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Beyond Paris

Home > Blog > Beyond Paris

The hands of three friends toasting with glasses of rosé in a cafe bistro in Tours, France

Au Café

March 22, 2023
Posted in Beyond Paris
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Le monsieur with his shopping caddie walking down the street to do his shopping

Le Monsieur Et Le Caddie

February 1, 2023
Posted in Beyond Paris, French Life
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Postcard of Maillé - outside the local l'ecole and town hall

Maillé, the Forgotten Martyred Village

August 25, 2022
Posted in Beyond Paris
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A Chocolatine, chocolate croissant

Serendipity

November 6, 2021
Posted in Beyond Paris
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royal wedding in Saint Jean de Luz church view

Royal wedding in Saint Jean de Luz

August 16, 2020
Posted in Beyond Paris
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shopping in Bordeaux Grosse Cloche

Shopping in Bordeaux: la rue Saint James

August 12, 2020
Posted in Beyond Paris, French Life
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magazine cover

Traveling in France in the age of Covid-19

July 23, 2020
Posted in Beyond Paris, French Life
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Lille, France. Addiction risk: high

January 8, 2020
Posted in Beyond Paris
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La Bastide, Bordeaux

La Bastide, Bordeaux: the old and the new

March 8, 2018
Posted in Beyond Paris
Read More →
Bordeaux

Bordeaux is always a good idea

February 10, 2018
Posted in Beyond Paris
Read More →
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Parisians may be gone on (another) holiday weekend Parisians may be gone on (another) holiday weekend. Not to worry: The show will go on! 

#francewithvero #seemyparis #seineriver #seinerivercruise
Bonjour. It was a lovely day indeed at the Chât Bonjour. 

It was a lovely day indeed at the Château de Valmer where the Saint Venant family greeted visitors this weekend with an enticing Open House.

Festivities included free visits of the magnificent Italian Renaissance gardens, the Château grounds and a troglodytic chapel built in the 16th century.

There was a lot to learn on private tours of the domain’s winery and “chais” with Jean de Saint Venant, the lead winemaker. 

Visitors sampled the domain’s award-winning wines (featuring the area’s star grape, Chenin blanc.) 

I may have come home with a few bottles of their delicious “Méthode Traditionnelle Brut.” 

Let those pretty bubbles sparkle! 

Another perfect Sunday in the Touraine region…

Véro

http://francewithvero.com

#francewithvero #loirevalley #loirevalleytourism #Frenchwine #winetasting
I declare “guinguette season” open. One shou I declare “guinguette season” open. 

One shouldn’t underestimate the importance of “les petits bonheurs.”

La Loire. Le soleil. Un hamac. 

Elle n’est pas belle la vie?

Véronique 

#francewithvero #toursmaville #toursetmoi #guinguette #saturdayvibes #loireriver
Bonjour. Chez moi, mercredi est jour de marché. Bonjour. 

Chez moi, mercredi est jour de marché. 

Voilà ce que j’ai trouvé. 

Vidéo en français. 

Véro 

#francewithvero #touraine #frenchfood #marketday #toursmaville #frenchmarket #speakfrench 

Note: la salade s’appelle “la rougette du midi.” C’est une laitue d’hiver. Elle est cultivée dans d’autres régions comme la Touraine.
Bonjour. Not all “Café noisettes” are creat Bonjour. 

Not all “Café noisettes” are created equal. 

Waiting for a behind-the-scenes visit of the Opéra de Tours at brasserie le Molière. 

Late 19th century ceiling by Georges Clairin. Sarah “la Divine” Bernhardt would approve.

Bon week-end! 

Véro

#francewithvero #toursmaville #toursetmoi #tourscity #loirevalley #loirevalleytourism #frenchlife #frenchcafe
Bonjour. Troquet. Noun, masculine. Small café. Bonjour. 

Troquet.
Noun, masculine.
Small café.

"Le troquet" is a fast-disappearing breed.

In major cities, it's being replaced by small eateries and coffee shops, avocado toast and flat whites ordered "à emporter" (a good thing since limited seating both "en salle" and "en terrasse" seems to be the norm these days.)

"Le troquet" once served a purpose in small towns, an unassuming place where communities gathered to chat, drink and catch up.

The food? Simple. The coffee? Predictable (I didn't say bad.) 

Ambiance? Priceless. 

French "troquets" continue to welcome me on my adventures around la Belle France, providing shelter on blustery days, a hearty lunch and authentic slices of French life.

On a recent rainy stop in Fougères, Brittany, this tour guide ensured her group would find welcoming seats at local crêperies. Buckwheat "galettes" and sweet crêpes are, after all, classics in these parts.

Then she walked all the way up the long street into the heart of town holding on to an umbrella that had seen better days. 

She pushed a door and claimed a seat at her favorite "troquet."

On a giant TV screen, a popular game show no one was watching. The room was almost empty. Slow, rainy day in Fougères. 

An "habitué" (patron) sat on a high stool at the bar, exchanging pleasantries with the owner who sneezed repeatedly, cursing soggy April weather.

"L'ardoise" offered few specials. I went for the same dish I always order: "le croque-monsieur maison." It's one of the best I've eaten, rich, tasty, decadent, with plenty of flavorful béchamel sauce, its sweetness enhanced by the tart dressing of a simple green salad. 

I could have enjoyed it with hard cider but chose another type of bubbles, a local sparkling water. 

Dessert? "Un café s'il vous plaît." 

Like always, I felt grateful for "le troquet." 

It provided a welcome break and a few minutes of peace during a long day on the road on the way to Mont Saint Michel.

 A bientôt, Fougères!

Véro

Have you checked out France with Vero's new website? 
Get your France fix! Link in Bio

#francewithvero #frenchlife #fougères #troquet #frenchcafé #ontheroadagain
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