Life Between the Pages

My blog posts are free to access, and articles are categorized like a bookstore! From architecture and art, to food and history, travel and video tours, you’ll find a treasure trove to connect you with me, Paris, and my travels in France.

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Autumn 2025

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Paris as literary muse for exploring how conscious daily choices compound into artful life

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Normandy Cider Route: French Heritage, Cuisine, And Travel

Normandy Cider Route: French Heritage, Cuisine, And Travel

Normandy’s Cider Route invites travelers into a world of apple orchards, half-timbered villages, and artisanal cider-making. Stretching across Calvados, this rustic journey blends history, heritage, and cuisine. From cider tastings to traditional dishes, it’s a quintessential taste of France’s countryside charm.

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Fontainebleau Forest: Where French Royal History Meets Nature

Fontainebleau Forest: Where French Royal History Meets Nature

The Fontainebleau Forest blends centuries of royal history with natural beauty. Once the hunting ground of kings and home to the Renaissance Palace of Fontainebleau, today it offers hiking, climbing, and cultural discovery. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it is where France’s past and nature converge timelessly.

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French Forests and Folklore: Exploring Nature’s Timeless Stories

French Forests and Folklore: Exploring Nature’s Timeless Stories

France’s forests are more than landscapes—they are living storybooks. From the Arthurian legends of Brocéliande to the royal echoes of Compiègne, each woodland holds history, myth, and natural beauty. Explore these timeless retreats for hiking, folklore, and a glimpse into France’s poetic soul.

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Château De Courances: French History, Gardens, And Timeless Elegance

Château De Courances: French History, Gardens, And Timeless Elegance

Château de Courances, just south of Paris, unites five centuries of history, Renaissance gardens, and timeless elegance. From tranquil waterways to restored architecture, its parklands and estate offer a serene retreat, blending cultural heritage with nature’s quiet grandeur for today’s travelers.

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French Autumn Recipes And Market Tips For Seasonal Living
Cooking and Food, Travel, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Cooking and Food, Travel, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

French Autumn Recipes And Market Tips For Seasonal Living

Discover the flavors of a French autumn with recipes inspired by the markets of Paris. From pumpkin soup and leek tarts to figs, chestnuts, and mirabelles, this guide brings cozy seasonal cooking to life. Explore market tips, meal planning, and Parisian wisdom to enrich your autumn kitchen.

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Autumn Journaling Prompts Inspired By Paris And French Living
Literary, Philosophy, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Literary, Philosophy, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

Autumn Journaling Prompts Inspired By Paris And French Living

This autumn, let Paris and Provence guide your pen. From café corners to vineyard harvests, these six journaling prompts invite reflection, creativity, and immersion in French culture. Explore fashion, food, language, and philosophy as you capture your thoughts in the season’s golden light.

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Best Family Hotels in Paris and Forest Retreats in France
Travel, House and Home, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Travel, House and Home, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

Best Family Hotels in Paris and Forest Retreats in France

From Parisian elegance to tranquil countryside escapes, discover the best family hotels and forest retreats in France. Whether staying near the Louvre, at Disneyland, or in a château by the woods, these stays combine comfort, history, and charm for memorable journeys filled with beauty and ease.

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Paris Brunch Guide: Best Cafés, Restaurants, and Hidden Gems

Paris Brunch Guide: Best Cafés, Restaurants, and Hidden Gems

Experience Paris through its brunch tables, where artisanal coffee, chic cafés, and hidden gems await. From Montmartre’s vintage charm to canal-side escapes, each address blends atmosphere, flavor, and Parisian elegance. Discover where to brunch in style, savoring both cuisine and cultural ambiance.

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L’Île Paris: Laura Gonzalez’s Countryside Chic Culinary Escape

L’Île Paris: Laura Gonzalez’s Countryside Chic Culinary Escape

Just minutes from Paris, L’Île by Laura Gonzalez reimagines the French farmhouse as a countryside chic retreat. With vegetable gardens, rustic interiors, and a seasonal menu, it offers Parisians a rare blend of architecture, nature, and culinary excellence an elegant refuge where city life meets pastoral bliss.

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Le Doyenné Paris: A Culinary Retreat of History and Sustainability

Le Doyenné Paris: A Culinary Retreat of History and Sustainability

Just an hour from Paris, Le Doyenné offers a rare union of culinary artistry, regenerative agriculture, and historic charm. Housed in a restored château, the restaurant celebrates seasonal dining, sustainability, and creative heritage an immersive journey where French history meets the future of gastronomy.

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Medici Fountain Paris: History, Sculptures, and Hidden Beauty

Medici Fountain Paris: History, Sculptures, and Hidden Beauty

Hidden in the Luxembourg Gardens, the Medici Fountain is a Paris treasure of history, art, and intrigue. Commissioned by Queen Marie de’ Medici, adorned with mythological sculptures, and reassembled stone by stone, it remains a testament to royal ambition and timeless beauty.

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Exploring Honfleur: Normandy’s Charming Harbor and Literary Gems
Travel, Literary, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch Travel, Literary, Paris day trips, Autumn Shannon Pratuch

Exploring Honfleur: Normandy’s Charming Harbor and Literary Gems

Explore Honfleur, a picturesque village in Normandy where cobblestone streets, colorful harbor views, and artistic heritage converge. From Monet’s inspiration to charming cafés and day trips to nearby villages, discover this quintessential corner of France for literary, culinary, and scenic delight.

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Ghost Stories of Père-Lachaise: Paris’s Legendary Cemetery

Ghost Stories of Père-Lachaise: Paris’s Legendary Cemetery

Step into the hauntingly beautiful Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris’s largest resting place and home to legends, poets, and phantoms. From Jim Morrison’s ghost to the White Lady’s eternal search, autumn unveils its secrets among golden leaves, whispered histories, and timeless Parisian grace.

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Artesano Coffee Paris: Mexican Specialty Roaster In The Marais

Artesano Coffee Paris: Mexican Specialty Roaster In The Marais

Nestled in the Marais near the Seine, Artesano Coffee is a luminous Paris café dedicated to Mexican specialty roasting. Founded by photographer and barista Arturo Valentino, it celebrates coffee as both craft and culture. A riverside retreat for true enthusiasts, this café is a Parisian gem to savor.

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Perfect Days in France: Paris Cafés, Dordogne Villages & Wine

Perfect Days in France: Paris Cafés, Dordogne Villages & Wine

Two Francophiles share their perfect French days: Janelle Sweeny’s Paris strolls, café stops, riverside sunsets, and late-night jazz; and Molly Wilk’s Dordogne escape, from brocante markets and caves to château dining over the river. Together they capture the art of savoring France in city and countryside.

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A Perfect Day in Paris With Beeta: Cafés, Museums & Gardens

A Perfect Day in Paris With Beeta: Cafés, Museums & Gardens

Beeta’s perfect Parisian day unfolds with morning coffee and pastries, strolling Le Marais, enjoying iconic cafés, classical music at Musée d’Orsay, Tuileries gardens, flower shopping, and a home-style dinner at a local bistro—immersing in the beauty, elegance, and magic of Paris.

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Comte de Saint-Germain’s Paris Walk

Comte de Saint-Germain’s Paris Walk

Follow the legendary Comte de Saint-Germain on a whimsical French day trip through Paris and beyond. From catacombs and the Louvre to lively demonstrations, ramen lunches, and Mont Saint-Michel by night, this literary-inspired itinerary blends history, myth, and poetic Parisian living.

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