You say your "stories don’t attract crowds."
Have you seen the number of views on your posts? 14 in 1 hour for today’s piece!
Most importantly: your stories bring smiles—and laughter too. I’ll admit, sometimes a tear escapes as well. The emotions are right there in the words; we feel them, they pull us in. We feel human, alive.
Thank you. Truly—thank you!
When your little/big treasures take over the bottom of the forum with your funny, moving, grumpy, cheerful words—I don’t even know what else—and always so kind, it’s THE happiness of the day, it’s MY happiness of the day...
Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Dolma
un chemin et la caresse du vent, alors je pars en voyage...
Congrats to Félix! Well done! I really like this game.
It's always a pleasure to read your posts. I have to admit, the salad bit had me laughing. Your little wolves are really funny.
Hooray for teachers, hooray for school—screens can’t replace everything. We miss their presence because it’s *so* tough, and I’ve had it up to here. Spring break’s coming, I can’t wait.
Teachers are super efficient, and while I appreciate how responsive they are, I notice the printer’s spewing out paper like there’s no tomorrow. For my middle and high school girls, it’s even more daily work than "in real life."
Oh, they’re busy all right. And they grumble every day. My help is absolutely useless—I don’t understand a thing, not in math, not in physics. I can barely keep up with the little boys’ 4th and 5th grade work.
Yesterday’s essay topic for 10th grade: "Can man grant himself rights over himself and over nature?" Hmm, we’ll talk about that at mealtime…
Héloïse in 6th grade: "Mom, I have to read *The Doctor in Spite of Himself* by Molière, and I don’t have it."
I look in the library and find it wedged between Racine and Corneille. The book’s a little worn, the pages stiff and crackly, and it has that nice old-book smell. I hand it to her.
"Here, this was mine when I was your age."
She takes it, flips through it, and says:
"Are you sure it’s the same text and the same dialogue? I mean, your book is *super* old."
The days go by, all different—there’s *plenty* of atmosphere!
Smile
No, it’s not "smile, you’re on camera."
It’s not "I’m taking a selfie with a killer smile."
Nor is it "smile at life, and life will smile back."
It’s a powerful inner command: "Dom, don’t smile."
But why stop smiling?
Because little Gaspard said at lunch:
"You too—will the tooth fairy still come even though you’re a little old?"
We were eating semolina sticks like fries (easy to make and always a hit). The sticks were crispy, and my pivot canine tooth just *up and left*! (Blame the king cake and its porcelain charm from way back.) That tooth had been stuck there for twenty years, and it chose to escape without even a *derogatory travel certificate*!
I didn’t say "darn," "shoot," or "rats." I let out a resounding *merde*—so loud that Cambronne would’ve been left speechless, just like all the kids at the table.
Husband burst out laughing!
The girls said, "Oh, poor Mom!" and immediately added, "It makes you look like a witch."
The little boys said, "You can use a straw to drink easily."
Héloïse chimed in: "Let me see—oh, it’s not *too* noticeable."
Jules: "You could make one out of salt dough."
Félix, molding a breadcrumb ball: "You can plug the hole with this."
And just like that, they were all inspecting their mouths, touching their teeth—a total cacophony.
I stood up and slapped the table with my palm:
"Hey! This isn’t the cafeteria—quiet down!"
Husband stood up too:
"My Queen of Charms, why do you have a *tooth* against us?"
The laugh I’d been holding back bubbled up in my belly, rose in my throat, and burst out, freeing.
And the laughter, like a wave, spread around the table.
As things calmed down, I still heard Jules whispering behind his hand to his cousin:
"She still said a bad word!"
I’ve got to stay humble—I thought I’d handle substitute teaching easily, but nope, I *bit off more than I could chew*… and lost a tooth over it!
There are worse things: So I’ll keep *biting into life* with all my might, even if it means losing a few teeth. It’s way better than holding a grudge, I think.
I have to admit, Pondy, I laughed my head off. Not nice of me. 😏
I was picturing your little ones after your "merde" and "the witch"—that was the Himalayas for me. It reminded me of a bad memory: after an emergency extubation, I almost lost a tooth. Since it stuck out more than the others, my son called me the bulldog.
I didn’t even understand the topic of the high school essay. 🤪
Last year, my oldest had to do a division problem—there was a whole page of them, a real mess. I showed her how I did it, and she thought it was much simpler, but she had to keep doing it her teacher’s way.
It’s like the direct object complement changing its name. Even with a Bac + 12, you can’t keep up anymore. 🙁
Have a great day, Pondy.
Did the tooth fairy stop by, even though you’re a bit old for it? 😉
What a joy to read this morning! Between the improbable haircuts and the teeth that are making a run for it, we’d love to see a "end of lockdown" photo (with a big smile, of course 😄)! Thanks again, Pondy
Ouch, not cool about your tooth. Hope you find a dentist soon.
I gotta say, that *Doctor in Spite of Himself* bit—are you sure it’s the same text? Had me laughing out loud.
Can’t wait for the next episode...
School’s out today—and maybe tomorrow too. For all those kids glued to screens endlessly (I used to think it was bad for them, but I must’ve been wrong or just misread), this’ll be a break, and I don’t think their brains will suddenly turn to mush—they’re way too sharp for that.
This school year’s been so weird!
It doesn’t give me more time to scroll on the computer, but reading your funny messages always makes me laugh too.
Yep, the two little neighbors came back on Monday—they’re hilarious and shyer than mine. Their mom evened out their haircuts and isn’t holding it against me anymore (as if she had a choice!).
Yep, the canine tooth’s tucked away in my desk with the paperclips and thumbtacks, waiting for some hypothetical dentist to put it back in place.
And yep, I’m a little wiped out.
The quiche that doesn’t itch
It’s Skype time.
Eldest Son’s face fills the screen.
“Hey Mom, everything okay?”
“Oh yeah, just a little tired, that’s all.”
“Is Jules practicing his trumpet exercises?” (I forgot to mention that—another story for later.)
“10 minutes every night.”
“Is Louise wearing her night guard?”
“Yep.” (I should probably double-check.)
“Can I talk to Jules?”
I call out: “Jules, it’s Dad.”
Jules shows up, plants himself in front of the screen:
“Hi Dad, I’m too busy—we ate a quiche that doesn’t itch. Here’s Louise.”
The screen freezes on Eldest Son’s stunned face. Connection dropped.
(We’ll pick this back up later.)
Yesterday, a brisk wind was washing the sky clean, so let’s reconnect with nature and get a lungful of fresh air to clear all those crackling neurons.
Long pants, jackets, coats for everyone, boots, baskets—off we go, hopping over the low wall.
A special kind of foraging!
We cross the field, still damp with dew. At the edge of the woods, we can already hear the river.
And there, nettles grow in abundance.
“Let’s pick nettles!”
“No way, Mamido, you’re crazy—they sting and itch afterward!”
“Look closely—first, they’re pretty, but more importantly, check out the leaves.”
“They’ve got hairs on them.”
“Yep, and it’s the top of the leaf and the bottom of the stem that sting. Nettles are packed with vitamins and even help with acne.” (Ahhh, I see one of you perking up at that.)
Félix, furious:
“You can pick them yourself—I’m just watching.”
Jules:
“Scaredy-cat.”
I add:
“We pick them in spring before they flower. Best time is when it’s warm—the nettles sting less.”
Héloïse:
“Last year you said we had to pee on them when I had blisters.”
“No, that was a joke—and same with rubbing dandelion flowers on blisters. It turns your skin yellow but doesn’t do anything. Another plant, plantain, stops the itching, but it doesn’t grow here.”
“So what do we do if we get a bunch of blisters? They hurt *so* much. And why are we even picking nettles?” Louise asks.
“To make quiches for tonight.”
Gaïané:
“Mamido, you’re a crazy grandma—you’re making us eat weird stuff.”
Hmmm!
“Who trusts me?”
Silence.
“To pick them, pinch the top leaves with two fingers and snap them off quick and clean.”
I demonstrate, and the kids watch closely—I can tell they’re dying to try.
I wonder who’ll go first as I keep picking.
Félix, still annoyed by his cousin’s comment, snaps off his first stem with surprising confidence.
Mission accomplished—no stings. He’s proud and struts:
“It didn’t even sting me!”
The older kids pull their sleeves down to make gloves and dive in.
In twenty minutes, both baskets are full.
Who’s up for more?
And just like that, the saying *touch it and you’ll get stung* goes out the window.
Boldness, always boldness…
« Mamido, you’re such a crazy grandma, you feed us anything! »
How great it is to have a crazy grandma! Well, this grandma here, who looks after her bunch of rascals, who’s tired but still going strong, who writes such delightful things to make us laugh every morning...
Dolma
un chemin et la caresse du vent, alors je pars en voyage...
Ah Pondy, the quiche that doesn’t itch—I can just picture Dad’s face.
Nettles are so good.
Watch out for yourself, it’s April Fools’ Day and your bunch of jokers won’t let you off easy. 😏😎😉
The household is fed, and it’s almost time to head to bed.
I take my few minutes of solitude—no one ever comes to disturb them.
Wrapped in my *chalaclope* (a gift from the kids who, giving up on the idea of breaking my addiction, decided to give me this warm shawl so that “I don’t catch bronchitis”), sitting on the cold stone step, under the sky fading into night, almost ready to slip into its nightgown, I let my thoughts and the smoke drift away.
I hear the door open and close softly behind me.
Little Guy sits down beside me, and I wrap him in my *chalaclope*.
He whispers so softly that his cool breath tickles my chin.
“Mommy, the birds have gone to bed—we can’t hear any more noises.”
“Yes, they’ve gone back to their nests.”
“You’re waiting for the stars to come out so you can see your mom?”
“No, the stars won’t shine for a long time yet.”
“Look, there’s still one bird on the edge of the roof—I think it lost its nest, or maybe it just doesn’t want to sleep.”
“Maybe it’s watching the evening fall.”
“Mommy, do you miss your mom?”
“Yes, a lot.”
“Mom misses me a *little* a lot too. When’s the virus gonna go away?”
“I don’t know, but when it does, we’ll have a big party all together with Dad and Mom.”
“Oh, the bird’s gone.”
He snuggles closer, pulling the fabric up under his chin—his straw-like hair prickles my cheek.
“Your *chalaclope* smells weird-good.”
Then he falls silent. The quiet is so gentle—I don’t know who’s rocking whom.
The perfect minute slips away.
I think from now on, whenever someone asks on this forum where they can find authenticity during their upcoming trip, we can point them to this discussion...
😊
I don’t think my little girl was curious enough to check if there was a translation.
Like me, she probably thought they were made-up words, like younger kids often do to pretend they’re foreigners!
So, too bad if it’s spicy as you say—no one here will ever know, and I’ll make sure not to bring it up again! 😊
The little hive is buzzing and—miracle—the computer is free.
I’m taking my break.
I’m copying down the text from our little writer. We added it to the scroll.
She told me: « I made up a story about when I’ll be grown up, so you’re dead but it’s just pretend »
__
Today I’m 30 and we’re celebrating two birthdays: mine and the death of the virus.
The death-of-the-virus day is like July 14th—no one goes to work, it’s a public holiday, so I can prep my birthday with my husband.
When I was 10, we all lived at my grandparents’ place with my cousins for a year without seeing our parents. It was super long, but we all kept memories of it.
My parents and my aunts and uncles kept their house when they died, and that’s where we spend our vacations now. My cousins already have kids, and I want lots too.
The death-of-the-virus celebration is called Corovia.
Every country in the world celebrates because billions died, and when it was over, there weren’t many of us left on Earth.
There were no more overweight people because there was nothing to eat.
We did school at home during the virus, and afterward, it continued because schools were used for poor people who had lost their jobs.
It’s been 20 years since it ended, and the world is almost the same, except cars fly and roads don’t exist anymore because we turned roads and highways into fields.
There are no more buildings—we took them down because they were empty.
And since it’s always hot now, everyone lives in tents.
My husband and I live in a blue tent with five dogs and four chickens.
For my birthday, we’ll lay out blankets in the field, play music, and make dandelion cakes.
I can’t wait for it to be evening already.
Hi Pondy,
Your writer has quite the imagination, but she’s not exactly optimistic. Feeling a bit down? I think she talks about death a lot.
It’s the weekend—enjoy your days off from school.
Hello Pondy,
Your days and stories keep coming, each bringing its own emotions: joy (so much of it—it feels good!), worry, tenderness... Reading yesterday’s post made me think of this symphony that’s been going around: https://youtu.be/rEjvRktXeis
Have a great day, everyone!
Ohh Sabine, it’s so gentle.
I listened to the original by Bourvil and also by Marie Laforêt.
Tenderness is a lifeline, and being without it must be really tough. Some say being kind or tender is cheesy, and in our worlds where it’s easy to lash out, bite, mock, insult, smear, or sneer, talking about tenderness or living wrapped in softness feels suspicious—but shhh, who cares…
The world is full of kind people, but we’re flooded with the violence we’re shown. It’s easy to forget that.
Tenderness is like sitting in front of a spinning wheel and spinning, spinning, day after day. The dense ball of yarn grows rounder over time. If someone says, “You’re taking forever to make that blanket—just buy one ready-made,” well, no. My blanket is silky, soft, strong, enveloping—it’s magical because year after year, it grows bigger and warmer.
I’ll pause my little stories for a few days. I’m really too busy to write, and this strange, swirling time—like all of you, I’m tucking it away in my memory.
I’ll stop there with my little stories for a few days—I’m really too busy to write, and like all of you, I’m just storing up this strange, swirling time in my memory.
No more fresh air—what’s going to happen to us? 😐
Take care, Pondy, little ones are exhausting.
Hugs, see you soon.
I’ll pause my little stories for a few days—I’m really too busy to write, and like all of you, I’m just storing up this strange, swirling time in my memory.
You’re going on vacation? 😏
And what about us? How are we supposed to manage without these sweet slices of life you share with us?
But I can only imagine how time-consuming it must be to take care of those 7 people in lockdown...
Hats off!
" Nous ne saurons jamais tout le bien qu'un simple sourire peut être capable de faire."
Mère Teresa
True, that morning breath of fresh air will be missed... already can't wait to read your beautiful writing again.
Take good care of yourself and the tribe!
Sabine (not even afraid of being mushy 😄!)
Thanks Dom, for these daily little joys. Come back whenever you can/want!
Take care of yourself and those little-big ones who need your time and energy.
And make sure you rest too! :-)
Live update from the Morvan countryside.
French expressions in progress:
-to be wiped out
-to be fed up
-to tackle something head-on
-to tear your hair out
-to not have your eyes in the right place
-to laugh your head off
-to give someone a stern look
-it goes in one ear and out the other
-to stick together!
1) The tadpoles have grown their legs.
2) The swallows arrived a few days ago:
"Mamido, come quick, hurry up, they’re here!"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know, what you’re always waiting for and writing in your night-light journal."
"Ahhhhh, the swallows!"
3) Setting up camp—two tents in Jean’s meadow, behind the low wall, for a night of camping. (Not me, them!)
They’re so excited about the idea, I doubt they’ll sleep through the night once it’s set up. To be continued…
4) Their virus game didn’t last long:
You need two chairs and two jump ropes.
Tie the ends of the ropes to the chair legs, not too high and not too low.
Hold the chair steady by sitting as a counterweight.
Call the game: the coronavirus game.
Have the two smallest kids (the little ones next door!) balance on them.
One foot on each rope and "the first one to fall loses—they’ve got the coronavirus."
5) Little calf Roméo is growing well!
6) We’re losing track of the days. Happy days, boring days, arguments, and laughter all mixed together.
7) Screen time with parents is okay for a while, but it’s not real life.
"I don’t want to see Mom on a screen anymore."
8) Save onion peels, beet juice, and grab some turmeric—boom, you’ve got natural egg dye for Easter.
9) Suddenly realizing that this timeless time is absolutely unique.
From the youngest to the oldest, it’ll stay in our memories.
Until next time! Tonight, it’s vacation—no more homeschooling, yeah!
🙂 Lovely! A new message from Mamido... wishing you all an excellent holiday, to both young and old Morvandiaux—what a relief for two weeks of returning to life as a couple . Happiness and take care!!!
Fabricia -
Comme une eau, le monde vous traverse et pour un temps vous prête ses couleurs... ("L'Usage du Monde" - Nicolas Bouvier)
Hi Pondy,
Are the Chicoufs really going to see their parents for 15 days?
A little break for the two of you, but you’ll miss them.
You’ll have time to rest and come up with plenty of other games. Deconfinement isn’t happening anytime soon.
“Back then we were crudely stupid, and now we’re cleverly stupid!”
If the kids only remembered the swear word, I still love that thought from Homme.
If the night in the tent was chaotic, with the kids sneaking back into their beds as the night went on—“I heard a wild boar grunting” (was it Homme’s snoring carrying through the wall to their little ears?)
“There was a fox rubbing against the tent”
“There was a rock lump under my back”
“Actually, I was scared of the pitch-black dark”
“There was no signal in the tent” (oh really, I thought phones stayed at home?)
The success is there—they spent the whole day in the field by the tents, “they’re city castaways eating whatever they find!”
If the egg hunt was funny and successful, their kindness was also on point. Bringing some of their loot to the little grandmas in the village, they shouted at doors left open to the sun:
“Hey there! Hello, it’s us—we left eggs on the steps, you gotta take them before they melt in the sun!”
If I sympathize when I hear our oldest say, “I miss McDonald’s with my friends so much—do you think we can hug after this?”, personally, I’ve had it up to here, and I’d happily serve them pasta with butter and Gruyère for every meal, lunch and dinner, every single day.
If we counted the occupied nests in the barn correctly—4, one more than last year—I especially loved how attentively the kids listened:
“It’s always the male who arrives first. He comes and flies in big circles to call his mate. When swallows arrive, they fly at 50 km/h and cover 300 km every day. It’s easy to recognize a swallow—its tail is split in two, called streamers.
People say swallows bring good luck, and you shouldn’t destroy their nests. That’s why we put a tarp over the motorcycle—because their droppings ruin everything.
In a country north of Europe, Estonia, they have a swallow on their banknote.
They’re precious because they eat flies and mosquitoes, and it’s magical to see them zoom into the barn without missing a beat.”
Etc., etc.—I’ll stop there because I could go on forever about this. My pet topic!
If our neighbors are watching their little ones, I had to recognize my limits—7 kids put my nerves to the test daily. Now, they’ll only come on Wednesdays.
If there’s no more homeschooling, what a relief! Hearing:
“What’s the point of my great report card? Blanquer said grades during lockdown wouldn’t count.”
“I didn’t get good grades—I don’t care, I hate school, it’s useless!”
What will the coming months look like?
If their confinement isn’t at all like being locked up, hearing my oldest say:
“Do you think Grandpa won’t die alone in the nursing home?” My throat tightens so hard…
But it’s spring, so:
“If you want to build a ship, don’t gather your men and women to give them orders, explain every detail, or tell them where to find everything…
If you want to build a ship, make your men and women long for the sea.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Thanks Pondy.
That phrase from the Man, your little ones will remember it for the rest of their lives.
I still have a phrase from my dad in my head, with a swear word, when I was 7 or 8 years old.
We should’ve guessed they wouldn’t last all night in the tent, but they’ll certainly try again.
Thanks for their big hearts in handing out treats to the seniors.
You’re a real goldmine of information on swallows.
My oldest was really disappointed too when, after spending a day and a half on a homework assignment creating a PPT file, her teacher said it wouldn’t be graded. Disappointed and discouraged.
Did you ask your little rascals what they’d like to eat? Maybe buttered pasta, with Gruyère, tomato, mushrooms… would be a dream menu 😉
Hang in there Pondy, Manu will have more to say tonight.
“Oh no, I don’t wanna, it’s lame” (same enthusiasm as always)
“Are we going home?”
“Yay, I’ll see my friends again!”
“Only a month and a half until summer break!”
“Mamido, can you give me a bombilla? There’s skin in my hot chocolate” (super concerned about the issue)
“We’ll come back for summer break, right?”
“Will we have to wear a mask?”
“He finished the honey jar, I don’t have any left” (same kid as above)
“What are we doing today?”
“Will there be cafeteria too?”
“When’s Dad coming to pick us up, then?”
And in my head!
Little voice:
“Ughhh, another month”
And its enemy:
“Enjoy it, don’t be grumpy, you’re lucky to have them”
I’m staying deep in the forum; it’s cozy here.
Maybe there are more appropriate posts to vent my frustration. I have so little time to read.
I log in—“you have a discussion to follow”—I click, copy-paste my fuming rant, and I’m gone.
For once, no need to talk about the little ones.
They’re happily playing right now.
I’m wound up like a cuckoo clock.
Why am I so annoyed?
A few undeniable numbers:
How many people die of malaria each year, met with general indifference?
400,000.
How many people die of hunger worldwide each year?
9 million. Sure, but not here, right? We’ve got Secours Populaire, Les Restos du Cœur, Secours Catholique, and all those associations filling in for a government that can’t feed its own population.
How many has Ebola killed worldwide?
Everyone can look up the other numbers themselves.
But no one cares because they don’t feel concerned—it’s far away, it’s different, etc.
Yet here we are: 120,000 coronavirus deaths worldwide out of 7.5 billion people, and it’s full-blown panic.
The media fuels the fear endlessly, nonstop.
And the so-called experts of all kinds drone on and on.
With curves, statistics, projections, evaluations, studies.
In the end, no one knows anything. We speculate, think, believe, consider, hope, we’ll have to...
Confined, masked, tracked or surveilled—call it what you want—unemployment, depression, domestic violence, child abuse, loneliness, isolation. The harmful effects we won’t even count the deaths from.
Us, spoiled children of a consumerist system, we get an earful from “experts”—doctors, scientists, and don’t forget the social media experts. They all tell us:
-Stay home
-Wear masks
They say solidarity is in full swing:
-Oh, the cakes we bring to healthcare workers
-Oh, the social media screens filled with virtual apéros
-Oh, the nightly applause for healthcare workers. The same workers who’ve been warning for months about their precarious situation, lack of resources, and crappy pay. But people just went about their business—the doctor was there, the pediatrician was there, the surgeon too, everything was fine...
Now, it’s every man for himself. We don’t go out because we obey, but also because people are scared—for themselves, mostly for themselves.
Was the solidarity we keep hearing about there during the heatwaves? Who went to give water to the elderly? Who took them to air-conditioned places? No one. Because everyone had their fan, their AC, and was in great shape.
I’m sickened by the hypocrisy.
I’m furious at the unpreparedness of our governments—an entire population enslaved, saying amen. No masks, no tests, no ventilators.
Public hospitals overwhelmed, but private clinics with empty ICU beds.
And the PR campaign continues: medicalized TGVs, sanitary planes, field hospitals (10 days to set one up, and only one in our army? Barely even filled, etc.).
And people are ready, ripe to accept whatever’s decided—for their own good.
All masked, all separated by social distancing. We flinch if someone gets too close, and we forget to smile (though behind the mask, no problem). Almost everyone accepts being tracked, digitized like cattle—for our own good.
A flattened world, at a standstill for most. Solidarity? No, rampant individualism.
And new economies will emerge, with the same people filling their pockets.
Because what does it take to rule the world? Sheeple—well-behaved, brainwashed, thinking exactly what they’re told to think. Forgetting common sense, losing all critical thinking, acting with a lingering fear in their gut, carefully nurtured by our leaders of all kinds.
What kind of society for tomorrow?
A life through screens? A life with masks because it’s so sterile no one will risk a cold? A life policed like in Japan, a dictatorship like in Korea? A life where touch no longer exists?
“Look at my baby, isn’t he beautiful? No, no, don’t hold him, don’t touch his silky skin.” “Don’t visit your grandfather—he’s dying of loneliness, but it’s better than COVID. Don’t take his hand, with its prominent veins and thin, soft skin. Don’t wipe his eyes, which have seen so much—you might be an asymptomatic carrier.” “Don’t hug or embrace that dear friend you haven’t seen in so long—social distancing.”
Forbidden verbs: kiss, hug, embrace, caress—what a nightmare.
They’ll give us universal income, they’ll give us one or two Soma pills, and off we go...
So, I’ll follow what I’m told to do because I’m a citizen of my country, but I’ll keep grumbling and thinking for myself because my freedom—and especially the freedom to think differently—is essential to me.
Am I mixing everything up?
Absolutely.
It feels good.
And the sun is shining for everyone.
Have a good day
I don’t know how to put it into words—you’ve said exactly what I’ve been thinking, what exasperates me, what gets my blood boiling...
I wouldn’t change a single word of this breath of fresh air.
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Available and motivated to make this one-way trip with a cat and change their life?
Contact us before your next trip: https://assopacci.com/contact/
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
Hi everyone, fellow travelers!
I’m looking for anyone who’s in Kyoto or planning to visit Nishiki Market! Here’s the thing: during our trip there in April, we discovered a jewelry artisan (highly recommended!) on the left when exiting through the west exit of Nishiki Market (which is a long covered east-west street). I bought a piece of jewelry for my daughter there, but she lost it. I’d love to buy her another one! In the photo, it’s the shop with the yellow awning to the right of the restaurant with the blue awning, "Sushi Sakai." Would any kind soul be willing to get the shop’s name, email, or phone number for me? Despite my Google/AI searches, it’s nowhere to be found. A thousand thanks to whoever can help me out! Wishing you all great vacations!
Sabrina
Hello everyone! 🙂🙂,
A BIG thank you to all the travelers who sent us postcards this year—my students are becoming real geography whizzes!!!!!!!! I’m renewing my call for your kindness this year! We’re also working on food, so if your postcards can make our mouths water with local dishes, traditional meals, or typical recipes, that’d be amazing!!
Here’s a quick recap of the project:
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globetrotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse, working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m starting a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of the journal will focus on opening up to the world, diversity, travel, countries, culture...
I’m launching a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a little postcard (from France or anywhere in the world!) to take us on a journey and help us discover new places, countries, and horizons—much more fun and exciting than a regular geography textbook! One section of our journal could be called "We received mail from " and would be an opportunity to research that location and share what we learn with our readers (a super enriching activity in class).
The project starts in September 2025 but has no real end date, as this journal and world discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in my ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! (The kids will find them when they return.)
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow traveler friends. Make us dream, take us on a journey!!!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!!
Thank you in advance for your participation(s)! Below is our address. Feel free to leave your own address on a corner of the postcard if you’d like us to write back! 😊
The ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and see you soon, I hope! 😁
Julien
Regarding the amount of tobacco you can buy during a trip in the European Union and bring back to France, we can't really talk about a "duty-free allowance," because the rules around how much tobacco you can bring back to France aren't straightforward at all under French law.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Hi everyone, fellow travelers!
I’m looking for anyone who’s in Kyoto or planning to visit Nishiki Market! Here’s the thing: during our trip there in April, we discovered a jewelry artisan (highly recommended!) on the left when exiting through the west exit of Nishiki Market (which is a long covered east-west street). I bought a piece of jewelry for my daughter there, but she lost it. I’d love to buy her another one! In the photo, it’s the shop with the yellow awning to the right of the restaurant with the blue awning, "Sushi Sakai." Would any kind soul be willing to get the shop’s name, email, or phone number for me? Despite my Google/AI searches, it’s nowhere to be found. A thousand thanks to whoever can help me out! Wishing you all great vacations!
Sabrina
