And just like that, Summer is ending. As the borders opened at the beginning of the season, our calendar quickly filled up. We were fortunate to have been vaccinated early in March to travel around confidently. Our weekends booked up fast that we did not have a free weekend from May through the end of … Continue reading Feta Late Than Never: Greece Recap
After a tough year of restrictions and event cancelations, the Bastille Day events would recommence this year throughout France. I planned to take Bastille Day off instead of the Fourth of July this year at work. We then made plans to travel to Paris and experience the celebrated events on July 14. Even though many … Continue reading Bastille Day in Paris
With a little bit of freedom and a full tank of gas, we were off to explore more of the country we have lived in for over a year. The curfew in France moved to 9:00 pm, outdoor dining had just reopened, and we had a long three-day weekend ahead of us. Our destination? The … Continue reading Pink Salt Flats in the Camargue
If there's one thing for sure, the French enjoy their holidays. Particularly in May. It feels like France has a holiday every other week in May, and maybe that's because it does. There's May Day (Labor Day) on May 1, WWII Victory Day on May 8, Ascension Day on May 13, Whit Monday on May 24, … Continue reading Faire Le Pont: Long Weekend in Barcelona
Happy Easter and Joyeuse Pâques! My Easter update this year looks eerily similar to the one I posted last year. This time last year, France announced the extension of the first lockdown to May 11. Today, the entire country officially enters the third lockdown until May 2. It's hard to comprehend what is happening in France, … Continue reading Easter Update 2021
French macarons are one of the most widely recognized items alongside croissants, berets, and baguettes. I’ve always loved eating them but recently enjoyed making them. These colorful pastries are perfectly smooth on top with raised feet, a chewy bite, and a decadent filling. But were they always this picture-perfect? Let’s explore the history and origin … Continue reading The History of French Macarons
The pandemic is raging on in France. News outlets remind us of the grim situation. Confirmed cases are higher than they should be, a third lockdown is looming, and vaccinations are delayed. The death count is high, and the number of beds available in hospitals is decreasing. Each day, we are required to be in … Continue reading Living With a Curfew in France
The message widely shared by the France government is "ski resorts are closed." While the actual ski lifts are not running, the resorts are still open. Nevertheless, take away the ski lifts, the bars for a relaxing apres-ski drink after a long day on the mountain, the restaurants for warm soup and fondue, and what do … Continue reading Snowshoeing in the French Alps
They say when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. But what happens when you drink too much of it? Is too much of a good thing actually a bad thing? All that acidity is sure to damage your teeth, and there's a lot of sugar in lemonade. We've been making a lot of lemonade lately in Lyon, … Continue reading How Much Lemonade Can Be Made From Lemons?
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Shanes! We are wrapping up our week in the Maldivian sun and will return to France to ring in the New Year. We hope everyone got to spend time with family, whether in person or virtually. Here’s to hoping 2021 will bring more time with friends and … Continue reading Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
