Hello everyone! I've just been to Giverny, where the famed Impressionist Claude Monet had his house and gardens.  With my wife, Lina, by my side, I went to check out these gardens and I took my recorder with me. This episode is the whole day summed up in 30 minutes.  There's picnics, cheese shops, walking, cycling, and exploring, all recorded on the scene. Now, I left a little bit of French in there without translating - it's from the cheese shop in Vernon. The gist of the conversation is that she is talking about the Comté cheese and how it's aged 10 or 24 months. I went with the 24-month option. The rest is just small talk :) If you've never been to Giverny I highly recommend it, this was my first time and I thought it was fantastic.  In case you want to book the same trip I did in this episode,  it was the "Monet's Gardens Bike Tour" via Fat Tire Tours. You can find it here. They do the same tour without bicycles here. Remember, you can get ten percent off this tour and all other Fat Tire tours in ten cities by entering the coupon code earful at the checkout, right before you pay.  And if you're a more visual person, here's the Walk Show I did with tour guide Kit on Facebook. The rest of  the walk is for Patreon members only :) Happy travelling! Oh yes, and I spliced a whole song of music in here called Et Voila by Chris Haugen. 

Hello everyone! Meet Valli, a woman who sang in France's first ever rap song in 1982. The song - Chacun fait (c'qui lui plaît) - went on to sell 2.5 million copies and made Valli so popular that she still gets stopped on the street to this day. But she's only really known in France. Back home in the States, she can walk the streets uninterrupted. Fancy that! I met her in her home in the 12th arrondissement to discuss fame, music, and how answering machines and American cowboy boots were hot property in France in the eighties. I highly recommend you check out her song, by Chagrin d'amour, which you can find on YouTube here. Someone has translated the song into English here. Pictures from our chat will be on social media and the site very soon. Support the Earful on Patreon here. And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.

Hello everyone! Today we have Emma Jacobs in the studio talking about her brand new book "The Little(r) Museums in Paris". She lists six smaller museums you should check out in this city, while also discussing her lovely illustrated book.  Now, I'll write all this up in a blog post very soon, but if you're looking for the spelling of these six museums, voila: Musée de la chasse et de la Nature Address: 62 Rue des Archives, 75003 Paris Musée Nissim de Camondo Address: 63 Rue de Monceau, 75008 Paris Musée Jacquemart-André Address: 158 Boulevard Haussmann, 75008 Paris Musée d'Ennery Address: 59 Avenue Foch, 75116 Paris Musée Gustave Moreau Address: 14 Rue de la Rochefoucauld, 75009 Paris Appartements de Nélie Jacquemart Address: Chaalis Abbey 60300 Fontaine-Chaalis You can find Emma's book online here. You will also notice that the show has a new sponsor - Fat Tire Tours - so simply enter the word "earful" while booking any of their tours around the world and you'll get ten percent off! Enter the code at the checkout, right before you pay. Here's the link to their Paris page - and this week I specifically took the night time ride around Paris and the sunset river cruise. You might have seen it on my Instagram stories.

Hi everyone! France has a fascinating history and there aren't many people who appreciate it as much as today's guest, Diana from The Land of Desire Podcast.  She shares some of her favourite stories, tips, and hidden Paris treasures that she has picked up while making her amazing show. And, as promised, here's a link with more information about the "undercover restorers" who fixed a landmark clock in Paris.  Here's a link to the official website of The Land of Desire.  Support the Earful on Patreon here. And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.  

This week's episode features Janet Hulstrand, an American in France who has just written a book called Demystifying the French.  Of course, we talk about a lot more than just rudeness, but it kinda all boils down to one big question: Are the French rude - or is it the Americans?  Have a listen and let me know what you think.  Here is Janet's home page to find out more about her work. Her book is called Demystifying the French, How to Love Them, and Make Them Love You.  Support the Earful on Patreon here. And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.  

Bonus episode! It's Camille from French Today talking about how to learn French quickly and efficiently. One of the big takeaways is that everyone is different: Some want to learn French simply to pass an exam, others want to move to France, while some are just learning for the pleasure of being able to read a book or order a coffee. If you're interested in learning French via her method and her audiobooks, here is a link to get you a further ten percent off your audiobook purchase. Click here. PS: The YouTube video of Eddie Izzard that Camille mentioned is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1sQkEfAdfY

Hello!  This week it's Cara Black, author of the Murder in Paris series - 19 books about fictional detective Aimee Leduc. Her newest one is out June 4th, Murder in Bel Air, and her first one, Murder in the Marais has been the subject of the Book Club this month. Here we chat about her books, how Cara would dispose of my body if she were to murder me in the studio, and a little about Paris in general.  She also shares a few writing tips and we planned our afternoon walk in the Marais, finding some scenes from her first book.  If you were a Patreon member of this show you could have watched it live - but hey, sign up now and you can see the replay.  More on Cara and her books here on her official website. Support the Earful on Patreon here. And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.

Hello! This week I was off gallivanting around Stockholm and I was very intrigued to see some serious links between France and Sweden. Whether it's the French general who became a Swedish king, the Swedish count who was perhaps the lover of Marie Antoinette, or the ways the Vikings changed the scope of the French language forever.... that's what today's episode is about.  As promised in the episode, here's a link to read more about that Swedish king.  And to get that additional ten percent off from French Today, go via this link.

This week’s podcast guest is American Matt Kepnes from the hit travel website Nomadic Matt. And believe it or not, he’s recently moved to Paris. I invited him into the studio to discuss some of the things he has struggled with in his first few months in the French capital. We discuss the difficulties of joining gyms, making French friends, and much more. Find out more about Matt and his work on his official site here. And lastly, if you’re a Patreon supporter, be ready on Saturday afternoon for a walk through one of the most beautiful parts of Stockholm. Click here to get more information. See you then, I hope. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Hello everyone,  It's an episode with Camille, the voice behind French Today, and we're talking about the different registers people use when speaking French.  A register is a level of formality - you don't speak the same way in a job interview and a barbecue with friends, do you? In English, the register you use is reflected in the vocabulary. But in French, sure, the vocab changes, but it also affects the sentence structure and pronunciation. Camille explains it all in this episode.  We also talk about the importance of leaving your comfort zone, how to efficiently expand your long-term vocabulary, and how learning French in France can actually be trickier than learning it abroad.  Also, Camille has written in great detail about two of the things we talked about in this episode.  Learning French While Living In France Is Easy. Wrong! French Language Registers – Street, Slang, Modern, Literary… *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership     

The Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire on Monday and one week on continues to make international headlines.  So what now? Today's guest Philippe Hertzberg runs a tour company called Secret Journeys that does very close work with the cathedral. In fact, he was at the cathedral when it caught fire.  Philippe talks about the fire, the history of the cathedral, and its future - explaining how renovation, restoration, and rebirth have long been themes of this iconic Parisian landmark.  Find out more about Secret Journeys here (they do tours of a lot more than just Notre Dame, of course, including Versailles very soon).  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

This week's guest is Rebecca Plotnick from the hit website Everyday Parisian. We chat all about how to capture the beautiful city of Paris on your camera (or indeed your smartphone). We also talk about life in Paris (and abroad), the mysterious blue hour, where to position yourself to get the best shot of the Seine River at sunrise, and much more.  Find out more about Rebecca's Everyday Parisian site here and more on her photography here. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Hello everyone! Meet Felix and Joris, two young Frenchmen who've created what I think is the most fun immersive experience in Paris. These two guys spent two years writing the creepiest detective story they could imagine, then they turned it into a two-hour immersive experience in the north of Paris. It's called Live Thriller and will see you running around Paris while getting the heck scared out of you.  This isn't the typical Earful episode, nor is it the typical Paris experience, but I highly recommend it to you if you're looking for a fun and frightful experience to remember.  More on Live Thriller here.  If you want to find more about The Earful Tower, here's the website, here's the Patreon link, and here's my Instagram.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership   

Hello everyone! This week it's Caroline de Maigret, the author of How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are, the model, the music producer - and the ultimate Parisienne, if you ask me.  I saw her walking down the street in central Paris and I stopped her to ask if she would like to be on my show. She said "Yes, let's do it right now".  So we recorded the episode on my phone in a cafe in the ninth arrondissement. That will explain the background noise, the waiter interrupting, the coffee machine somewhere in the distance... in other words, the ambient sounds of Paris.  Hopefully you'll feel like you're sitting right there with us.  Caroline talks about being a Parisian woman, the freedom of Paris, and how pleasure is a key element of life in the French capital. If you want to find more from Caroline, check out her Instagram page here.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Hello everyone, What is it about Paris that makes it so synonymous with a good walk? A historian might suggest that the city was built for walking – ever since the Pont Neuf rolled out some of Europe’s first pedestrian sidewalks 400 years ago. A resident might say that walking is more practical than the Metro in what is a (relatively) small world city. A flaneur (or flaneuse) – someone who likes to wander aimlessly – probably wouldn't even answer because they're off lost in their thoughts somewhere on the Left Bank. But who better to ask than Jessie Kanelos Weiner, a Chicago native who has lived in Paris for the past decade? She is the co-author and illustrator of "Paris in Stride" and we also talked about what makes Paris so perfect for walking, her favourite place for a stroll in the city…. and she gave us the exclusive on the subject of her upcoming book! While we’re on the subject of walking, you might be aware that I’m a big fan of walking too. Every week (and sometimes several times a week) I go on a walk around Paris with one of my podcast guests. And I stream the whole thing live for my Patreon supporters. In fact, you may have seen the walk I did around the Marché d’Aligre with Jessie last year. Heck, maybe you saw the live event I did with her at a bookshop on the Left Bank too! Enjoy your stroll, wherever you may be having it, and even more so if you’ve got The Earful Tower plugged into your ears  Oliver Important links: Get Jessie’s book, Paris in Stride, here. Visit her blog here and her website here.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Hello everyone,  It's a bonus episode from Camille, the voice behind French Today, answering the age old question: How should I learn French? More specifically, I asked her about the order to do it in, how to be efficient in learning the language, and what the other teachers are doing incorrectly.  I share some tales of woe in my own French learning, and pose a few day-to-day questions that I've been storing up, and Camille also teaches me what I've been doing wrong when I try to say "bow-tie" in French, or "noeud papillon".  Also, Camille has written in great detail about the best method for learning French, so if you want some great extra reading content then simply follow this link.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

We've come full circle! The very first guests on this podcast, two years ago, were the Paris band Slim & the Beast. They're the guys who wrote the original jingle, the honeymoon theme, and they've done several live videos with me before.  Now, they're back in the studio and they're armed with a few new songs and a particularly good cover of a Neil Young classic.  They also talk about how to find good live music in Paris, how Parisian crowds differ from other international audiences, and their upcoming EP. Enjoy! If you wanna go straight to the songs (or wanna re-listen, here's where you can find them exactly) Go for a Ride: 10:54 What it is: 21:50 Neil Young’s Harvest Moon: 33:04 Find the band on Instagram here and Facebook here. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Paris offers the creme-de-la-creme when it comes to museums but it can be quite daunting to decide which ones to see. It’s even daunting for Parisians. I’ve lived here for years now and I still don’t know where to go. But the city offers what it calls “The Museum Pass” where you buy a ticket that gives you access to 60 museums - and you can often skip the queue. Full disclosure: I got my passes for free from Parisinfo.com, but they cost 66 euros. Anyway, I decided to spent four days in a row visiting some of the museums and this episode is my recap of it all.  You'll hear that I talk a lot about the Instagram videos I did about the museums, and I've archived them on my Instagram home page. Click here to see them (They're at the top, labelled Museums 1, 2, 3, and 4). My guest Lina, who is incidentally also my wife, is frequently mentioned in the stories and you can find her on Instagram here @parisianpostcards.  Now, there is a full recap of the museums plus some pictures and practical information on the official site here, but below is the list of the museums we visited. They're listed in the order that we visited them, and in the order that they're mentioned in the episode.   Day 1: La Conciergerie Sainte Chapelle The Crypte Archéologique Bonus: Hotel de Ville Day 2: Nissim de Camondo The Orangerie The Louvre Day 3: Musee Gustave Moreau Rodin Museum Napoleon’s Tomb Musee d’Orsay Day 4: Musee de Cluny Delacroix Museum Pantheon That's it! Here's more info on how to buy the Paris Museum Pass. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership   

This week's guest is podcasting titan Annie Sargent from the popular Join us in France show.  She explains why, of course, there is a lot more to France than just Paris. And who better to showcase the country than the woman who's released over 200 podcast episodes promoting it? Check out Annie's show here.  Join me on Patreon here for the book club otherwise just find it on Facebook for free here.  

This week’s guest is Annabel Simms, a British woman who has explored the surrounds of Paris perhaps more than anyone! She has written two books on the subject: An Hour From Paris and Half an Hour From Paris, both of which you can find on her site here. We also discuss the trail sign posts that you'll find while walking around France, here is her blog post on the topic.  Wanna join my book club? Go find more information on Patreon and perhaps see you for the live video with David Lebovitz on Tuesday afternoon. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

This week it's Antoine Litaise from Voulez Vous Diner, a French company that's kind of like Airbnb but for dinner. You find a chef online, book a dinner at their home, then go and eat it.  These guys are in 120 countries, but it started in France, so the head of the company, an avid cook named Antoine, joined me in the studio to help me out with French etiquette tips before I went and tried the concept for myself.  Here's the link in case you want to try the same experience that I did.  And here's the link to my YouTube channel if you want to check out the videos I was describing. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

This week it's my favourite language teacher, Camille from French Today. And seeming it's Valentine's Day we took the opportunity to discuss all the French language you'll need to impress someone when it comes to matters of love.  We cover: Love nicknames, how to tell someone you love them (and how to get it wrong), and exactly how to pronounce La Tour Eiffel in French, which I very clearly cannot do.  If you're unsure of the spelling of any of these words and phrases, then here are links to Camille's site French Today where she has covered it much better than I ever could. Love nicknames are here, a look at French dating is here, and Camille's own guide to Valentine's Day is here. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership   

“Paris is a city made for spending money, there’s temptation around every corner.” That’s a quote from Leah Walker, this week’s guest, a luxury travel writer who knows Paris inside out. She joins me in the studio to explain how to have an extravagant trip in Paris. But, even if you’re not in a position to go all in (join the club), then there are still a few good tips in there for how to splurge without spending too much. Of course, as always, listen to the podcast episode for the full picture. We also talk about Shakespeare, Texas, and basketball. But if you’re in a hurry to get to Paris and spend your money then here are three of the main tips to get you going: Shop during the sales You can save mega euros by waiting until the twice-a-year government regulated sales (or soldes), which take place in July-August and January- February. The savings can be beyond 50 percent, even at the big department stores. And if you’re not living in the EU, you can get the VAT refunded (12 percent) if you spend more than 175 euros in one day. More info on that here, via Galeries Lafayette  Eat lunch (not dinner) at a good restaurant A fancy dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris with have you salivating, but it might it might also leave you in tears if you look at the prices. Leah recommends that you stop in for lunch instead, when it’s typically less crowded and a lot cheaper. Look out for the set menus in the low season, like January and February, and you’ll find some great savings. Go to a Palace Hotel for a cocktail Yes, you can go to the Ritz Hotel for just 30 euros. I mean, you won’t be staying the night, but you’ll be in a very luxurious setting with a great cocktail for a few hours. Some of the hotels mentioned in the episode: Georges V, the Ritz, Le Meurice. Four Seasons, Shangri-La, the Bristol. They’re the tips. Listen to the show for the full story and be sure to follow Leah on her site Leah Travels here. Now, at the end of the episode you will hear Leah and I agreeing to do a live video at the Place Dauphine in Paris. Good news – it’s going to happen! We will be strolling the charming square then seeing it from above from the terrace of a beautiful apartment from rental company Paris Perfect, where Leah also works.  The Monbazillac apartment via Paris Perfect. More info here. Please join us for the walk on Monday 11th of February at 2.30pm, Paris time. Click the play button below, it’ll take you to the YouTube page, where you’ll be able to comment and interact if you time it right! And heck, why not subscribe to the channel so you can watch the other six videos this week!? Thanks for listening! *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership   

This week’s guest is Bryan Pirolli, an author, marathon runner, and a tour guide around Gay Paris. He explains a little about the city's gay history, its present and its future. He also shares his thoughts on just how gay friendly the city is. And of course, we have a good old chat about Paris and tour guiding in general. And he ends with a few tips for good gay bars to check out. Oh yes, and here's the pic of Princess Palatine that Bryan mentioned.  Find out more about Bryan’s new book about travel journalism here, and book a tour of Gay Paris here. Support The Earful Tower podcast on Patreon here - why not unlock the replay of when Bryan and I walked down what he called the gayest street in Paris? *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

This week it’s off to the Moulin Rouge - the number one cabaret show in the universe (and one of the top attractions in Paris). Luckily for me, I got to go backstage after the show to meet one of the lead dancers, Amanda Chapman, who has been a staple feature of the show for the past 12 years. She explains how she landed the gig as a showgirl as an 18-year-old in Australia, where the snakes are stored, and why dancing topless is like a badge of honour among the dancers. If you want to find out more about the Moulin Rouge, visit the official site here. Otherwise, see more pics from the show here on The Earful Tower's official site here.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

So you're coming to France. Statistically, you're probably coming to Paris. And you don't know much beyond bonjour and merci.  This bonus episode is Camille from French Today explaining the mistakes you're probably making and teaching us how to get it right.  There's a lot of extra stuff in there too - like how you should actually tell someone you don't understand what's going on - and a little look at slang and how French is developing as a language.  Camille has been a French teacher for decades now - and it's through her audiobooks that I'm improving my own French.  If not, I recommend listening to this podcast in a quiet spot because it's most enjoyable if you repeat, repeat, repeat all the things she says.  Good luck!  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Meet Boris from Paris in Person. He is a tour guide who knows Paris inside out. He shares the most interesting thing that you can find in every one of Paris's 20 arrondissements. In case you're unsure of the spelling from his list, I've added the places to the notes below. See all the pictures plus a little more on the official Earful Tower website here. The list! 1st. The Saint Germain Auxerois church: Enjoy the difference between the medieval and classical styles - and keep an eye out for the flamboyant gothic features. 2nd. Place des Victoires. Check out the lovely houses built around this roundabout that were the inspiration for the Haussmannian reconstruction of Paris. Transport yourself to the 17th and 18th century.   3rd. Find the Library of City Archives on rue Pavée, a beautiful collection of books and a stunning building too. 4th. The oldest house in Paris is at 11 rue François Miron. It's a 14th century building that’ll make you feel like you're walking in the Paris of yesteryear. 5th. Arene de Lutèce, a Roman arena from 2,000 years ago right in the centre of Paris. 6th. Beaux Arts with the first museum in the world opened in the former church of St Augustin. 7th. Square Rapp for the art nouveau architecture, and find the beautiful buildings all stacked together. At 29 Avenue Rapp you’ll find one of the most stunning facades in the city. 8th. Go and find the Chapelle Expiatoire tomb of Louis XVI at the site of the former mass graveyard of the French revolution. 9th. The Quartier Drouot is a great collection of stores for buying second hand goods. Feel free to haggle for better prices, but the shop owners are very experienced at the game - so good luck. 10th. Rue Faubourg Saint Denis, once a dodgy area, now the hottest street in the city. It’s authentic, you’ll find Parisians there, and it’s quickly becoming the new Marais. 11th. Take a stroll between Square Trousseau and the Bastille and pop into the smaller side streets, it’s like stepping into the rural 19th century. 12th. Musée des Arts Forains - or the museum of circus art - is collections of circus paraphernalia from the late 19th century. It’s a bit spooky - if you’re scared of clowns don’t go! 13th. Check out what the locals call Petite Alsace on Rue Daviel, little villas, overgrown gardens, it’s the cutest countryside setting you’ll find in Paris. 14th. Parc Montsouris, designed by Mr Haussmann himself, right on the edge of the district and a fantastic place for running (considering the steep slopes). 15th. Go to the top of the Tour Montparnasse, it’s easily the most hated building in Paris, but it’s not so bad when you’re inside. Check out the restaurant and the viewing deck on the top. 16th. The forest known as the Bois de Bologne houses the Louis Vuitton foundation, which is brilliant to even look at from the outside. The exhibitions inside are always worth the price of entry too! 17th. Walk along the charming Rue des Lévis then find the museum of Banque de France cité de l'economie et de la monnaie (museum of coins and economy). The building has recently been renovated, looks medieval, but it’s from the second half of the 19th century. 18th. Walk around the residential section of Montmartre and find the Kosak chocolate shop at 106 rue Caulaincourt. They’re highly specialized and good quality - perfect for the foodie who wants world class chocolate. 19th. Visit the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, which is very hilly but a good getaway from the tourist sites. Find the artificial lake in the middle and climb to the canopy at the top, and enjoy the amazing view from the top. 20th. Find the ever-changing street art on rue Denoyez and flaneur through the surrounding streets to find even more of the city's newest art craze. Well that's it. Check out the official site on Tuesday for this full list with pictures.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership   

This week's guest is Beckett Graham of The History Chicks podcast. It's her first time in Paris and I was curious to know what a history buff like her seeks out in a city like this. For addresses and more info, simply scroll down, or check the site here for even more information.  Lay a potato at the grave of Parmentier Antoine Parmentier brought the humble potato to Paris and as a thanks, Parisians leave potatoes at his grave. You can find it in section 39 of Pere Lachaise cemetery. Address: 16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Visit the Princess Diana memorial  Did you know there's an unofficial memorial for Princess Diana above the tunnel where she died? It's right by the scaled replica of the flame of the Statue of Liberty. Address: 7 Place de l'Alma, 75008 Statue(s) of Liberty Did you know there are at least five statues of Liberty in Paris? Besides the flame mentioned above, you can find the biggest replica of them all on the man-made island called Île aux Cygnes, not far from the Eiffel Tower. Find all five of the statues here. Visit the Marie Antoinette's hamlet Most people head to Versailles for the palace. Maybe even the gardens. But did you know you can go and find the hamlet made by Marie Antoinette? It's basically a village that the queen made so she could play at being a peasant. You can read more about "The Queen's Hamlet" on the official Versailles website here. Find Joan of Arc's statue Many people will head into the Notre Dame Cathedral without even noticing there's a statue of Joan of Arc just inside. In fact, despite the hoards of tourists, you might just find her standing by herself without anyone around. Find the grave of the saxophone inventor Belgian born Adolphe Sax, who created the saxophone, is buried in the Montmartre cemetery. Pay your respects by heading to section five of the cemetery where you'll find his memorial. Look for the bronze saxophone. (And consider bringing some cat food for the local cat population). Find Mary Cassatt's house  Find the home of painter Mary Cassatt, an American who defied her parents and came to Paris to pursue her art. You can't go in, but find it at 13 Avenue Trudaine in the ninth arrondissement. Find the remnants of guillotine  If you want a real chill, head to the 11th arrondissement and find the traces of the guillotine where 200 people had their heads chopped off. The remnants are hard to find and you'll need to use your imagination, but there's a vide below to help you out. Find it at: 13-15 Rue de la Croix Faubin, 75011 That's it! See me and Beckett on a Patreon-only live video by signing up here.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

 This week's guest is Carin Olsson, the Swede behind the hit website Paris in Four Months. Almost a million people follow her on Instagram - so she sure knows what she's doing.  We talk about what it's like to be an "influencer", the man who walks his pig on the Ile Saint Louis, and the best cafes, restaurants, and bars in Paris.  Find Carin's website here and her Instagram here. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership   

Hello everyone and Happy new year! As I prepare for an enormous and exciting 2019, I thought we could do a flashback episode to the number one most downloaded episode of 2018. Which one was it? Well have a listen and find out :) Don't like surprises? Well here's the link for all the information from the episode, which was originally published earlier this year. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

It's Christmas in Paris. Well, it's Christmas elsewhere too, but today we're keeping it France-related. So how do the French celebrate Christmas? And what should you go and see if you find yourself in Paris during the festive season? Where are the best Christmas lights? All these questions and more are answered in this episode. You'll hear the (slightly croaky) voice of myself, plus Lovely Lina, coming at you from the studio in Sweden (where we're going to celebrate Christmas). You'll also hear the voice of Fabien the Breton, who's made previous appearances on The Earful Tower, most notably teaching us al how to make galettes in a live video for Patreon supporters during the honeymoon season.  We also made reference to the 20 consecutive live videos I did around Paris, one for each arrondissement, which you can watch if you subscribe for $10 a month on Patreon here. We also talked about the scooter video down the Champs-Elysées, which you can find on YouTube on my official channel here (subscribe). *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

This week it’s Rosie McCarthy from the hit YouTube channel Not Even French She shares a few observations about the French people that she has picked up over the past five years in Paris. What's the deal with how they shower, how they dress the bed, and how they give you the bill in a restaurant?? Check out her channel here, and here's the link to when I made an appearance on Rosie's channel. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

This week it’s the 100th episode of The Earful Tower! To celebrate, here’s a chat with celebrity chef and author David Lebovitz, who has just written a new book called L’Appart. We chat about Christmas in Paris, the lack of a future tense in Sicily, and the blog he has been running since 2009. We also talk about Barbara Streisand and the testicles of Simon and Garfunkel - so if you only came for food recipes then you will be sorely disappointed :) Remember, David will be on the book club in February, so sign up on Patreon for that and for much, much, much more. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Why do all the tour guides focus on the men in French history? What about the women?! This is a question that haunted Heidi Evans - so much so that she launched a company called Women of Paris that specifically focuses on revealing the neglected gender in France's historical pages.  She talks about her company, some French women you may never have heard about, and (what she calls) an X-rated fact about Marie Antoinette.  We also did a live Walk Show on Facebook if you want to know more about Heidi and her tours. The first five minutes are free, watch on Facebook here. The other 30 minutes is behind the Patreon paywall for those who pay $10 a month. Go take the tour and sign up here. Find more info about the 20 Days of Christmas Walk Shows - a walk through each of the 20 arrondissements in twenty consecutive days. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Finding a rental property in Paris can be like finding a needle in a haystack. But imagine there are hundreds of other people looking for that needle too. And now imagine that when you find the needle, the needle's owner is very likely to ask you for a large amount of money and documents before you'll be allowed to have it. You need to prepared, and I mean really prepared.  For this week's podcast episode, you'll hear about how gruelling the whole affair can be from the perspective of a man who had his own tricky journey, Australian entrepreneur Mitch Pascoe. He sent in 150 applications and was once asked for three years' rent up front before he finally secured a home. And check in on the website here for the golden rules of renting from property consultant Adrian Leeds. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Choosing between the Left and Right Banks of Paris is like picking a favourite child. Tough, but often necessary. But of course, there's no real answer. There's no scientific equation, no data mining, no possible way to find the "best". Or is there? I've spent this week talking to experts, surveying Earful Tower followers, and churning through stats to figure out which side of the river is "officially" the best. And I have an answer. I discuss the topic with two authors, Right Banker Lindsey Tramuta and Left Banker John Baxter.  There's a much deeper look at the stats on the website here.  Support on Patreon here to watch the video with John Baxter.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

So what should you pack for a trip to Paris? Paris-based shoe designer Lina Nordin Gee, co-star of The Honeymoon Season, shares her top tips for if you really want to blend in with the locals. Here are the tips in brief in case you need a cheat sheet. 1. Pack smaller accessories  2. Bring a big(ish) handbag  3. Pack for the rain 4. Focus on matching neutrals 5. Don’t forget your red lipstick 6. Leave your hairbrush at home Read the full story here.  Also mentioned in this episode: Bill Cunningham (the New York photographer whose name I forgot), The Earful Tower Book Club, and Lina's shoe brand, Deuxieme Studios. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership   

Hello listeners! France is a massive country with wildly diverse landscapes and breathtaking monuments. There's A LOT more to see than just Paris and Provence.  With this in mind, I've come up with ten things you should absolutely visit on your next trip, all taken from our recent honeymoon trip around the country.  This list is about landmarks, specific things to see, rather than beautiful towns (Annecy!) or pretty villages (Menerbes!).  I was going to list out the ten places right here, but I think it might be nicer to get a surprise by what crops up. The full list is here on the website with extra info and pictures. And as I mentioned in the episode, if you want to see a 7-minute video version of this list, check it out on YouTube and subscribe for more footage from France.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership   

This week we’re talking all about a memoir, A Year in Provence, a book that may not have changed the face of the French village of Ménerbes, but apparently changed the rest. It sold 6 million + copies over the past 30 years and was translated into 40 languages, sending tourists from all over the world to find out exactly what was so charming about the little village. The memoir was the subject for The Earful Tower’s Book Club for October and I, too, stopped into the village to take a look around and speak to the locals about how it changed life in the village. Referenced in this podcast is this obituary from The Telegraph, and this article from the Washington Post. Join the book club if you’re on Facebook and you like books. It’s free to join, but I recommend you sign up at $5 a month on Patreon to support it and secure its future. Find it on Facebook here. November’s book? Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

It's the honeymoon season finale, more or less, as we've made it back to Paris. Yep, 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) at 45 km an hour (30 miles) on one little red scooter. Here we answer some of the frequently asked questions from you listeners, we share the ups and downs, and give a few tips for places you should visit if you ever need a new spot to see in France. Oh, and we also discuss how the scooter is allegedly a stolen vehicle... Season five on the way. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

In 218 BC, war general Hannibal famously crossed the French Alps with 37 elephants.  In 2018 AD, we crossed the same Alps on a little red scooter.  Here's our story, plus some info on what we absolutely consider to be the most beautiful town in France, Annecy.  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Imagine you had seven days to spend in Provence but didn't know what to see. Never fear, we've done the research for you. We just scooted through the region and can recommend the following.  The Roman arena in Arles.  The Camargues national Park The cathedral overlooking Marseille Getting lost in the old town of Aix en Provence Chanelling your inner travel writer in Ménerbes (where A Year in Provence was set) Taking in the Sunday market in L’Isle sur la Sorgue Dancing on the Pont d'Avignon That's it!  *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership     

Hello from Carcassonne in south western France, a town that’s easily the most interesting that I’ve seen in France.  This episode will explain why - and will introduce you to my new hero - Eugene Viollet Le Duc - the man who changed the face of France.  Read a whole lot more about my thoughts on Carcassonne on the blog here. Help me make better podcasts by supporting on Patreon here. And find more about the T-Shirts we mentioned here. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Imagine your own child is more French than you are. Well that's a reality for Catherine, an American in Carcassonne, who's today's guest on The Earful Tower podcast. Catherine, who writes the Taste of France blog, talks about bringing up a bilingual child, the differences between French and American schooling, and the difficulties of parenting between two cultures. Check out Catherine's blog, Taste of France, here. PS: Did you see there are now Earful Tower T-shirts? Limited edition honeymoon versions, available for ten days! Find out more here! *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Hi guys,  It was such a busy week on the road that I decided to just share it all. Here are ten tales, a mix of anecdotes, tourist tips, and marvels to find - all in the space of 35 minutes.  Mentioned in this episode: The Cognac Tour of Otard. The Cité du Vin museum in Bordeaux The Grosse Cloche in Bordeaux The town of Cadillac The town of Saint-André-du-Bois The town of Sauveterre de Guyenne The tiny town of Castelmoron-d'Albret (or The town of Puymirol The restaurant of Michel Trama The old town of Carcassonne. Sign up on Patreon for more from The Earful Tower, including the Bordeaux walk tour, and the Toulouse Market tour. Here's the link to the new Facebook page for the Book Club. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

This time it's a chat with Mike Foster, who runs Le Map Bordeaux, a city guide to one of France's most famous cities.  His tips are in the form of things you should do, and things you shouldn't -- aka the Bordeauxs and Bordeauxn'ts. It makes sense when you hear it... sort of.  Anyway, enjoy the episode, I'm off to enjoy my birthday.  Until Monday! *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

Hi guys from a chateau in cosy Cognac This is episode seven of the Earful Tower Honeymoon season today it's: Three tips for life in a small French village A mad weekend of vintage cars in the city of comic books, Angouleme And why you need to visit Cognac - and it’s not just because of my new doorway obsession.  Support this show and find out more about the new Book Club via Patreon. Go on, now's the time to finally sign up. Click here. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership 

This week I met with Kev Hay, a Brit who moved to the French countryside ten years ago for his retirement.  What's retired life like in rural France? Was it difficult to do? What are the obstacles? Listen to Kev as he walks us through his journey. And as usual, there's a lot more on Patreon. Kev hung around for a live video to answer questions from subscribers. Join the fun here. *********** The Earful Tower exists thanks to support from its Patreon members. From $10 a month you can unlock almost endless extras including bonus podcast episodes, live video replays, special event invites, and our annually updated PDF guide to Paris.  Membership takes only a minute to set up. Thank you for keeping this channel independent.  For more from the Earful Tower, here are some handy links: Website  Weekly newsletter  Instagram - Facebook - TikTok  Find our books  Book a walking tour Patreon membership