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Un peu de nostalgie ~ and some great blogs about France!

November 8, 2013 by Patricia Sands 18 Comments

If it’s Friday it must be France …

I confess I am having a little withdrawal about France today. I’m working away on my next manuscript which means I am immersed in la vie en France and feel like I am there in every way … except I know I’m not …

Every Friday morning, beginning today, at 9:30 I am having a French lesson via Skype with the fabulous instructor I was fortunate to discover when we were in Nice last month. After spending an hour listening to and learning from Ida Young-Bondi’s dulcet tones and immaculate pronunciation, I found myself wishing we were sitting in the bar in Nice where we had our lessons.

Then a friend sent me this photo …

Photo credit - my frriend Antonia's friend Laura at Cheval Blanc
Photo credit – my frriend Antonia’s friend Laura at Cheval Blanc

Antonia is celebrating her birthday here … Bonne Anniversaire!

I have to admit that this photo only served to deepen my nostalgia … le sigh …

I decided the only solution was  to take a break from writing and visit some of the blogs about France that I follow and enjoy. Let me share them with you!

In no particular order and … croyez-moi, believe me … ALL worth a regular visit for their own unique content!

Provence Post- Julie Mautner ~ all the news you need to know from the heart of Provence

Provence Today – Anne-Marie Simons ~ author of Taking Root in Provence and an experienced journalist, Anne-Marie examines serious news issues in France

Just French It – Ida Young-Bondi and efrenchcafe.com – Ida is a fantastic teacher, entrepreneur, and a lovely person to know – take a look at the many options she offers to help you speak just as she does – *wishful thinking*

People, Places and Bling – Theodora Brack – I looove Theodora! She’s funky, articulate, and I am waiting for the day she publishes her guide to Paris. It will be outstanding!

Bonjour Paris – a favourite companion I’ve been following for years that covers everything you want to know about the City of LIght and other parts of France. I am honoured to contribute articles from time to time.

The Hip Paris Blog – only recently discovered by moi – great practical content including some fab vacation rentals (in Tuscany too)

France Book Tours – if you want to now about the latest books set in France, see many of them here, reviewed by the amazing Emma of Words and Peace, who reads more books than anyone I know, except possibly Claire McAlpine, whose blog Word By Word is also excellent but not really focused on France, although she lives there. Okay, that’s definitely a run-on sentence … sorry … I’m taking so long doing this blog that my husband is now tapping his fingers, waiting for us to go out for dinner.

French Word-A-Day – Kristin Espinasse – an old favourite

Life in Laroque – Margaret Lawrenson – shares her love of photography and the trials and tribulation of relocating in a quiet village

The French Village Diaries – Jacqui reviews books from time to time but, more importantly for me, she shares her experiences of having moved to France from the UK

Food, Photography and France – a fine, fine melange of words and photography and, when we are lucky, recipes

The Riviera Reporter – the French Riviera’s English Language News Magazine – since 1987 they’ve been keeping track of all the news along the coast, first as a magazine and later online – love it! I had the pleasure of meeting Nick Kent when he joined us at my book-signing at The English Bookshop on October 4th.

The Riviera Woman – Anna Fill – a relative newcomer online, this is the perfect place to find out what’s going on along the La Côte. Anna misses nothing!

The Good Life France – Everything you want to know about France and more – I just happily stumbled upon this one and know I will be spending a lot of time here

Visiting France – lots of good practical information for travellers

So there you go! These are some of my most favourite places to take a break from writing … and I’ve probably missed a couple. I know there are many excellent blogs about France so if you have one you would like to share, please do. We can never have too long a list!

Uh-oh, the tapping is becoming louder and faster! A writer’s husband only has so much patience … !

Bon weekend tout le monde! Even my DH agrees we would rather be here ==============>

Côte d'Azur-PSandsPhotos
Côte d’Azur-PSandsPhotos

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Filed Under: Blog, France, If it is France... Tagged With: blogs about France, Nice, Patricia Sands, south of France, The Promise of Provence

About Patricia Sands

Family, writing and travel are my passions ... okay, and chocolate ... and I'm seldom without a camera. I write women's fiction and keep in touch with readers by a monthly newsletter that also has giveaways and contests. Come and join us by signing up on the right. See you there!

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Comments

  1. wordsfromanneli says

    November 8, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Your blog posts always make me want to go back to France.

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      November 8, 2013 at 9:04 pm

      Hopefully one of these days you will do just that! In the meantime, when you have some you can transport yourself through these blogs!

      Reply
  2. Marilyn Friesen says

    November 8, 2013 at 6:51 pm

    Your first paragraph immediately reminded me about one of the books I am working on. It’s about 1st Century Italy high up in the Alps. When we’re on a gravel road I think this is so much better than the narrow footpaths my characters plodded, or if I go into the chicken coop: why it’s bigger and far brighter AND airtight than their “new” home!! I could go on but I’m sure you’re busy.

    Reply
  3. patodearosen says

    November 8, 2013 at 6:54 pm

    Thanks for the links. I, too, want to go back to France.

    Reply
    • Patricia Sands says

      November 8, 2013 at 9:06 pm

      Enjoy these links and I hope you go back to France before too long. It’s always good to have a dream! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

      Reply
  4. WordsAndPeace says

    November 8, 2013 at 11:22 pm

    thanks for your shout out! actually I only read about 100 books/year, nothing compare to many book bloggers i know

    Reply
  5. margaret21 says

    November 9, 2013 at 3:56 am

    Thanks for introducing me to some more great French blogs.

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      November 9, 2013 at 10:58 am

      Margaret! I should have included your blog as well. I’m really enjoying your posts and was in a hurry to finish my list … with my husband’s patience wearing thin but I wanted to post before we went out … I knew I would miss someone important to me. I’m going to put it in there right now. Désolée!

      Reply
      • margaret21 says

        November 9, 2013 at 11:22 am

        I’m immensely flattered to find myself in such wonderful company. Thank you. In fact, it’s not difficult to find something to write about when, even after some years here, every day brings an interesting something-or-other to comment on.

        Reply
  6. cupcaketravels says

    November 9, 2013 at 10:16 am

    Oh it’s been six weeks since I left my little village home there… I miss it already too!

    Reply
    • patriciasands says

      November 9, 2013 at 10:51 am

      Are you just on a voyage somewhere or are you returning to Oz? Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
      • cupcaketravels says

        November 10, 2013 at 10:11 pm

        We have just returned to Oz after almost two years living in France. But we will be back there as soon as humanly possible!

        Reply
  7. megtraveling says

    November 10, 2013 at 8:11 am

    What a wonderful list! I like to look at my pictures and souvenirs from France and I have a feeling I’ll be back there soon… 🙂

    Reply
  8. Isabella Rose Photography says

    November 10, 2013 at 9:35 am

    Lovely to be in touch with someone who so obviously adores France. Many thanks for the sites you’ve listed too. I already follow Theadora but I will look up the others. I am very drawn to France and my dream is to eventually live there. The place that calls to me is the Cote Vermeille on the Mediterranean coast of southern France, although I have never been there!! I get a magical feeling whenever I think of it. Strange!! Good luck with the book. ♥

    Reply
  9. Claire 'Word by Word' says

    November 10, 2013 at 4:45 pm

    Well, you know what they say:

    You can take the girl out of France, but you can’t take France out of the girl.

    Thanks for the mention 🙂

    Reply
  10. filbio says

    November 10, 2013 at 6:55 pm

    Wow – you really are in love with France. I think it’s time you move there.

    Reply
  11. Brenda Moguez (@BrendaMoguez) says

    November 11, 2013 at 11:51 pm

    Bookmarked this post for my trip next summer. I am tempted to get lost in each of these blogs, seriously lost in that dreamy state of holiday planning. I can’t! I can’t. I took my first trip to Paris this year – LOVED it. I lived in the UK and went everywhere but France. Now that I am back in the states I am trying to visit all those places I missed and wondering why I missed them to begin with…

    Reply
  12. Margaret Lawrenson says

    June 28, 2014 at 6:44 pm

    Thanks so much for mentioning my blog in despatches: I feel honoured to be in such interesting company. Some are already on my own list, some I have checked out on your recommendation, and there are still some happy moments reading to come!

    Reply

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