Thanksgiving Vocabulary + Périple: Jean-Marc's Journey from France to New Zealand & Bike Tour
Thursday, November 23, 2023
Jean-Marc and Ricci at Port des Capucins. "I'm going to take her with me to New Zealand!" he teases. Read about my husband's 2024 périple in today's update.
Joyeuse Action de Grâce!
I can't guarantee that's how you say "Happy Thanksgiving" in French. But I hope you have so much to be thankful for and that your lives are brimming with blessings in any language. In addition to the blessings of my Franco-American family, friends, health, and our new dog, I'm grateful to have overcome my fear of making pumpkin pie...
La Tarte à la Citrouille
For a scrumptious tarte à la citrouille I roasted and puréed some farm-fresh potimarron, for 500 grams of pumpkin, mixed it in the blender with du lait concentré sucré (1 cup), 3/4 cup of sour cream, 2 eggs, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 muscade, a pinch of salt and baked it for 40 minutes at 200C (392F was a bit hot!) in a ready-made pastry--une pâte brisée. It turned out delicious! A refaire! Don't miss the photos at the end of this edition but, first, enjoy Jean-Marc's nouvelles, just below.
TODAY'S WORD: le périple
: trek, expedition, journey, long haul
NEW ZEALAND PERIPLE VIA BICYCLE by Jean-Marc Espinasse
Dear Kristi's Readers,
As my New Zealand trip is getting, day after day, more realistic, I would like to thank all of you who have already offered to help me during my 3 months stay in this fabulous country.
Three months... Actually, in 3 months, I will be right in the middle of the bike ride I have just put together. With my long-time friend from Marseille, Bernard, we will start in Greymouth on the West Coast to end in Christchurch. After much hesitation over whether to bring our own bikes from France, we decided to buy some electric hybrid bikes in Christchurch with an extra battery and plan to ride from 40 to 80 miles per day. We will follow the West Coast South bordered by the Alps and in Haast, we will get inland, pass by Wanaka Lake where one of the best NZ wines is, so I will definitely stop there to behold the spectacular vineyard slopes and enjoy the delicious biodynamic wines of Rippon.
Copyright-free image via Google
The first leg of our trip will eventually end up in Queenstown where we will stay for 3 days to rest after 350 miles in 6 days and to explore the beauty of this city on the Waikapu lake surrounded by magnificent mountains.
The second leg of our bike tour will start by riding through the beautiful vineyards of Gibbston Valley before heading North, inland, to reach, 3 days later, the beauties of Pukaki Lake and Mount Cook
Copyright-free image via Google
It will then be time to head back northeast to reach the Banks Peninsula where we hope to see dolphins and other beautiful landscapes before returning to Christchurch at the end of February to complete this 900-mile trip.
After a needed rest, I will say au revoir to Bernard and travel North and join the Blenheim area where my job at Whitehaven Cellars starts March 4th. I found a very nice cottage located 7 miles away from my work so I will continue to enjoy my bike for commuting back and forth for another 7 weeks.
When I am done with this exciting period, I plan to explore the North Island. I am not sure if I will use my bike or rent a camper (or both) for that, those plans are still up in the air.
What is certain is that I am going to have a wonderful time in this country that has always fascinated me.
Any suggestions, help, or contacts during my different "périples" will always be welcome at [email protected]
Happy Thanksgiving.
Love and Peace,
Jean-Marc
FRENCH VOCABULARY
Click to listen to the French and English terms
le périple = trek, journey
Joyeuse Action de Grâce = Happy Thanksgiving
la tarte à la citrouille = pumpkin pie
le potimarron = red kuri squash
le lait concentré sucré = condensed milk with sugar
la noix de muscade = nutmeg
à refaire = to do again
une cuisse de dinde = turkey leg
We celebrated Thanksgiving a day early to accommodate friends leaving town. Thanks, Sandra Zirah, for this photo of Jean-Marc and me cooking green beans and une cuisse de dinde over my mother-in-law's chestnut and girolle stuffing. Present at table were Sandra and Patrick, our son Max and Ana, and (vicariously) Mom (she enjoyed her plate of turkey back in her studio. She has a little cold and did not wish to share it with our travelers.).
REMERCIEMENTS
Sincere thanks to readers sending in a blog donation for the first time and to my returning patrons listed below. Your support keeps me going, and I am truly grateful!
Debbie L.
Richard L.
Love reading each week. Look forward to our next trip to France. —Richard
So excited to have finally made pumpkin pie. In case it didn't turn out (and it did!) I also made chocolate chip cookies.
Joyeuse Action de Grâce! photo of me and Ricci by Sandra Zirah
COMMENTS
To comment on today's post, click here. Your edits are always appreciated, too! Merci beaucoup!
A Message from Kristi: Ongoing support from readers like you keeps me writing and publishing this free language journal each week. If you find joy or value in these stories and would like to keep this site going, donating today will help so much. Thank you for being a part of this community and helping me to maintain this site and its newsletter.
Ways to contribute:
1.Zelle®, The best way to donate and there are no transaction fees. Zelle to [email protected]
2.Paypal or credit card
Or purchase my book for a friend and so help them discover this free weekly journal.
For more online reading: The Lost Gardens: A Story of Two Vineyards and a Sobriety
Dear Jean-Marc
I wish you a safe and unforgettable once in a lifetime journey. Stay safe and keep in touch with all your friends here in England. Bon voyage. Patricia
Posted by: Patricia Nelson | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 11:23 AM
Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your lovely family and that includes your extended reader family. Safe travels Jean Marc - a true adventure. Are you going to film as you go? Youtube video? Feeling thankful for you Kristi and all you work on this blog.
Posted by: Nancy | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 02:45 PM
Happy Thanksgiving, Kristi and Jean-Marc. The pie looks fantastique! We are cooking for friends today. I can hardly wait to smell our turkey roasting.
Posted by: Suzanne | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 04:07 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Have a fun and safe travels Jean-Marc, it sounds exciting. Can't wait to see the adventures in pics.
Posted by: Karen Cafarella | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 04:36 PM
Happy Thanksgiving from NW Indiana! My house is filling up with fragrant baking food.
I thought of something that might help with New Zealand, not sure. I am a fan of a YouTube vlog called Spain Revealed. It is run by James & Yoly Blick & baby girl toddler. James is from New Zealand and Yoly is from Spain. They share their lifestyle & travel & food experiences in Spain but do occasionally give travel advice for New Zealand. I get an email newsletter from [email protected] . Check them out, they might have some tips.
Posted by: Marcia | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 04:38 PM
THAT IS A PERFECT PIE!!!! FELICITATIONS...and a great recipe with the already-made crust...it's the crust that throws so many cooks into a quandry. Keep it simple, oui? Thank you for your lovely posts and info and new doggy pics and sharing your amazing mama with us, we who miss ours terribly, and for your birds and garden and beautiful kids and everything you see and do and share with us.
Posted by: suzanne dunaway | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 05:08 PM
I'm thankful for your blog, one of the few I follow. Always about good people.
Posted by: Joan | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 05:12 PM
Bon chance in New Zealand, Jean-Marc! What a wonderful adventure! My brother-in-law is a cyclist and just finished the 100 miles of the El Tour de Tucson, here in Arizona! Life is so short so this will be such a wonderful experience in New Zealand to add to your life resumé!
Posted by: Linda | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 05:46 PM
Kristi-
I have made a pumpkin pie but I have been able to dodge the bullet of having to make the turkey! Someone else always seems to offer or be the one. Whew! I don’t think I’d get it right.
Will you be going to New Zealand at all while J-M is working there? I sure hope so!
Happy Thanksgiving from Arizona!
Posted by: Linda | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 05:49 PM
Thank you, Joan! I am so thankful to have you here!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 06:31 PM
Thank you, Nancy. I love what you said about this extended reader family. Feeling very blessed to have you!! ♥️♥️
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 06:33 PM
Happy Thanksgiving from Columbus, GA!
So much to be thankful for in this life and your blog is one of them!
Blessings,
Eileen
Posted by: Eileen | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 07:45 PM
Dear Kristen,
What are your plans while Jean-Marc is traveling in New Zealand???
We all look forward to your blogs.
My daughter and I just
spend t month traveling in France. Besides Paris, we traveled to the Vanne area for
a week. We try to do a different section of France every fall.
Love, your blogs.
Carol in Los Angeles
Posted by: Carol Clark | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 09:36 PM
Happy Thanksgiving!
Bon Jour d'Action de Grâce !
Congratulations on your beautiful pie.
Love to you, your family, your France, and your readers.
🦃🍁🍂❤️
Posted by: Leslie NYC | Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 09:49 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Best wishes to Jean-Marc on his upcoming bicycling journey.
Posted by: Nancy | Friday, November 24, 2023 at 01:26 AM
We were in NZ in 1994 -
Queenstown - must check out the 'Shotover Jet' ride, and go up the gondola - fantastic views. Also see if you can get to Rotorura - there is a Maori Arts and Crafts Institute - where we has a Maori feast with fantastic entertainment. Have a great time!
Posted by: Judy G. | Friday, November 24, 2023 at 02:58 AM
New Zealander here. That is beautiful and challenging country you will be cycling through. Good luck with New Zealand drivers - they are not the most considerate to cyclists! Some great vineyard and wines in the areas you will be travelling through. If you do get a camper van it's a good idea to get one with on-board toilet facilities as otherwise you can be limited in where you can stay. Good luck.
Posted by: Beverly Fletcher | Friday, November 24, 2023 at 03:52 AM
Jean-Marc, I hope you get to visit Sam Neill's vineyard, Two Paddocks, and meet his ménagerie ! (Ignore the misspelling of his name in the link, lol!)
https://www.mindfood.com/article/sam-niell-gives-us-a-tour-of-his-central-otago-vineyard/
Bon voyage. La prochaine fois: l'Australie !
Posted by: JacqBrisbane | Friday, November 24, 2023 at 05:39 AM
Thank you, Jacqueline. Jean-Marc is looking into it now. Thank you for the recommendation!
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Friday, November 24, 2023 at 07:35 AM
I loved this post, Kristin and Marc. That is a beautiful photo of you, too, Kristin! Marc's adventure brings back memories of my wonderful, life-changing summer of 1957 (Yes, THAT long ago) when I spent the summer in France with a girl friend from college and we traveled five weeks on a Vespa around France, into Germany and Belgium and back to Paris. I hope that Marc's trip will be as wonderful as mine was. Also, I loved that you made pumpkin pie. It is one of my favorite things, and chocolate really goes well with pumpkin, too, don't you think? Best to you and Marc, your mom and Ricci and I am Thankful for you and that I was blessed to meet you here. Have a wonderful Christamas and all the best in the year to come. (I am now 86, and thankful for every day.) Hugs
Posted by: Cerelle Bolon | Friday, November 24, 2023 at 04:11 PM
Dear Kristi,
You have reminded me of a column from the New York Herald Tribune by Art Buchwald many decades ago.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/le-grande-thanksgiving/2011/11/18/gIQA2nerYN_story.html
His back story is worth googling. His humor is definitely tongue-in-cheek.
Jean-Marc,
Such an ambitious and exciting journey you have planned. It may well be your greatest adventure yet!
Hoping you will take us along with you.
And to both of you…so happy you found Ricci. For some reason I find pictures of you with her very comforting. Perhaps because of the joy that comes with a pup in one’s life…
Posted by: Chris Allin | Friday, November 24, 2023 at 11:24 PM
PS…
Just realized the Washington Post might require a subscription to read an article.
Here is an alternative with background ~
https://france-amerique.com/thanksgiving-a-turkey-with-french-dressing/
Posted by: Chris Allin | Friday, November 24, 2023 at 11:43 PM
That is so funny! le Jour de Merci Donnant
Thanks for sharing that Art Buchwald column, Chris.
Posted by: Sarah LaBelle | Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 03:19 AM
Thank you, Chris for the link to Art Buchwalds story, and for your sweet words about Ricci. She is bringing a lot of joy to all of us, my Mom included. Jules calls herself the Cookie Monster and loves spoiling Ricci as only a grandmother can.
Posted by: Kristin Espinasse | Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 08:03 AM
Kristi,
I can imagine the happiness Ricci brings to Jules. It was like that for us with Henry.
Having a granddog in our lives can make each day brighter. 💛
Posted by: Chris Allin | Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 06:05 PM
Congratulations on the pumpkin pie! Looks delicious. Didn’t realize how many miles Jean Marc would be traveling daily. I would be having derrière fatigue!!! Do you have any special plans of your own while he is away? Lovely picture of you and Ricci. Hope you had a wonderful celebration with friends and family. Get well soon, Jules.
Posted by: Jo-Anne | Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 06:05 PM
Hi Kristi
We also celebrated Thanksgiving in Australia with roast turkey and accompaniments, followed by pumpkin pie. A USA tradition happily adopted by some of my family who spent 10 years in California. The trip to NZ will be very exciting. Perhaps one day you will both visit the wine growing districts here on The Mornington Peninsula.
Now enjoy the run up to Christmas
Fond regards
Mazzie
Posted by: Marilyn Whalley | Monday, November 27, 2023 at 07:05 AM
Beautiful photos, Kristi and JM! It looks like you had a lovely Thanksgiving celebration.
JM, your itinerary sounds fantastic. I love Queenstown, Christchurch, and Wanaka. Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki are absolutely stunning. I just know that you will have a wonderful bike tour.
Posted by: Katia | Friday, December 01, 2023 at 10:32 PM