Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Paris is experiencing a population decline, partly due to short-term rentals and extreme commuting. Executives are able to live far out in the provinces while still working in Paris.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Bicloune is a unique bicycle shop in Paris with a wide variety of models, from antique bikes from 1905 to contemporary foldable ones. Audrey Hepburn supposedly used to ride a bicycle like one found in this store.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Patrice and Sophie are at Porte des Lilas in Paris, where some new athletic spaces have recently been added. Among other things, you can now bring your racket and ball to play ping pong for free.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lionel is at a local market in Toul near Alsace, where he samples a beer from a local micro-brewery that sells its products at several markets in the area. The beer goes by the name of "Coin Coin" ("Quack Quack") for no other reason than catching people's attention. The young lady, who brews the beer herself, reassures Lionel that consuming her beer will not give him webbed feet...
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
In the last part of his tour of L'Isle-Adam, Daniel takes us to the town's glassblower, who offers introductory courses in his beautiful artform. He also shows us the L'Isle-Adam ponds (which act as a sanctuary for over 150 bird species) and the mysterious Chinese pavilion, the architect and construction date of which remain unknown.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
During the summer, a portion of Paris reinvents itself as "Paris-Plage" [Paris Beach]. The capital turns into a vacation spot by providing water access and outdoor activities near the Seine and other waterways like the Canal de l'Ourcq.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lionel takes us inside an amazing store filled with multicolored candies called dragées, or sugared almonds. This confection is very much a part of French tradition as it is offered at weddings, baptisms, and communions. A good-quality dragée is made from a top variety of almond like the Avola. Larger almonds require a thinner layer of sugar, which is considered a sign of quality as the delicate almond flavor won't be overwhelmed by the sugar.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol visits Aline Putot, a renowned sculptor whose studio is located in the Cour de l'Industrie (Industry Courtyard), a revived artisan district in the eleventh arrondissement of Paris. Her craft requires very old tools, some dating from the nineteenth century, as well as more modern ones. Enjoy her beautiful creations!
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Marion takes us along Paris's Canal Saint Martin, which is part of a waterway network that measures one hundred thirty kilometers long. In their heyday, the Parisian canals were the main means of transportation of goods and materials, and even drinking water! Nowadays, historic buildings, restaurants, and concert halls are the main attractions along the canals.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lionel shows us around a family farm that spans three generations. This traditional dairy and cattle farm takes good care of its animals, which enjoy a special "cow wash." Nursing cows are allowed a break from milk production prior to calving, and nothing is left to chance as the sex of the newborn calf is predetermined thanks to artificial insemination.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Marion walks us through the Buttes Chaumont, a former limestone quarry transformed into a magnificent park, complete with an artificial lake, a grotto, dramatic cliffs, and even a Roman-style temple. On a more tragic note, the park is also home to a bridge that the poet Louis Aragon once called a "mecca for suicides." Luckily, the bridge is now protected by a wire fence.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Canada, France
In part 8 of Le Québec parle aux Français, Olivier discusses the cost of maintaining a high standard of living. Is France living beyond its means? Heavy taxation and full employment would go some way toward balancing the national budget and covering the cost of welfare programs.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
A menu for 8 euros... in a Zen decor! Not only has Joan Schmitt turned an old Alsatian bistro into a chic restaurant with a modern, minimalist style, but he also cooks for his clientele with local and worldwide produce, which he describes here with great gusto.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lauren continues her tour of Lyon's Croix-Rousse neighborhood, a favorite haunt of artists and students who go there to live, work, and shop. The neighborhood also maintains its heritage as a center for craftsmen.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lauren shows us around the Croix-Rousse neighborhood in Lyon, famous for its traboules, a series of passageways located below the buildings. The neighborhood is a favorite spot for artists and families alike.
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