Program 721: The French; Hidden Gardens in Paris

Celebrate an hour in France with us, on the next Travel with Rick Steves. 

The authors of "The Bonjour Effect" explain that many of the problems foreigners encounter in France, are not the fault of bad accents or grammar, but a disconnect with how the French expect you to communicate.

And author Susan Cahill reveals some of her favorite garden spots in Paris -- often hidden away from the commotion of the city, where you can smell the roses, and get a whiff of its colorful history.

• Julie Barlow and Jean-Benoit Nadeau, authors of "The Bonjour Effect" (St. Martin's Press)
• Susan Cahill, author of "Hidden Gardens of Paris" and "Sacred Paris" (St. Martin’s Griffin)
• Franco-American Mary Campbell Bouron

• Jean-Benoit Nadeau and Julie Barlow are the authors of "The Bonjour Effect" and "The Story of French." Their bestseller, "Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong" is being updated, and will be available from their nadeaubarlow.com website.
• The movie clip with Matt Damon and Cate Blanchette at the end of the first segment, is from the movie "The Monuments Men," which Rick talked about on Travel with Rick Steves program 353 in February, 2014. 
• Susan Cahill is the author of "Hidden Gardens of Paris." Her latest Paris guide, "Sacred Paris," explores the city's significant religious architecture.
• You can listen to Susan Cahill's earlier Travel with Rick Steves interview about "Sacred Paris," plus Mary Campbell Bouron's update on raising a family in France, in the show archives for program 697 from December 2022.
• Mary also spoke with Rick on program 308 on "How to Walk Like a Parisian," and explains how to live in Paris, on a blog site she wrote in 2012 called "How To Marry A Frenchman."

• "Before I traveled to Paris, the concierge was happy to speak English with me on the phone, but once I was there, he insisted that the only English words I spoke were after 'comment dit-on' (so that I could learn the French word I needed). My French improved so much that I could converse with most people I met.  One morning at the hotel, after I had been speaking with the servers at breakfast, two women in broken halting French asked me a question. (Since they had been speaking English with each other, I responded in English to them.) Their response was, 'Your English is so good'."  (Elinda in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania)   
• "I have studied French for a few years now (although I am by no means fluent) and I usually travel to France every other year. My problem is that the French find me very difficult to understand. At the Gare St. Lazare I tried to purchase a ticket to Rheims in French and ended up with a ticket to Rouen. While all of the French people have been very nice, I wonder, do they appreciate our attempts to speak French, or would they prefer that we just stick to English? (William in Miami)
• "I'm American but all of my grandparents come from the French Basque Country. My girlfriend and I moved there last June and we keep falling more and more in love with it. The French are much friendlier than people think!"  (Garin in Biarritz, France)

• F. Barcellini, "Manege," Music from the Films of Jacques Tati  (soundtrack from the Jacques Tati film Play Time) / Phillips-PolyGram (France)
• Billy May, Les Baxter, "The Poor People of Paris (Jean's Song)," Ultra-Lounge: A Bachelor in Paris (collection) / Capitol
• Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra, Carter Nice, conductor, Roy Bogas, piano, "American in Paris (George Gershwin)," Barber: Symphony No. 1, Gershwin American in Paris Concerto in F / Stradivari Classics (1998)
• Michel Legrand, "Recit de Cassard," Les Parapluis de Cherbourg (soundtrack) / Sony
• Intro to Charles Trenet, "Quand un facteur s'envole," Les Chansons de la Liberation (collection) / Distribution Soldore  (France)
• * F. Barcellini, "Chanson des Forains," Music from the Films of Jacques Tati  (soundtrack from the Jacques Tati film Play Time) / Phillips-PolyGram (France)
• KOS_KAR_1040_09101_Parisian_Waltz_APM
• Django Reinhardt, "Echoes of France ('Le Marseillaise')," L'essentiel de Django Reinhardt - Les 100 classiques immanquables / Cristal Records
• Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France, "Gaité Parisienne XXIII: Bacarolle (Offenbach, arr. Rosenthal)" / The French Experience (collection) / Warner Classics
• Au P'tit Bonheur, "Soleil de minuit," Le mal de vivre / Polydor (France)
• David Shostac, "Le basque," The Romantic Flute, vol. 1 / Resort Music
• Curtis, "Sick Caesar," Paris Lounge, vol. 2, disc 1 (collection) / Wagram
• * Louis Armstrong, "I Love Paris," Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone / LRC
• Ralph Rousseau, Matangi String Quartet, and Hein Van de Geyn, "Sur le ciel de Paris," Chansons d'amour / Challenge Classics
• Mobius, "Song of the Black Swan for violin and harp (Villa-Lobos)," Villa-Lobos Chamber Music / Naxos
• Stephen Kovacevich, "Waltz No. 3 in A minor, op. 34, no. 2 (Chopin)," Essential Chopin, disc 2 (collection) / EMI Classics
• BRU_BR_0462_01001_French_Movie_APM
• SON_SONV_0112_01601_Butterfly_Waltz_APM
• Orchestre de l'Opera National de Lyon, Kent Nagano, cond., "Le Tombeau de Couperin: Prelude (Ravel)," Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin, etc. / Erato
• Enzo Enzo, "Juste Quelqu'un de Bien," Deux / RCA Victor Europe
• KAPT_KAPT_0071_00801_Ballad_In_Paris_APM
• Le Garcons Bouchers, Pigalle, "Pascal le keupon et l'amour," Urgence (disc 2) (collection) / Virgin France

• This week's "all France" edition of the show coincides with the national Bastille Day celebrations (July 14). 
• Rick notes that "The Bonjour Effect" has now been translated and released in France, in the open to segment A, and at 13:27.  He adds that Julie and Jean-Benoit "just got back" from a book tour in France. 
• At 49:44, Rick and Susan talk about the summertime Paris-Plages. Susan adds it has become very crowded lately.