Sunday at the Paris Flea Markets This week’s update includes the latest evolution of Paris’s Covid confinement rules, as well as a video of our Sunday stroll through the famous Marché aux Puces... This week’s update includes the latest evolution of Paris’s Covid confinement rules, as well as a video of our Sunday stroll through the famous Marché aux Puces...
Video: A December Stroll in Paris This weekend’s videos include a stroll through the Islands and the Latin Quarter to share some of the holiday atmosphere and a short video showing what happens at the… This weekend’s videos include a stroll through the Islands and the Latin Quarter to share some of the holiday atmosphere and a short video showing what happens at the…
Fred Sings “O Christmas Tree”… in Two Languages! Now that Thanksgiving is over and French cases of Covid are down enough that all the shops reopened, I thought it would be a good day to go pick up a little Christmas tre Now that Thanksgiving is over and French cases of Covid are down enough that all the shops reopened, I thought it would be a good day to go pick up a little Christmas tre
Beaujolais Nouveau & Other Paris News Under Confinement In normal times, today the French would be celebrating the arrival of the first wine of the year, Beaujolais Nouveau. But Coronavirus oblige, most of the news is about… In normal times, today the French would be celebrating the arrival of the first wine of the year, Beaujolais Nouveau. But Coronavirus oblige, most of the news is about…
A French Lesson on Fruits with Fred Yesterday afternoon Fred and I shot this little video just for the Secrets of Paris Community about the alternative meanings to the French word for "peach". If we sound a Yesterday afternoon Fred and I shot this little video just for the Secrets of Paris Community about the alternative meanings to the French word for "peach". If we sound a
La Toussaint Update from Paris It’s a balmy 17°C/62°F in Paris, but I haven’t set foot outside today, even though it would have probably been a nice day to stroll through one of the Parisian cemeteries… It’s a balmy 17°C/62°F in Paris, but I haven’t set foot outside today, even though it would have probably been a nice day to stroll through one of the Parisian cemeteries…
A Short Update on the Latest News from Paris After yesterday’s epic post about our road trip to the battlefields of Verdun, I promise this will just be a short update about the latest news from Paris for anyone who… After yesterday’s epic post about our road trip to the battlefields of Verdun, I promise this will just be a short update about the latest news from Paris for anyone who…
Road Trip to the Battlefields of Verdun Kids in France are on vacation from school for the “Toussaint” holidays (All Saints’ Day) from October 19th until November 2nd, so Fred thought it would be fun for us all… Kids in France are on vacation from school for the “Toussaint” holidays (All Saints’ Day) from October 19th until November 2nd, so Fred thought it would be fun for us all…
Fall in Paris & Covid Updates After laying low during the damp and chilly week here in Paris, we’ve had such a wonderfully crisp and sunny weekend with puffy white clouds and the turning of the leaves… After laying low during the damp and chilly week here in Paris, we’ve had such a wonderfully crisp and sunny weekend with puffy white clouds and the turning of the leaves…
And in Other News…Escapism à la Parisienne It has been a bit of an insanely crazy week in The Real World. We don’t have to talk about that. Here in Paris, things have been relatively calm. Maybe we’re just getting… It has been a bit of an insanely crazy week in The Real World. We don’t have to talk about that. Here in Paris, things have been relatively calm. Maybe we’re just getting…
The Latest Paris News The past few days have been rough for Parisians. On Friday two people were stabbed outside the former Charlie Hebdo offices, wind and rain brought temperatures down into… The past few days have been rough for Parisians. On Friday two people were stabbed outside the former Charlie Hebdo offices, wind and rain brought temperatures down into…
New Community Feature: Direct Message with Heather Our Secrets of Paris Community has a new feature that has just been rolled out: direct chat! Learn about how that works, along with a short (promise!) update of the… Our Secrets of Paris Community has a new feature that has just been rolled out: direct chat! Learn about how that works, along with a short (promise!) update of the…
What a Typical Secrets of Paris “Research Day” Looks Like People often ask me how I find all of the “secrets” I share in my website and newsletter. It’s not a mystery, I simply walk around Paris and keep my eyes open. To show… People often ask me how I find all of the “secrets” I share in my website and newsletter. It’s not a mystery, I simply walk around Paris and keep my eyes open. To show…
September Update & Community Poll: What Would You Like to See in the… It’s hard to believe we’re already a week into September! After just a month, the Secrets of Paris Community has grown to 50 members – welcome to the newcomers! – so I… It’s hard to believe we’re already a week into September! After just a month, the Secrets of Paris Community has grown to 50 members – welcome to the newcomers! – so I…
Our Final Summer 2020 Roadtrip Post: A Day in Le Perche! After two weeks of sunshine, swimming, sipping rosé, and sightseeing, Fred and I needed a gentle transition back into our busy Parisian lives. So instead of driving… After two weeks of sunshine, swimming, sipping rosé, and sightseeing, Fred and I needed a gentle transition back into our busy Parisian lives. So instead of driving…
Fred’s Turn : The Frenchman’s Tale of Our Tomato Experience As we come close to the end of our roadtrip travelogue, I asked Fred if he’d be interested in taking the helm for once and writing about our day in La Perche from his… As we come close to the end of our roadtrip travelogue, I asked Fred if he’d be interested in taking the helm for once and writing about our day in La Perche from his…
Invitation: Crillon Palace Hotel Rooftop Bar Massive apologies in advance to those of you who are unable to be in Paris at the moment! I'm doing some rooftop bar research, and this weekend I'll be visiting the Crill Massive apologies in advance to those of you who are unable to be in Paris at the moment! I'm doing some rooftop bar research, and this weekend I'll be visiting the Crill
Good Thing We Like Perched Villages, Because We’re Definitely Cursed On Thursday morning Fred and I managed to get up early enough to enjoy our last breakfast at the Ermitage St-Vincent, pack up our bags, and head back to Brioude for our… On Thursday morning Fred and I managed to get up early enough to enjoy our last breakfast at the Ermitage St-Vincent, pack up our bags, and head back to Brioude for our…
Highlights from the Villages of the Allier Valley Using Vieille Brioude as our base, Fred and I spend the entire day Wednesday exploring the villages along the Allier River, also known as the Gorges de L’Allier. The day… Using Vieille Brioude as our base, Fred and I spend the entire day Wednesday exploring the villages along the Allier River, also known as the Gorges de L’Allier. The day…
Trouble Brewing in Brioude At our last breakfast at Château de Creissels, they serve this lovely brioche with orange blossom water called Fouace Aveyronnaise, a specialty from the Aveyron region. At our last breakfast at Château de Creissels, they serve this lovely brioche with orange blossom water called Fouace Aveyronnaise, a specialty from the Aveyron region.
A Templar Fortress, Water Hiking, and the Joy of Unexpected… It’s already Friday?! Eeek! We’re currently heading to our final stopover in Le Perche before our return to Paris, but in today’s post I’m sharing photos from Monday’s… It’s already Friday?! Eeek! We’re currently heading to our final stopover in Le Perche before our return to Paris, but in today’s post I’m sharing photos from Monday’s…
The Château, the Viaduct, and the Waterfall On Sunday late afternoon Fred and I arrived at the Château de Creissels, our historic hotel in a little town over the hill from Millau, famous for its massive, multi-span… On Sunday late afternoon Fred and I arrived at the Château de Creissels, our historic hotel in a little town over the hill from Millau, famous for its massive, multi-span…
A Visit to the Medieval Village of Saint Gilhem Le Désert On Sunday afternoon after our visit to the little market in Salasc, Fred and I drove to our first “Big Destination”, a medieval village that was an important stop for… On Sunday afternoon after our visit to the little market in Salasc, Fred and I drove to our first “Big Destination”, a medieval village that was an important stop for…
A Lake Swim, Al Fresco Dining, and the Sunday Market After leaving Bormes-les-Mimosas on Saturday, we drove for a couple of hours through traffic and past Hyères until we reached Salagou Lake, one of Fred’s favorite swim… After leaving Bormes-les-Mimosas on Saturday, we drove for a couple of hours through traffic and past Hyères until we reached Salagou Lake, one of Fred’s favorite swim…
A Day at Le Lavandou On Friday – Fred’s and my last full day in Bormes-les-Mimosas – we all got a break from the kitchen with a day visiting friends of the family in Le Lavandou. This photo… On Friday – Fred’s and my last full day in Bormes-les-Mimosas – we all got a break from the kitchen with a day visiting friends of the family in Le Lavandou. This photo…
Dining with the French Family On Wednesday I promised I’d give you all a little inside peek into my experience “dining with the French family” during our week in Bormes-les-Mimosas together. While my On Wednesday I promised I’d give you all a little inside peek into my experience “dining with the French family” during our week in Bormes-les-Mimosas together. While my
At the Beach! We finally made it to the beach on Sunday afternoon, then again on Monday first thing in the morning to have the beach to ourselves. Here are some of the highlight photos We finally made it to the beach on Sunday afternoon, then again on Monday first thing in the morning to have the beach to ourselves. Here are some of the highlight photos
Arrival in Bormes-Les-Mimosas Long post to catch up today! This covers Saturday and most of Sunday, including the TGV train ride, the pros and cons of renting a house vs renting an apartment in the… Long post to catch up today! This covers Saturday and most of Sunday, including the TGV train ride, the pros and cons of renting a house vs renting an apartment in the…
Secrets of Paris Roadtrip! - Family Vacation in the South of France I'm finally escaping Paris for the first vacation since February, heading to the South of France with my partner Fred and his extended family for a week of lying comatose… I'm finally escaping Paris for the first vacation since February, heading to the South of France with my partner Fred and his extended family for a week of lying comatose…
How This Thing Works... I've received a few emails asking how Steady works and where to see the posts...hopefully this message will shed a bit of light on the subject! I've received a few emails asking how Steady works and where to see the posts...hopefully this message will shed a bit of light on the subject!