Marseille? Who would want to visit this city? Crime, drugs, violence, the Mafia – the city’s reputation has been shrouded by for years. The 1970’s movie, The French Connection, focusing on the city’s thriving drug trade, didn’t help. But, much of the drug trade has moved on to Eastern Europe. … Read more
Magic and Whimsy in Your Travels If you are thinking you want to visit a magical place, my advice is to avoid clichéd locations (Sorry Walt!). Here is a peek at a few destinations that are sure to evoke a sense of wonder. I have one man-made marvel that can … Read more
Centuries of history, celebrated French cuisine, a towering cathedral on the river … Paris? No, I’m talking about Lyon, a city steeped in history and the home of Paul Bocuse, a culinary legend who changed French cooking forever. Compact and eminently walkable – you’ll need to burn off the calories … Read more
It seems like these days, everybody’s deluded into thinking they’re great cooks. Maybe it’s because of the Food Network’s rise in popularity, or Pinterest’s millions of cupcake recipes, or perhaps it’s the advent of a strange, strange thing called “food porn”. Whatever it is, as someone who readily admits that … Read more
Just as Champagne only comes from France’s Champagne region, Cognac only comes from Cognac, an area in the country’s scenic southwest corner. And one of the main producers of this famed French brandy is Hennessy, in operation since 1765. Not knowing much about Cognac and always being intrigued by vineyards … Read more
How many articles have been written about Paris? Hundreds of course, thousands probably, hundreds of thousands most likely… it’s the City of Light, a city of laughter, a city of love and romance. But for many people, it’s also a city of enlightenment. The home of the Lost Generation, many … Read more
Corsica is a large, oval-shaped French island in the western Mediterranean. Its jagged granite spine rises from the blue sea about 100 miles southeast of Nice, but centuries of geographic isolation have allowed Corsica to develop a distinct culture. For the traveler this lends to the island a more exotic … Read more
A Day in Saint Germain des Prés There are few neighborhoods in the world as famous as Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and even fewer that have managed to maintain an elite status for as long and with as much elegance and style as this one. When I was living in Paris, I was … Read more