A New Year Epiphany

Once Christmas is over in France, the shelves of every boulangerie are suddenly full of a very distinctive flat pastry and marzipan cake, usually sold with a paper crown known as the Galette des Rois (cake of the Kings.) New Year celebrations here are almost bigger and more important than Christmas. The celebration starts . . . → Read More: A New Year Epiphany

Wishing for a very French Christmas

In the past I have spent Christmas in various countries and the way different cultures celebrate at this time of year seems to be very indicative of their priorities. So when we moved to France, I was fascinated to see what the focus of the celebration would be here. Of course, it should have . . . → Read More: Wishing for a very French Christmas

Sunshine, not snow in the foothills of the Pyrenees

Often when I tell people that we live in the foothills of the Pyrenees, they tend to assume that we are snowbound for much of the winter. Generally they are amazed to discover that, despite the fact that our village is less than 50 kilometres from the nearest ski resort, we actually get snow . . . → Read More: Sunshine, not snow in the foothills of the Pyrenees

Toulouse to Paris in three hours by TGV

 

Theatre du Capitole, Toulouse

After years of planning and negotiation, the French government has finally approved the extension of the high speed TGV service between Toulouse, Bordeaux and Paris. This will reduce the journey time between Toulouse and Paris significantly, putting Toulouse within three hours of the capital.

The plan, . . . → Read More: Toulouse to Paris in three hours by TGV