14.24.a - Huge 10 articles +++ Celebrating French artists, retreats, travelling, the importance of French Sunday lunch, and, well, of course fromage
Exceptionally this PAID le Bulletin is open for all to enjoy and going out one day early. ENJOY!
1. My weekly personal note about France, life, passions, and more… Friday 21.6.2024
**This edition is unusually without a paywall to enable everyone to dive deep, enjoy, and take up an annual subscription if you have not already done so.
Bonjour special subscribers… readers, supporters, friends and family
Welcome to new and long-time subscribers of le Bulletin and of my work.
le Bulletin, is the weekly newsletter of MyFrenchLife™️ Magazine specially written for you. It contains articles from ~80 collaborators *and Magazine Contributors sharing their knowledge and passion about France. Plus you’ll read the updates about our Community activities. Enjoy.
AND… let’s talk #frenchelections:
Answer honestly, were you surprised by President Macron's dissolving the government and calling a national election for the lower house? Well, I was! Today my question to you is how well do you understand the political system in France?
**Here are a few resources to help you and me with any knowledge gaps you may have:
a) Understanding the French elections, a podcast — Lindsey Tramuta
b) France election 2024: how does it work and what's next? — Reuters
c) French elections: who are the key players and what is at stake? — The Guardian
Now let’s see what’s been happening at MyFrenchLife Magazine this week. Thank you for reading and your financial support, it means the world to me.
I hope that you have a wonderful week ahead
Regards
Judy - 21.6.24
* Our library of awesome writing from France is called #FranceStack™️
** If you have other resources to help me and readers better understand French politics and the current political maneuvering please share them below.
1. Here are 5 new and interesting articles from our #FranceStack library collaborators and elsewhere…
[NOTE:
And you’ll find 5 new articles from MyFrenchLife Magazine at the base of this newsletter ↓↓]
a) Back from the Basque Country — by Carolyn Boyd
Why the slow boat beats airport hell + the Basque village that stole my heart + It's book publication week!”
The Basque Village that stole my heart
I will always recommend a trip into the Basque mountains to anyone staying in Biarritz, Saint Jean-de-Luz or Bayonne, as you can really tune into the Basque Culture in villages such as Espelette, Ainhoa and Sare. I hadn’t been to the latter before, and we stayed there in the beautiful Hotel Arraya, booked via Sawdays, right in the centre. They have just 15 rooms, which were beautifully and individually decorated. There was a small, heated outdoor pool, too, and while the hotel restaurant was closed the two nights we were there, we had a fantastic meal at the restaurant Mimosa opposite.”
While this is a paid post by Carolyn, it’s open for you to read, and worth it - enjoy!
Note: This week Carolyn’s long-awaited new book Amuse Bouche will be published & you should see/hear more about that here soon… be patient, please :)
b) Paris Impressions by Harry Watson
A photograph and a few words ...
…Sarah, my wife, and I spent a wonderful few days in Paris a week or so back. The primary purpose of our trip was to visit the 150th Anniversary Impressionist Exhibition at Musée d'Orsay. But while in Paris, we took the opportunity to enjoy many conversations together, stroll the boulevards, drink pastis, and muse on the chaos of Parisian traffic and its whistle-blowing police officers trying vainly to keep things moving. We indulged in some great food—especially that of our favourite Parisian restaurant, Chez Francis, near the Pont de l'Alma (their sole meunière is superb) - and, of course, people watched.” says Harry.
This is an interesting, and informative article by Harry - read more here.
c) Frida Kahlo's Notes from Casa Azul's Archives by Jillian Hess
"All the voices—silencios todos—azul— ojos—"
Note: This is a paid subscriber post however you get a preview and discover why the image above is so interesting. Read the article here.
d) Dreaming of the South & Creative Retreats by Emily Monaco
It's rainy in Paris, and I've got sunshine on the brain
Paris has been enjoying one of its rainiest years since 1937, which means I’ve got my head in the clouds, dreaming of sunshine. And where better to go for sun than my beloved La Ciotat for a TERRE/MER retreat?” Read more here.
e) A weekend road trip by Debora Robertson
Friends. food, wine, and a trip through the vines.
The highlight of the weekend is Saturday lunch at a long table, laid out in St John’s Twelfth Century winery on the Boulevard Napoléon in the village of La Livinière. Its name comes from the Occitan viniera, which means vine, and wine has been made here since Roman times…” writes Debora.
2. Instagram
Our Instagram is bursting with news, views and articles, video chats, poetry, introductions to new magazine contributors… and more… follow us and join in @maviefrancaise
See you there soon…
3. MyFrenchLife #postcardexchange is closed - no more registrations.
If you haven’t sent your partner card yet for whatever reason, no problem just let me know so I can help you: info@myfrenchlife.org
Here are the most recent cards to have arrived in my mailbox.
And they are a perfect example of what this project was all about. Here we have Francophile exchange partners and strangers writing to each other from Colorado USA to Bordeaux France and vice versa... (Andrea McMillan and Armance Beauchamp — at last, their cards have arrived). Each shared with the other what reminds them of France in the place they live. And the other living in France described what they love best about where they live.
Making new Francophile connections and developing existing relationships across the globe, is the community we’re interested in continuing to foster at MyFrenchLife.org.
Watch for new community projects:
There will be another interesting project like this coming up shortly. Let me know if you’d be interested to find out more—mailto: info@myfrenchlife.org
There are still some cards on their way. The Post Offices around the world seem to be doing their job, albeit pretty slowly ;)
And here is the wrap-up article where you’ll get to see all the postcards :)
Announcement: The Postcard Exchange wrap-up — June 2024← read it here
4. French Book Club: Read one or ten books - your choice.
- Did you know you can participate for free?
- Did you know you can read in English (or French)?
- Did you know that our events are held in English?
If you’re going to be reading with us please let us know on this form←
The MyFrenchLife™️ French Book Club: Summer 2024
Read Jacqueline’s list and article, then it’s time to order your book/s. To get all the details←(read here for the list of books and more)
Also, here is the form← to complete if you’ll be reading with us, then you’ll be sure to be notified about what’s happening, events, chat, and more.
5. My FrenchLife Magazine — Discover 5 new articles below ↓ ↓ ↓
1. Arts & Culture:
→ Americans in Paris: The Lost Generation—Gertrude Stein & Ernest Hemingway.
by Michelle Mason
→ Poetry: Non-focal
by Monique Eurich (Naadkaut Art)
2. Gastronomie:
→ Manigodine: The Wonder of Fromage – unveiling one French cheese at a time
by Emily Monaco
3. Vie Française:
→ Sunday Lunch, in French
by Valerie Helmbreck Mascitti
→ Announcement: The Postcard Exchange wrap-up — June 2024
by Judy MacMahon
Un grand merci - Thank you to all MyFrenchLife™ Magazine Contributors!
CLICK THROUGH & read all the new articles on MyFrenchLife Magazine ↓
↓ Just click the image below to read all the new articles ↓
CLICK THROUGH to read the recent articles on MyFrenchLife Magazine HERE
6. “Thank you for subscribing to the paid version of ‘le Bulletin’ newsletter” Judy MacMahon
Judy MacMahon
Fondatrice
MyFrenchLife.org
You can always email me at info@myfrenchlife.org
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Dear Judy,
I cannot do that at this time. I suggest you review the lead stories for both. PS France is going to take a major hit on the Olympics and everything else if it doesn't get its act together fast.
Read Le Monde and Agence France Presse