France with Vero "Lettres de France"

1 month ago | francewithvero.substack.com | Véronique Savoye

Bonjour, c’est VéroI am guessing international visitors in the Hexagon (that’s what we call metropolitan France when we show off our geometry skills) will scratch their heads when they realize local life has come to a standstill including in many Parisian neighborhoods. On May 1st French law prohibits employers from requesting their salaried staff to work. La Fête du Travail. Labor Day, since 1948 in France. International Workers’ day in other parts of the world.

1 month ago | francewithvero.substack.com | Véronique Savoye

Bonjour, c’est VéroBags are packed. In a few hours I will be heading out on my first assignment of the 2025 touring season. Les réjouissances (celebrations) will start with a bang in Paris where I will be welcoming une vingtaine de voyageurs (about 20 travelers) on Monday. Parisians will be out of town for one more week on their spring vacation, yet tens of thousands of tourists are in Paris for Easter. A lively scene awaits no doubt.

2 months ago | francewithvero.substack.com | Véronique Savoye

Bonjour, c’est Véro. If you believe testimonials on social media the French don’t drink water or at least not as much as other nationalities, our American friends for example. When some folks visit l’Hexagone (or move there) they love to grouse about the small size of French water glasses (mere “thimbles” according to them) or the lack of water fountains in public places. When we were growing up and temperatures climbed in the summer months our moms would pack une gourde to bring along.

2 months ago | francewithvero.substack.com | Véronique Savoye

Bonjour, c’est VéroThey say France likes labels, that people are put inside boxes early on, that they are supposed to stay dans les cases (inside those boxes) for most of their lives, choosing (if they can) a path early on and staying in their lanes from there on. There’s some truth to that even in 2025.

Mar 15, 2025 | francewithvero.substack.com | Véronique Savoye

Bonjour, c’est VéroSamedi matin. Quelque part à Paris (Saturday morning. Somewhere in Paris.)A couple of hours before catching the TGV back to the Loire Valley at the end of a Parisian week I am back at a favorite breakfast place, savoring my oeufs brouillés nature (plain scrambled eggs) with un café filtre, noir (drip coffee, no sugar, no cream.)There’s hardly anyone there. It’s still early in the French capital.