When I moved to France many, many moons ago, I had a couple of words and phrases Id remembered from lessons at school when I was 12 years old – not necessarily grammatically correct:
Bonjour! (Hello!)
Bonsoir! (Good evening!)
Bon nuit!) (Good night – when going to bed)
Je m’appelle Teena et je suis Australienne. (My name is Teena and I’m Australian.)
Je ne parle pas bien français. (I don’t speak French very well.)
Je voudrais … (I would like …)
Il n’y a pas des nouages au ciel. (There are no clouds in the sky.)
Not a whole lot be able to speak with a French person :-)
So I signed up for a one month French Class with a Vietnamese tutor (who was lovely).
There were about 20 adult students from many different countries, and we were NOT allowed to speak any language other than French in the classroom.
At the end of the month I could order coffee or cocktails, buy grroceries, and ask questions – I was thrilled!
These days it’s possible to learn French at home in your pyjamas/pajamas, in a few minutes a day.
DUOLINGO
I signed up with Duolingo a few years ago, and every day I do my 5 minute French lesson to keep French alive in my brain when I’m no longer living in Paris.
I play French music when I’m in my car (a little purple Ford KA whom I lovingly call Purple Piaf!).
I can pretend I’m in Paris every time and it’s truly delightful :D
What about you? Do you have favourite French songs or songs about Paris?
Let me know – I’d love to hear what they are xo
EDITH PIAF
‘Sous le Ciel de Paris’ – Edith Piaf
EARTHA KITT
‘Under the Bridges of Paris’ – Eartha Kitt
CHARLES AZNAVOUR
“La Boheme”
JOSEPHINE BAKER
‘J’ai Deux Amours’ – Josephine Baker
and I must also include a couple of my other favourite French songs from Edith Piaf:
“No, Je ne regrette rien”
“La Vie En Rose”
Have a spectacular day, wherever you are in the world!
May these French songs help you to daydream about the City of Love and Light, and help us to start planning our next visit when COVID-19 and the Coronavirus have gone and are far behind us xox
This is the first in the Series – there will be new sayings and a choice of colours in a few days, but I just wanted to get this first one on the website a.s.a.p. – so excited!
“Quoi de Neuf?” is French for “What’s New?”
New T-shirts
Je parle comme une vache espagnole
(usually used to describe someone’s foreign language skills – not a compliment)
I woke this morning here at the beach near Brisbane, Australia about 6:30am, walked out to my desk to charge my iPhone, and saw I’d missed a message from my friend Helen in the UK.
I was NOT prepared for what I read!
“Notre Dame is on fire!!”
What????!!!!
I ran to turn on the TV and it was on the news — as I looked on, I was in total shock, and started crying.
This beautiful Cathedral has lived through 850 years of wars and all kinds of other hardships and devastations, and survived.
Recently she had been feeling a bit fragile, and desperately needed some work to keep her going; she was surrounded by scaffolding as the work crews started a daunting task.
I don’t know how the fire started, possibly something to do with the renovation, whatever the reason it is a miracle that there is any of it left.
And such a miracle that no-one was hurt or perished, for that I am truly grateful.
This has been a sad, sad day for Paris, for my friends, and all the people visiting Paris at the moment — my heart goes out to everyone, and I’m sending all my love and hugs across the kilometres.
On the other side of the coin, something I am so, so thrilled about is that I’ve spent some amazing summer days and evenings in and near Notre Dame over several decades, and I have wonderful videos and photos of me with friends right outside her doors.
Are you celebrating Mothers Day in Paris this year? How absolutely marvellous!
There are so many wonderful things to do, from picnics in the park, to special lunches and dinners in restaurants, to relaxing with family and friends just about anywhere!
Here are a few places to whet your whistle for things to see and do:
List of Covered Passages in Paris, known as les Passages Couvertes
Passage des Panoramas
Galerie Vivienne
Passage du Grand-Cerf
Galerie de la Madeleine
Passage Verdeau
Passage Brady
Passage des Princes
Passage Jouffroy
Galerie Véro-Dodat
Galerie Colbert
Passage du Caire
Passage Choiseul.
In the 19th century, these arcades were built in Paris and covered with amazing glass roofs so visitors could see the sky and all the seasons.
They were created by building right through other buildings, which is a typically Parisian architectural feature. In many of them we can find restaurants, shops, and tearooms.
Around 20 of them can be found in Paris in the vicinity of the Grands Boulevards.
One of the oldest is the Passage des Panoramas, dating from 1799. It’s home to the Théâtre des Variétés, which was inaugurated in 1807 and still provides entertainment.
Each of these marvellous passages couverts / arcades has its own charming character. Here are some details of some of them
Passage Brady — Little India, houses numerous Indian, Pakistan, Mauritian and Reunion shops.
Passage Verdeau — antique dealers.
Passage du Caire – the longest and the narrowest in the capital (more than 360 metres long) – wholesalers of ready-to-wear clothing and other clothes manufacturers.
Galerie Vivienne (which is next door to the Palais-Royal) is one of the most iconic covered passages.
Galerie Véro-Dodat — upmarket shops (including Christian Louboutin’s workshop-boutique).
Passage du Grand-Cerf, 12 metres high, one of the most spectacular arcades in Paris.
Galerie Colbert is totally different because it has no shops. It houses the Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art and the Institut National du Patrimoine.
The public can walk through the gallery and have lunch at the Grand Colbert brasserie (located at the entrance in art deco style).
Where are the Covered Passages in Paris?
1. Passage des Panoramas
11 boulevard Montmartre, Paris, 75002
The first covered walkway in Paris, wonderful for window shopping and strolling.
2. Galerie Vivienne
4 rue des Petits-Champs, Paris, 75002
Built in 1823, is one of the most iconic covered arcades.
3. Passage du Grand-Cerf
145 rue Saint-Denis, Paris, 75002
The beautiful Grand-Cerf covered passage is almost 12m tall, and was created in 1825, not far from Turbigo (Montorgueil district).
4. Galerie de la Madeleine
9 place de la Madeleine, Paris, 75008
This delightful covered passage is in the very chic Place de la Madeleine in the 8th arrondissement.
5. Passage Verdeau
6 rue de la Grange-Batelière, Paris, 75003
The Passage Verdeau, in the Grands Boulevards district, was built in 1847.
6. Passage Brady
46 rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, Paris, 75010
Quite often called “Little India”, visit and find where India resides in Paris. The Passage Brady was built in 1828, is one of the rare Parisian arcades composed of two parts – covered and open air.
7. Passage des Princes
5 boulevard des Italiens, Paris, 75002
The history of the Passage des Princes has been very eventful. Built in 1860 and then destroyed in 1985
8. Passage Jouffroy
-12 boulevard Montmartre, Paris, 75009
Since it was built in 1836, Passage Jouffroy has been one of the most visited covered arcades in the capital
9. Galerie Véro-Dodat
19 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris, 75001
In an ideal location, very close to the Louvre.
10. Galerie Colbert
4 rue Vivienne, Paris, 75002
Built in 1823, Galerie Colbert is a short walk from Galerie Vivienne.
11. Passage du Caire
2 place du Caire, Paris, 75002
Built in 1798, the oldest covered arcade in Paris takes its name from the Egyptian capital city Cairo.
12. Passage Choiseul
40 rue des Petits Champs, Paris, 75002
This beautiful, iconic passage is in the Opéra district.
Map of the Covered Passages in Paris
Have you visited any of the Covered Passages in Paris?
I’d love to hear what you thought about any of these amazing architectural delights.
Every now and then I receive emails from people who’ve been to Paris with a friend, family member or loved one, and ended up having a terrible holiday.
For some, this trip might be the dream of a lifetime, they’ve saved up for years, then they encourage, cajole or convince someone to go with them, and that person has no plan to do ANYthing in Paris, or is just a royal pain in the backside!
Have a chat with your friend / significant other / travel companion BEFORE you go! Talk about what YOU want to do whilst in Paris, and ask THEM what they plan to do.
Write it all down, discuss each point until you’re both happy with the outcome.
Make sure to be clear you do NOT need to be together 24/7– have a day or a few hours apart often, and meet up in a cafe / bar in the afternoon for an aperitif or coffee to chat and share you day’s adventures! This can be so much fun and so rewarding for you both, as you won’t be getting on each others’ nerves :D
When one of you is unhappy and won’t tell the other
For a lot of people, they may feel extremely disappointed once they’re there (for any number of reasons), and many of them will not even tell the other person how unhappy they are.
OK – that can happen – honestly – so don’t sulk, pout or seethe silently.
Remember … it’s a new situation for you both in a foreign city
Getting along great with someone in your home town might be easy, but travelling overseas has all kinds of other situations you both might not have thought about.
Talk to them – ask them if they’d be OK to spend a few hours on their own, or even a day, take a tour on their own, and meet up later to share adventure stories.
Are you or they an early riser? Talk about how to deal with that.
Do either of you like “quiet” time to write a journal or read a book? Discuss how to manage that. Can one of you go to a cafe to leave the other in peace?
If either of you makes new friends, are you both happy to have them come back to your shared room to visit?
Speak of sharing a room … Set some boundaries BEFORE you leave home so you don’t drive each other crazy. Before you go, talk about:
phones, chargers etc
alarm clocks – who loves or hates them? are they necessary? I use my iPhone
snoring or just noisy
untidiness
suitcases overflowing on the floor and the bed
food in the room – and scraps
having a radio or music going all night to help YOU sleep all night, but which BUGS the other person.
Now honestly – do you still want to SHARE a room? I suggest you find the budget to each have your own room, or rent an Airbnb apartment with 2 bedrooms, which is something I can highly recommend :-)
If you can’t salvage the trip, SMILE, stop sulking and start planning
And by that I mean PLAN ANOTHER trip as soon as possible, and do ALL the things you wanted to do the first time round!
I also mean PLAN to talk to your travelling companion right now, so the rest of the trip can be less stressful for both of you.
Here are some of the questions I’ve heard from nervous travellers:
is it safe to travel to Paris on my own? YES
how will I manage on my own? QUITE WELL if you plan in advance
I’ve never travelled alone – how can I do this? WITH CONFIDENCE
I’m afraid to be on my own. A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE AWAITS!
I’m sure I’ll be so lonely I’ll have an awful time! IF YOU DECIDE to have a GREAT TIME instead, YOU WILL :D
These are just some of things people have written to me.
So – here are a few tips I’ve shared over the years, which might help you to plan a trip on your own to the City of Love and Light!
Have you heard that Paris is for lovers?
Well, yes, it is.
But it’s also for lovers of LIFE, enjoyment, adventure!
You don’t have to be with someone to fall in love with Paris, when you’re IN Paris :-)
A few suggestions on how to fall in love with Paris a second time!
I’ve spoken to many women over the years who have had similar experiences to the ones I mention above — I know this won’t make it any better for you if that’s what you’re going through or have just been through — but it saddens my heart that when we travel with our dearly loved partner they become selfish and think only of themselves.
My suggestion is always — go again, and go alone!
Now you’ve been once — you’ve been in arm’s reach of amazing sights and sounds, and you know enough about Paris to go again — or with a carefully-selected, well-screened friend — and enjoy absolutely every minute of every day!
I’m not sure of your age, but when I divorced in Australia and ended up in Paris — I fell in love with her, the City of Love and Light, and I ended up staying for about three years that first time (before I was offered a new adventure in Greece!). I did go back to Paris and stay for many months at a time, and continue to revisit friends and places I love.
Back then – newly single, I didn’t speak more than a few sentences in French, but I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and willing to learn, knowing there was always going to be a new adventure around every corner if I could speak a bit of the language!
Do mini “practice trips” before you go to Paris
If you think you’d be nervous going on your own, do what I recommend to friends — go to a town or district a small distance from where you live, just for the day, or even a few days if you can.
BE A TOURIST
go to the Visitor Information office
get maps
go on a sightseeing tour
eat out in cafes and restaurants on your own
take books (about Paris!) and a notebook
enjoy the time on your own.
Treat it like you would if you were in Paris – explore and have adventures!
Talk to strangers :-)
In fact, the best thing I ever could have done when I arrived in Paris was to sign up for a language class. You could do this near your home!
5 days a week, 8 hours a day for a total of 4 weeks I learnt enough French to survive, and my whole Parisian world opened up :-)
In fact, the people I met at the school became my friends, and that made it even more fun to meet them in cafes and chat outside school hours.
That was 30 years ago, and one of those people (a gorgeous Italian woman with a great sense of humour) is still a close friend today!
These days the younger French generations are happy to speak English, but it’s ever so helpful to know a bit of French.
Today I use the Duolingo App every day to practice 5-10 minutes of verbal and written French — it’s such a great easy-to-use program!
I think if you try some of these things, you will understand that Paris isn’t “over” — it’s really just beginning. And your next adventure is ahead of you, beckoning you with open arms, to come and explore on your own, without any negativity from a travel friend.
And if you’d ever like to talk about Paris, I’d love to Zoom (or Skype) with you — we can work out a time to suit us both, and we can chat about the things you LOVED about Paris! I’d love that if you’re up for it!
To answer the questions I’ve received:
Paris is for lovers of life!
If you have any other questions, please do get in touch (by email or on Facebook) so we can chat further.
No matter where you live, if you have a love of all things French and have dreamed of spending a Christmas in the City of Love and Light, you won’t be disappointed.
Would you like a downloadable Frenchified Christmas Printable just for you?
I’ve created a shiny and helpful PDF of French words based on the Christmas season, you can grab it here – NO sign up required! :
I hope these PDFs help you when you’re in Paris, or planning your trip, or just daydreaming about being in the city I love — gai Paree :-)
Above: People strolling along the street in Paris
Christmas is a major occasion in France and is celebrated with plenty of gusto as a public holiday on December 25th (the same as many other countries around the world).
In France, this special day is called “Noel“.
The French celebrate Noel in much the same way as people of other nations do. While there may be some marked differences in certain aspects, many of the ways by which Christmas is celebrated are common among many countries.
Giving of gifts and putting up decorations are just two of the traditions that are associated with celebrating Christmas. As a visitor to France about to spend Christmas for the first time in Paris, you will surely find many things about how the French celebrate the holidays which may be very similar to your own home country.
Christmas decorations:
1. Creche – The “creche” (Nativity scene) is an important part of the Christmas celebration in France, and almost every French home as well as churches has one. Little figures made of clay, called “santons” (little saints), are arranged in the creche to depict the Holy Family, the Magi, and the shepherds. In addition to these familiar figures, the French creche may also include other figures in the form of local characters. The santons are often colorfully made to add life to the creche.
2. Sapin de Noel – The putting up of “sapin de Noel” (Christmas tree) is a tradition that began in France in the 18th century. The tree is adorned with ribbons, flowers made of paper, and, sometimes, with apples. Today, however, the Christmas tree is no longer as popular as it is in other countries.
3. Le Gui – The hanging of “le gui” (the mistletoe) above the door is a tradition meant to bring good fortune to homes and families. The French make use of the mistletoe though more during the New Year celebrations.
Traditional Christmas foods served:
1. Foie Gras – The “foie gras” (fat liver) is perhaps the most popular French food served during the Christmas season. It is made of goose or duck liver that has been fattened through some special feeding process.
2. Crepes – These are very thin pancakes made from wheat flour. Common crepe fillings are ham, eggs, mushrooms, and cheese. Those who prefer their crepes sweet can have them filled with fruit spreads, maple syrup, or simply with powdered sugar.
3. Dinde Aux Marrons – This is a special food served in many homes in France during Christmas. It is turkey stuffed with chestnuts.
Other foods traditionally served during Christmas in France include “chapon” (roasted chicken), oysters, and smoked salmon. For desserts, there are “buche de Noel” (cake made of chestnuts and chocolate and shaped into a log), “calissons” (fruit-flavored candies), and quince cheese (a sweet, thick jelly).
Traditional French Christmas carols:
The most popular traditional songs heard around France during the Christmas season include:
“Minuit Chretiens” (“O Holy Night”),
“Pat-a-pan” (similar in concept to “The Little Drummer Boy”)
and “Quelle est cette odeur agreable?” (“Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?”).
Christmas is always a happy occasion, especially for children.
In France, children expect to receive toys, candies, fruits and other gifts from “Pere Noel” (Santa Claus), by putting their shoes in front of the fireplace hoping that these will be filled with their Christmas goodies.
To read more about Christmas in Paris 2018, check out these pages too:
Cheerio for now, and wherever you are in the world, may your holidays be filled with love and laughter and may all your dreams come true in the New Year!
Hugs across the miles!
(I’m typing this to you in Australia, sitting at my local cafe at the beach, where I walk out along the wharf to the cafe and watch the dolphins swimming by, feeling the sea breeze and smiling at the yachts bobbing lazily in front of me!)
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Pop over there now and sign up so you don’t miss out!
France celebrates a total of thirteen public holidays, or “jours feriés“, every year.
Of these, eight are observed on fixed dates, which include three important religious celebrations, and one is only in certain regions. These nine fixed-dated French public holidays are listed below, in the order of their occurrence.
1. Le Jour de l’An (New Year’s Day) 1st Januaray
France, like most other countries, celebrates New Year’s Day on January 1, the first day based on the Gregorian calendar. The highlight of activities on this holiday, again like in many countries, takes place at midnight that spans the last day of the old year (December 31) to the first day of the new year. Observance of the New Year lasts up to January 6, the feast of the Epiphany.
2. Féte du Travail (Labor Day) 1st May
There probably isn’t a country that does not observe Labor Day, for on this day workers celebrate their social and economic achievements. In France, Labor Day is celebrated in conjunction with the celebration of “Le Jour du Muguet“. In this latter celebration, workers sell “muguet” (lily of the valley) on the streets to raise funds for labor unions. May 1 is the date when France, and almost all countries, celebrates Labor Day.
3. Victoire 1945 (Victory in Europe Day) 8th May
This public holiday is celebrated in France on May 8. It is a celebration of the victory of the Allied Powers (of which France was a member) against Nazi Germany that signalled the end of World War II.
4. Féte Nationale (Bastille Day) 14th July
This is the National Day of France, which is celebrated on July 14 every year. The celebration is a commemoration of the storming of the medieval fortress and prison known as the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789, that paved the way for the rise of modern France.
5. Assomption (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in France, and the Assomption is one of the most important religious celebrations in this country. This August 15 celebration is an observance of the taking up into Heaven, body and soul, of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
6. Toussaint (All Saints’ Day) 1st November
This is another important religious celebration in France, which is observed on November 1 each year. The day is celebrated in honour of all the Saints who are recognised by the Roman Catholic Church. Traditionally on this day too, deceased family members and friends are remembered and prayed for.
7. Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day) 11th November
This holiday, which is also called Remembrance Day, is celebrated on November 11. It is a commemoration of the signing of the armistice or cessation of hostilities by and between the Allies of World War I and Germany. The event is especially important for France since it was in the French commune of Compiégne where the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Through this momentous event, World War I eventually ended.
8. Noél (Christmas Day) 25th December
This is the most joyful religious celebration in France, as it is in many parts of the world. It is celebrated on December 25 in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. The Christmas season actually is one of the longest holidays in France, which is celebrated beginning on Christmas eve (December 24) up to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6 the following year.
9. Day After Christmas, 26th December
In the eastern provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, the day after Christmas Day (December 26), which is referred to as the Second Day of Christmas, is also celebrated as a public holiday.
Got any questions? Do please let me know!
I’d love to hear from you.
Hugs across the miles!
(I’m typing this to you in Australia, sitting at my local cafe at the beach, where I walk out along the wharf to the cafe and watch the dolphins swimming by, feeling the sea breeze and smiling at the yachts bobbing lazily in front of me!)
Not on the Postcards from Paris Mailing list?
Pop over there now and sign up so you don’t miss out!
List of Covered Passages in Paris, known as les Passages Couvertes
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