Parisian of the Month: Francisca Matteoli

Photo by Julio Piatti
My friend and former Parisian of the Month Susan Oubari, suggested that I meet her friend Francisca Matteoli, who is a travel writer and author of six travel books. I met Francisca a few month's ago for lunch, and I liked her energy and spirit so much I decided she was a perfect Parisian of the Month. Enjoy this interview with a captivating woman with a fascinating background.

Where were you born and where did you grow up?

I was born in Santiago de Chile and grew up near Santiago, in the country, in the Rancagua region of Chile.
 
You have a most interesting background: You are Chilean with a Scottish mother and you lived in Brazil before you moved to Paris. What it was like growing up with such a diverse background and how the combination of Latin culture and European culture affected your upbringing. Also, which culture do you feel a stronger link to?

I wasn't really aware of my background until I came to live in France. In Chile, I used to speak Spanish and English at home. It was natural to mix Scottish & Chilean traditions to welcome my family and friends from many different countries. Afterwards I naturally added Brazilian culture, because I was already used to living in a multi-cultural environment, so adding another one was not a problem. I became aware of my background when my family and I came to live in Paris. Many of the people I met at first had never lived anywhere other than in France and only spoke French... But when I started writing, my background was a very real force. To answer your question, I think it gave me a unique perspective on life. I am certainly freer as well. I am not linked to just one place and one way of thinking. It is also a source of energy. I feel I am more connected with the world and with people in general, and I am not intimidated by them. I feel a connection with all my countries of origin. I am proud to be Chilean, proud to be Scottish, and proud also to have a "Brazilian side". I value all these different cultures. I am often surprised to see that many people in France don't seem to be proud of being French. It's very strange as I am very proud of my multi-cultural roots. This is probably because I was forced to leave my home country and so I have a stronger sense of identity. Sometimes I feel more Chilean, sometimes more Scottish, sometimes more Brazilian... It depends on my mood. All these cultures are what I am and I really couldn't choose just one of them.

 You have written a series of books. Tell us about them and what book are you working on now?

I have written 6 travel books. I created a series of stories about hotels because my family and I lived at the Hotel du Louvre when we arrived in Paris and I wanted to write about those very special places that I know so well. I also wrote a book on flea markets around the world - it was great fun and very interesting too, because you learn a lot about a country from a flea market.  I have just finished my 7th book this month (to be published in March in France & the USA in French and English). All my books are translated. This new book is all about 25 journeys I have made all over the world, in places that have a very strong connection with nature (such as Montana, Wyoming, Alaska in the USA ...  just to mention a few). It's written in the first person, like a series of short stories, and there is always a hotel where readers can go and enjoy the same kind of experience that I had (I give news about my books and work on my blog). Growing up in the Chilean countryside made me very much aware of nature and of the environment and I wanted to write about it, to celebrate our planet, and to create my own little bridge between the worlds of luxury, humanity, travel and the environment.

What constitutes good travel writing and what other travel writers do you like and read?

For me, good travel writing must be as much about people as about places. It must be sometimes funny, sometimes profound, generous and unpretentious. And honest. I value honesty and integrity.  I like writers - and people - who don't always try to present their best side, who are not obsessed with being perfect, who don't try to impress. Frivolity and superficiality are definitely not my "cup of tea”! I don't think you can be an interesting human being - or an interesting writer - if you feel you always need to pretend only show your best side. Peter Fleming is my favorite travel writer ever. A fantastic writer, elegant, interesting, witty. He's got it all. He is dead unfortunately as I would have loved to have met him (and to have his talent!) I also like to read Jim Fergus, Francisco Coloane, Jim Harrison, and many others...

How and when did you become a travel writer? Was it something you always wanted to do?

 I became a travel writer because I was absolutely no good at all the other jobs I tried before! Then one day I proposed travel stories to magazines, and this immediately went down very well. I was in my natural element I suppose. And yes, I have always wanted to write stories. As far back as I can remember, I always loved to read and all I wanted to do in life was to sit at my desk alone, with nobody to annoy me or give me orders so that I could live in a world I had created just for me.

 What is the one destination or trip you haven’t made yet and are dreaming of doing?

 Well, there are many but maybe Kilimanjaro. I love the sound of it.

 What was the most rewarding trip you have ever taken and what was the most disappointing?

 Rwanda with my husband, who is a plastic surgeon and worked for a humanitarian association before creating his own - Association Chirurgie Plus, comes first as the most rewarding. The most disappointing is a difficult question. If you travel with an open mind, you will always find something interesting in every trip, but maybe I would say Vienna. I didn't expect it to be so boring but it is the most boring town I have ever been to.

What destinations are overrated and underrated?

Well, overrated I would say: Vienna, Los Cabos in Mexico's Baja California, Cannes and the Côte d'Azur in general, St Tropez. Underrated: Oxford, Stockholm, Wyoming, and the British countryside.

What one person living or dead would you most like to go on a travel adventure with and where would you go?

My husband. Anywhere.

What do you prefer about Paris?

The fabulous banks of the Seine in the spring. A café crème and a croissant in Café Sanseveria rue de Rivoli where you can watch the Parisians going to work. A glass of my favorite wine (Domaine de Sarus) in a good bistrot. Walking and chatting with my sister (who designs uniforms for luxury hotels such as the Hotel le Meurice) in the Tuileries gardens or in the Marais area where I live. Simple and elegant things, because Paris does not need to be pretentious to be fabulous.

Click here to order Francisca's books on amazon.

http://www.franciscamatteoli.com/

Blog: http://franciscamatteoli.com/blog/

Eye Prefer Paris on Twitter

I just launched a fun new daily Twitter post- Paris Photo du Jour. Every day I will post a photo of Paris. Follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/eyepreferparis
 

Eye Prefer Paris Photos for Sale

I am happy to announce the sale of prints of my Eye Prefer Paris Photos.  I am offering 17 of my most popular and iconic images for sale including my courtyards, doors, architectural details, statues, and monuments. They will make great gifts for all your Francophile friends, relatives, and colleagues but don't forget to buy some for yourself.

Click here to see photos and for full details including sizes, prices, and shipping. Here is a sample of some of the photos.

New! Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotte's professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.

Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday,Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.

Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
 Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com

Comments

[Mary Louise]

A suberb article, so I clicked on her blog, only to find it just in French! Is there a translation
into English somewhere on the web?

I LOVE your Blog........your food articles have gained me 7 kilos!

[Beverley]

Loved your interview of Francisca Matteoli

[Julie]

I like your question about most disappointing destination and that she answered honestly!