✨“Parle-moi de tes rêves” : Côte d'Azur et le sud de la France (Épisode 1) ✨

✨“Parle-moi de tes rêves” — Épisode 1 — Côte d'Azur et le sud de la France ✨

***

This event will be in English only so everyone—beginners through advanced learners—can join in comfortably.
On Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 7 pm until 8:30 pm,
I will do a presentation in French about the Côte d'Azur and the south-east of France, for those who want a similar event but in French only.

***

Details for this event on Sunday, Sept. 28:
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Time: From 7 to 8:30 pm NY time
Language: English
Fee: Free

Access & Attendance:
* Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5456313643
* Password: galaxy
* The passcode is the same for all MeetUp meetings and events.

Document for this event:
“Parle-moi de tes rêves” (Episode 1 in English)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15NwCWcbOtQtBTpzoWL_q5eczSdP4yyehzNQKWAWMI-U/edit?usp=sharing

***

✨ Come spend the evening hearing stories, impressions, and hidden gems from my many trips to the French Riviera. If you’ve been there, I’d love for you to share your favorite places, tips, and what surprised you. You can do so, during the first part of the event (2 minutes max per person when introducing yourself).

✨ I first discovered the French Riviera years ago when I spent time in Fréjus (where my father owned a house) and Monaco (where I completed an intership in commercial real estate in 2000), and I’ve returned many times since. Each visit revealed another hidden gem—quiet fishing towns, bustling markets, scenic trails, or a café where time seems to stop.

✨ Over the years, I’ve wandered quiet coastal towns, explored vibrant markets, hiked scenic trails, and discovered tucked-away cafés. I’ve learned how to dodge the tourist traps, live there like a local, and make each journey feel unforgettable.

✨ Style and vibe: This is a relaxed get-together for fellow travelers, Francophiles, and dreamers. It’s not a formal lecture like my French masterclasses, not a sales event, and not an all-French session like the Raconte-moi une histoire gatherings—just an easygoing evening of stories and discoveries.

✨ What you’ll walk away with: a few ideas for hidden places to visit and explore, some practical travel advice, a new perspective on what makes the Riviera so special and what it’s like to truly immerse yourself in the south of France.

- François Normandeau

Psychology & Int'l Finance Graduate
Senior Commodities Trader (25Y)
French Teacher since 2017 in Spain

***

Details for the 5-day Immersion Experience in early December 2025:

⭐⭐⭐ 5-day Immersion Program (French Riviera) ⭐⭐⭐

Designed for learners and those who love to travel, this affordable immersion blends real travel with real conversations — so French becomes more natural, fast.

Price: $500 CAD (~$360 USD) • Dates: Dec 1–5, 2025 • Base: Nice, France • Group: Max 8 travelers

See this MeetUp page for additional details:
https://www.meetup.com/the-french-club-montreal/events/310874308/

***

My travel update (Nice, France):

I’ve booked a charming but small Airbnb studio in Nice on Rue Masséna, just west of the Old Town and a 10-minute walk to the Promenade des Anglais. This neighborhood will be our daily meet-up area during the 5-day immersion (December 1–5). You don’t need to stay nearby. It’s just a convenient rendez-vous point.

Google Maps link: https://share.google/S2cWTenwSCMOoZI5F

Cost & value: The 10-night stay was $927.46 CAD (about €571), or roughly €57/night, an excellent low-season value compared with many 4-star hotels at €150–€250+ per night. If you’re planning to join, Airbnb options are definitely worth a look.

Flights: I’m flying Air France, departing Montreal on Thursday, Nov. 27, arriving in Nice on Friday, Nov. 28 at 8:30 a.m. (local). My return is Sunday, Dec. 7. The round trip was $837 CAD (about €515). I also added one extra Airbnb night, at the end of the stay, as a buffer in case of flight delays.

Reference conversions (Sept 13, 2025):
$927.46 CAD = $669.38 USD = €570.99
$837 CAD = $604.09 USD = €515.30.
Totals: $927.46 CAD or €1,086.29 or $1,273.47 USD.

***