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France

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France

France occupies a mythic place in the eurocentric consciousness. No country is more grand, opulent, dramatic, or tragic. It’s the idea of France and the French way of life that is ever enticing; life is full of adventure, passion, and love. The French appetite for living and living well is what enchants the rest of the world.

With diverse landscapes, medieval towns and abbeys, stunning architecture, high mountain ranges, dramatic coastlines, and never-ending lavender fields, France is perhaps the most majestic country in Europe.

Though we’ve both traveled throughout France, we’ve only traveled to Paris together.

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France Travel Guide, France | Moon & Honey Travel

France Basics

Official Name: République française (French Republic)

Capital: Paris

Government: Unitary Semi-presidential Republic

Regions: Mainland France is divided into 13 administrative regions. France also has 5 overseas regions. Until December 31, 2015,  the country was divided into 22 administrative regions.

  • Metropolitan Regions: (1) Grand Est, (2) New Aquitaine, (3) Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, (4) Burgundy-Franche-Comté, (5) Brittany, (6) Centre-Val de Loire, (7) Île-de-France, (8) Occitania, (9) Hauts-de-France, (10) Normandy, (11) Pays de la Loire, (12) Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA), and (13) Corsica
  • Overseas Regions: (1) French Guiana, (2) Guadeloupe, (3) Martinique, (4) Mayotte, and (5) Réunion

Population: 67 Million

Official Language: French

Currency: Euro

Tipping Etiquette: Tipping isn’t obligatory in France. In a fine restaurant, you can tip up to 5% for exceptional service. In a casual dining setting, €1 to €3 is sufficient.

Water Quality: Tap water is safe to drink throughout France.

Something Interesting: You can legally marry a dead person in France. If there is sufficient proof that the deceased had the intention of wedding their partner while alive, a French person can receive permission from the French president to marry posthumously.

 
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On ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser des œufs.

 

 

 

French Proverb

You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.

Where to Go in France

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  • Living with Kati‘s Parents in Lockdown (Part 3). Do you know how to make lockdown/isolation/quarantine MISERABLE? Kati’s family figured it out! FAST😳! Fast as in the verb. Fast as in “abstain from food.” Fast as in cleanse. Fast as in 6 days of misery. Yup, we’re fasting over here. It’s day 4 of starving and I’m not a happy camper. To make the fast more effective, we’re eating Japanese apricots 🍑in the morning, which helps flush and detox your body. Sounds tasty, right? Well it’s freakin painful. Kinda feels like having food poisoning🤒. Anyway, if I live to see Friday, I’ll be treating myself to a pound of Sachertorte. In all seriousness, this is kinda the ideal time to do a detox/fast. I can’t make any excuses (e.g. going to work, not enough time, dinner invitation, events, need energy to hike, etc...). And, it’s a real test in self-discipline - not my strongest trait. Thank you Kati for pushing me to become a stronger 💪and healthier person. I’ll endeavor to be more gracious in the future. Photo: Punta de Teno, Tenerife
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  • Austria Lockdown Day 12. As we settle into life in lockdown, I keep thinking about “time.” In some ways, time has stopped, or at least significantly slowed down. There’s a whole lot we can’t do right now. We can’t go out for dinner. We can’t meet friends. We can’t go to a Therme. We can’t plan future trips. The funny thing about all these constraints is that it’s creating space for new things… new thoughts, new routines, new activities. Instead of planning trips and adventures and fantasizing about the future, I’m committed (more than ever) to today, just today. I’m starting my morning with more intention. I’m taking time to breathe and sit in child's pose. I’m writing without pressure to post. I’m drinking more tea and likely eating way too many Manner Schnitten. And, I’m using my new electric lint remover with a vengeance. How’s life in lockdown going for you? Xo Sabrina
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