15.33 - New Voices & Surprising Stories
In this FREE le Bulletin you'll experience calm summer Parisian streets, candid stories, and unexpected discoveries – your French escape starts here.
Today at a Glance: Your FREE weekly newsletter
Bonjour mes amis !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today! Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll find fresh articles, “New Voices & Surprising Stories.”
Watch out for and don’t miss the PAID subscriber edition of le Bulletin on Saturday this weekend: “15.33.a - Paris in August 2025: What's Actually Open & What's Worth Doing”- It’s not too late to subscribe←
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À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy - 16.08.2025
1. Let’s start by talking about Paris: Paris in summer, that is!
by Victorine Lamothe
I came across this post, which I think says it all, by Victorine Lamothe, on her substack Blue Paris, and she’s kindly agreed to share it with you.
Sharing a Poem With You - Victorine Lamothe
Paris in August feels like an exquisite secret—and I’ve tried to capture it in words
Bonjour, everyone, from a very calm and quiet Paris.
We’ve reached the height of the stillness this week. Friday August 15th is the national holiday for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (don’t get me started on why, in this famously secular country, so many national holidays are Catholic). A heatwave has settled over the city—our second really bad one of the summer—and I’ll be spending most afternoons indoors, rotating between air conditioning and a small army of fans. Outside, Paris feels deserted, and I have to admit that I love it.
Instead of a traditional letter today, I wanted to try something different: share a poem I wrote inspired by these slow, golden days in August. Not many of you might know this, but I’m also a poet, and over the past few years I’ve been embracing poetry more seriously. I submit pieces to literary publications (most of which are kindly rejected) and take part in readings and workshops with Paris Lit Up and other anglophone groups around the city.
I’ve been hesitant to share my poetry publicly, telling myself I’d wait until I had something published, but that hasn’t happened yet. And honestly, why wait? This one is about the sweetness of Paris in August, when the city empties out and, for those of us who stay, opens itself up like a gift. I hope you enjoy it...”
by Victorine.
August in Paris
When everyone else
has fled—
to some glittering
coast or a chalet perched
on the bone of a mountain—
you stay.
You sweep the floor,
pull silken sheets over
your bed, prepare for this rare
kind of summer
hibernation.
Apricot skies stretch over
the rue de Belleville, where
handwritten signs confess:
Sorry, we left. The terraces
are empty. The couples
who once lingered,
their mouths stained with plum
wine, have vanished. Even
the bakers—keepers of morning—
are gone.
The gate to a public
garden swings open.
You take a whole bench
for yourself. Later, you walk along
the Seine at sundown,
let your feet skim its mint-
green water, watch the sky scatter
candy-colored clouds.
All of this is for you,
my dear. It’s yours
for the taking.
À bientôt,
—Victorine
2. New Contributor to MyFrenchLife™ Magazine
- Introducing Shelby Chambers
I moved to France in 2019 because my marketing career in LA was harming my mental health, and I wanted to travel more and eat better cheese.
Now I write about living in Paris to make people laugh, to explore big ideas through small things that happen in everyday life, and also to get attention, probably. You’ll find me at Franchement, a subjective and unreliable account of living in France
3. MyFrenchLife™ Magazine new articles
“There are many talented contributors to MyFrenchLife Magazine and I thank all of you for sharing your experiences with us in such an engaging manner.
You take us right across France & deep into many worm-holes. We delight in discovering
and learning more about France beyond the cliché”
Merci
Judy
a) → I Think I've Become Too Parisian: I'm not sure whether or not that's a bad thing.
by Shelby Chambers
What does it mean to act like a Parisian, and why am I hinting that I’m kind of ashamed of it? Well, you tell me.
Do Parisians have a good reputation? Aside from the myth of the effortlessly elegant Parisienne woman, all the other myths are negative…” writes Shelby.
b) →The Eiffel Tower is a radio transmitter??
by Jennifer Bragg
I may be the last person to know this, but I recently discovered that the Eiffel Tower has been transmitting radio broadcasts for over 100 years!
Once again, I came upon this information by accident. While researching an old photographic exhibit in Paris from 1928, I came across a list of various radio programs in the city, including one that featured the Eiffel Tower.
3. Merci mille fois
“Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’, the newsletter of MyFrenchLife Magazine.”
Judy MacMahon
Chers amis (dear friends)
There’s something magical about August in Paris – the quiet streets, the slower rhythm – and Victorine’s poem captured it so beautifully. Pair that with Shelby’s playful take on Parisian life and Jennifer’s unexpected Eiffel Tower revelation, and we’ve had quite the journey together today. Thank you for coming along. Until next week, keep seeking your own French moments, wherever you are.
A bientôt
Judy
judy@myfrenchlife.org
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