Emma Pearson

Truly baffling to me - the idea of a Halloween costume that is not in some way scary, gory, gross or generally horrifying 👻🧟‍♀️🎃 www.thelocal.fr/20261024/ins...

That was a wild ride! Everyone should read this

My day has involved a blanket and this - so far I have yelled out loud, laughed, screamed, cried and also completely forgot about my terrible cold

Cheery reminder that France - the world's most visited tourist destination - has had a tourist tax for decades, rates set by local authorities

It's been quite a week in France . . . www.thelocal.fr/20261024/ins...

Going to shamelessly plug this one again, as I was quite pleased with the way it turned out

🤖 Un couple dévalisé, Paris en proie aux flammes, Philippe Etchebest défendant son restaurant ou un drapeau palestinien flottant sur la tour Eiffel... ❌ De fausses images IA ont envahi les réseaux après le 17 octobre. L'AFP a vérifié les plus virales ⤵️ u.afp.com/SC9v

Just had to be done . . .

New podcast episode! 🇫🇷 What really happened in France on Saturday? 🇫🇷 Are we in for another 6 months of violent protests? 🇫🇷 Why does this all link to French debt? . . and, on a lighter note, the best 🇫🇷 food festivals (this is my favourite recent episode, goes from violence and looting to lemon art)

With colleagues in Spain and Italy, we take a look at whether the 'Europe protests' are actually about the same thing, and how each country's politics affects them

Absolutely batshit profile of the man arrested on suspicion of setting Limoges town hall on fire during Saturday's protests; 34, from Creuse, on a watchlist for violence at far left protests - his 70-year-old dad also recently convicted of violent protest. But sure, it's the immigrants . . .

I wrote about France's 'casseurs', about why they are neither protesters nor looters, and why the police seem unable to stop this violence, which only ever comes from relatively small groups (when compared to the hundreds of thousands who protest peacefully)

Latest from the presidential election trail

This is, genuinely, how I remember the 🇫🇷 police emergency number

Sitting at home explaining new curfew rules, takes me back to 2020 . . . TLDR this is only in a handful of streets and has many, many exceptions. It exists only in order for authorities to say they are doing something

I wrote about France's 'casseurs', about why they are neither protesters nor looters, and why the police seem unable to stop this violence, which only ever comes from relatively small groups (when compared to the hundreds of thousands who protest peacefully)

A very Macronist speech - nothing justifies the violence seen last night, but also recognising that tens of thousands of people protested peacefully and have genuine concerns

Notable that 2 of the countries going big on 🇫🇷 violence have - racist mobs trying to burn asylum seekers alive - militias kidnapping people off the street and taking them to concentration camps

OPINION: Saturday's violence in France was a generational revolt, but there may be worse to come

« Au lendemain de la mobilisation massive du 17 octobre, les violences et les dégradations monopolisent les matinales et la parole des politiques. La violence lisse et brutale qui a poussé des centaines de milliers de personnes dans la rue, elle, n'existe plus. » www.bondyblog.fr/billet/la-vi...

Paris' newest tourist attraction - 3 TV crews are here filming pieces with the burned out car in the background

I asked my French colleague to create a playlist of the really uncool 🇫🇷 songs that nonetheless get played at every wedding or village disco 👇

Don't be like Louis Bielle-Biarrey . . . if you're going to the UK and you have recently renewed your passport you need to get an entirely new ETA, even if the old one is still valid (obviously doesn't apply to people travelling on a UK or Irish passport)

The new electric Citroen 2CV is not going down well with many of the classic car enthusiasts, but I think it's quite cute

My local swimming pool is being torn down next week (because we've got a brand new pool from the Paris Olympics 🥳) so they're letting everyone graffiti the walls now. Kinda like signing your mates' shirts on the last day of term 🥲

Every year I get a letter from my landlord saying 'Dear Madame, I am raising your rent by the maximum legally permitted amount' - and the increase is about €8, thanks to the 🇫🇷 IRL rule

Here's the new podcast! 🇫🇷 Le Pen's plans for a 'foreigner tax' 🇫🇷 What's really happening on October 17 🇫🇷 How to say brand names in French 🇫🇷 Things to think about before moving to France with your new French lover to avoid 💔

France's new gender-based violence and sexual violence bill is a genuinely groundbreaking piece of legislation that addresses some huge issues around violence against women and children if - and this is quite a big if - it's backed up with the necessary funding

Yeah, Daffy 💪 (Probably not licensed by Warner Bros 😂)

Oh wow, fried chicken chain Master Poulet has now made its way onto French protest signs 😂

Reason #4,564 why I will never get a smart fridge

Protests called in 🇫🇷 for Saturday over the cost of living, especially fuel prices. This is also the day the Gilet Jaunes are supposed to 'rise again'. (I suspect protesters will be more typical urban leftists but we'll see)

Did I buy these mostly for the name? Yes. Am I very immature? Also yes! #bite 🍆

I'm afraid I laughed out loud at this book opening - the hottest day of the year in Paris and it's only 23C at 7pm? Oh guys, just you wait until 2026 . . . (Day of the Jackal)

Is Germany OK??