France
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Visit to the Richard de Bas paper mill in Ambert (France)
For someone who loves working with paper, it’s a bit surprising that I had never visited a paper mill before. During our stay in Rhône-Alpes, we discovered that a traditional paper mill still existed in Ambert, a 1-hour drive away. I thought it was difficult to visit, because someone mentioned online that it was better to book, but as we found out on a Saturday in September, there was a tour every 15 minutes. We booked and paid online, but we could have just shown up and bought tickets on site. This site was the favorite spot for paper mills thanks to its favorable location: not too far from Lyon,…
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Visiting the Brochier Soieries Workshop in Lyon: Silk Scarves & Screen Printing
You know my love for Hermès silk twill scarves. However, Hermès is not the only one mastering the art of screen printing. In Lyon, you can visit the workshop of a company that still makes silk scarves using flat-bed screen printing, known as “à la lyonnaise”. Passing through Lyon, we barely had time to visit the workshop, even though Brochier Soieries also has a museum and several shops. The workshop overlooks an inner courtyard, and without an appointment, you can push open the doors and watch the artisans at work. There are no tickets; visitors give what they want. We got a private tour because we came early enough. We…
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Discovering Tea Time at The Peninsula Palace in Paris
It’s becoming a tradition: whenever we find the time during our brief visits to Paris, we treat ourselves to a little indulgence: enjoying a tea time at a palace hotel. In September 2018, we discovered the tea time at the Ritz. In December 2022, it was the turn of the George V. Why did we choose The Peninsula? Almost by default. Anh wanted to go to Shangri La: tea time is not offered in the summer. Same for the Royal Monceau. The Peninsula was our last attempt, and they were happy to have us 🙂 Tea times in Parisian palace hotels are memorable experiences. Gustatorily, of course, but also the…
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In Search of Used Books in Rouen (France): Travel Diary
After Chartres, I take the train to go to Rouen. If I had known, I would have spent half a day in Illiers-Combray before going to Rouen, but that will be for next time. There’s no direct train between Chartres and Rouen, so I have to change trains at Versailles-Chantier. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal I’ve been to Rouen many times; you can read my previous posts here, here, here , and and there. We spent 2.5 months in Rouen right after lockdown, and it’s still a fond memory for me. I chose accommodation in the city center on Rue de la République, but…
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Guided Tour of Chartres Cathedral (France): Travel Diary
After a few days in Paris, S. and I have to part ways. She goes home, while I continue my mini road trip. Right on Whit Monday, I find myself in Chartres. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal I’m glad I didn’t arrive too early because it’s impossible to reach my hotel. A giant mass is taking place around Chartres Cathedral and all roads are blocked, even for pedestrians. I arrive just as the mass ends and slip through the crowd to get to my hotel. Getting lost in the crowd, I realize I’m in the right place at the right time: I’m right in…
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[review] Charbonnel washable inks for linocut
After a bookbinding-linocut class (I mentioned here), I followed my teacher’s recommendations and went to the Charbonnel store to buy inks for my home linocut studio. The shop is in the 5th arrondissement, on the Seine quay, almost facing Notre-Dame de Paris. I ring, someone opens the door and welcomes me. I went to this store twice. The first time, I chatted with a woman working on the Lefranc Bourgeois paint ink range, and the second time, I spoke with a man in charge of printing inks. Note: this article is not NOT sponsored, I paid for everything out of my own pocket As a beginner, I took the opportunity…
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3.5 days in Paris with girlfriends (France) – 2023
Passing through Paris in express mode, I suggested my girlfriend S. join me. To my great joy, she accepted the invitation. I picked her up at Orly and we spent 3 and a half wonderful days in Paris, as girlfriends. My girlfriend has been to Paris several times for business, but she’s never had time to see the city (except Montmartre). You could say it’s her first time visiting Paris. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Day 1: Accommodation in Paris has been sky-high since tourism picked up post-Covid. I opted for an Airbnb in zone 4, which means an hour of commuting every day…
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[Review] Bookbinding & Linocut Workshop with Funbooker in Paris
When I recently visited France, I tried out more fun things for you: I took a Japanese bookbinding + linocut workshop. I booked the class on Funbooker. Note: this post is not sponsored, I paid with my own money It’s a site that offers all kinds of activities. In the “DIY” category, it connects artisans with people wanting to discover a specific craft (bookbinding, painting, leathercraft, etc.). Booking is super easy—you pay online, the artisan confirms by email, and you get an address and time, so you can show up empty-handed (almost). My teacher Apolline did ask us to bring a small 10x10cm design for the linocut. I’ve wanted to…
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Loire Castles: Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Ussé (France)
It’s very rare for me to take complete vacations. Since I work part-time, I theoretically have time to recover the rest of the week (even if in 2022, that wasn’t really the case). But the fatigue that’s been building up for a long time is starting to take its toll, and we’re taking advantage of a week off to rest and a long weekend to visit some Loire castles I’ve always wanted to discover. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Remember, we visited a few before our round-the-world trip and during our 2020 road trip in France, but I saved the best for 2022. I’m…
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Tour of the Louis Vuitton house & workshops in Asnières (France)
JB and I are LVMH shareholders and, from time to time, they organize exclusive (and free) tours for their shareholders. We’ve been lucky enough to attend a few of these, and we take advantage of them every time we’re back in France. This year, JB managed to get us two spots for the tour of the Louis Vuitton house and their workshops in Asnières. You should know that Louis Vuitton has a ton of workshops, but this one is the most prestigious because it’s here that they still make trunks (their original craft), one-of-a-kind pieces (like the trunk that carries the FIFA World Cup trophy), and special orders (custom requests).…
