From 29 February – 4 April 2012 a fabulous selection of French films will be gracing New Zealand screens during the sixth annual Alliance Française French Film Festival. Proudly sponsored by L’Oréal Paris, the Alliance Française French Film Festival offers a comprehensive national programme over five weeks and nine cities, making it the biggest French [...]
Archive for the ‘France’ Category
The Louvre – Forbidden Love
Posted in France, Holiday, Tourism, Travel, tagged Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson, Atala, Chactas, Louvre on December 12, 2011 | 11 Comments »
Lessons from the Louvre – Part 3 This is the third part of my series on paintings in the Louvre. This is my attempt to cure those suffering from MLS syndrome, and opening your eyes to art highlights other than the Mona Lisa! Over the next month there will be weekly articles on my highlights, [...]
The Louvre – Kim Kardashian creates havoc?
Posted in Art and Photography, France, Holiday, Tourism, Travel, tagged Henri IV, L'Apotheose d'Henri IV, Louis X111, Louvre, Marie de Medici, Mona Lisa, Paul Rubens, Richelieu on December 7, 2011 | 19 Comments »
Lessons from the Louvre – Part 2: This is the second part of my series on paintings in the Louvre. This is my attempt to cure those suffering from MLS syndrome, and opening your eyes to art highlights other than the Mona Lisa! Over the next month there will be weekly articles on my highlights, [...]
Isle sur la Sorgue – Market in Provence
Posted in France, Holiday, Tourism, Travel, tagged Avignon, Carpentras, House Rentals, Isle sur la Sorgue, Le Jardin du Quai, Le Vivier, Markets on November 10, 2011 | 25 Comments »
Sunday morning and it’s market day in L’Isle sur la Sorgue, and you will soon see why so many people travel here ! Isle sur la Sorgue is situated 30 minutes to the east of Avignon (Provence), just at the entrance to the Luberon Valley. It is essentially, as its name suggests, an island on the [...]
Edith Piaf – The Sparrow and the Rose
Posted in France, News, Paris, Tourism, Travel, tagged Edith Piaf, James Blunt, Je Ne Regrette Rien, Jim McIntosh, La Vie en Rose, Louis Leplee, Montmartre, Non, Oscar Wilde, Pere Lachaise, Place des Abbesses on November 3, 2011 | 27 Comments »
I sit on a bench on Place des Abbesses in Paris. There is a colourful merry-go-round in the centre of this autumn- leaf covered square in the heart of Montmartre, Paris. A young Parisian is sitting on the steps of the nearby church strumming on his guitar with his cap waiting hopefully on the footpath [...]
Toussaint – Don’t get the flowers wrong!
Posted in France, Holiday, Tourism, Travel, tagged All Saints Day, All Souls Day, chrysanthemums, toussaint on October 31, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Within the next few days no-one can avoid the 1st November. In France this day is known as La Toussaint (All Saints Day), a day when one celebrates the lives of all the saints. Equally important as 1 November is the 2 November, which is known as the Fete des Morts (Festival of the Dead). [...]
Hitler’s morning off in Paris.
Posted in France, Holiday, News, Paris, Travel, tagged Albert Speer, Arc de Triomphe, Charles Mangin, Edith Cavell, Eiffel Tower, Hans Spiedel, Hitler, Opera House Garnier, Palais de Chaillot, Paris occupation, Place de la Concorde, Richard Maddox on October 26, 2011 | 21 Comments »
It is early morning on 23rd June 1940. Paris has been occupied for over a week. An armistice was signed in the same railway carriage, at the same spot in the Forest of Compiègne where Foch had imposed terms on the German delegation in 1918. At Le Bourget the light catches a military transport aircraft [...]
Rugby World Cup 2012 – in France
Posted in France, Holiday, News, Tourism, Travel, tagged Brittany, Marseille, Provence, rugby, Rugby World Cup, Toulon, Toulouse on October 20, 2011 | 5 Comments »
The Rugby World Cup mounts to its ultimate crescendo and conclusion. New Zealand to face France in the final match of the Rugby World Cup in Auckland. I am writing this from Christchurch, where despite this city losing the ability to host their World Cup matches, has still been able to get in to the [...]
Escorted Tours 2012 – France and Portugal
Posted in France, Portugal, Tourism, Travel, tagged Carcassonne, Escorted tour of Portugal, Escorted Tours, John Reese, Languedoc, Provence Tour, Small Group Tours, St Remy de Provence, Villefranche sur Mer on October 18, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
For nearly twenty years my job has enabled me to regularly escort groups through France and Europe. It is at this time of the year when I love planning where I am going to take people on tour for the following year. For the year 2012 I have chosen to revisit some of my favourite [...]
Auvers sur Oise – Dining with Vincent Van Gogh
Posted in Art and Photography, France, Tourism, Travel, tagged Auberge Ravoux, Auvers sur Oise, Starry starry night, Van Gogh, Vincent Van Gogh on October 10, 2011 | 36 Comments »
On that starry, starry night, You took your life, as lovers often do. But I could have told you, Vincent, This world was never meant for one As beautiful as you. Don McLean’s hit song “Vincent” captured for us the agony suffered by Vincent Van Gogh as he tried to live his life. I have [...]
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A Selection of my Recent Articles
- Remembering Christchurch
- France is closer than you think….
- Christmas 2011 – Joyeux Noel
- The Louvre – Forbidden Love
- The Louvre – Kim Kardashian creates havoc?
- The Louvre – do you suffer from MLS?
- Isle sur la Sorgue – Market in Provence
- Edith Piaf – The Sparrow and the Rose
- Toussaint – Don’t get the flowers wrong!
- Hitler’s morning off in Paris.
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