Les petites choses: Life in Normandie (& beyond), France
Marché de Noël Notre Dame
Christmas pyramids: Weihnachtspyramide
La Magie de Noël in Tuileries Garden
One of the smallest Christmas markets, this is neverthless, a market packed with charm. Handmade gifts, artisan foods, and even a singer accompanied by a barrel organ.
La Magie de Noël in Tuileries Garden
Christmas pyramids: Weihnachtspyramide
La Magie de Noël in Tuileries Garden
The biggest market in central Paris, complete with fairground rides and a mini ice-rink. A bit tacky, but in an incredible setting with views as far as the Eiffel Tower.
Christmas pyramids: Weihnachtspyramide
Christmas pyramids: Weihnachtspyramide
Christmas pyramids: Weihnachtspyramide
Decorations that have their roots in the folklore and customs of Germany, but which have become popular internationally. Decorated with nativity scenes and other Christmas figures such as angels and wise men, as well as worldly motifs such as mining folk and forest scenes. (Wikipedia)
Ferris wheel
Christmas pyramids: Weihnachtspyramide
Christmas pyramids: Weihnachtspyramide
70 metres high, 48 gondolas, spectacular views across the city, and beautiful when lit up at night - unfortunately, I was only there during the day.
Glorious France
Château de Montbrun
Château de Montbrun
Having recently been on a holiday to the Limousin region this section is dedicated entirely to some of the beautiful places we visited...
.. starting with the view from Château de Châlus-Chabrol
Château de Montbrun
Château de Montbrun
Château de Montbrun
Peyrat-le-Château
Château de Montbrun
Peyrat-le-Château
If you should find yourself in this pretty little village consider a visit to the excellent Musée de la Résistance
Lac de Vassivière
Château de Montbrun
Peyrat-le-Château
Unspoilt, yet with fab places to eat, relax, swim, stay. Beautiful!
Van pizza
Les voie vertes
Le printemps
Our nearest village doesn't have many places to eat but it does have a pizza van that visits once a week. This van has a wood fired oven and produces the most delicious take away pizzas!
Le printemps
Les voie vertes
Le printemps
Like many places, spring in our little corner of Normandie is gloriously yellow. There are the usual daffodils, but also forsythia (see above), buttercups, cowslips, and primroses to name but a few other yellow examples.
Wildlife
Les voie vertes
Les voie vertes
It's also around this time of year that we start to get these little guys in our garden again. It's brilliant to watch them, but later in the year I'm not so keen as they strip my roses of all their flowers.
Les voie vertes
Les voie vertes
Les voie vertes
Typically created from disused railway lines or canal towpaths, these traffic-free well-maintained pathways go on for miles and are perfect for an easy wander or outing on a bike.
Galettes des rois
Galettes des rois
Galettes des rois
Meant to be eaten on Epiphany, Twelfth Night, this 'king cake' is a delicious buttery, frangipane confection (though recipies vary). Hidden within is a fève to represent Christ - traditionally a fava bean, but now more likely a tiny model of a superhero?!? In our commune, the Maire invites all the villagers to come together for a drink and a slice of galette to celebrate the new year.
Noël
Galettes des rois
Galettes des rois
Even in Paris, Christmas seems a bit less frenetic and stressy than in the UK. Not to mention, I went the entire month of December without being Whamaggedoned! I love 'Last Christmas', but it's good to not be bombarded with it.
Nutella
Galettes des rois
Nutella
The French love Nutella and it seems you can get it on pretty much any sweet treat, which is a good thing becasue I love it too. Addicted is a strong word, but...
Crisps
Galettes des rois
Nutella
They have the weirdest crisp flavours!
The roads are so quiet
The bread & pastries are irresistible
Every purchase is special
Granted, I live in a pretty rural area, but there are times I can drive for twenty minutes and not see another car.
That said, when a car appears behind you, they will either be (a) so close you can see the driver's wrinkles, or (b) they will overtake, probably at speed, and on a blind corner!
Every purchase is special
The bread & pastries are irresistible
Every purchase is special
There's a gorgeous, but small, bookshop in a little town nearby where they will gift wrap your purchase for you - for free - in beautiful paper. It feels like you're in a fancy boutique in Paris.
The bread & pastries are irresistible
The bread & pastries are irresistible
The bread & pastries are irresistible
That's it... you can't resist them.
Okay, there's more...
You will find your favourite boulangerie and you will suffer terrible cravings for their baguettes de tradition and chocolate eclairs.
Conversation
The bread & pastries are irresistible
The bread & pastries are irresistible
In truth, this one is a mixed bag. When I successfully engage in conversation with a French person, even if it's only a sentence or two, it feels like a huge achievement and I'm on a high.
The down side, this doesn't happen often and my pronunciation is atrocious.