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French Girl in Seattle

Takes France!

60 million (1)

Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong

Still one of my favorite book recommendations to introduce the French and their culture.

Category: My Favorite Books, posters and cards

Bonjour, On the way home, after a successful 7-d

Bonjour,

On the way home, after a successful 7-day tour in Paris (followed by a leisurely weekend “en famille.”)

Traditions are traditions… Enjoying a light lunch at a favorite Parisian HQ, l’Atlantique, before catching the train home.

Perfect time to wrap up tour accounting!

7 days in this crowded big city flew by. Memories of good times and new friendships remain.

In spite of the constant traveling and long hours while on the road, there’s great comfort in knowing past professional experiences in France and in the US (I’ve had a few!) have led me to this career I love.

Time to head back to the Loire Valley for a few days to prepare for a busy June and July.

See you soon, Paris!

My tour guide life.

Véro

#francewithvero #rickstevestours #france🇫🇷 #parisfrance #frenchlife #tourguide

Bonjour,

Day 5 of the “Best of Paris in 7 days” Rick Steves tour is winding down.

Our urban explorations continue, and in spite of an alarming weather forecast, our group has managed to beat the rain (so far.)

In just a few days, tour members have learned to navigate Paris like locals. I was proud to see them order their morning coffee “en français” yesterday in le Marais, and I just love witnessing some of their “Wow!” and “Aha” moments.

From the Ile de la Cité and the Latin Quarter, to Montmartre, le Marais and - drum roll - a visit to the Sun King in Versailles earlier today, we are certainly enjoying the best Paris has to offer.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a tour with Véro without daily discussions on French life and French current events (with a few personal memories thrown in for good measure!)

Our week together will wrap up in style at an excellent local restaurant where the Chef has planned a delicious farewell dinner for our guests.

We’re not there yet. A visit to a renowned local museum awaits in the morning.

Question is: Will we need an umbrella or not?

Véro

#francewithvero #paris #parisianlife #tourguideline #rickstevestours @ricksteveseurope

Bonjour, History fans in our group got their fill

Bonjour,

History fans in our group got their fill this morning during a leisurely tour of the Ile de la Cité. We conjured up men (and women) who made their mark on this special section of Paris through the centuries, once the center of all religious and political power in France.

How do you cover over 2000 years of history in a couple of hours?

You do your best. You connect the dots. You avoid showing off, dropping unpronounceable names and dates no one ever remembers. 😉

After the group went on to enjoy a free afternoon (an opportunity to test their new skills as temporary locals,) I headed to the Marais to scout for an upcoming tour.

Had to stop at the Sarah Bernhardt, my Parisian HQ, for a tasty lunch on the way.

Back at the hotel now, preparing for our next Parisian adventure.

It’s been almost three decades since I started sharing France and French culture virtually or in person.

Honestly? It’s still a lot of fun to find new ways to spread the word…

My tour guide life.

Véro

#francewithvero #paris #tourguide #tourguidelife #iledelacité #lemarais #rickstevestours

Bonsoir. Curves. Flowers. Leaves. The most spect

Bonsoir.

Curves. Flowers. Leaves. The most spectacular “marquise” (awning) I’ve seen in a long time…

Loved bumping into this beauty on an errand run today. Perfect all the way to the ceramic building number and the basement air vents…

Art Nouveau was short-lived — dommage! May these creative, crazy façades continue snubbing all the linear, symmetrical, predictable Haussmannian-inspired buildings that surround (and outnumber) them in Paris!

Award-winning design by architecte Octave Raquin, 1900.

#francewithvero #paris #paris75007 #artnouveau #artnouveauarchitecture #parisianarchitecture #façades
#urbanexplorer #alwayslookup

Bonjour, Back in Paris for another 7-day extravag

Bonjour,

Back in Paris for another 7-day extravaganza!

(It feels like I was just here, or did I dream that?)

I’ll be meeting my new Rick Steves group tomorrow afternoon and will share the best of the City of Light for a week.

It’s been a busy day preparing for the welcome meeting, tying up a few loose ends and running errands in the 7th arrondissement. Rick Steves knows how to pick his hotels: A central location saves a lot of time and effort (even for a tour guide!)

Earlier today, I took France with Vero patrons on an impromptu behind-the-scenes look when I welcomed them in my hotel room on Facebook live.

Later, I met another patron, lovely “Madame Sue,” at a popular restaurant along rue Cler for three (!) hours of great conversation, delicious food, and some rosé wine.

I got to reflect once again on all the GOOD things that came out of the last two years: Who would have thought a (small) online business launched during a worldwide pandemic would foster so many special interactions?

Time to rest. Big day ahead. Make that a BIG week ahead, for this tour guide, and a merry group of Paris explorers!

Véro

#francewithvero #paris #tourguide #tourguidelife #ontheroadagain
#rickstevestours #ricksteveseurope

Bonjour, C’est beau, une ville, la nuit (Richa

Bonjour,

C’est beau, une ville, la nuit (Richard Bohringer.)

Véro

#francewithvero #toursmaville #toursetmoi #tours37 #tourscity #loirevalley #urbanexplorer #citygirl #citybynight

Bonjour, Is it summer yet? Renaissance kings k

Bonjour,

Is it summer yet?

Renaissance kings knew best… There’s much to enjoy in the magical Val de Loire.

My French life.

Véro

#francewithvero #amboise #amboisetourisme #loirevalley #loirevalleytourism #aperodinatoire #frenchlife #spritztime

Bonjour, By the end of the week, I will be return

Bonjour,

By the end of the week, I will be returning to Paris to run another Rick Steves tour and will be welcoming 25 North American travelers. For some, this will be a first visit to Paris and la Belle France.

Together, we will tour some of the most iconic sites in the French capital; connect the past to the present; and learn strategies to become temporary locals. We will also brave crowds and hot weather along the way.

A favorite day will take us to Montmartre where we will stroll around “la Butte” and the cobbled streets of a beloved neighborhood. By the time we wrap up our morning tour, things will be getting hectic by the Sacré-Coeur. The group will disperse and enjoy a free lunch and free afternoon until we reconvene for dinner in the 7th arrondissement before a Seine river cruise later that evening.

Days (and nights) get filled quickly in Paris!

As a former resident, I know that “les petits bonheurs” can be found in the most crowded corners of the French capital if one is willing to stray off the beaten path.

Even in touristy Montmartre.

At the back of the hill, along a street carved out in the 19th century, I’ll be stopping for lunch and some admin work on the corner of a small bistro table before heading back to the hotel.

“Suzanne” will welcome me before the 1:00pm rush. Most diners there will be French. The menu? Typical bistro fare… with a twist. In Paris, the land of the Am-Ba-Ga, even a humble “croque-monsieur” can wow, if Gouda cheese is flavored with black truffle and speck replaces the ritual ham.

Here’s to magical moments that can still be conjured up in Paris with some planning and “un peu de réussite” (a little bit of luck.)

Véro

#francewithvero #paris #Frenchfood #bistro #montmartre #tourguidelife #parisianlife #montmartreparis #montmartreaddict

Bonjour.

Pivoines de Touraine.

Bonne semaine à tous!

Véro

#francewithvero #touraine #loirevalley #springflowers #peonies #lifeincolor

©2022 French Girl in Seattle.

All images and text copyright Véronique Savoye of French Girl in Seattle unless otherwise noted. Please contact me if you'd like to reprint or share.

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