Keith Van Sickle's Blog, page 15
April 13, 2022
The Cave of Forgotten Dreams
I still remember walking into that cave. There wasn’t much light and I could barely make out the stalactites, one of them twisting its way all the way down to the floor. As I walked further in, I could see bones scattered about—not human, I hoped. Then I saw bear skulls, arranged in a semi-circle. Spooky!
I kept going, stepping carefully, and suddenly there they were, straight ahead of me: paintings, beautiful paintings. I could see horses and buffalo and rhinos that almost seemed alive. It was mesmerizing.
I was in the Grotte Chauvet 2, a nearly-perfect recreation of a nearby cave. It’s like the famous cave at Lascaux, only the paintings are older–the oldest ever found. How old? Let’s just say Homo Sapiens and Neanderthals were still duking out for control of Europe (spoiler alert: we win.)
A trip to the Grotte is a must-do if you are in the area. Read more about this fascinating place in Frenchly!
April 6, 2022
Asparagus Season in France
With spring comes the sound of birds singing, daffodils in bloom, and trees beginning to leaf. These are all lovely, but for me the real start of spring is when asparagus arrives in our local French market.
In France, fruits and vegetables are mostly seasonal, so winter is not my favorite time of year. Potatoes and parsnips, anyone? Sure, you might find blueberries in Paris, but only if you frequent the specialty shops. For most people, like where I live in Provence, what you eat is what’s in season.
That’s what makes the arrival of the first asparagus so exciting. It’s finally springtime! Asparagus not only heralds the start of spring, but also the beginning of a long series of new arrivals in the market. Next come strawberries, then a whole flood of goodies – cherries, melons, stone fruits, and on and on.
Read more about asparagus season, including a great recipe, in The Good Life France!
March 25, 2022
My New Book!
Val and I live part of the year in the charming village of St-Rémy-de-Provence. It’s in a delightful spot at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains, between Avignon and Arles. There are lots of great things to see and do in the area.
I’ve just had a new guidebook published, An Insider’s Guide to St-Rémy-de-Provence and the Surrounding Area. It’s the first guidebook dedicated just to this part of Provence, so I think it fills a need.
If you have friends who will be coming this way, please let them know about my book! It’s available on Amazon.
March 23, 2022
Emmanuel Macron and the 11 Dwarfs
France will elect its president next month, with a dozen candidates running, and incumbent Emmanuel Macron is the big favorite to win. He has surged in the polls, and his lead is now bigger than anyone since Charles de Gaulle in 1965!
How did this happen and who are his main challengers? For a taste of French politics, I’ve put together a short overview of the race.
Read all about it in Frenchly!
March 16, 2022
The Star of the Show: Gougères French Cheese Puffs
Want to impress the guests at your next party? Then serve them gougères.
Gougères (pronounced goo-zhair) are French cheese puffs, crispy on the outside and bursting with delicious cheesy flavour. The first time you bite into one, it is a definite “wow” moment.
They are not hard to make and–even better–you can make them ahead of time and just warm them up when your guests arrive.
Read all about this French specialty in France Today!
March 9, 2022
Tips on Traveling in Provence
Thinking of a trip to this glorious corner of France? Then you might want to check out my latest travel tips.
What’s the vibe in Provence?When is the best time to go?What are the can’t-miss regional specialties?Read the answers to these questions and more in The Good Life France!
February 23, 2022
To the Barricades! The French Academy Battles an English Invasion
The Académie française was founded long ago to regulate French grammar and spelling. It still does that, but often finds itself pulled into arguments over what words should be allowed in French. English words that find their way into common usage are a particular sore point.
Should “computer” be allowed? No, let’s coin the word ordinateur.
How about “software”? Mais non ! We must use logiciel.
“Weekend”? Well, ok, but let’s add a hyphen so it’s not really English.
The latest battle is over French national identity cards. European regulations require that the words “Identity Card” be included, but the French government has gone further, much further. All the terms are shown in French and in English, so there’s “SEXE / Sex,” “LIEU DE NAISSANCE / Place of birth,” and on and on.
Cue the gasps.
The Académie is up in arms (they all have ceremonial swords, after all) and are threatening to sue the government to have all that nasty English removed. This would be a unique case, and a treat for legal scholars.
Will the government back down? Will the Académie? No one knows…but watch out for those swords.
Read all about it in My French Life!
February 16, 2022
An Easy Biking Route in the Luberon Valley
Val and I love to bike in Provence, but we’re not fanatics or anything. Flat routes are just fine with us, and one of our favorites is in the Luberon Valley.
It’s what is known as a voie verte, or greenway, and is built where there used to be railroad tracks, so it is nice and flat.
There is a lot to see along the way, besides the stunning natural beauty. You pass a cute little train station (no longer in use), and just beyond it is a Neolithic burial chamber you can explore. Further on is a 2,000 year old Roman bridge that was still used by cars until a few years ago! It’s a great spot for a picnic.
If you are feeling ambitious, you can go off the voie verte and puff up a hill to one of our favorite cafés, with fabulous views across the valley.
Read all about it in Perfectly Provence!
February 9, 2022
18 Curious Facts about Provence
Did you know that a sardine once blocked the port of Marseille?
Or that seven different popes once lived in Avignon? (not counting Pope Joan)
Or that a Provençal town once passed a law banning UFOs…and none have landed since?
These are just a few of the fun facts that are in my new book, An Insider’s Guide to Provence. Read all about it in Frenchly!
January 26, 2022
A Dozen Ideas for Your Stay in St-Rémy
St-Rémy-de-Provence, where Val and I live part of the year, is one of the most charming towns in Provence. It’s a great place to spend a few days, nestled at the foot of the Alpilles Mountains and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. I hope you’ll be able to visit one day, because there’s so much to see and do.
Would you like to visit the place where Vincent van Gogh painted masterpieces like The Starry Night? Or wander through one of the best open-air markets in France? Maybe you’d like to explore Roman ruins, or taste fabulous wines, or soar through the air in a glider. Or perhaps you’re like Val and would like to watch an exciting local sport that features what she calls, “those young men in their tight white pants.”
Whatever your interest, St-Rémy probably has it. So come on down! In the meantime, learn more about what to see and do in Perfectly Provence!
