Have Wanderlust? 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go Paperback by Marcia DeSanctis


Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Travelers' Tales, via Edelweiss,  for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

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Leaving our kids imaginations,
let;s wonder to ours- to the place that we all learn to go...




Synopsis:

Told in a series of stylish, original essays, 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go is for the serious Francophile, for the woman dreaming of a trip to Paris, and for those who love crisp stories well-told. Like all great travel writing, this volume goes beyond the guidebook and offers insight not only about where to go but why to go there. Combining advice, memoir and meditations on the glories of traveling through France, this book is the must-have in your carry-on when flying to Paris.

Award-winning writer Marcia DeSanctis draws on years of travels and living in France to lead you through vineyards, architectural treasures, fabled gardens and contemplative hikes from Biarritz to Deauville, Antibes to the French Alps. These 100 entries capture art, history, food, fresh air and style and along the way, she tells the stories of fascinating women who changed the country’s destiny. Ride a white horse in the Camargue, find Paris’s hidden museums, try thalassotherapy in St. Malo, and buy raspberries at Nice’s Cour Saleya market. From sexy to literary, spiritual to simply gorgeous, 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go is an indispensable companion for the smart and curious traveler to France.

Marcia DeSanctis paris perfume shop

Review:



Marcia says "Not just me, but every woman belonged in Paris, and to miss out meant missing out on life itself. France was not just my idea; it was a universal one, a rite of passage, the place we were where we could both escape ourselves and find the power and grace to be ourselves" and I think she is 100% right - all women I know have wanted to go to Paris- there is something there that calls to our souls. Which is why she devotes 25 places to Paris. As we get older we know there is more than just the one city, and feel the urge to go through vineyards and fields of lavender. Marcia understands and shares the places in France that speak to us, draw us in and offer the most delight. 


Marcia said she went through 12 books of Field Notes and still left out some great places, when she wrote this book And you can tell how much research she has done! She will make you want to see the places she saw (hikes in Calanque De Sugiton National Park in Marseille), the art that speaks to the soul (Museum of the Tapestries in Bayeux), the food to savor (chocolates at Daranatz in Bayonne), perfumes to smell (at Maison Francis Kurkdjian in Paris or to make in Grasse), the side trips to venture to (the gardens at Vaux le Vicomte in Maincy) and at Braderie de Lille, in Pairs, the 62 miles to shop! You will enjoy Marcia's tales and yearn to leave for France on the next plane!

This is a great book to plan a visit, to make wishes upon, and to read for enjoyment. It would be a lovely Christmas gift, with a Field Journal and compass! 


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About the Author


Marcia DeSanctis is a former television news producer who has written essays and articles for numerous publications including Vogue, Marie Claire, Town & Country, More, Departures, The Christian Science Monitor, and The New York Times Magazine. Her essays have been widely anthologized and she is the recipient of three Lowell Thomas Awards for excellence in travel journalism, as well as a Solas Award for best travel writing. She holds a degree from Princeton University in Slavic Languages and Literature and a Masters in Foreign Policy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. She lived and worked for several years in Paris and travels as much as possible to France. She lives in northwest Connecticut with her husband and two children. Check out her website for more.


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