Nadine Williams

Frolic around France

The ambiance of les garcons, the glorious 19^th century opulent décor, the way the tables and chairs face the street and you can stay for hours reading, or doing crosswords or simply staring at  those dazzling sophisticated women who walk past; the perfectly groomed men who stroll by. French men are very aware of their sexuality and they ALL wear scent. Women all wear scarves, exquisite shoes and designer handbags.

There is so much to love about France: the  glorious 19^th century architecture of Paris, the fantasy chateaux of the Loire Valley, Le Louvre, the largest museum in the world sitting grandiose on the banks of the Seine, le vieux port de Marseilles and the ancient nature of  all those villages dotted along the la route verte throughout France. Each boasts an ancient Roman Church, or a monastery, or a chateau, or an historic Mairie, (town Hall), or as in Moustiers and Aurillac, centuries old public laundries. Each village has its own legend, its own handicraft and its own regional food specialty.

To drive through the French Alps and to discover idyllic Annecy, strung around the prettiest lake, to take a day trip in Haute Province and watch a line of cyclists riding through the countryside and to come upon a village procession on Sunday morning, led by the adorned priest wending its way like a human caterpillar to the village fete. All are precious memories of France on the by-ways.

And to stop a few days in Brittany in an ancient thatched-roofed stone chaumiere (cottage) and to take morning walks through a ghost village in the mist is to be immersed in “deep France’’. It is my favourite place in France, an eerie, windswept region, dotted with thatched cottages, windmills and Celtic relics. A land of rugged coastlines, fishing villages and edged with salt pans and marshlands.

It is not hard to pick the best meal in France. It was in le vieux port of Marseilles, on the wharf where we ate bouillabaise on la terrace in Hotel Miramar, the birthplace of the French standard of bouillabaise. To sip the broth, which arrives a course before the array of tender shellfish and seafood mix,  is to be swept up into the exquisite food culture of France. This was anything but just fish soup. This was a once in a lifetime experience which lasted three hours, the full gourmand fare complete with its authenticity flag of approval from the chef.

And my memories move at lightning speed to the Lot with its austere landscape where La Couvertoirade, the age-old walled kingdom of the Templars rises out of stark, limestone country. It surprises and delights in its quaintness, where the graveyard tombstones bear the Hospitaller shield symbol.

The sheep wear bells in The Lot and I slept in a humble ancient dwelling which was 400 years old.

I find myself humming “Memories are made of this…’’ and I conjure up the aroma of  freshly-baked French croissants, in my mind’s eye I see an old French man peddling along, his daily baguette sticking out of the front basket and I see French matriarchs walking bejewelled pooches along Avenue de l’opera.  Now I am window-shopping at a Patisserie in Montmartre, which proudly proclaims to be the best in Paris that year asnd I slip into one of myriad boutiques without finding anything that fits!

But in reality I am in the office of the director of Alliance Francaise d’Adelaide, Philippe Marse discussing news that the cultural institute celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year. I have passed through its doors for a hand full of years to learn French and am slowly becoming proficient at this romantic language.

 “I think people are more and more interested in French culture,’’ says Monsieur Marse.

“They don’t think the French are “arrogant frogs’ now, they see them as friends.

“They don’t have that image in mind anymore, they have in mind French culture as a nice, different culture of style and that it’s a very open culture.’’

And we Francophiles have fallen in love with French culture and we do like to sip of the culture cup.

 We all simply want to know how to enrich our lives – and the French show us how in so many little ways which we can all afford.

The French people are quite stylish, whether it’s food preparation and l’art de la table or how they present themselves in public as the epitome of French chic fashion style.

So, on Bastille Day, say Vive La France! And buy a croissant.

.

Be Sociable, Share!

• 
• 

Pages: 1 2