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LAURA GOSSET

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LAURA GOSSET

  • About
  • Work
    • Published Non-Fiction
    • Books
  • What's New?
  • Travel Blog
  • Contact

A FESTIVE TOAST TO PÉZENAS

December 20, 2016 Laura Gosset
Pézenas, dressed in holiday style...
Pézenas, dressed in holiday style...
Heavenly home in a convent (Circa 1679)
Heavenly home in a convent (Circa 1679)
Convent: 1909 postcard found at flea market
Convent: 1909 postcard found at flea market
Bell tower view from neighbouring village...
Bell tower view from neighbouring village...
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La Madam, a regular shopper at the Saturday Marché...
La Madam, a regular shopper at the Saturday Marché...
Pézenas at night...
Pézenas at night...
Christmas Market at Chateau-Abbaye de Cassan
Christmas Market at Chateau-Abbaye de Cassan
Happy Hour by the fire!
Happy Hour by the fire!
The biking, c'est formidable!
The biking, c'est formidable!
Mèze on the Med!
Mèze on the Med!
The streets of Pézenas...
The streets of Pézenas...

Big bonjours, festive greetings and a joyeux Noël from Pézenas, our heavenly home away-from-home for the next three months. Oui, “heavenly”! Compliments of a house exchange, we are living in a convent constructed in 1679.

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In France Tags Pezenas, Southern France, Cycling, History, Wine, Culture
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PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAISE?

November 26, 2016 Laura Gosset
IS Aix-en-Provence International Language School
IS Aix-en-Provence International Language School
School days...
School days...
Enjoying our creations at cooking school...
Enjoying our creations at cooking school...
After school bakery shopping at "PAUL"
After school bakery shopping at "PAUL"
Aix, the City of Fountains
Aix, the City of Fountains
Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence

“Nous voudrions une bouteille du Château Virant Rosé, s'il vous plaît …” We were dining in a wonderful little bistro in the medieval heart of Aix-en-Provence in Southern France and I had assumed the responsibility of ordering our wine.

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In France Tags France, French language, Language School, Aix-en-Provence, Culture, French cooking school, Duck
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EMBRACING “LES DIFFÉRENCES"

November 11, 2016 Laura Gosset
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I love France! The French inject passion into every aspect of life. The phrase, “joie de vie”, may well be a cliché, but it perfectly expresses French exuberance for family, friends and lively conversation, fine food, wickedly wonderful wine (ahhh, the wine)...

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In France Tags Culture, French, France, Cuisine, Food, Cultural differences, Bread, Wine, Cheese, French Markets
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DRACULA: MAN OR MYTH?

October 26, 2016 Laura Gosset
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15th Century Vlad, the Impaler
15th Century Vlad, the Impaler
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It’s October. A chill is creeping into the autumn air and scarlet leaves the colour of blood blow from skeletal trees in a final, desperate flight - beautiful, but dead! How’s that for setting the tone for this post?

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In Hungary Tags Budapest. Caves, Labyrinth, Culture, History, Horror, Halloween, Dracula, Vlad the Impaler
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A TALE OF TWO CITIES: BUDA & PEST

October 13, 2016 Laura Gosset
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Aaah, Budapest! The Grande Dame of Central Europe, Pearl of the Danube and blissful end of our 1,100 km cycling odyssey from Warsaw - through Poland, Slovakia and into Hungary...

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In India Tags Budapest, Culture, Cycling, Adventure, Baths
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MOST AUSPICIOUS HAPPY ENDINGS

September 12, 2016 Laura Gosset
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Intrepid leader, Dave, of Dave's Best Quality South India Biking Adventure
Intrepid leader, Dave, of Dave's Best Quality South India Biking Adventure
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We made it! All sixteen of us on Dave’s Best Quality South India Bicycle Adventure - from the Bay of Bengal to Fort Kochin on the Arabian Sea!

First, about the people. Not once during the entire trip did I feel threatened or at risk...

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In India Tags India, Adventure
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HOT CYCLING & COLD MASSAGES

January 27, 2015 Laura Gosset
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Warmest of greetings from the middle of Southern India...

And I do mean warm! We have been cycling in temperatures of 32 to 34 degrees at close to 100% humidity. I didn't realize my body could produce that much sweat. And this is winter in India!

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In India Tags India, Biking, Culture
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A SPIRITUAL SMORGASBORD

January 23, 2015 Laura Gosset
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No question! From shrines and temples to sacred sites, and devotional festivals, spirituality (together with family) lie at the heart of society in India. The people love nothing better than gathering to celebrate auspicious occasions...

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In India
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STITCH ART & HULA HOOPS

January 19, 2015 Laura Gosset
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What is “stitch art” you might ask?

It is making art with a sewing machine and one of our fellow cyclists is the brilliantly creative, young Brit, Harriet Riddell, a textile performance artist. 

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In India
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CURRY & SPICE AND A WHOLE LOTTA RICE!

January 15, 2015 Laura Gosset
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A carnival of flavours, the cuisine of India is dhal-iciously diverse, with culinary creations being regionally quite distinct.

Clearly, we're riding through the Land of Spices! 

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In India
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TRAFFIC MAYHEM & NEAR-DEATH BY TUK-TUK

January 12, 2015 Laura Gosset
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Honking horns, throbbing traffic and the crush of the streets. It’s a shock to the senses. The only word I can think to describe the traffic in India is pandemonium. 

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In India
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“WELCUM TO INDIA, MADAM!”

January 10, 2015 Laura Gosset
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“A most happy Pongal,” insert famous head wobble (an ambiguous gesture that can mean yes, maybe or I have no idea)."Welcum to India, Madam!"

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In India
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Photographs of Laura are by Darren Hull Studios Inc.