un chou [sou] neuf.” (Cabbage vs coin, colloquialism)
“Les petits points [pois], les blattes [blettes]…” (points vs. peas; cockroach vs. Chard)
“Revenons à nos boutons [moutons]…” (buttons vs sheep, colloquialism)
Bonjour,
With 47 acres, 35,000 burial sites and two main sections, it is the second largest cemetery in Paris.
Inaugurated in 1824 the former “Cimetière du Sud” (South Cemetery) was originally located in Montrouge, a village outside the city limits. It replaced farms and windmills and quickly became a Parisian landmark now located in the 14th arrondissement.
November is a great time to go: The French pay tribute to their dead and colorful mum displays pop up around the cemetery.
Join me as I stroll along my favorite section, through an alleyway easy to miss.
During the tour, I tell stories about men and women resting at the cemetery who may or may not be well-known outside France.
Thank you to France with Vero patrons for making this new virtual tour possible.
Just visiting? Thank you for stopping by.
This urban adventure took time to create. If you've enjoyed it why not drop a “Like” and/or a comment on social media or on YouTube? It takes seconds.
Your feedback is always appreciated and helps me get the word out.
Merci et à bientôt.
Véro
#francewithvero #paris #montparnasse #montparnassecemetery #virtualtour #frenchcemeteries #tourguidelife
Bonjour
The Select holds a special place among the iconic cafés in the Montparnasse area.
The famous brasserie was inaugurated over 100 years ago, in 1923 and quickly became a favorite among the artistic community that called the Montparnasse area home during the Roaring Twenties.
Its success endured. Café, brasserie, bar: The Select does it all and it does it well as locals know.
If the Select had an official guestbook it would read like the Who’s Who of Paris’ cultural, political and social scene through the 20th century and beyond.
In 2024 it is managed by Frederic Plégat (his family has owned the brasserie for over 40 years) and his partner Bozena. They are camera-shy but offered to sit down with me and share more details about the history of the Select, then and now. Then they opened the doors of the Select to me so I could film inside.
Join me on a new virtual tour as I take you around the iconic brasserie. “Le cadre” (the decor) is 100% Parisian. The clientele is mostly French. The food: delicious.
Find the video on the France with Vero YouTube channel.
Looking for an authentic slice of Parisian (night)life? Bienvenue au Select !
Le Select Montparnasse
99 boulevard du Montparnasse
Merci Frederic et Bozena and @leselectmontparnasse team
Véro
#francewithvero #virtualtour #paris #montparnasse #frenchcafe #brasserieparisienne #frenchlife #parisianlife #enterrasse
Toulouse (Part 2)
Welcome back.
Join me in my hometown as I stroll by the Garonne riverbanks.
Véro
PS: Apologies. This was supposed to be captured landscape mode but the Livestream Gods decided otherwise. C’est la vie!
#francewithvero #toulouse #toulousemaville #occitanietourisme #garonne #francetourisme #VirtualTours
Part 1.
Bonjour from Toulouse, my hometown, where I am spending a few days.
Lovely weather so far and lovely views as well from the rooftop terrace of a local department store.
It’s good to be home.
Véro
Merci Ma Biche Sur Le Toit !
#francewithvero #toulouse #toulousemaville #occitanie #occitanietourisme
