Video Diary of an American in France

Experience France like a local with virtual video visits to events and places you won’t find in any tourist book or on any website

  • Subscribe Me

  • Categories

  • France Photoblog

    France Photoblog

    Join us on a photo journey of France, Europe and beyond on our photoblog. Click on the photo or go to: www.france-and-beyond-photoblog.com

  • Chambery App

    Chambery App

    If you have an IPhone or IPod and are planning a visit to Chambery, buy my ITunes App. It will walk you through the city of Chambery to each historic landmark with walking directions, history, a map, and narrative. It's just $2.99. Click on the above photo of the elephant fountain for the link to the app.

  • Travel Resources

    Travel Resources

    Planning a trip to France ? Stay in a Paris apartment during your trip to the city of lights.

  • Easy To Book

  • Legacy Keepers
  • KIVA

  • Chambery Guide Book

    Chambery Guide Book

    Get my Chambery, France Guide Book free with the purchase of my Cookbook: 'French Comfort Food: Recipes of Savoie and the French Alps.' Get both for only $7.99. Click the photo to get more information or to purchase your books now.

  • French Tutorial

    A basic grammar and vocabulary review of the French language, as well as some informal & slang vocabulary and a special section on vocabulary for English-speaking expatriates living in France. Also included is an appendix on French pronunciation for English speakers as well as IPA transcriptions for most of the vocabulary lists and all of the verb conjugations.

    Visit the Store to buy the e-book for $9.95 or paperback book for $24.95.

Archive for October, 2009


We spent a day driving along the Southern Finistere coast of Brittany. We drove through towns like Audierne, Plozevet and drove into the corn fields chasing after some power windmills to see them upclose. We stopped at Pointe du Raz (Point Raz) and walked out to the point to see the lighthouses, rugged majestic coast, and beauty of the Atlantic. It was windy but we managed to take some video and photos. The area around the point is a conservation area with a network of footpaths. To save the long walk back to the tourist center, take a horse cart ride for 2 euros a person! It was great fun.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Culture, Things to Do, Travel, Uncategorized, Video, Weblogs | No Comments »


 

 

IMGP2885

 

IMGP2941IMGP2932

DSCN2924

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Photos, Travel | 1 Comment »


Brittany’s best-known prehistoric site is Carnac. The groupings of 3,000 standing stones are the most extraordinary menhirs in the world. They date back 4,500 to 6,000 years. The biggest assembly of stones are protected by fences and must be seen with a tour guide, but we ran across a few groupings that were unprotected and we walked casually through them. You will see in the video how large they are – they tower over Bernard. There is also a burial mound you can visit by making an appointment with the Tourist Office. The purpose of the menhirs is unknown but the most likely explanation is that they were gathering places and religious centers - perhaps where rituals to the sun god were performed.

We spent very little time in the city of Auray, although we hear it is a lovely town. We were instead drawn to its quaint little harbor with restaurants, boats, artists shops, and winding streets. It was a lovely visit and a relaxing afternoon.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Culture, Food and Drink, Things to Do, Thoughts on the French Life, Travel, Uncategorized, Video, Weblogs | No Comments »


 

DSCN2813DSCN2815

 

IMGP3112DSCN2805

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Photos, Travel | No Comments »


Two historic towns in Brittany are Vannes and Quimper. Vannes, which is a port town, is in the Morbihan region, while Quimper is in central Brittany and sits in the Southern Finistere region. Both have similar architecture, particularly the colorful timber-framed houses and buildings which date between the 15th to 17th centuries. Vannes’ architecture and playful signs (which were used before the population were literate to explain what services were offered at the building) made this city my favorite. We also took a boat ride in the Morbihan Gulf for about 22 euros leaving from the Vannes port, which is worth two hours of your time.  Quimper’s main attraction is the Cathedral St-Corentin. Don’t miss the stained glass windows dating back to the 15th century. They are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen (which is saying a lot since I lived in Italy two years and saw hundreds of churches).

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Things to Do, Thoughts on the French Life, Travel, Uncategorized, Video, Weblogs | 3 Comments »


Just a reminder to everyone, particularly those who have been following me for more than six months, to make sure you change your Bookmark from http://american-in-france.typepad.comto www.american-in-france.com As of mid-November the typepad link will no longer work. Thanks!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Weblogs | No Comments »


I grew up in Southwest Florida, the boating capital of the U.S. I had my first little boat with an electric motor when I was 8 years old. My father loved the water and spent two years in his 60′s sailing around the world on his sailboat. So I am drawn to the water: seas, oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls….puddles. Ok, maybe not puddles. So when we went to Brittany and saw all the beautiful colorful boats, I couldn’t stop myself from taking photos of them. Here’s a photo collage of those gorgeous boats we saw in Southern and Western Brittany.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Photos, Seasons, Things to Do, Travel, Uncategorized, Video, Weblogs | 3 Comments »