AJPeabody

Not Cool, Camden. I remember that the French thoght there were no WMD's and an invasion would cause nothing but trouble and instability. They were trying to help but our leadership would hear none of it.

By the way, this is a TRAVEL board, not a political hate board.

Jmho.

tod

Nothing beats the wonderful roads in France!

Surfergirl

This probably sounds silly, but I like the fact that you can be unique, can dance to the beat of a different drum, so to speak. It's a place where it's okay to be different, where they don't make a habit of putting kids on medication to make them be more like other kids. Yes, there's other countries that I have seen this as well, but I've found it more pronounced in France, and that's what I really like about it.

Guy18

Having just returned from Italy and Switzerland (which we loved), we agreed that, still, there is simply no place like France. Nothing approximates the French for elegance and taste.

I love the raffish charm of a French garden, well-dressed elderly men and women walking their dogs, the antiques markets, the pastries (no one can duplicate them!), the teashops (Laduree especially), dogs in restaurants, the art (Matisse, Derain, Bonnard--who comes close?)

In the words of Shakespeare, "Should not in this best garden of the world our fertile France put up her lovely visage?"

cocofromdijon

you make my day...

schnauzer

I really love the medieval villages especially all the honey coloured stone, the turrets, the dovecotes, the rolling countryside, the neatness, the sunflowers by the side of road - ah je reviens!

blackduff

There are a lot of special things about France, which pleases me a lot.

First, the French girls can talk on their portable telephones while they're driving and smoking at the same time, and from time to time they look into the rear view mirror to see their hair is okay. What really impresses me is that they don't run into my car when I pass these girls. Okay, this is a bit tongue in cheek but they actually drive like this.

There's another part of France which loves me a lot. Paris on a Friday evening, between 5 to 7 pm, and the people head towards home. They're making a quick stop to buy some flowers or maybe get a bottle of wine. Neuilly is a perfect image of the Parisians heading towards the end of the week. I always loved this part of the day.

Quite a few Americans have worked with me in France and they've made a lot of comments that France is very clean. I'm not talking about the dog doos but the roads all over France are clean. Nobody throws their trash out the window of their cars. I see a bit of trash but it's a level way below of what's found in the US. Spend some time in Spain and you'll see a big difference.

Although there are a lot of people in France, the beauty is kept clean.

I do love the girls in the car though.

Blackduff

CharlesIII

Mrs. Charles and I thank you, robJame, for this lovely thread.

We've decided what we love most is the children and how we've seen them being treated. We love the bundled babies in strollers, the toddlers in red shoes, young children still dressed like children, not mini adults.

Mrs. Charles' favorite part of our last trip to Paris was taking a walk in the neighborhood as families picked up their kids from school and day care. Joyous noises, lots of kissing, no pulling or prodding.

She told my oldest at dinner every night that she wished she could have redone every nursery school car pool.

grimmy

I love being able to drive into any small village and find a fine boulangerie.
I love driving through the countryside and not running into any shopping malls.
I love the castles, the majectic Mt St Michel, the architecture.
I love the roundabouts
The evening walk around reading the menu.
The fabulous markets.
Watching men play petanque in the squares.
There are so many other things that are intangible to describe.
All I know is I need a yearly fix.

cigalechanta

The France outside of Paris is a different but beautiful, varied experience, from the friendly people, to the many cheeses, drinks in a particular area, The many styles of architecture, the mountains, lakes, the fields of rapé, sunflowers, lavender, mimosa, olive, poppy, each season brings a wealth of food for the eyes.
The markets, the bastides, the auberges, the lavoirs, the campaniles, the fontaines, the caves, the cadren du soleils, the wineries, the oyster beds, the forests. And the kindness of People.

Curt

Coolcamden, you are so wrong. It was not only the French that KNEW that our so called president was headstrong to go to war for NO REASON and come hell or high water he was going to get that bad boy that done tried to kill his daddy. So sad - how many soldiers have died and how many more, not to mention civilians, just to satisfy this spoiled little rich boy's cowboy fanatasies? Get real!

tower

Agree, Curt!

But not to disturb this wondeful thread that Robert J. has given us...admittedly, France and Ireland are my two favorite European countries....and I've been to them all..including the tiniest ones (Andorra, Lux, Licht and San Marino). Of course mose of the unmatchable attributes of France are unlike those of Ireland and vice versa. Italy is a very close second to these two, though France stands as Number One with DW, Italy still second and Ireland third.

Having already visited multiple times all major regions of France over the years, we look forward to exploring Alsace-Lorraine in three weeks...where I have only been to one city, one time (Strasbourg).

To sum up, I submit that the best things in France are in the intangible column...the feel while driving Provence and the Dordogne, the fact that modernity is gently subtle in the countryside, and the pace is slower than one can even find in small New England villages.

Maybe it's me, but I feel ten years younger the whole while we're visiting France. I know, it's the ubiquitous gentility that engulfs you while there!

Stu T. Vive!

kelliebellie

Olives.

PalQ

Frumpily dressed portly old men, beret wearing, puffing away on a yellow Gauloise cigarette that dangles from their mouth as they belly up to the cafe bar and grunt "une rouge" (red wine)which they quickly gulp down before ordering another...and another...

cigalechanta

They closed the last Gauloise factory in France last year!

Toupary

Where are they coming from? I bought a pack of Gauloise about a week ago.

cocofromdijon

mimi is right but they are now produced in Spain, Alicante.
If you go down the list you'll see all their different packagings here :
http://houel.club.fr/pages/GAULOISES.htm

blackduff

The EU changes a lot of things. The Philips television (Dutch Company)but it's built in France. The French television Thompson is built in Spain.

Land Rovers used to be built in Spain but it's stopped due to union strikes.

But France will stay France despite the cigarettes moved across the border.

Blackduff

sheila

I just love the pace and balance of life

hypatia

I was going to say a baguette under a hairy pit....but Im not seeing that so much these days.....no really no one does a chateau or perfume like the french!!