A FEW things I LOVE about France and the French
Apr 2nd, 2011, 04:09 AM
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A FEW things I LOVE about France and the French
After having spent four of the last seven months in France, here are some things I ADORE about France and the French. How…
Young men DRINK up their girlfriends' beauty with their deep dark eyes full of love.
They RARELY say anything dramatically positive about something (Like this is FANTASTIC) but are more inclined instead to say "Ce n'est pas mal" (It's not bad.)
They FLOCK to creperies and eat first a round of crepes salee - savory crepes - with little jugs of cider - a mild beer type drink - and then they order a round of crepes sucre - sweet ones.
The ENTIRE restaurant oohs and aahs when someone gets a crepe flambe - topped with alcohol and flambeed.
They put the VERY best things from the entire store in a TINY little window to lure you in.
They stand in line at the BEST sweet shops for their precious afternoon sweet.
They CRAM restaurant tables so close that you have to pull the ENTIRE table out to be seated.
EVERYONE here is an expert on food, wine, and cheese
They LOVE flowers, art, musique, wine, and their little dogs.
They can sit for HOURS absolutely ENJOYING every spot of coffee in their tiny little cups - in between thousands of gitane cigarettes
Little old couples who have been in love for AGES stroll for hours with their little dogs and never seem to get tired
Girls walk FAST with their high bouncing ponytails and their high-heeled pointy-toed boots
Men wear scarves twisted neatly at their necks
Ladies who work in the little stores EXPECT you to say "Bonjour Madame" ONLY after they say it first - just as they EXPECT you to say
"Merci Madame. Au revoir" when you leave the store - only after they say it of course.
They put little signs on the clothes that say "Ne Touchez Pas" - do not touch!!!
They DELIGHT in everything creative - art - wine - theater, opera, ballet, and the list goes on forever.
EVERYONE here seems to know from what SIECLE/ CENTURY things are - buildings, furniture, you name it.
They know and DELIGHT in the differences between all the 80 or so departments (like counties) of France.
Everything seems to Sound better when said in French
Even the humble EGG Tastes better here. And it gets a LOT of love and affection by the greatest chefs. You actually see eggs served here as appetizers - en cocotte with truffles - YUM!!!!
They can make the most artful and useful use of even the SMALLEST spaces and I mean TINY. IT is AMAAAAZING what they can do with a few square meters of space.
They have ENTIRE hour-long TV shows during the most important show times on something like the Burgundy region of France - with 6 reporters - each reporting on something like, the wines, the architecture, the art, the history, the restaurants, and even the colors of the soil and stone.
They romanticize EVERYTHING from the gargoyles of the buildings, to the shapes of wine bottles, and of course the MOST loved of all - the Grape vine - of which ther are literally 100s of millions draped across this lovely land.
And the LOVE AFFAIR that the entire country of France has with the grapevine is one of the MOST adorable things I have EVER seen. Words cannot describe how much they LOVE their grapevines, and ultimately their wines. I cannot think of anything of which they more fiercely proud - except MAYBE their heritage.
That is why there is a LOT of love in me for France and the French. Vive la France!!!!
Young men DRINK up their girlfriends' beauty with their deep dark eyes full of love.
They RARELY say anything dramatically positive about something (Like this is FANTASTIC) but are more inclined instead to say "Ce n'est pas mal" (It's not bad.)
They FLOCK to creperies and eat first a round of crepes salee - savory crepes - with little jugs of cider - a mild beer type drink - and then they order a round of crepes sucre - sweet ones.
The ENTIRE restaurant oohs and aahs when someone gets a crepe flambe - topped with alcohol and flambeed.
They put the VERY best things from the entire store in a TINY little window to lure you in.
They stand in line at the BEST sweet shops for their precious afternoon sweet.
They CRAM restaurant tables so close that you have to pull the ENTIRE table out to be seated.
EVERYONE here is an expert on food, wine, and cheese
They LOVE flowers, art, musique, wine, and their little dogs.
They can sit for HOURS absolutely ENJOYING every spot of coffee in their tiny little cups - in between thousands of gitane cigarettes
Little old couples who have been in love for AGES stroll for hours with their little dogs and never seem to get tired
Girls walk FAST with their high bouncing ponytails and their high-heeled pointy-toed boots
Men wear scarves twisted neatly at their necks
Ladies who work in the little stores EXPECT you to say "Bonjour Madame" ONLY after they say it first - just as they EXPECT you to say
"Merci Madame. Au revoir" when you leave the store - only after they say it of course.
They put little signs on the clothes that say "Ne Touchez Pas" - do not touch!!!
They DELIGHT in everything creative - art - wine - theater, opera, ballet, and the list goes on forever.
EVERYONE here seems to know from what SIECLE/ CENTURY things are - buildings, furniture, you name it.
They know and DELIGHT in the differences between all the 80 or so departments (like counties) of France.
Everything seems to Sound better when said in French
Even the humble EGG Tastes better here. And it gets a LOT of love and affection by the greatest chefs. You actually see eggs served here as appetizers - en cocotte with truffles - YUM!!!!
They can make the most artful and useful use of even the SMALLEST spaces and I mean TINY. IT is AMAAAAZING what they can do with a few square meters of space.
They have ENTIRE hour-long TV shows during the most important show times on something like the Burgundy region of France - with 6 reporters - each reporting on something like, the wines, the architecture, the art, the history, the restaurants, and even the colors of the soil and stone.
They romanticize EVERYTHING from the gargoyles of the buildings, to the shapes of wine bottles, and of course the MOST loved of all - the Grape vine - of which ther are literally 100s of millions draped across this lovely land.
And the LOVE AFFAIR that the entire country of France has with the grapevine is one of the MOST adorable things I have EVER seen. Words cannot describe how much they LOVE their grapevines, and ultimately their wines. I cannot think of anything of which they more fiercely proud - except MAYBE their heritage.
That is why there is a LOT of love in me for France and the French. Vive la France!!!!
Apr 2nd, 2011, 05:04 AM
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I like France, too, and can understand your affection for the country and people, but cannot quite make such sweeping generalizations. I must have missed the hoardes of crepe-eaters the last few times I visited, though, so (((Gallic shrug of shoulders))).
Apr 2nd, 2011, 09:33 AM
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The display of something as ordinary as strawberries can certainly be enticing, such as what I saw this afternoon in rue de Lévis (17th arrondissement).
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...life/009-6.jpg
http://i450.photobucket.com/albums/q...life/009-6.jpg
Apr 2nd, 2011, 10:20 AM
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Reading about all the descriptions and the perfections that the people of this country possess I must say that I Am Very Impressed..
By George,the French Are Just Perfect in Everything..Vive la France, n'Est pas?
By George,the French Are Just Perfect in Everything..Vive la France, n'Est pas?
Apr 2nd, 2011, 11:36 AM
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Thanks to all. Kerouac, I got some strawberries from Spain at the Marche Bio on Blvd. Raspail the other day that were as close to perfect as I have ever had - HEAVEN - they were so... strawberry - y!
Apr 2nd, 2011, 11:55 AM
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I like France, but gosh, you might consider taking off the rose-colored glasses. In particular, given the love affair with their grapevines, I'd ask why there is so much genuinely awful French wine?
Apr 2nd, 2011, 12:40 PM
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An excellent recommendation for an extended stay in France. Our trips keep growing longer and we totally enjoyed spending all of last November based in a flat in Languedoc-Roussillon. People keep asking me for a trip report, but I've found it impossible to write because when you aren't hustling around as a tourist (and there is NOTHING wrong with that!) you get an opportunity to appreciate simple daily life.
We've rarely had a glass of bad French wine while in France...although we did taste some disappointing Burgundy back in 2003...and some of the stuff exported to the States doesn't travel well, or isn't great to begin with. (It's nearly impossible to find a good Bergerac on this side of the Atlantic. I think they keep all the good stuff to themselves.)
I love that you can find duck breasts at 3 for 9euro in the Carrefour.
I love that there is so much industry and trade going on throughout Languedoc-Roussilon that many of the villages we visited had young families living in them. Markets were filled with locals (few tourists in November) and the shops in towns like Perpignan and Pezenas seemed to be thriving.
I love the tradition of a leisurely Sunday lunch with friends.
I love the announcements over a loudspeaker made in the town square in the evening in some villages. (Good practice for a "student" learning French)
We've rarely had a glass of bad French wine while in France...although we did taste some disappointing Burgundy back in 2003...and some of the stuff exported to the States doesn't travel well, or isn't great to begin with. (It's nearly impossible to find a good Bergerac on this side of the Atlantic. I think they keep all the good stuff to themselves.)
I love that you can find duck breasts at 3 for 9euro in the Carrefour.
I love that there is so much industry and trade going on throughout Languedoc-Roussilon that many of the villages we visited had young families living in them. Markets were filled with locals (few tourists in November) and the shops in towns like Perpignan and Pezenas seemed to be thriving.
I love the tradition of a leisurely Sunday lunch with friends.
I love the announcements over a loudspeaker made in the town square in the evening in some villages. (Good practice for a "student" learning French)
Apr 2nd, 2011, 01:03 PM
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<i>One reason is that the gummint pays a certain amount per kg of grapes - good or bad. So some farmers grow grapes just for the subsidy.</i>
The question was rhetorical, but you have certainly hit upon one of the primary causes of lousy French wine. Honestly, I have had so much bad French wine that I've just about given up. I've had my share of good French wine, but wading through the garbage is just too much work.
The question was rhetorical, but you have certainly hit upon one of the primary causes of lousy French wine. Honestly, I have had so much bad French wine that I've just about given up. I've had my share of good French wine, but wading through the garbage is just too much work.
Apr 2nd, 2011, 01:27 PM
#20
Ditto, mariacallas2-------I love the way I feel when I'm in France.
Did anyone read the article in the Wall Street Journal by Joe Queenan (either Fri. 4/1 or Sat. 4/2 titled, "French Twist: Meet Monsieur Nice Guy"?
Did anyone read the article in the Wall Street Journal by Joe Queenan (either Fri. 4/1 or Sat. 4/2 titled, "French Twist: Meet Monsieur Nice Guy"?
