We've talked about France many times before on Going Places . But this week, we're going to see the country through a slightly different perspective. Joan Harkins lives in Seattle and recently started importing cider and calvados — a French apple brandy — from the Normandy region of France. She spends a lot of time traveling in the more distant parts of the countryside, away from the path usually beaten by tourists. Her recommendations: 1. It's easier than ever to research small places. Google