Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged France, gite, Le Train Jaune, Little Yellow Train, Mas de Bordes, mountains, Olette, Pyrenees, Thues on May 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Breakfast was fit for kings! Water in fancy almost-wine glasses, croissants, chocolate-filled pastries, small rolls made of French baguette-type bread (soft, moist and fluffy on the inside, hard on the outside), and some other kind of folded flaky pastry in a real bread basket! Everything was so fancy – or old-fashioned – the glasses, saucers [...]
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged France, gorge, Gorge de Caranca, hike, Mas de Bordes, mountains, Pyrenees, Thues-Entre-Valle on May 29, 2008 | 1 Comment »
We hiked the Gorge de Caranca today! It started out rainy – hard downpours during our morning (really early afternoon since we went to bed late & slept for 13 hours.) We’re glad we stuck it out and went on the long hike instead of the short one as it eventually cleared up. We could [...]
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged birthday, France, hike, hot springs, Mas de Bordes, mountains, Pyrenees, storm, Thues-Entre-Valles, village on May 28, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
C turned 26 today and didn’t even realize until he wrote the date in his journal yesterday that it was his last day as a 25-year-old! We had a great day even though we didn’t do anything special – other than spend the day enjoying the French Pyrenees! I told him we might be able [...]
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged Casa Penalolen, Fort Liberia, France, French service, Irish traveler, Le Petite Train Jaune, Pyrenees, Thues-Entre-Valles, train, Villefranche on May 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
We had only eaten in one French restaurant until today, so I had forgotten a lot of the cultural differences between eating out in the US and France. When you ask for water, they ask you if you want it with gas (tonic water) or without. “Without” gets you a 1.5 liter bottle (very expensive). [...]
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged American Politics, Casa de la Nine, Casa Penalolen, caves, Cornellia, France, French words, Grand Canallette, mountains, Pyrenees, stone oven, Villefranche on May 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I forgot to mention – there was a bread oven in the living room in the apt. of our gite! Luc, the owner, was proud to say it’s the “old style” – just how old, I can’t imagine. He explained that he uses it during busy times to make several loaves of bread at once. [...]
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged France, French food, hike, La Casa de la Nine, Le National, Mediterranean, mountains, Pyrenees, Sete, train, Villefranche on May 25, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
I had a great snack yesterday: cous-cous with apricots, almonds and raisins, with a sweetener, possibly apricot juice? I’ll have to try to reproduce that.
The French like some foods cold that Americans don’t usually eat cold: cold cous-cous, sautéed vegetables, coffee, and even cold crème brulee! They also like creamy, heavy sauces and cheeses. I [...]
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged France, Sete, Le National, European trains, European lifestyle, street market, Thau Etang, L'Amiral, seafood, stuffed squid on May 24, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
The train system here is something to behold. Not that we didn’t already know and experience this, but it’s worth mentioning every time. The trains are so much faster (we were probably going 90 mph on the “slow” train as it was referred to by Emily back in Latour.) Their track is much better, making [...]
Posted in Europe trip journal, France, tagged aperitif, Arc de Triomphe, Cathedral Saint Pierre, digestif, France, French buildings, French words, Jardin du Champs de Mars, Montpellier, Place Castallan on May 22, 2008 | 3 Comments »
We have been keeping a running list of French words used in English as we think of them, so here is…
English Words Stolen from French, Part Deux:
Amateur
Brassier
Lingerie – also means house décor in French?
Decor!
Soirée
Prestige?
Surveillance
Reconnaissance
Renaissance
Avenue?
Boulevard?
Petit
Expose – art term
Entourage
Colonel
Sergeant
Poignant
Consignment
Signature?
Haute couture – literally ‘high culture’ (fashion)
flamboyant
Armoir
Espionage
Bureau
Beau – boyfriend!
Menage-trois – count on the French for this one?!
Blasé – also [...]
