Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

L’eau de Vie

                           Img_2391

The first step to living a French life, begins when you enter a French cafe.

Walk up to the counter, and order a drink, l'eau de vie (the water of life!)

Cafe (coffee,) The (tea,) Tisane (herb tea,) Vin (wine,) Ricard (Pastis,) Chocolat Chaud (hot chocolate,) Jus de Pamplemousse (Grapefruit juice,) Carafe d'eau (pitcher of water,) or whatever wets your lips and soothes your soul.

                           

Anytime of the day is the right time in the south of France. Ricard (anise flavored liquor,) is served, or a glass of rose. You can hear Edith sing, or Johnny rock, certainly you will enter the heart of France, if you are not in a rush…

                         

The other day, after the marche au puce (flea market,) I went to the cafe to have a tea. Many marchands (dealers) and the men were drinking champagne at 7h00 (seven a.m.) They asked me if I would like a glass. I laughed, I have to drive. They roared, "The day is young, what is the hurry? Stay awhile, walk around the market, have lunch…then go home." Ah, la belle vie!

Photos…I didn't stay but the patron (owner of the bar,) passed out roses to the few women gathered. Party today at Risa's.

Comments

54 responses to “L’eau de Vie”

  1. Renee

    Sounds so fun, love the french attitude! Just love your french stories. xx

    Reply
  2. kali

    Such zest for life!

    Reply
  3. Jeanne

    I find in most parts of Europe
    the people really embrace living and the enjoyment of it.
    A toast to thee and tea and what ever strikes your fancy at the cafe’s.
    Virtually I share one with you each day.
    Love you Sugar Plum.
    Jeanne

    Reply
  4. darla

    Ah yes, whats the hurry? I like my breakfast champagne in the form of a Mimosa.

    Reply
  5. Gardengirl

    At 7am the day is very young. The men gave good advice……don’t hurry. I live with that attitude most days. As I read this post I felt like I was there at the cafe with you.

    Reply
  6. patpaulk

    Smart bar owner. I think I’ll have the Ricard. Most enjoyable read!!

    Reply
  7. Anna

    Oh, this post is just so, so lovely, Corey. I especially love the photo with the lipstick-stained cup and the gorgeous yellow rose…..a beautiful composition. And your day at the flea market…..heavenly!!

    Reply
  8. Pam Aries

    Okay…that’s it I am moving to France! WHAT am I doing here in the the conservative South? Somebody please tell me??/!!!

    Reply
  9. Penny

    I’ll take the chocolat chaud — somehow everything sounds better in French!

    Reply
  10. sheila

    To sit and sip Cafe au lait, listening to Edith, living in the moment…aaah heaven.
    I’m not usually a coffee drinker, but when in Europe..I can’t get enough of it. Perhaps it’s the company and the surroundings, not in a carboard cup and go, go, go…!

    Reply
  11. Gypsy Purple

    Oh yes, the french cafe….the fleamarket….and the rose….my heart longs

    Reply
  12. phyllis

    See you at Risa’s…are you wearing that lipstick? LOL.

    Reply
  13. Shannon

    The dreamy French life. I canNOT wait to get there!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  14. mary ann

    ahhhh…so nice to live vicariously through you!

    Reply
  15. berrie

    sounds like my kind of breakfast drink! ahhh yes, slow down…what’s the rush, have another* and another? Call a friend for a ride home:)xo

    Reply
  16. The French Nest

    I am a French-girl at heart living in Canada. My mum and I are looking forward to visiting Paris this summer after my graduation from university. In the meantime, I will live vicariously through your beautiful blog!

    Reply
  17. stephanie

    I feel so lucky being able to visit Paris through your eyes! Great image of the coffe cup, lipstick and rose! Says it all

    Reply
  18. annieelf

    I just loved reading this Corey. It reminded me of the friendly old merchant I met at the market in Laval years ago. He was adorable and so kind as I stumble through my hideous French.

    Reply
  19. sarah

    grapefruit juice is a bit winkish for me, but the next time i’m in france(!), i’m ordering a jus de pamplemousse, just because it sounds so beautiful! i love your teapot post, it made me chuckle!

    Reply
  20. stephanie s

    oh wow! there would have been no way i could have refused champagne, no matter what time of day. and then a beautiful rose too? i have got to get back to france…

    Reply
  21. Tracie

    Wow it does sounds inviting! And wow champagne at 7am…I just might have had to be daring once in my life and done it!!

    Reply
  22. MB

    Le patron vous a donne des roses! What a guy! I loved listening to the music, thank you, Corey.

    Reply
  23. Star

    Champagne at 7 a.m.? A bit surprising, but what surprises me more is that you had been to the flea market already and were finished and seeking a cup of tea by 7 a.m.! You must be able to function on very little sleep. Left to my own devices, I’d still be snuggled into flannel sheets beneath the duvet.
    Hope you were rewarded with some real bargains for venturing out so early.

    Reply
  24. carolyn

    Your words paint such a glorious picture.

    Reply
  25. Vanessa

    Glorious, just glorious…I am floating and dreaming…Champagne, roses, yes..I wish it was me…See you at Risa’s

    Reply
  26. diana

    I am an early bird too.. and I might have been tempted to pour a little champagne in my orange juice at that french cafe !!

    Reply
  27. Ulla

    Ahhhh, the good life! I have that CD, its wonderful! Love the lipstick on the cups – so ladylike… and yellow roses, only a true frenchman would offer!

    Reply
  28. Veronica TM

    How wonderful! I am so glad to be a the party with you and wishing some day we could go to the cafe and sit and chat.

    Reply
  29. isay

    lovely painting, pictures and the story that goes with it. I like France,actually.

    Reply
  30. Robin

    French cafe… your description gives me goosebumps and makes me weepy with old memories… France, yes, for sure… but Hungary, especially Budapest, too.

    Reply
  31. constance

    Savor and enjoy! Such keys to happiness.
    Did you accept the sip of champagne?
    Thanks for the invite to Risa’s tea. What a perfect day it’s been.

    Reply
  32. Karin

    Beautiful pictures. I felt as though I was there.

    Reply
  33. Merisi

    The first time a viennese offered me a mimosa (champagne with orange juice) I was quite surprised. What a classy excuse to get the bubbly out before lunch? Shortly after I arrived at my mother’s (native from Salzburg, Austria) birthday party and found everybody drinking the bubbly with elderberry flower sirup in the garden at eight in the morning. My mother stared at me incredulously when I asked her about this custom, she couldn’t believe I somehow had grown up around her house without realizing … 😉
    Thanks for the happy memories your blog brought back to me,
    Merisi

    Reply
  34. Paris Parfait

    Lovely post. The local market vendors are always in the cafes drinking something other than coffee at 7 a.m.! I don’t know how they do it, unless they go to bed very early. But they always seem to be jovial and in a good mood!

    Reply
  35. cruststation

    I love travelling with you on your daily adventures. How wonderfully cultured and relaxing to stop at a cafe, drink tea and be offered champagne at 7am! Come sit with me, and we’ll chat at Risa’s party. Glad you could make it 🙂

    Reply
  36. Blondie

    Oh French life. Everyone’s always dawdling everywhere they go, that’s for sure!

    Reply
  37. Anna

    Oh, I just wish I could wander around the markets with you Corey and you know what, if I was there I would have made you drink that champagne!!

    Reply
  38. Lisa-oceandreamer

    sounds like a perfectly lovely way to spend a day. I will imagine meeting you at the cafe and you telling me about the marche au puce – the things we’re likely to see. We’ll have a lovely chat and off we’ll go to explore for treasures…all the while the best treasure being that we actually met.
    XOXO
    Love,
    Lisa

    Reply
  39. Casey

    I have so enjoyed your recent posts (though I know I haven’t been good about commenting… :p)!! This one is so fun though: the attitude of “kick back, relax and enjoy life” is so different from what one encounters here in the States–I can’t imagine that viewpoint as opposed to the “rushrushrush” mantra! 🙂 This is just what I needed right before I head back to a new school semester… 🙂 Thank you.

    Reply
  40. Teresa Sheeley

    This just sounds heavenly, I so enjoy reading your stories of France. I really love that painting too.

    Reply
  41. deirdre

    Champagne in the morning always sounds good, unless I have a real life to live for the rest of the day. 🙂 How I’d love to slow down a little more, to leave behind the feeling of needing to hurry, hurry. I’ll think of this next time I have champagne.

    Reply
  42. Maryam in Marrakesh

    Champagne for breakfast? Why how very perfect in every way;-)

    Reply
  43. susanna

    …marche au puce, cafe, roses, Edith, champagne…sounds like a perfect morning, Corey!
    PS- I swear my French has improved since reading your blog. Merci!

    Reply
  44. Mountain Mama

    Champagne at 7am! I’m not even drinking coffee yet at that hour!
    Things are different in France I believe.

    Reply
  45. naturegirl

    We must all book a flight to France and live a day in the life of Corey!

    Reply
  46. Di Overton

    Did you leave that kiss on the cup you little devil?

    Reply
  47. Kim

    Yep – I keep telling my husband that the main reason I want to live in the South of England is to be near France. I could be wrong… but I really think I could love living in France. Except that I can’t speak French.

    Reply
  48. Amber

    I can’t wait to come see you someday, Corey. You can take me to a cafe to have some vin! lol!
    🙂

    Reply
  49. Lori Witzel

    Ah, maybe that’s why my blog-friend Refugee says I must go to France (he apprenticed to a baker there, and was kind enough to share his recipe for real bread.)
    Anyway, have a lovely weekend!

    Reply
  50. MaryBeth

    OHHH MY!
    YOU HAVE JUST WRITTEN MY IDEA OF A MAGICAL DAY! JUST REPLACE THE BUBBLY WITH FRESH STRONG COFFEE =)
    MY BAGS ARE PACKED- IM ON MY WAY!!!!
    XOXO
    MB

    Reply
  51. Marilyn

    That’s the problem with life in the U.S…we don’t know how to LINGER.

    Reply
  52. simple me

    So happy you were able to come to the tea party.
    Everyone enjoyed so much all your stories and humour 🙂
    My tummy still hurts from laughing.
    Champagne at 7 am? Extraordinaire….

    Reply
  53. Marie-Noëlle

    Making my new palette:
    rose
    rose pastel
    rose bonbon
    rose fuschia
    rose thé
    thé à la rose
    rosé
    rosé de Tavel
    rosé de Provence
    rouge
    rouge Bordeaux
    rouge magenta
    rouge coquelicot
    rouge baiser
    rouge à lèvres
    champagne

    Reply
  54. gracia

    Yes. I want to step into those photographs and make myself at home, please.
    see you, grache

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions