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Bonjour La France
  • Alex and Julie Beijen
  • Alex and Julie Beijen

Bonjour La France

26 years after the first attempt to get to France, we're finally on our way. A few days in Vietnam and then London on the way,... and then, "Bonjour Paris !" Read more
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  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Malestroit & Rochefort-en-Terre

    October 28, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Slightly like a beauty pagent, both villages have been previous winners in the 'plus beau village de France' - they are both very beautiful. Malestroit though, has gone for the authentic liveable village,with locals gossiping and taking coffee at the Tabac in the square. Rochefort-en-Terre has succumbed to trying to retain her good looks with lip fillers, and botox. A wee bit touristy for our liking.
    For the curious, in the first photo I'm trying to copy the gargoyle gutter spout above.    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Buying a house in France

    October 28, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    The 'actual' reason for our trip to France, was not to eat and drink way too much, but to fulfill the lifelong ambition of buying a little house as a base for annual francophile excursions.
    Amongst the overeating and drinking we have done ALOT of house hunting.

    Here is a compilation of some of the houses viewed. Some incredible, some incredibly scary,! All needing lots of work - some we loved, just too big a project, requiring too big a budget.
    After all the searching, we have made an offer, which has been accepted.    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Which House ??

    October 28, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Mais bien sûr,..ça devait toujours être Fontgombault! We immediately loved the house, village and wider Le Blanc, Indre area. Situated in the parc naturel régional de la Brenne on the banks of the Creuse River. The village is next to the 10th century Abbey of Notre-Dame, Fontgombault which has a community of around 70 monks. The Abbaye is very famous for its Gregorian Chant ( YouTube link)
    The property has a 3 story house, Gite for conversion (accomodation), courtyard, a large garden which contains the ruins of an older dwelling, as well as several outbuildings which we have yet to access. It's a project, but we're very pleased with our find.
    A few images to give you the vibe.
    Source: YouTube https://share.google/EorMDKx85XvDEK9OW    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Menhirs, Dolmens, Obelix & Alex

    October 29, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    Remains of ancient civilizations visible all across Brittany. Arrived in Quimper in the pouring rain so we hunkered down in our little apartment. Alex tried to entice a furry friend in for a visit he wasn't having a bar of it because our French accent was off.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Breton history

    October 30, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    The 'Oust' of France (the West) is so staunchly proud of all things Breton, dress, culture, the gloomy weather! They build'em tough here, kind of like west coasters back in NZ.
    Alex felt right at home with all the wooden clog wearing.
    Great régional museum. The Tabac opposite the Cathedral in Quiper rivals Neighbourhood of Martinborough for people-watching.    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    La Toussaint (Halloween)

    October 31, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    Quimper is afloat with gouls and ghosts tonight. Not a traditional celebration, but combined with All Saints Day here in France. Our window is open and the light on indicating we are here for trick and treaters - I have also put out a treat for Monsieur Chat,.. but he has not appeared for Halloween.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler
    1

    Weekend in Quimper

    November 1, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Late get up, shopping at the market, coffee and quiz in the town square, a drive out to seaside village of Bénodet (cute Akaroa vibe), baguettes at the beach, and then chased home by a thunderstorm.

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Binic - Etables sur Mer

    November 2, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    Staying in a tiny wee Gite on a cliff top overlooking the Baie de Saint Brieuc looking out towards Jersey. Very cute village with loads of qaui side bars and restaurants looking out onto the Harbour and Marina. Book reading and lounging on la plage ( Breton weather permitting). Lights of Jersey and Gurnsey.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Plat du Jour

    November 3, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    A long lunch at a seaside Bistro. Bonvent in Binic is relaxed, has great food, and even pulled up an online tutorial to try and find out about the ubiquitous flat white ( mysteriously absent in France). They even let Alex on the coffee machine.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Rennes

    November 4, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Cute accomodation, if not a little long-in-the-tooth. Built in 1778, so a wee bit wibbly wobbly!
    We are staying in the Centre Ville historic area, most buildings here are 17th C, so cool to walk out of our front door and back into history.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Mont Saint Michel, Normandie

    November 5, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Visited the iconic MSM today. Opted to walk the 3km causeway to access this tourist magnet. This tiny island 'cite' receives 3 million tourists a year. It's beautiful but very touristy. Fortunately, not to busy today and loved the walk.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Vitré

    November 6, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    On the boarder of Brittany and Normandie, the architecture is a real mix of Breton and the half-timbered Normandie buildings, fascinating walking the streets of this ancient town.

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Jersey, UK

    November 8, 2025 in Jersey ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    An overnight excursion to St Helier, staying in a Greek Taverna, go figure! Went to sleep to the sound of crashing waves, just like Ngawi! Pie 🥧 Mash, and mushy peas for lunch. Visited the WII German tunnels and hospital - was fascinating learning more of the occupation history.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Back home,... in the Loire Valley.

    November 9, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Sampling the realities of Châteaux life. We are staying at the magnificent Châteaux de Saint Loup, near the village of Airvault. It is a lifetime of work for Sophie the owner. The Châteaux alone could gooble several million € just to preserve it, the grounds several million more - having said that, it is absolutely magnificent in its current 'hanging on the edge' kind of state. Sophie's most recent project is the restoration of the 16th C dovecote roof.
    Our room is in the original castle keep ( a mere 600 years old!). Dinner was microwave Pizza in the guard tower.    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Châteaux Saint-Loup-Lamaire

    November 10, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌬 15 °C

    Today we explored the Châteaux with owner Sophie. Sophie's husband (who is sadly very ill at the moment) has a saying, which is something like," Owning a Châteaux,..the worries are great, but the rewards of restoring and protecting the history is greater still". You can see in the sympathetic way that they have done things that they love the Châteaux. It is truly beautiful. We loved having a very intimate tour of the Châteaux and learning about its history. Even the wing that is unrestored was fascinating.
    Lunch today was a first for Alex and I,Lapin à la sauce moutarde.    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    French Admin

    November 14, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Feeling really French with our Credit Agricole bank account ( the farmers bank). Only took a truckload of documents and two appointments - the French sure like a bit of red tape and hoop jumping! Photographed an otter, turned out to be a giant rat.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler
    1

    House update.

    November 15, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Long-story, short,.. we withdrew our offer for Fontgombault. Today we have progressed an offer on a very different property. The house (Barn) is ancient (circa 1475) built into the town ramparts, located under the tower of the 11th C Castle, overlooking the 10th Century Cathedral! The property has two terraces, a cellar/cave/donjon. All external facades are registered as Monument Historique, so restoration is done to an exact plan approved by the Mayor and government - this buildimg has an approved plan to convert to a house that we must adhere to. So much history, and a very exciting project. Photos don't do it justice. It is impressive and has fabulous 550 year old features.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Lost Cat

    November 16, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Turns out our cat that went missing from Shooting Butts Road in Martinborough actually just went on holiday to France and decided to stay.
    Dead ringer for Durpy firmly installed on our bed!
    Durpy lookalike is actually chief mouser at our farmhouse accomodation near the village of Obterre.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Morning Walk, Airvault

    November 18, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 3 °C

    Brisk this morning! A heavy frost coating the village, but quickly disappearing now the sun has poked its head over the hills.
    Airvault is located in a valley with surrounding hills, so lots of stairs for our morning walk and fitness,... general vibe is actually very Italian with the terracotta roof tiles, roman bridges, cobbled streets and hills - not typical of this part of France which is very agricultural and wider open landscape.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    The first step

    November 18, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C

    Signing the 'Compromis de Vente', and then Acte de Vente.
    Today we met with the vendor and Immobilier to sign the offer for Airvault. A great experience. Alex was awesome with his french, lots of discussion, and a very helpful current owner and realestate agent - we loved it, The deal was sealed with wine,... quite a bit of it,... at 11.00am in the morning!
    Bonus, Jean Français (the vendor) is a truffle hunter so I have a source of fresh truffle.    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler
    1

    Châteaux de Oiron, Airvault

    November 19, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    If you want to keep favour with the King, build a swanky house, commission paintings depicting victory, and cover his rooms in gold, and invite him for parties. Châteaux Oiron is very impressive, quite different from others we've visited. Now owned by the State it is used as a contemporary art gallery. 10 minutes down the road from our wee barn.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Tours

    November 20, 2025 in France ⋅ 🌙 2 °C

    Visited Tours today. Large university campus and lots of young people makes for an ancient city that is still vibrant and lived in. 'Karen' our navigation system took us the scenic route, so spent a lot of time on single lane roads getting there!
    Our lady Joan of Arc spent a lot of time here - martyred at age 19 - its kind of fitting that this is a young student kind of place.
    Staying at a cute Gite near Orion Châteaux.    Read more

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