Southwest of France with Children Trip Report, Episode 114

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Categories: Family Travel, Toulouse Area

Jennifer Ditchburn visited the southwest of France with her husband and children in June 2016 and she comes on the show today to share some of the highlights of their experience. Jennifer is the Editor in Chief of a magazine called Policy Options in Canada, she speaks beautiful French and has visited France on several occasions.

Visiting the Southwest of France with Children

But, this was her first time in France with her children, so they selected child-friendly activities. Because we recorded this episode the day the results of the Brexit were announced and because Jennifer is a political junkie, we discuss this news event at the beginning of the show as well.

French Tip of the Week

When I started college in the US I was surprised to hear common French expressions being used in high registers of speech, often in written form. One such expression "faute de mieux" [for want of a better alternative] was used recently by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a Supreme Court opinion.

In France you will hear "faute de mieux" in all sorts of circumstances, we're not all lawyers! You will also hear the expression "faute de grive on mange des merles" [if you can't eat thrush (a type of bird) eat a robin (a less tasty type of bird"] in other words [make do with what you have].

We don't eat thrush or robin in France these days, but the expression have remained: faute de grive on mange des merles, which is a little bit longer version on the expression "faute de mieux".

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Discussed in this Episode

  • Arriège
  • Brexit
  • Canadian French
  • Château de Roquefixade
  • Foix
  • Grotte de Niaux
  • How to dress in Paris
  • How to order coffee in France
  • Montpellier
  • Musee des Arts Forains Bercy
  • Paris with children
  • Plage de l'Espiguette
  • Plage de la Corniche
  • Sète
  • Plage de l'Espiguette
  • Paris
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Recommended in this Episode

Hotels Recommended in this Episode

People often ask me to recommend a hotel in Toulouse, and it's hard for me to answer because in Toulouse I sleep in my own bed! I recommended the  Novotel Compans Caffarelli to Jennifer and her family because it's close to everything at a reasonable price and has a good reputation. Jennifer and family liked it very much. I would also recommend you look at the Mercure Compans Caffarelli because that's where Airbus sends a lot of business visitors and they all seem happy with it.

Learn More: Best Things to Do in the Toulouse Area
Chateau de Foix: Southwest of France with Children episode
Read more about this episode
Show Notes 

Categories: Family Travel, Toulouse Area

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