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These Gloomy French Sundays
To me, Sundays in France have a very distinct flavour. When I was a kid, it was the only day we didn’t go to school—we had classes on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Technically, it was a a day we...
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Industrial Past, Factories and Urban Decay
I found them by mistake, at the bend of the Isle of Nantes, right behind the well-marked “Journey to Nantes” art project/touristic path—the remains of Nantes’ industrial past. These days, most people...
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Urban Fun
In Ottawa or in Nantes, keeping Mark busy is always a challenge. The upside of Nantes is that I know the city very well and I remember the places I used to love as a kid. I don’t have to go for a...
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More People of Nantes - 2014 Edition
Most French people take holidays between July 14 (Bastille Day) and August 15. Cities empty out but for tourists and many stores are closed. But there are still enough people left for more candid...
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A French Holiday in the French Holidays
Since my parents no longer have a car, going to the family house in Saint Michel, a quiet beach town on the Atlantic Coast, is more difficult than before. It used to be a 45-minute drive—it’s now a...
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At The Beach
Mark runs all the time. And when he doesn’t run, he either climbs something—a chair, the stairs—or cries because he fell down or tripped on something. The first thing he did in Saint Michel was to run...
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French Food in Nantes
Much has been written about French food, from the classic “French women don’t get fat” mystery to haute cuisine drool-worthy cookbooks. Indeed, French cuisine has a long and rich history, and French...
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Again, The River...
It’s been hot and stormy in Nantes, and staying indoors is not an option. There are seven of us (plus a cat) in a two-bedroom apartment and of course, like most French, we don’t have air-con (unless...
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Snapshots of Nantes
Nantes is definitely more touristic than it was before. Every day, I see dozens of people—couples, families, single travelers—wandering around the city core, the “Journey to Nantes” booklet in hand and...
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Tears, Greenland and an Old Friend
I know that at one point, I’m going to break down and cry. I just don’t know when. Years of airport goodbyes allowed me to master the art of holding back tears. I never let anyone, especially not my...
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French Kick off Summer Holidays
Even though a good chunk of the population doesn’t get July and August off, France is now on holiday mode. School holidays started, exams are over, it’s hot and it’s pretty much understood that for the...
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Choirboy
“Do you want to go play with grand-maman and me?” “No. I go church.” “Let’s go to the park!” “I GO CHURCH! People sing in church. Music. Ding dong, ding, dong…” Oh, for fuck’s sake… I mean, for...
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Three-Masted Belem
The first time we came to Nantes with Mark in 2013, we visited the majestic three-masted Belem ship. She is moored in Nantes again, so we came back with my mum. The ship hasn’t changed but Mark...
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People of Nantes – Summer 2015
Like Mark would say, “mommy, people here!” Yes, there are many people around us. We are in Nantes’ city centre and it’s summer, so people shop, eat, drink, visit places and hang out outside. The city...
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Urban Decay in Nantes
Nantes’ city centre is a tourist postcard. A castle, several efficient tramway lines, old buildings, a few art pieces here and there, historic neighborhoods and hundreds of bars and restaurants. I’m...
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This Fascinating Underwater World
Nice aquariums are rare—the one and only I remember visiting is the Sydney Aquarium in 2003. Le Croisic, close to Saint Michel has a world-class océarium and since hopping to Australia to introduce...
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Bastille Day Fireworks
“Just so you know: the fireworks may be cancelled at the last minute, it will rain at one point, and there is no way we will be done eating diner before. Scratch that—we probably won’t even have...
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10 Axioms of Going to the Beach
The concept of tides can be very disturbing for a kid. No, a giant wave won’t come when the tide is low; yes, your sand castle will be destroyed when the tide creeps up. I have the strangest tan lines...
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Vineyards in the Countryside
I’m very close to my mum’s side of the family but I never really got along with my dad’s side of the family. It’s… cultural, I guess. For a start, my grand-father was a gendarme and his authoritarian...
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Cultural Snapshot: 5 Things Found in Nantes [2]
Here is another installment of the “things found in Nantes” series, with the latest pictures! Little piece used to keep shutters open In many historical buildings, French windows and shutters are...
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