So you’re just a few weeks away from Christmas and you haven’t a clue what you’re going to buy your spouse, parents, best friend or boy/girlfriend.  I have a few suggestions, of course.  How about a French Alps/Savoie Ecookbook?  Better yet, how about a trip to the French Alps and they can just eat the food instead of cook it?  And why don’t you join them on the Tour?  It’s a unique gift since it’s the only summertime sightseeing Tour of the French Alps in existence.   Or if you’d like to do an independent trip to the French Alps, I can help you plan it. If you just want some French food products, check this out. If you’re looking for a man’s gift, I have a variety of gifts to choose from here. Want to learn French? Buy my friend, Jennie’s, French Tutorial book  (she’s one of those genius types who speaks several languages and is getting her PH.D in Languages – it’s a great book!).  So now you have lots of options to choose from.

Have  fun shopping and have a wonderful holiday season to you and yours!                             

More From cinzia8

• Motorcycling in the French Alps
• French Alps Mountains at Christmas Time
• Hang Gliding in the French Alps

Ask cinzia8 To Recommend Your Posts

With so many things to do in Paris, I’ve always wondered why there was so much excitement about the Moulin Rouge and the entertainment choices typically offered there.  Being a woman, the thought of watching a bunch of bare-chested women dancing around on a stage with their breasts bouncing never really had much appeal.  So before my last trip to Paris, I started reading about the Moulin Rouge to discover for myself what the appeal was.

What I learned is that the Moulin Rouge is not just a venue for entertainment. The building itself holds a lot of history, mystique and charm. It was built in 1889 by Joseph Oller (the same year as the Eiffel Tower) and is located close to Montmartre in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement. You can easily find it by looking for the red windmill on its roof.  In fact, Moulin Rouge means ‘red mill’ or ‘red windmill.’  The Moulin Rouge show and cabaret is the birthplace of the can-can, a seductive dance that was so popular in the late 1800’s that it led to the opening of cabarets all over France.  The can-can dance was immortalized by the Impressionist painter, Toulouse-Lautrec.

The Moulin Rouge was destroyed by fire in 1915 and was reopened in 1921 decorated in period styles. Turn-of-the-century France is still present in the club’s decor. In 1951, Georges France bought the Moulin Rouge and totally renovated the building, giving the Moulin Rouge a new start after the ravages of World War II.  A couple of years later, the 25th “Bal des Petits Lits Blancs”, organized by the novelist Guy des Cars, took place at the Moulin Rouge in the presence of the French President, Monsieur Vincent Auriol. Two stars who took the stage that evening were Josephine Baker and Bing Crosby. Other great stars who have performed at the Moulin Rouge included Ella Fitzgerald, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Maurice Chevalier and Edith Piaf.

Today the can-can dance, in addition to other shows, is still performed at the Moulin Rouge. You are given the choice of having dinner during the show as well. There are tours that will handle the reservation and transportation for you or you can try to navigate it yourself.  Read some online reviews of the show and decide if this is for you.  Who knows. Transporting yourself back 120 years for an evening might be a lot of fun.

More From cinzia8

• Tour of the Fragonard Perfumery in Grasse, France
• Lafi Bala African Festival in Chambery, France
• Photography Fair or the Salon de la Photo in Paris, France

Ask cinzia8 To Recommend Your Posts

The Eiffel Tower is easily the most famous and popular landmark not only in Paris, but also the world. Standing 324m above the exceptionally beautiful city it’s not difficult to understand why this impressive structure attracts over 6 million visitors each year. Here are a few suggestions of places to go to avoid the hustle and bustle and still have the pleasure of being able to marvel at the undeniably striking Eiffel Tower.

Perfect for a rainy day – Montparnasse Tower

At a staggering 689 feet tall the Montparnasse tower can certainly offer spectacular views over the city. Visitors are invited to take a 38-second elevator ride up to the Panoramic floor, which at 59 stories high its certainly not for the faint hearted! Here you are met with 360° awe-inspiring views as far as the eye can see, including of course, the magnificent Eiffel Tower! The majority of this floor is indoors so you don’t have to worry about facing the unpleasant winds and rains on a stormy day. While you’re up there it’s definitely worth having a cup of coffee at high altitude at the 360 Café or for a special occasion book a table at Paris’ sky high restaurant; Le Ciel de Paris, located on the 56^th  floor.

Fun for all the Family – River cruise on the Seine

Seine River, courtesy of Eurapart

Running right through the center of Paris the river Seine is the perfect spot to admire many of Paris’ best landmarks. From the Louvre to the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower there are many monuments to be spotted while blissfully floating down the Seine on one of the numerous river tours available. Most of the cruises are narrated along the way offering an educational experience as well as a fun trip for the family.

A spiritual experience- Sacre Couer Basilica                                      

Sacre Couer Basilica, courtesy of friedx

Located across the city at the top of the 18^th arrondissement, a trip to the Sacre Coeur Basilica is a must do. Sitting upon the sacred hill of Montmatre, the Sacre Coeur Basilica alone is guaranteed to take your breath away – and that’s not even mentioning the views from the dome! There is no denying the climb up to the top is challenging, however the rewards are immense. At 200 meters above sea level, once at the dome, climbers are greeted by an incredible outlook spanning over 50 kilometers giving you the opportunity to enjoy the sights of the city sprawled out before your eyes.

Place du Trocadero, courtesy of Sean MacEntee

Up close and personal – Place du Trocadero

This central square is the perfect location to find uninterrupted views of the Eiffel Tower, since the only thing that sits between you and this infamous landmark are beautifully landscaped gardens parted by the river Seine. In the evening there is no better place to be as the Eiffel Tower magically lights up and sparkles, casting a certain je ne sais quoi over the city. A mere 10 minute stroll away from the tower, be sure to take some holiday snaps before joining the masses in the line up to the tallest monument in Paris.

Excited to get to Paris? The best way to really get to know a city is to live like the locals! See Paris through a Parisian’s eyes by renting an apartment. Apartments offer more space, freedom and convenience so make sure to look into Paris apartment rentals when you plan your holiday. The Eiffel Tower awaits you!

Written by Francesca Edwards, All-Paris-Apartments.com

More From cinzia8

• Tour of the Fragonard Perfumery in Grasse, France
• Paris: the City of Lights…and the Eiffel Tower
• Paris, France: A City of Arts

Ask cinzia8 To Recommend Your Posts

Today is the third anniversary of American in France, the video blog. I can’t believe that it’s been around that long since it started as a way to stay in contact with family and friends back in the United States. Today I get on average 50,000 unique visitors per year. Some come, browse and leave, and others hang around, subscribe, and comment. Others become big fans. All are welcome and I hope everyone takes away something good from the blog. I celebrate this blog birthday from the States, where I’m living out a new chapter of my life. That translates to half time in the U.S. and half time in France. As challenges and opportunities arise, I respond the best way I know how.

Thanks to my readers and viewers for hanging around, contacting me, commenting, and subscribing. Thanks for making all the work and time I put into this endeavor worth it (because Lord knows it’s not for the money!). I hope you’ll continue to return to experience insider France virtually through my videos and articles. And I hope you’ll be celebrating my fourth blog birthday with me next September.

Join me too in June on our French Alps Tours so you can experience insider France in person by coming to see it all yourself.

More From cinzia8

• Happy Anniversary, Blog!
• Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from an American in France!
• Happy Birthday, Maurice!

Ask cinzia8 To Recommend Your Posts

Trompe l'Oeil example in Chambery

It occurred to me that I’ve never written about Chambery, the city where I live.  Actually, I live in a tiny town just outside of Chambery but no one has ever heard of it so I say I live in Chambery. Let me introduce you to my town.

Chambery is a city of about 50,000 people in the French Alps region of France. It’s also the capital of Savoie (Savoy). The town can be rather provincial and sleepy but the Old Town is quaint and picturesque and worth a couple of hours to explore. Here are the top six places to visit in Chambery:

Elephants Fountain

1. The Elephants Fountain was built to honor Benoit de Boigne’s feats as a general for the Prince of India in the 1700′s. Boigne left his fortunes to the city of Chambery. The fountain has realistic sculptures of four elephants, showing only their front limbs, with a statue of Boigne on the top of the monument. The elephants are in the shape of a Savoie cross. At first the landmark was mocked by the local residents who did not understand the symbolism of the foreign land of India. The statue was nicknamed “the four without asses” by the town residents. It still carries this nickname but now it is an affectionate term. The Fountain has become the accepted symbol of Chambery.

2. The Rue Basse du Chateau dates back to the 1200’s and was one of the main thoroughfares in the city in the Middle Ages. The most famous site is the overhanging bridge between the streets’ buildings called the Bridge of Sighs (taken from the famous bridge in Venice Italy).  There were several similar bridges on the street but they were taken down since they were a fire risk, due to the fact that the bridges were made of wood and connected the buildings on each side of the street. Today the street is known for its cute and characteristic shops.

3. The Dukes of Savoy Castle dates back to the first counts of Savoy who settled into an existing fortress in 1285 and expanded it in the early 14th century to serve as a residence, seat of power and administration, and as a stronghold for the House of Savoy.  In 1563, due to constant French hostilities on the chateau, Duke Emmanuel Philibert decided to remove his capital to Turin. Today the building houses the Savoie region’s governmental offices.

Dukes of Savoy Castle

The Dukes of Savoy Castle burned down twice in the 1700’s and again in the 1800’s.  In 1786, Victor Amadeus III enlarged it, adding a Royal Wing. Under Napoleon Bonaparte, the South Wing was rebuilt and redecorated to house the imperial prefecture (or regional government offices).

4. The Chateau Chapel, located next to the Castle, was built in the1400’s and contains 70 bells in its Bell Tower. The original 37 bells were made to represent Savoie at the World Fair in 1937. The bell tower is the 4^th in the world and 1^st in France for the number of bells in a Bell Tower. The biggest bell weighs 5 tons. The Chapel held the Shroud of Turin from 1502 to 1541 and 1561 to 1578 when it was moved to Turin. In order to see inside the Castle and Chapel you must join a guided tour, which you can find at the end of the Rue Basse du Chateau next to the Chapel Bell Tower and walkway fountains.

5. The Place Saint Leger is the main square and sits in the center of town. A small apartment in the square, which is no longer standing, was the birthplace of the town’s hero and benefactor, General de Boigne in 1751. It is lined by middle age to 18^th century buildings, decorated with intricate iron balconies. The square features outdoor restaurants and expensive stores.

6. The Chambéry Cathedral or Cathédrale Saint-François-de-Sales de Chambéry is Roman Catholic and dedicated to Saint François de Sales. It was built in the 15^th century and consecrated in 1488. The site is very swampy and the building is supported by 30,000 poles.  During the French Revolution it was extensively defaced, and the interior was entirely restored in the early 19th century.  The massive wooden door dates to 1506, and the organ from 1844. The Cathedral contains the largest ensemble of trompe l’œil painting in Europe (almost 6,000 square meters) by the artist Vicario, which dates to 1809 to 1834. Trompe L’oeil art is a three dimensional form of painting intended to trick the eye into thinking it is the real thing. The neighboring local Savoie history museum, formerly the 14th century Franciscan convent, is linked to the cathedral by the cloisters.

Planning a visit to Chambery and have an IPhone or Ipod? Then buy my Chambery ITunes App and let it guide you to each of these landmarks. To buy it, click here.

Or visit Chambery on our French Alps Tours next summer – you’ll also see many other amazing sights and surprises of the region.

Chambery Cathedral

Trompe l'Oeil inside the Cathedral

More From cinzia8

• A Visit to Lovely Geneva, Switzerland
• A Visit to Lake Thuile near Chambery, France
• A Visit to Chartreuse

Ask cinzia8 To Recommend Your Posts

From cheese-rolling competitions in England to La Tomatina festival in Spain, Europe has some eccentric events. Among the most traditional and unusual is the northern French town of Douai’s Festival of the Giants, which is held in mid-July each year.

The Festival                 

Local people parade the gayants, among which feature Monsieur and Madame Gayant and their children, Jacquot, Fillon and Binbin, through the center of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais town. Other characters that appear include the devil and giant dragons. Each figure is around twenty feet tall and maneuvered by a team of five or six people.

The figures are paraded through the town and treated almost as if they were real people by the locals.  As a good-luck ritual, children who plant a kiss on cross-eyed Binbin’s cheek are said to be less likely to develop eye problems themselves.

But the festival is not just about enjoying the parade and marveling at the balancing feats of those operating the huge puppets. French cuisine is famous for a reason, and this northern region of France is no exception when it comes to producing delicious foodie delights. Expect to sample hearty one-pot food, which is similar to that of the region’s German neighbors, and gayantines, delicious sweets created in celebration of the festival.

The History

Although Douai now belongs to France, the first giants were constructed in 1530 under orders from the Flemish rulers of the town. The town became part of France in the 1600s, but after the French revolution the tradition was abolished. The giants were reinstated after the defeat of Napoleon, however, they continue to be enjoyed today.

Local Dialect                                   

Douai locals speak Picard, a regional language closely related to French. For example, the word gayant used to describe the festival is a variation of the standard French word géant. Despite these differences, you should have no problems getting around with just a basic knowledge of French. However, if you would prefer to expand your vocabulary before you go, whether you want to learn French or learn English London language schools offer courses to help you brush up in time for the holidays.

Nearby Attractions

If you’re visiting Douai for the summer festival, why not make the town your base for a few days? The Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of northern France is brilliantly located for travel to nearby European countries. Traveling to neighboring Belgium and Luxembourg is easy, and at half an hour’s drive from Calais, where there are frequent ferries to the south-east of England, a weekend trip to the UK to see the sights or take a class at an English school London is home to is not out of the question.                

Well linked to Paris via train and road, Douai is also a great place to visit as part of a wider tour of France.

More From cinzia8

• Italian Festival in Bourget, France: Festivals of the French Alps
• Fete des Lumieres / Festival of Lights in Lyon, France 2009
• The Medieval Village of Rosheim in Alsace, France

Ask cinzia8 To Recommend Your Posts

Tomorrow I leave for the States with my cat, Bandit, in tow. I’ll be there for at least six months, living in my new home in the Fort Myers area. Bernard, my husband, will join me in early November so we’ll be apart for three months. I’ve lived alone most of my life so I can manage that okay but he has never lived alone so it’s harder on him. He’ll be staying for three months with me in Florida and we’ll work on landscaping the house during his time there. I need to keep him busy so he doesn’t get bored or too homesick!  I, on the other hand, will be putting my time and energy towards finding an income, whether that be more fundraising and grant writing contracts or working as a consultant with fundraising organizations. I’ll also be meeting with travel agencies to market my French Alps Tours and try to establish some partnerships.  Since Florida will be ‘home’, I’ll be bringing my contract work there and setting up shop in the area so I’ll need to get my business license too.

Besides the landscaping and finding additional income, I have a list of things that I’ll need to accomplish. My house was burglarized during my absence so I have to replace the washer/dryer, microwave, TV, laptop, and several other things. This time however I think I’ll get the cheaper or refurbished versions of those things and save myself some money.  I’ll also be putting in a heavy duty alarm/security system and front and back motion detector lights.  I’ll be getting my Florida driver’s license. I hope to find classes in advanced Word, Powerpoint, Excel programs, and take an Italian class to brush up on that language which I’ve mostly forgotten in my three years in France. And of course, either find a French class or French tutor to try to make some progress with that language as well. Of course, there’s always my blogs and my French Alps Tours to work on. And I’d like to try to find time to volunteer for some non-profit agencies in the area, including an animal rescue organization. I definitely won’t get bored.

I, of course, hope to have a little fun too. My entire family (almost entire) lives in the area and, except for the three months I lived in Florida earlier this year, it’ll be the first time that I’ve lived in the same city with them since I was 17 years old. I’m looking forward to spending time with them and having some laughs – which is what we do very well together.  I’ll get to have Thanksgiving for the first time in 3 years and Christmas and New Years with them too.  Cape Coral has a big Christmas Boat Parade that I’m looking forward to seeing – boat owners decorate their boats in lights and Christmas decorations and compete for a prize. You can watch the gorgeous parade from the parks along the river.

By the way, don’t worry about the blog losing its ‘French-ness.’  I have enough French-related videos and posts to last until I return to France.  I’ll have a few Florida-related festivals or events too to keep it interesting.

So bon voyage a moi, and see you on the other side of the Pond!

More From cinzia8

• Winter in the French Alps
• Hiking in Granier in the French Alps
• Nomination for Best Film Maker for the Month of August

Ask cinzia8 To Recommend Your Posts