No one is sweeter than my French boyfriend.

Well… maybe these meringue cookies.

He recently commented on one of my food posts, “Elles sont belles tes photos, ou tu les as prises?” (Your photos are beautiful, where did you take them?).  ”Je t’aime Leslie, a bientot.”  (I love you Leslie, see you soon).

Merci Edgar, je t’aime aussi.

Leslie

You can’t visit France without enjoying les desserts.

That wouldn’t be any fun.

Just gazing through a glass pastry case makes me happy.

Although shooting these sweet treats and sharing them with you makes me just as happy.

Hungry?

Leslie

I’ve made a lot of changes this year but when it comes to eating lunch nothing has changed.

When traveling lunch can be the best meal of the day.

Especially when the restaurant and the company are good.

Hungry?

Leslie

My French boyfriend has more French friends.

They love to play together.

Especially at le parc (the park) where they challenge the jungle gym…

Or maybe it’s the jungle gym challenging them.

Either way I agree with my French boyfriend… there is nothing better than time at le parc with French friends.

Enjoy!

Leslie

Each time I visit Clermont Ferrand I promise my friend Claudine I will take pictures to show the city’s potential.

I have a lot of ideas for City Hall and the Office of Tourism to improve the city’s look and appeal to tourists.

I love Clermont’s small size of just 150,000 people, it’s a village compared to New York.

And although the dark volcanic stone of many buildings is not very pretty, nor the industrial outskirts of the city, the city’s center harbors tranquil cafes and old medieval streets that allow you to disconnect from the buzz of a big city.

My French boyfriend is a connoisseur of the local cafes and enjoys them most when he has a chocolate sable from the boulanger.

Spending time hiking and enjoying the surrounding volcanic countryside in Clermont is a given but what may be overlooked is the quantity of galleries and artisans located in the city’s center.

I think the abundance of creativity has something to do with the local cuisine and the continual risk of cold wet weather.

Either way I think this city and its surrounding countryside are worth a visit.

No need to confirm, I’ll be back next year to eat, hike, disconnect and take in the local culture.

Enjoy!

Leslie