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Around Paris

Home > Blog > Around Paris

brasserie les sablons 1

Le Tabac “les Sablons”

January 14, 2025
Posted in Around Paris, French Life
Read More → about Le Tabac “les Sablons”
parisian christmas displays 1

Parisian Christmas window displays

December 6, 2024
Posted in Around Paris
Read More → about Parisian Christmas window displays
7th Heaven 2

Peaceful Paris

October 6, 2023
Posted in Around Paris
Read More → about Peaceful Paris
KEEP LA GOULUE 1

La Goulue, Montmartre icon

September 16, 2023
Posted in Around Paris, Artists/Movies/Pop Culture
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Bouquinistes 5

The Bouquinistes of Paris

August 17, 2023
Posted in Around Paris
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Jane B Paris Match

Au revoir, Jane Birkin

July 24, 2023
Posted in Around Paris, Artists/Movies/Pop Culture
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Conciergerie 10

And Paris invented Gastronomy

May 12, 2023
Posted in Around Paris, French Food
Read More → about And Paris invented Gastronomy
Barbes Rochechouart

Barbès-Rochechouart

March 17, 2023
Posted in Around Paris
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le compas nuit

Paris at Night

March 10, 2023
Posted in Around Paris
Read More → about Paris at Night
Living the Parisian dream

Living Their Parisian Dream

January 24, 2023
Posted in Around Paris
Read More → about Living Their Parisian Dream
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Bonjour. Follow me on another adventure in the L Bonjour. 

Follow me on another adventure in the Loire Valley. 

Code name: Villandry. 

Better yet: the Gardens of Villandry. 

Need I say more? 

Véro 

#francewithvero #loirevalley #villandry
Bonjour. It can take decades to find your specia Bonjour. 

It can take decades to find your special place, not for lack of trying (and I did try, on two continents.) 

I was just a few years short of my 6th decade when I made the bold decision to leave Paris and move to a region where I had no family, personal or professional ties. 

Once there I built a new life. Five years later, it's still working great for me (and hopefully many in this community benefit too.) 

There's a new "Lettre de France" waiting for you wherever you read my newsletter. It's already in your inbox if you subscribe (it's free,) in the Bio, and on Substack where most of my writing happens. 

Join me in the Loire Valley, my special place. 

If you enjoy the story, do share and help me get the word out. That's free too and only takes one click. Merci beaucoup.

Véro

Photo credit: Le Brother, June 2026

#francewithvero #loirevalley #toursmaville #tourscity #toursetmoi
Another slice of French life with France with Vero Another slice of French life with France with Vero 

Welcome to Château de l’Islette, Azay-le-Rideau.

A long time ago two famous lovers came here to hide their love story, Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin. 

Their passion didn’t stand the test of time but l’Islette is still here, one of the most welcoming, magical châteaux in the Loire Valley. 

The owners are more creative than most and host special events including their renowned musical nights in the summer. 

This dog lover stopped by last weekend to check out a fun happening, the 31st National Breeding Show of the Bobtail (English sheepdog) Club of France. 

What a hairy event! ;-) 

The house cat, Nala, joined the fun. This friendly beauty has one yellow eye and one blue eye. 

Like l’Islette, she stands out. 

Another delightful time at a Loire Valley favorite. 

Vero

#francewithvero
Welcome to your daily slice of French life with Ve Welcome to your daily slice of French life with Vero

The Luxembourg gardens (“Le Luxembourg” or “Le Luco” to locals back in the day) is the stuff Parisian dreams are made of. 

On the grounds of a former royal palace designed 400 years ago by an Italian queen who missed her native Florence, Paris residents and tourists congregate rain or shine. 

They all have favorite spots (and memories) there. 

On a quick visit to the French capital “la provinciale” (I live in the Loire Valley now) never fails to head to “le Luxembourg” to treat herself to a slice of Parisian life. 

My favorite sightings include:

- “Les habitués” (regulars) They come several times a week. They find a green chair, or a friend. They read. They play chess. They meditate. They people-watch. They (may) judge. Sometimes, there are students from a nearby school who are lucky enough to get their P.E. class inside the legendary gardens. 

- “Les touristes.” There are groups of lively young ladies wearing red berets to emulate a famous young American in Paris. There is the confused promeneur, his eyes glued to his GPS desperately looking for one of the exits leading back to Parisian streets. There are sun-worshipping aspiring demi-gods who mistake the fine Parisian gravel under their feet for Nice’s pebbled beaches. 

- There are famous historical characters. George Sand who can almost peek at the nearby Pantheon from her vantage spot. The gallery of French queens overlooking a former queen’s palace - now the seat of the French senate who owns and maintains the park. My favorite? Anne of Brittany, the only woman who became queen of France twice and lived in the Loire Valley a few minutes away from my home.

- “Les petits coins cachés” (the hidden spots) One of several Statues of Liberty that can be found in Paris in 2026. The beehives. The fountain behind the famous Medici fountain.

And always “une noisette en terrasse” served by a sulking waiter because I dared order when tables were already set for the lunch service. — He’ll survive. So will “le Luxembourg.” 

Véro

#francewithvero
Welcome to your daily slice of French life with Ve Welcome to your daily slice of French life with Vero.

I left Paris five years ago. I live 70 minutes away now, close enough to hop on a train and be there for the day if I feel like it but my life is somewhere else. 

Still, I am always surprised at how familiar Paris feels as soon as I step off the TGV at Gare Montparnasse. 

Familiar sounds, familiar sights along Parisian streets. 

There’s always time for some flâneuring. 

There’s always time for friends or for a glass of champagne at a favorite local café. 

It’s good to be back, Paris! 

Véro

#francewithvero #parisianlife #parisstreets #pariscafe
Bonjour. Once upon a time through the study of t Bonjour. 

Once upon a time through the study of the English language, old movies and music, a young French girl fell in love with the United States. 

After a first trip Stateside (a high school graduation present from her family) she continued traveling to the US every summer, eventually earning a full scholarship to study for a year in a small private college in Atlanta, GA. 

That college year was the stuff dreams are made of.

Of all the happy memories that have passed the test of time, road trips stand out, the early ones around the American South. There were visits to Savannah, GA and to New Orleans in a "land yacht" belonging to a college friend's family. 

There was another rollicking good adventure through Tennessee. On the way to  the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the French girl insisted on making a stop at Dollywood. Her friend obliged.

As a big country music fan the French girl was secretly hoping to meet one of her idols, the one and only Ms Dolly Parton. 

She did not but enjoyed a fun slice of Americana.

The trip's soundtrack for the rest of the short vacation featured Emmylou, Kenny, the Judds and of course, Dolly Parton as a French and an American girl, college friends, belted out classics like "Jolene" and "Here you Come Again."

To a French girl, Dolly was bigger than life, 200% American, a woman who embodied the American dream yet was generous enough to share her good fortunes with many. The trip to "Dollywood" only reinforced her admiration for "the Queen of Country."

A few hours ago, the curtain fell for the last time. The world became a little dimmer.

Au revoir, Dolly, et merci. 

Je t'aimerai pour toujours. 

Véro

#francewithvero #dollyparton
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