Summer in France. Every July and particularly August the French enjoy their summer vacation. Paris is quieter as the French take their “grandes vacances” (big holiday) out of the capital city and head to the sea, mountains, or countryside. Where do they go? Within France, the French spend their summer vacation at the Atlantic coast, the Mediterranean,Continue reading “Summer in France”
Tag Archives: rural France
Rail to Romilly, France
Rail to Romilly, France. The August summer vacation sends me back to Romilly, Normandy, in rural France, north of Paris. The ninety minutes by regional train starts at Saint-Lazare station. The window view reveals open landscapes, communal garden plots, rows of fruit trees, industrial sites, church spires, grazing sheep, silos, and wide rivers.
Cherries are cherries
Cherries are cherries. France has over 100 varieties of cherries. Vaucluse and Rhône produce the most cherries in France. In French markets, you’ll find: The cherry tree photographs are from a property in Normandy where an aunt lives. It is an old hybrid tree, likely self-seeded and wildish, but every year it performs with loyalty. NoContinue reading “Cherries are cherries”
A brief departure from Paris: a train trip to rural Romilly
A brief departure from Paris: a train trip to rural Romilly. Paris offers endless charm, but sometimes it’s great to getaway to the countryside of rural France. Romilly, a quiet town in Normandy, is not a tourist destination. It doesn’t boast a château or a market square packed with tourists, although they can be found a drive away. It’s a world away from Haussmannian facades and caféContinue reading “A brief departure from Paris: a train trip to rural Romilly”