Author: Soraya
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Living in France as a Retired Expat: What Daily Life Feels Like
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When I began researching about living in France, I approached it the way many people do when thinking about retirement. I looked at location, size, access to art and music, walkability and whether I could comfortably live without a car. Affordability mattered too. Annecy checked all the practical boxes, and…
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Buying a Car in France as an Expat: Step-by-Step Guide
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Buying a car in France can feel intimidating at first especially as an expat, but it’s a very doable process once you know the steps. From paperwork to insurance, inspection, and even alternative ways to buy a car. Here’s everything I learned when I purchased my used car a few…
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A Gentle Escape: Finding Beauty and Calm in Uncertain Times
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There is so much happening in the world right now. So much uncertainty, loss, noise, and division that it doesn’t go unnoticed. I feel it. You probably do too. Lately in particular it feels strange to sit down and write about everyday moments, travel or small joys without acknowledging the…
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Visiting Lake Como : Italy’s Most Beautiful Lakeside Town
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Arriving in Como revealed yet another facet of Italy’s beauty. Nestled near the Italian Alps about 30 miles north of Milan, the town sits bedside Lake Como. A glacial lake surrounded by mountains that rise dramatically from the water. Visiting Lake Como was a top place on our Italy bucket…
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Venice at Night : Walking Through Italy’s Most Timeless City
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Walking through Venice at night felt utterly magical. I would highly recommend experiencing the city after dark, when the crowds thin and the streets transform into something quieter and more intimate. Each winding alley seemed to hold its own personality, every turn revealing a different version of old-world charm. Tiny…
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Venice at Christmas – A Winter Road Trip Through the Alps to Italy
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When my daughter came to visit for Christmas we had ten precious days together and we fully intended to make the most of them. Rather than staying close to home, we decided that after Christmas would be the perfect time for a few short adventures. Less rushing, fewer crowds and…
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Small Habits Create Real Change- A Better Way to Set Resolutions
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This time of year, we hear a lot about resolutions. They’re usually well intentioned, eat better, exercise more, and be more productive. Improve ourselves in some meaningful way. All of those reasons are not a bad thing. Wanting to feel better in our bodies and our lives matters. But often,…
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French Parapharmacies Explained: How Homeopathy Works in France
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I felt called to write this second part mostly because I’m currently on week who knows what of cold symptoms, sore throat, lingering cough, the whole package. So it feels fitting to talk about pharmaceuticals in France, especially for me their very different approach to everyday illnesses. Here are French parapharmacies…
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Top 5 French Pharmacy Beauty Picks
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One of the nicest surprises I’ve stumbled upon while living in France is the treasure trove of beauty and skincare products inside the French parapharmacies. If you’ve ever wondered what the “para” in front of pharmacie means, it simply signals that this is where one can find skin and beauty…
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Retiring in France: Finding The City That Stole My Heart
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When I started to think about life retiring in France, I never imagined that choosing a city would become its own little adventure. Last year, I gave myself three months to explore. I spent half the time in the south of France, and half in a town I only read…