An off the beaten path wander around the neighbourhood surrounding Montmartre in Paris’ 18th arrondissement with a peek into the treasure trove of unique objects at Tombées du Camion.

Stroll the avenues taking in landmark architecture and pausing to make acquaintances along the way in Sasek's caricature of the city, This is Paris.

I haven’t stopped since last Friday when Femi Kuti and the Positive Force performed in St Germain en Laye. For a week I’ve been dancing around my living room to the jazzy Afro beat. The waves that pulsed through the crowd are summoned even now as I listen.

Julia Child’s autobiographical book, My Life in France, focuses on the food that she loved enough to devote her life to sharing. It follows her arrival in France, to becoming a fledgling chef and the long road to producing her first cookbook.

In France driving is considered a luxury. Neither coming nor going, I resigned myself to going through the whole arduous process of obtaining a French permit. While the rules aren't dramatically different, the aggravations seem to be never ending.

The Nice carnival feels like a cleaned-up version of New Orleans Mardi gras where costumed children throw confetti and the parade route traces the Mediterranean sea.

Bakery cases holding macarons arrange the cookie sandwiches into a rainbow of rows in Easter basket hues. Perfumed in flavors like violet, spice bread, and chocolate,they are served in the likes of Paris's Ladurée where they were conceived in the 1930's.

The novel, historical fiction set in 1930’s Paris, is delivered by 12 year old Hugo who lives within the train station walls and spends his days winding the clocks and pouring through his journal in an attempt to mend a robot that may carry his father’s last words.

Rugged canyon roads wind through dozens of sleepy towns along the way in, but the view from the top is the reason most visit Europe's largest canyon. Families picnic and paddleboat around reservoirs and sports like canyoning and hydrospeed are practiced where the river runs freely.

After several days on view at the Grand Palais, the collection of art, sculpture and furniture that French designer Yves Saint Laurent and partner Pierre Bergé amassed has hit the auction block. Christies reports it the most expensive collection ever to be sold. Have a look at some of the trinkets..