Travel memoirs – French Travel Books – France, Paris, Provence & French Food & Wine

Explore Beaune: The Heart of Burgundy Wine Culture

Place Carnot in Beaune Burgundy France on an early morning

Beaune is quite the centre of Burgundian culture. Having seen the striking tiles on the roofs in Aloxe Corton on our way we were fascinated by the rooftops of the walled town of Beaune, culminating in the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu (Hospices de Beaune). Beaune is a place that revels in its medieval atmosphere and the history contained in the cobbled streets. In many ways it the centre of this wine-producing region and here in Beaune you can indulge in tasting wine from every village and domain of the surrounding countryside.

In search of Hemingway and Midnight in Paris – The Full Story

Writing about Paris throws up too many ideas and most of them are very personal and I wonder does anyone want to read such personal memoirs. Which brings me to Hemingway and the Woody Allen film ‘Midnight in Paris’ which is basically a Paris travel advertisement ( and no less enjoyable for that) based on Hemingway’s book ‘A Moveable Feast’. We watched the film again for about the fiftieth time over Christmas. Hemingway’s book is a memoir of his time in Paris in the 1920’s with his first wife Hadley and their young son. CLICK ON PHOTO FOR FULL ARTICLE

Aix en Provence – In Search of Cézanne

The harbour at Cassis where many impressionists including Cezanne found inspiration

If you were to question me forcefully and make me confess, then I would probably say that if you exclude food and wine then my most favourite facet of the culture and art of France would have to be the paintings of the Impressionists. Provence and its landscape are synonymous primarily with Paul Cézanne, ifContinue reading “Aix en Provence – In Search of Cézanne”

Canal du Midi Pezanas & a D-Day Veteran

tables and chairs on tiled terrace with stone wall and tiled roof

On the anniversary of D-Day I recall this encounter with a veteran in Southern France – from my book ‘Off the Autoroute’

Perpignan, French Catalonia and our Café

Alt="bar restaurant le Malassis in the southern French town of Perpignan"

This chapter is taken from my book ‘Off the Autoroute’ which is now available on Kobo as well as Amazon The area around Perpignan in French Catalonia is where our travels all started around twenty-five years ago. It is a short hop from Provence so let us see what we found there starting in PerpignanContinue reading “Perpignan, French Catalonia and our Café”

Cordes Sur Ciel and a whole Lot of rain

alt="New French Travel Guide Book Off the Autoroute"

This excerpt is from my French travel book – OFF THE AUTOROUTE, the fifth in my Series of French travel memoirs. Please enjoy on Amazon including Kindle Unlimited. It will take you on a tour of France from Calais to the South and back through Brittany and Normandy. It is time to move on, andContinue reading “Cordes Sur Ciel and a whole Lot of rain”

The Angels Share – Wine Tasting in Beaune France

The domain of Maison Champy is a wine producer located by the old walls in Beaune Burgundy

Burgundy – The Angels Share Our stay in Beaune as the centre point of our introduction to Burgundy was at the Hôtel Henry II Rue du Faubourg Saint-Nicolas, 21200 Beaune and a fine place to stay it proved to be. Beaune centre was a short stroll away and this would become a town that notContinue reading “The Angels Share – Wine Tasting in Beaune France”

Historic Vézelay in Northern Burgundy

Priest walks down a path next to a church by a lawn with buildings in background and a blue cloudy sky

Historically, Vézelay is one of the most important religious sites in all of France. Back at the time of the inception of the Basilica it was arguably the foremost site of faith in the country. Vézelay in fact was chosen as the venue for the preaching of the second crusade in 1146 but rather fellContinue reading “Historic Vézelay in Northern Burgundy”

Vaison La Romaine – Ancient Rome in Provence

Photo of Vaison la Romaine Provence old town from the old Roman bridge by French Travel guide book author

Vaison La Romaine This excerpt is taken from my French Travel Book THYME for PROVENCE Our first stop on our travels by car into Provence from the north, our entrance to the sun, has nearly always been the town of Vaison la Romaine. It is for that reason a location that is important to usContinue reading “Vaison La Romaine – Ancient Rome in Provence”

A Day in…………Port Isaac Cornwall

Alt="Port Isaac Cornwall photography for UK Travel Memoir"

Port Isaac is a small fishing village that tumbles down to the sea at a narrow cove on the North Cornish coast. Although certainly not short of tourists we found this area delightfully by passed by most visitors as they speed along the coastal roads to Newquay, St Ives and other hotspots of Cornish tourism.Continue reading “A Day in…………Port Isaac Cornwall”