“Avec ceux-ci?” [a-v?k' sø-si’]
“With these?”
This is a favorite phrase uttered by pâtisserie [pastry shop] employees all over France. Even if you order just one croissant, the pâtissier [pastry maker] will undoubtedly ask you, “With these?” rather than, “With this?”
So what’s the big idea? The French, you see, are a proud people, and [...]
“Une chambre, deux lits”
“One room, two beds”
When my boyfriend and his brother were traveling by bike through the south of France, this was the phrase they lived by. It was simple, to the point, and got them what they needed as far as accommodation was concerned.
At the end of a long [...]
“Faire la bise”[fer la biz]
“To kiss on the cheek”
To faire la bise is to greet someone in the traditional French fashion: with a kiss on each cheek.
In some regions of France (and in other Francophone countries), three or more kisses is on par, but generally speaking, two is the [...]
The train is one of the easiest ways to get around France if you are planning a multi-destination journey through the country. Paris is usually the least expensive city to fly into, but there is so much more of the country to see outside of the capital!
The rail network–SNCF (Société Nationale de Chemins de [...]
Called le Tournoi de Roland-Garros or les Internationaux de France de Roland Garros, the French tennis tournament is a popular event for tourists and sports enthusiasts alike.
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
[Audio clip: view full post to listen]
The French Open is underway in Paris, and it’s not too late to go along if you’re [...]
Renting a car is a great way to see a new place, especially if you want to get to out-of-the-way places and avoid the limitations of train routes. Getting from one major city to another is a breeze by train, but if you’d like to get off the beaten path a bit or just have [...]
More »Europe is well ahead of the U.S. when it comes to putting environmentally-friendly concepts into action. In France especially, utility prices are high — encouraging people to save money and fuel — energy-saving products line the shelves of grocery stores, and healthy, sustainable living has become an affordable part of European life.
The introduction of public [...]
Ryanair was created in the 80s as a small, Dublin-based, budget airline flying small planes at competitive rates from Dublin to London. It is now the top budget airline in Europe, currently serving 153 destinations in 26 countries. If France is just one of your European destinations, it’s worth checking out their booking website to [...]
More »Food is a huge part of the tourist industry in France, and critics come from around the world to put chefs to the test and write reviews for high-end magazine. You don’t have to be a foodie, however, to enjoy well-made French food, and you don’t have to be wildly adventurous to sample some [...]
More »Films are an integral art of French culture. France is famous for festivals, most notably the one at Cannes, and for producing edgy movies that are subtitled or dubbed to be replayed around the world.
If you happen to be in the right place at the right time to check out a film festival in [...]
Anne has studied and spoken French for over a decade and has lived in both France and Francophone Cameroon. She strives to write lessons that reflect her real experiences and represent the way people really speak.
