Dear Friends of French Affaires, Who does not love Provence? I am just back from 15 days in Aix-en-Provence with a super group of “amateurs de la langue francaise” — lovers of the French language who enrolled in our favorite language school for three hours of immersion each morning. These are some of my favorite…

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Loire Valley, where majestic châteaux, exceptional vineyards, and a rich historical heritage await. This exclusive experience invites you to discover French elegance through refined wine tastings, authentic encounters, and landscapes listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. To learn more about this exciting trip, download…

Dear Friends of French Affaires, I wanted to announce the publication of the book about my wife Elizabeth and me. It has just appeared. Some of you may have seen the serialization of Part One which I shared at the website. The book is in three parts. The publisher alerted me yesterday that one can…

Dear Friends of French Affaires! SW France has always held a special place in my heart. My wife and I spent our honeymoon there. We returned for a six-week stint in Carcans in the Medoc the following summer (including a descent to St Jean Pied de Port in the Pyrenees). French Affaires has taken groups…

Dear Friends of French Affaires I am just back from Burgundy and the French Language Immersion trip. This is the alternative site to Aix-en-Provence. At Aix we “live like a local” over a two-week format. The Aix destination has been a perennial French Affaires offering, going back to 2008. Elizabeth had also done a Vanderbilt…

Dear Friends of French Affaires “Discover the sun-drenched vineyards of Provence, where rolling hills meet lavender fields, and every sip of wine tells a story of Mediterranean charm and centuries-old tradition.” I have now returned from 5 days in Provence working alongside Helene Herve for the Provence Vineyards tour planned for 3-9 October 2025. It…

Afterword I want to thank all those who have responded to this series, “A Life Lived Well in France.” It has been a pleasure to hear you share memories of Elizabeth in response to these episodes. She embodied the rare combination of beauty, warmth, intelligence and kindness. And deep Christian faith. Her grave marker reads….

Conclusion I have chosen to limit the episodes for this retelling so most of them fit within a single year. That provides a loose framework though I obviously speak of things prior to this calendar year and after it. I have not wanted to follow a chronological line, but rather to move into different regions…