Dog Trots Globe to Paris & Provence

An American Dog’s Dream Vacation: Chula in Provence

I’ve sometimes thought I’d like to have a dog just to be able to take him or her to France. Although not a dog owner, I’ve always been amused by clients in French restaurants—including fine establishments in Paris—that enjoy a meal in the company of leur chien. It’s always so much fun to see the French fawn over these cherished, four-legged creatures. So much so, in fact, that a water bowl for the dog is often brought out before une carafe d’eau for his or her master.

Chula on the TGV

Sheron and Robert Long live out my fantasy on a delightful trip to Paris and Provence with Chula, their adorable Sheltie. Even better, Chula documents her travels to this redolent land in “Dog Trots Globe to Paris & Provence,” a charming gift-type book for lovers of dogs and France. Across beautifully illustrated pages and vivid photographs, we follow Chula on her journey from her arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport to her voyage on the TGV, France’s high-speed train, to her discoveries around the markets of Provence.

Along the way we learn about French cheese, the many different types of French sausage that Chula likes to sniff and the tradition of la transhumance when livestock is moved from lowlands to highlands (or vice versa) in France. (You can bet the thousands of bleating sheep that pass before Chula one day scare her immensely—forget the fact that she’s a Shetland Sheepdog.)

In Paris we learn about the Eiffel Tower, the layout of the districts, or arrondissements, and—as in Provence—the café caves Chula settles into beneath bistrot tables. Clearly Chula enjoys herself throughout in a land with a seemingly infinite supply of baguette crumbs to be savored and plats du jours to be sniffed. There’s no doubt that this privileged pup catches on to the fact that the French know how to show respect for dogs.

Thank goodness essential information about taking dogs to the Gallic land, entitled How to Take Your Pup to France, is provided in the afterward. You’ll certainly need it since by the time you finish this little book, you’ll dream about taking your dog to France. I am.

Now I just have to get a dog.

Chula Visiting Provence

Chula au Marché Provençale

Dog Trots Globe to Paris & Provence (OIC Books) is sold at most major retailers across the U.S. and with online booksellers. Standard ebooks are also available. Readers who choose the iPad version have music and videos built in. Those who choose the hardcover or standard ebook can go to the publisher’s website to see the videos. In addition, all readers will find travel tips and useful information about France in OIC Books’ Extras section.

Chula Shopping for a French Market Basket

Thank you to Sheron and Bob Long for the lovely photos from their book that I feature in this story.