[VIDEO] 6 Practical Tips for Shopping the Markets of Paris
Love Paris? Love exploring markets? Here are 6 practical tips to take with you as you stroll and shop at the markets of Paris. (Be sure your volume is turned up!)
Antiques Fair in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Provence
The south of France is prime hunting grounds for rustic antiques and flea market treasures. The town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, located between Avignon and Gordes in Provence, is home to one of the best weekly markets in Provence. Each Sunday it springs to life with market stands overflowing…
11 Tips from the Travel Shows
Recently I’ve gone to two major travel shows, one in New York and the other in Boston. The New York Times Travel Show drew a record-breaking crowd of 30,000 participants in the span of 3 days and nearly 600 exhibitors. The Boston Globe Travel Show was considerably smaller…
Markets as a Window into the Soul of a Place
At the New York Times Travel Show, the theme of my session was “markets as a window into the soul of a place.” It’s my mantra. Here’s why I’ve embraced it with gusto. Markets are social hubs. Amble through almost any market and you’ll see residents going…
Arts and Crafts Markets in Paris
There’s always a surplus of things to do in Paris, including the temptation to do nothing at all. A very walkable city, Paris rewards those who travel through it at a slow pace. There is so much to see, and I’m not talking about tourist…
Santons of Provence
What’s so beguiling about santons? The small figurines are pleasing to hold, even in children’s hands. Hand-painted with exquisite details, santons breathe personality into a wide range of forms. Often they are passed from generation to generation and associated with holiday memories. Santon is derived from santoùn, a Provençal…
Paris, Provence, and Padanaram
My presentation last Friday at Farm & Coast Market in Padanaram Village in South Dartmouth gave me an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before: reflect on my research in both Paris and Provence and—I know it might seem like a strange comparison—also to…
Tip #6 for Shopping French Flea Markets
In an earlier post I shared 5 Tips for Negotiating at French Flea Markets. Thanks to a reader’s suggestion, I’m adding another suggestion to the list: Tip #6: If you purchase an expensive item at a flea or antiques market, ask the seller for a…
Flavors of Provence Tour in June
I’m excited to announce that The New York Times has asked me to be the featured expert on their Times Journeys tour of Provence in June and October. The 2018 trip dates are June 10-17 and also October 7-14, 2018. Early summer and late fall are two…
Fall Food & Wine Festivals in Provence
Fall is one of the best seasons to visit Provence. Temperatures hover at a comfortable level, harvests reach their peak, and prices plummet. There are many deals to be found during “shoulder season”—those off-peak periods when the crowds have thinned and the weather is still fine. Not…