16.34 - Switchbacks, Stalls and Sidewalks
Tomas k - News Writer and Moderator 
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Bonjour mes ami(e)s !
It’s wonderful to have you back here with me today. Bienvenue !
In this newsletter, you’ll find these wonderful fresh articles taking you to France beyond the cliché.
Don’t miss the PAID subscriber edition of le Bulletin in your inbox: “16.34.a - I Don’t Want to Give You More to Read +++ - It’s not too late to upgrade & read it←
À bientôt !
Warmly,
Judy
29.8.2026
1. MyFrenchLife™ Magazine new articles
“There are many talented contributors to MyFrenchLife Magazine and I thank all of you for sharing your experiences with us in such an engaging manner.
You take us right across France & deep into many worm-holes. We delight in discovering
and learning more about France beyond the cliché”
Merci
Judy
Our list of valued Contributors →
A reminder that ‘The Writers Room’ now resides here →
a) A Day in Annot
by Debra Fioritto
The bus had slowed coming into the square, and I opened my eyes. I’d kept them shut for most of the hour from Point Sublime, because I get carsick on roads like that, and the route along the crest of the Verdon gorge had been an hour of switchbacks. The driver had warned us when we got back on. He’d handed out bags to anyone who wanted them. I took two. I used one halfway through.”
What I saw when I looked out was a lively town square. Children with balls. Children trying out skateboards. Parents in small groups, talking. At the far end of the square sat a tall yellow building — three stories, painted the warm yellow you see on buildings in Nice. Three flags hung from its upper floor…”wrote Debra.
b) The Pulse of the Twelfth: Finding the Real Paris at Marché d’Aligre
by Elisabeth Perotin
Far from the postcard-perfect Paris lies a secret sanctuary—a place with street vendors and dusty treasures—where I love to wander whenever I want to experience a typical Parisian morning.”
I was born and raised in Reims, a city aptly nicknamed ‘Sleeping Beauty’; it is close to Paris, yet its exact opposite when it comes to buzz and energy. In contrast, I spent my teenage summers in a far more arid landscape: the New Mexico desert, where part of my family lives.”
This experience fostered an observant eye for both cultures. When I visit Paris—roughly once or twice a month…” wrote Elisabeth.
c) The Paris department stores you didn’t know about
by Jenn Bragg
J’adore 19th-century Paris
If you’ve been reading my Substack for a while, you may have discovered that I am obsessed with 19th-century Paris.
A LOT happened during that period. The city was completely overhauled. Decaying Medieval architecture gave way to wide boulevards, improved water and sewage systems, and sidewalks where many outdoor cafés thrived. (Thankfully, the City of Paris kept photographic records of the old stuff that was destroyed — a great many photos are in the archives today.)
This ‘new and improved’ Paris of the 19th century was met with the ire of some well-known writers and poets. They hated seeing the old city become uniform and homogenous. Alas, progress is progress, and the city was changing.
Along with this was a demographic shift in Parisian society. No longer were the rich the only ones who could enjoy a little luxury — the middle class expanded and people had more money to spend.
This trend coincided with the…” wrote Jenn.
2. Merci mille fois
“Thank you for subscribing to ‘le Bulletin’, the newsletter of MyFrenchLife™ Magazine.”
Judy MacMahon
Merci mille fois d’être ici, mes ami(e)s. Thanks for being here.
A carsick bus ride, a Paris market at dawn, department stores that rebuilt a city block by block. Three writers, three very different doors into France, and I hope one of them stopped you mid-scroll this week.
If it did, there’s more waiting for you. Over in this week’s paid edition, I’ve been wrestling with something that’s keeping me awake at 3 am: how to help you understand France more deeply without simply handing you more to read. It’s called “I Don’t Want to Give You More to Read”, and it’s not too late to upgrade and read it.
Merci mille fois d’être ici, mes ami(e)s. Thanks for being here.
À bientôt,
Judy
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