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
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
Planning a trip to France ? Stay in a Paris apartment during your trip to the city of lights.
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.
Join us on a small group tour of the French Alps June 9 - 16, 2012. I designed this tour to include the best of the region. Wander the Medieval town of Annecy, nicknamed the Venice of the French Alps, and take a boat ride on its crystal blue lake. Do you like pampering yourself on your vacations, then why not spend an afternoon at the Aix les Bains thermal baths inside your lakeside hotel? Are you the adventurous type? Then take a horseback ride in the Alps or fly through the trees at the High Ropes Adventure. Are you a foodie? Taste local chocolates, cheeses, wines and hazelnut oils. Are you a history buff? Then satisfy your curiosity at Lyon's Old Town or Vienne's Roman Temple and Forum. Or just enjoy watching the hang gliders and sunset while enjoying an outdoor aperitif on the top of a mountain overlooking Annecy's lake. See you in the French Alps! www.french-alps-tours.com
Alps Cookbook
Get my ECookbook: 'French Comfort Food: Recipes of Savoie and the French Alps.'
51 recipes of the region, collected from friends and local cookbooks. This is the only English language Savoie and French Alps cookbook in print. Only $7.99 and includes a bonus book: The Chambery Guide Book.
Click the photo to buy yours now or go to the Cookbook Page on the Navigation Bar!
French Comfort Food
Visit my French Comfort Food website for articles, recipes, videos, tips and products about French Food and Wine. Click on the photo or go to www.frenchcomfortfood.com
Videos, photos and posts can be used or posted noncommerically (this means you can't sell my films, photos or put them in or on anything you sell!), but everything must be linked back to this blog and must list me as the creator.
Every year during Carnival time, Annecy has a Venetian costume and mask Festival. In previous years the weather was so terrible I chose not to go. This year too was wet and gloomy but not so rainy so Bernard and I attended for a few hours. Here is part one of two parts of videos I took at the festival. The costumes and masks were magnificent and they’re handmade. The Carnival is like wandering into another world.
If you have already visited the charismatic glamour of the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum in mainstream France, southeast France is waiting for you with its humble enchantment. Southeast France is heaven for green tourism. The vast stretches of the lofty, icy French Alps are the dream destination of mountain-sports enthusiasts from all parts of the planet. Most of the picturesque cities of this region hold rich histories of their own.
Once the center of the Christian world, the city of Avignon is home to a 14th century Papal palace. Le Pont d’ Avignon, the 12th century bridge is the inspiration for many French folk-songs. If you have an eye for art and culture, visit Avignon in the summer, the season to host the annual summer festival, the platform to exhibit western theatrical expertise. You can also polish your French language from Aix-en-Provence, the center for literary excellence. The town is adorned with beautiful fountains, avenues, squares and buildings with architectural elegance. From literary elegance to intellectual expertise, Grenoble welcomes thousands of students all through the year inquisitive about its technological progress in computer and micro-chip manufacturing. Grenoble also hosted the 1968 Winter Olympics.
Annecy is known as the Venice of the French Alps, with its canals winding through the medieval town. Surrounded by Alpine mountains and sitting next to a crystal blue lake, this town is candy for the eyes. The proud residents of Annecy throw festivals, host a Venetian Carnival, fireworks, and musical concerts to rival cities three times its size. This is a must-see town.
Bormes de Mimosa on the Cote d'Azur
The best gastronomic city of France, Lyon has an impressive 2000 year old history. With the acknowledgment as UNESCO World Heritage site, this city also hosts a rich architectural museum, a world-class university and number of shopping centers and food parks taking the best care of gourmets. It’s annual December Festival of the Lights is not to be missed. When you have fueled yourself enough for the spine-tinkling adventures, come to Chamonix. The picturesque town is the hub for mountaineering and adventure sports enthusiasts. The adrenalin-rushing mountain biking, hiking and paragliding will be complimented with the best food and wine in the local bars and eateries.
Montpellier, in Languedoc-Roussillon, is chiefly a students’ favorite since it’s the home for France’s biggest university, but you can also bask in its brightest sun in this lovely city. Don’t forget to visit Nice, the center of genoese architecture with its Musée Matisse and the Musée Chagall museums, before you head for the further East on the Cote d’Azur or head down to the island of Corsica. The sun, palm trees and marble architecture will let you relax in Spanish style. From history to architecture, from nature to modern technology, from basking in the golden sun to piercing through the sparkling ice – Southeast France has something for everyone. Come and enjoy the euphoria!
Chambery also has a Carnival Festival every February but it is primarily oriented for the children’s entertainment. In fact, the children spend part of the school year designing and decorating some of the floats in the parade. They also ‘perform’ in the parade. You’ll see quite a few chimney sweeper costumes in the video. The reason for this is that the chimney sweeper is the symbol (professionally-speaking) for Savoie/Savoy, so it is the costume of choice. While this carnival couldn’t compete with the Nice Carnival, it was still a fun event to attend and was representative of community effort.
At the same time as the Nice Carnival, Menton holds a Lemon Festival which includes a Parade along the seaside promenade. The nice people at the Tourist office (http://www.feteducitron.com/menton-french-riviera-lemon-festival-uk.html) gave me a Press Pass to film the parade from a high stage so I had a good view. Here are the highlights of the Parade. Put it on your ‘Things to Do’ List!
Menton is 30 minutes by train from Nice. It borders both Italy and Monaco. The population is about 20,000 so I call it a mini-Nice since it has many similar characteristics. One similarity is its Carnival Parade which is part of the annual February Lemon Festival in Menton. It’s a lovely city worth visiting. Here’s an overview video of the city.
The night before the Carnival began in Nice, the city was buzzing. Performers filled the streets, everyone was out walking, and the energy was palatable. I took some video during my walk.
Visit the city of Nice with me in this overview video. I loved Nice and will be back many times in the future. I especially enjoyed the Italian influence and architecture and the wonderful mild weather. Carnival week was a blast. If you are planning a trip to Nice, save some money, and head there in February for Carnival!
