Chateau Lalinde

Back from fair London City (but no bells on my toes...)

2010-10-19T19:05:00.012+02:00

It was the glint of the little compact mirror that caught my eye. I looked over at the other side of the tube train coach and saw where it came from. A man was sitting across the aisle from me, plucking his eye brows, carefully and methodically getting rid of every offending hair that spoilt the perfect line of his brows. Next to him was a pair of beautiful long-fingered hands with dark aubergine finger nails, fluttering like two magnificently exotic moths in the harsh light of the train. When the brow plucking man sat back I could see who the hands belonged to; a perfect clone of Cher -- high cheek bones, perfectly kohled eyes, shapely siliconed lips, long straight black hair framing the lovely line-less face - clearly he had taken a photograph of Cher to the plastic surgeon and commissioned him to copy this photograph to the tiniest detail. He was wearing a pillar box red coat - as if to offset the black hair and the white hands, and I thought to myself " trust a transvestite to get it so perfect. Since women's liberation, no woman ever seems to give that much attention to detail anymore..."
I got off the train at Green Park to link up with the Victoria line (I had forgotten how many stairs there are in the London Underground! Up, down, up, down, up, down -- never-ending stairs!)and found myself being drawn to the music like a magnet -- an old guy (well - perhaps it is the result of an eventful life, but he did look a lot older than me!) on a clarinet playing the sweetest sounds. Oh! How I love the musicians in the London underground! But on to the next train, and this time, seated opposite me, a small, wiry man, probably in his forties, in a purple velvet jacket and a top hat that looked like it had been nicked from the film set of a Dickens novel, so high I am sure it doubled the man's height.(oh how I wished I had my camera with me!)
From there to the glitz and the glamour of Kensington High Street - that is, the glitz and the glamour inside the store windows but sadly not outside. Not inspired by anything I saw, off to Piccadilly, the National Geographic shop where everything inspired me. What a great place to spend much more time than I had - and definitely worth another trip back to London as soon as I can...
Later I walked through Leicester Square, just to feel the lively heart beat of the place again. It did not disappoint. The smell of one pound pizza slices, the colourful bill boards of all the latest movies, the jugglers and mime artists and theatre ticket touts -- nothing has changed and it felt good.
Then, down to the Tate Modern -- what is a day's visit to London without having popped into this most amazing of amazing centres of wonderment? -- for a glorious Gaugin fix and the silent echo of the polished gallery floors and high glass ceilings and light and light and light bathing it all in an aura of exquisiteness, back along the river and the hub-bub of the South Bank and across the bridge for a last glimpse of the Houses of Parliament - always such a majestic view and so, so beautiful, and the London Eye on the other side - good to see it is still there - surely they won't take it down now, not after all this time and since it had become so part of the London scene?, and the traffic on the river, the ever changing skyline...Then, before catching the train back, a last Mojito at The Cuban, my favourite little spot where the torn posters on the walls and the rickety blue chairs now seem to look like that from age, not because that is what the interior designer had put there.

Ah! And then I made the mistake of picking up the free copy of the Evening Standard (they used to only hand out free copies of the early edition on a Thursday -- now also on a Monday - or is it every night?) to read on the train. I say a mistake, because reading the news in the UK is enough to make anyone want to be sick. Apart from the back-biting and fist-fighting going on on the X-Factor scene (who cares???) and Rooney that says 'he quit'(are those toys I see flying out of the cot?) and Osborne about to announce the austerity cuts just as the new EU taxes are appearing on the horizon (wake up world, we are in dire economic doldrums, in case you had not noticed), and 'elf an safety' deciding that century old cobblestones are dangerous and should be lifted (shu' up! muy bruvver Keef says i-url make youse stree's buggy and wheel-chair frien'ly) (and horror of all horrors -- even the newspapers are starting to spell the way everyone now speaks, I ki' you no'!)) and William and Kate announcing their wedding plans (he also says he intends to shake up the royal family a bit...as long as he continues to pronounce the last letters of his words, it's fine by me!) and the current inquest into the terrible 7/7 and one survivor telling how the victims died in agony while the paramedics were standing outside waiting to allowed to go in and save people -- again 'elf an safety' having taken over from the 'Blitz' heroism of yesteryear...
And then I get to page 11 and there, in colour, two photographs of a young man in a hoodie kicking and stamping and swinging a puppy by its leash and I almost hurl. I force myself to read the article. It is about a person who took these photographs of this monster on 1 October in Knee Hill Park in Woolwich, south-east London and then passed the photos on to the SPCA -- who are now putting the film footage out there on u-tube and warn that it is "extremely shocking and deemed to distressing for under-18's", and appealing to the public to come forward if they know who this young an is -- a reward of £20,000 on his head.

I choked back my nausea and closed the newspaper -- not able to read any more. And then the anger took over.

What kind of society is this, Great Britain, where you have someone ready with his phone to take film footage and photo's of a teenager kicking a puppy like a football, swinging a puppy through the air on his leash, stamping all his weight on a puppy cowering on the ground, but not stop the young man from doing these monstrous acts?

What kind of society do we live in where you will not step forward and stop abuse when you see it? Where you can film a torturer but not dare stop him from continuing?
I ask the question and despair, because I know the answer will be the same as the answer given to the young 7/7 survivor who asked what happened to the spirit of the people who went out during the blitz and helped victims while the bombing was still raging around them.

'Elf an safety? Non-involvement? Fear? Apathy?...

It is good to be home tonight...

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Tips for Expats for readjusting to life back “home”

2010-10-15T11:12:00.002+02:00

On the Expatica site , Audrey Hill gives American expats tips on what to prepare yourself for when repatriation nears. From bracing yourself for car commuting to how to stay international in your homeland. Audrey writes this specifically for American Expats, but knowing how many expats from all nationalities are constantly moving back 'home', I believe this article would be useful for everyone!

Wherever we live can be an adventure and a challenge, as long as we push ourselves out of our comfort zone. Until the next adventure, here are some tips I learned when trying to readjust to life back home:

1. Realise that you will have to start over in some way. Like me, you might have to find a place to live, a car to drive and a job.

Ideally, start to rebuild your life before you move back home. E-mail your resume to potential employers and let them know when you’ll be available for an interview.

2. Life might feel like it went on without you. While you’ve been meeting new people and experiencing new things, so have your loved ones. Life hasn’t waited for you to return.

You may feel a bit left out when you hear about all that has changed, but realise that you have also changed and allow that to strengthen your relationships.

3. Consider that you might have to put some effort into rekindling your friendships and relationships at home. Chances are you’ve lost touch a bit with your old friends while you’ve been gone. It’s going to take some energy and time to catch up. They’ll want to hear about your other life and tell you about what’s been going on with them.

4. Accept that your friends and family will probably never be able to completely understand what your life was like abroad. The most common question I was asked was, “So how was Spain?” As if two years living in a foreign country can be summed up in a few sentences.

But don’t take it as disinterest; you can share your experiences over time with the important people in your life by showing them photos and telling stories about your time abroad.

5. In your job search find a way to inject your experiences living and working abroad into your resume and interview answers. Don’t think of your time away as time lost, even if it was in a different field; think of it as life experience gained that will add to your appeal as a potential employee.

Promote your experiences in interviews, and work them into qualities that will contribute to the job.

6. Be prepared to find yourself missing aspects of your former life. Like me, you might find yourself frustrated by the excess of your native culture and missing the simplicity of having fewer choices and less stress. You might feel depressed as you begin to lose some of the memories of life abroad and feel yourself disconnecting from that life.

Look at photos and stay connected with friends there, but also live in the present. Try to find happiness in daily activities. Look at this home like you did when you lived abroad -- you’ll find that there is probably beauty to be found here if you try to look at it with foreign eyes.

7. Expect the unexpected. Think of it as another adventure, just like the one you started when you moved abroad. And now that you know what to expect, you can always start a new adventure by living abroad again.

Audrey Hill is a writer and editor who spend time living in Spain and traveling Europe. She moved to Spain to study abroad and experience living and working abroad and soon settled as a private English teacher before moving back to the US in late 2007. You can read her Expat Voices profile here.

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A message on FB made me remember...

2010-10-14T18:56:00.003+02:00

Photo: skierscott

The Sound Of Silence
(Paul Simon, 1964)

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turn my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools," said I, "you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence

Such incredibly beautiful - and meaningful words.

Is there anyone amongst my readers old enough to remember the sixties? Not the flower power and the free sex, the LSD and Woodstock, the hippies and the burning bras and the Vietnam protests and the fluorescent colours. Yes, it was the time of all that. All that and pop art and mini skirts and paint-on eye lashes and white lipstick too.

But it was also the time the Berlin wall was built and the Bay of Pigs was invaded. It was the time of Mohammed Ali and Bob Dylan and Joan Baez too. It was the time of the Beatles and the first man on the moon, of a handsome American president getting shot and his beautiful widow cradling his bleeding head on her pale pink Chanel skirt. It was the time too when the colonial invaders starting withdrawing from Africa and when India invaded Pakistan, when Fidel Castro became president of Cuba. The time of Martin Luther King and Mao and Khruschev...

It was the time when musicians started writing beautiful lyrics which reflected the confusion and fear and protest and voices of the people. Lyrics which had meaning, which sent a message, which made us think.

Beautiful music... Thank you for the reminder, beautiful Sophie...

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A handful of memories of the last days of Summer 2010...

2010-10-12T09:50:00.013+02:00

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Bellou Jaillet -- a great aquarelliste exhibits at Moulin de Larroque

2010-10-11T20:18:00.008+02:00

A couple of days ago I went to the Moulin de Larroque, where the new owners, Duncan and Prudence had invited me to attend the vernissage of one of the foremost aquarelle painters of France -- an artist who only uses the exquisite hand made paper of the Larroque paper mill in Couze.
Bellou Jaillet immediately struck me as someone from an era gone past -- someone who has stepped right out of the Romantic Period. Immaculately dressed, with a charm that one rarely comes across, eyes that dance when he speaks about his work, elegant white hands emphasising the points he wishes to put across -- and paintings that strongly evoke an era in the past as well. He talks about the difficulty he had at first of painting on the hand made paper - much more textured than usual water colour card -- but how, once he had mastered the technique, he never used anything else.
Interesting then to see how their is a synergy between the artist and his medium. The paper compliments his delicate painting, his painting brings the character of the paper to life. One painting in particular seemed to be so realistic -- the reflection in the rippled water almost made you think you were looking at the real thing -- when you realise that it is the water colours on the textured paper causing the effect.
To add to the Romantic Period feeling, most of his paintings are done "entre chien et loup" -- at dusk -- the colours soft and dreamy and muted, the skies fading into soft pinks and blues and greens -- adding to the feeling that it is romanticism and poetry which guide his brush.
"I always paint the sky first and if that is right, I continue with the rest of the painting. But if the sky does not look right, I abandon the painting and start again", he says.
"Extremely nuanced and refined colours.." writes one critic.
"His vocation is to translate the beauty of the world, with the help of the water colours and gouaches, into a hommage to nature in the style of Turner and Constable and Corot", says another.
The president of the French National Society for Fine Arts, the Admiral Francois Bellec, calls him "the painter of our sweet France"...
Considered to be one of the great contemporary water colour artists of France, he has won innumerable gold medals and accolades for his work -- too many to mention, and in November 2009 he was invited to exhibit in the Grand Palais in Paris - truly an amazing accomplishment!(so well done to Duncan - what a feather in the cap of Couze to have this great man exhibit his work here in our midst!)

And then, as if by magic, when I left the exhibition and looked up at the sky -- there was Bellou's painting! I simply had to go fetch him away from all his admirers for one moment to come outside to look:
there, in his honour, surely, the sky over the Dordogne was a perfect copy of one of his paintings! We do, here in the Dordogne, make our visitors feel very special!...

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Lost in (the Dordogne) France?...

2010-10-11T19:55:00.002+02:00

When I went out on the terrace this morning to greet the swans, a man was pulling his boat upstream, with great effort. I have no idea where he came from, where he was going or who he was, but such an incongruous sight on the Dordogne (there are no boats on this part of the Dordogne as there is a natural weir in front of the chateau and the water is too shallow and runs too fast for any form of boat) warranted a quick photograph and immediately brought Bonnie Tyler's gravelly voice to mind...

Lost In France
(Lyrics by Ronnie Scott & Steve Wolfe)

I was lost in France
In the fields the birds were singing
I was lost in France
And the day was just beginning
As I stood there in the morning rain
I had a feeling I can't explain
I was lost in France in love

I was lost in France
And the vines were over-flowing
I was lost in France
And a million stars were glowing
And I looked round for a telephone
To say 'baby I won't be home'
I was lost in France in love

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A French Phrase a Day

2010-10-09T15:02:00.003+02:00

Do you sometimes get to the point where you really don't know which way to go any more - and then end up not doing anything at all? (Please say that you do!...) Every time I try to decide on which phrase or word to highlight in my "French word/phrase for the day", I hum and ha and dither and thither and the result is that I should probably rather call it "French word/phrase for the month"
So -- instead of once again posting nothing today, I have a few for you to choose from. (Look at the first one -- not knowing which way to turn. The French say: Not knowing which saint to confess to. I love how the French language, time and again, reflects the French way of thinking!...)

not to know where or which way to turn :
ne pas savoir à quel saint se vouer

it takes one to know one :
qui se ressemble s'assemble

not to know what to do with oneself:
ne pas savoir quoi faire de son temps

not to know where to put oneself:
ne pas savoir où se mettre

not to know whether one is coming or going :
ne plus savoir ce qu'on fait

to be in the know(colloquial):
être bien informé

to be in the know about something (colloquial):
être au courant de quelquechose

know-it-all, know-all (colloquial):
je-sais-tout

know-how(colloquial):
savoir-faire

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La vie est belle! Last night in the Dordogne

2010-10-09T09:13:00.002+02:00

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Un cab sav, s'il vous plait...

2010-10-07T14:29:00.004+02:00

Some time back I had a conversation with a sweet old man from the village about the pros and cons of progress. We were sharing a table at Le Blazon, under the chestnut trees, enjoying the exquisite champagne air of the late summer evenings -- as we were both on our own for the evening meal, all the outdoor seating was in great demand and the little restaurant was full -- always a very welcome sight in this area where tourism is at an all time low, we both were quite happy to share a table. I knew Michel from sight but had never 'formally' met him. He lives in a house only metres away from the central market square, and although well into his eighties, he seems to always have a lovely woman at his side.
I am not sure why I added that 'although' into the previous sentence! After all -- we are in France - a country where age really does not matter at all and where men and women never seem to lose attraction for one another!
(It turned out that his 'lady friend' is from up north and started visiting him a little too often. He likes his independence -- so he bought the house across the street for her. Not a bad solution, Michel!)
Anyway - we talked about progress when I made a comment about what a pity it was that there are plans afoot to widen the bridge across the river. And I say 'we talked' but I should rather say Michel embarked on a lengthy lecture on the advantages and benefits of progress here in La France Profonde -- the 'Deep France' or countryside. He was born in Lalinde 86 years ago and "if there had not been progress, we would not be eating together tonight and not at this little restaurant, and not having a discussion." Living right in the heart of the region where one is daily confronted by signs of our forefathers, Cro-Magnon Man, I should have know better than to make the flippant remark...
However --
When I recently read about all the changes which are about to happen in the French wine industry, it was probably with a little less trepidation and resistance than it would have been before my evening with Michel.

The French wine industry has been looking trouble in the eye for quite some time. With the emergence of the New World competitors, the French industry was suddenly shown up for what it has become -- too complex, too diverse, too dependent on family names and tradition. In a world where people are producing generic wines - no matter what the weather, the climate, the direction in which the vines are planted or the soil in which they grow, the wine will always taste exactly the same, year in and year out -- the small-producer of France has become lost -- and with him, his excellent wines. Unless a wine producer spends 80% of his time marketing his 2000 bottles, he is not going to have the where-withal to put food on his family's table next year. And where does this wine producer get the time and money and know-how from to do that marketing in Japan, in the States, in the rest of the world?
I had old acquaintances from the UK drop in the other day, and when I offered them a glass of wine, the comment was
"Oh good! At least you have been able to make out what is what with these French wines. We are totally confounded with the variety and selection and have no idea what to buy or order in a restaurant."
These people probably consider themselves 'wine connoisseurs' -- but that is when they are faced with a list of twenty reds and twenty whites -- all with names that people talk about, that are dropped casually in conversations, that the wine buffs in Britain tell them are the 'good wines'. When, on the other hand, they come on holiday to France and they are confronted with a few hundred different wines on the supermarket shelves, they are completely lost. The result, sadly is often that they then go for the most expensive wines in the shop, convincing themselves that if the price is so high it has to be a good wine.

So, what is France doing about this problem? Instead of raising the rest of the wine-drinking world to their level if knowledge and understanding, they have given up after all these years. Impossible. If you cannot beat them, join them, they say and finally they have now sunk to the lowest denominator.

The new French wine export strategy is to think "Coca-Cola" -- i.e. speak a language the masses understand.

To fend off "New World" competitors, French wines are now dropping complex regional labelling for the plain old chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon -or as they say elsewhere, horror of horrors! cab sav.. The plebs cannot even be asked to discern between a Chablis and a Graves, or between a Bourgogne and a Bordeaux. (I suppose we should be grateful that those 'buffs' at least know there is a difference between different types of grapes, between a chardonnay and a sauvignon, between a merlot and a shiraz.... Or do they?)

The change concerns everyday wines, notably those bound for export. Labels on better varieties, grand cru and AOC or "controlled designation of origin" wines will carry on in time-honoured fashion.

But it's a jolt in a country where regional identity remains strong (are you from Brittany? Provence?), where the term "terroir" -- soil -- is an agricultural mark of pride, and where wines can be declined down to the hillside where the grapes grew. Historically, place has been primordial, even in everyday wines. French producers relied on their reputation for quality and savoir-faire and did not worry about making labels understandable to the uninitiated.

But then again, in one generation France lost 20 to 30% of the share of the principal markets, and in 2009 alone, exports of French wine tumbled 19% to €5.5 billion, dropping to levels a decade ago, according to figures from Ubifrance, the French agency for international business development.

But - as if that is not enough of a massacre of ancient tradition, the reforms also allow producers to mix the same grape variety from different regions to allow more creativity and to adapt easier to market demands. This possibility of mixing ensures a consistent quality wanted by the consumer who is expecting the same taste from 1 January to 31 December...

Pass me my glass of Chateau Tiregand before I faint, please... And apologies Michel -- but even you cannot argue that this is 'good' progress -- you who insist that the sound of a cork being pulled from a bottle of wine is part of the wine ritual and for that reason alone, screw-on caps should never be used!

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What is that planet in the sky?

2010-10-07T09:41:00.003+02:00

So frustrating! This morning at about 3am the sky over the Dordogne was crystal clear and a magnificent pitch black velvet backdrop for a dazzling multitude of stars. But there was one that was huge in comparison to the others and that had a distinct reddish hue. Really at least three times larger than any of the other stars. Judging by its position, size and colour, I was convinced that it had to be Mars -- and Mars as I have not seen it since 2003 when it was supposedly the closest to the earth than it normally would be.
But this morning I find nothing that tells me more. All I can find at this stage is :

From October 1st 2010, Mars will be an evening Sky Planet that can be viewed after sunset before it goes down the horizon. It will set at about 8:19pm after Sun set at about 6:22pm Nigerian time respectively. Furthermore, from the 5th – 24th October 2010, Mars will be spotted in the Constellation of Libra and in-between the constellation of Libra and Scorpius from 25th – 29th of October 2010. On 30th and 31st of October 2010, Mars could be spotted in the Constellation of Scorpius. For the remaining part of the month of October 2010, Mars will remain an evening Planet.

Not at all a reflection of what I saw this morning.

UPDATE (9.10.10)
Seems it is either Antares or Jupiter that has been waking me up every morning at around 3am, or perhaps even Mira -- the brightest long-period red variable star, which is also having an unusually bright maximum. As of October 7th many observers were reporting it at magnitude 3.1, very plainly visible to the naked eye.

Does anyone know anything about this current phenomenon in the northern hemisphere skies?

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A week of interviews and good news

2010-10-04T13:02:00.005+02:00

It has been a busy week with lots of excitement. An hour-long interview by *Julie Jézéquel on **Bergerac Radio - in French - and not my best, I must admit. Sooooooooo frustrating to have so much to say and not have the means to express those thoughts! Listening back I was not too happy with my delivery -- definitely not my golden (60)moment(s) but great fun, nevertheless. I had to also choose three pieces of music to be played during the hour - and what a challenge! To find three pieces only that represent different parts of your life! It turned out that my three choices hit the right spot as far as the people at the studios were concerned -- Asimbonanga. The French absolutely adore Johnny Clegg and still mourn the end of Savuka. He visited Bergerac only two years ago when he toured France and one would think it was a visit from the President himself the way they go on about it! The second piece of course had to be Leonard Cohen, my life-long love, and my last choice, Vincent Delerm's Fanny Ardent et moi got a few nods and smiles as well. You probably wonder how these three choices reflect my life? mmmmmm Quite well, in fact...
Then off to another lengthy interview with a delightful Carol Miers about The Way of Stars and Stones - Thoughts on a Pilgrimage, general thoughts on pilgrimages and a fascinating discussion on spirituality.
Then, another great event -- the Frankfurt Book Fair where my book is being presented and where, finally, discussions are taking place, as we speak, about its translation into French and publication in France. Watch this space!...

*Julie Jézéquel works part-time at Radio Bergerac where her programme Les Rendez-Vous de Julie
is an all time favourite. Once a week, for one hour, she interviews someone interesting, controversial or colourful -- 'simply for the pleasure of getting know another interesting person'. Her easy conversational style and the infectious laughter in her voice make for excellent listening. Probably not surprising that Julie is such a professional interviewer -- she is also a well-known actress, script writer and, now, author of her first novel which appeared August 2009.
Julie can be heard on Bergerac Radio on Fridays at 16h00, Sunday at 10h00 and Tuesdays at 21h0. She can currently be seen in the Moliere festival of Le théâtre de la Gargouille - this weekend they are performing in Beaumont:
# Friday 8 October àt 21h: « Les Précieuses Ridicules »
# Saturday 9 October àt 21h: « Macadam Tonic »

**Radio Bergerac was launched in June, 1981 - a radio from our region, for our region and by the people of this region. It was an instant hit in the region -- people of the area loved that there was a radio so close to their interests and their hearts. It provides local news that is relevant and current

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http://www.philippeweber.com/topic/index.html

Quality of life? France comes out tops! (As if you needed convincing!)

2010-09-29T10:18:00.004+02:00

Recently, in Current Affairs, Craig McGinty reported that France has once again come out top in a quality of life study, with Britain and Ireland proving to be the worst places to live in Europe.

Research by price comparison website, uSwitch.com, said those in France enjoyed the earliest retirement age (yes! still the case even after it has been raised to 62!), had the longest life expectancy in Europe and that the government spent the most on healthcare. One thing the UK did enjoy in its favour was the highest income level in Europe, but that has now been lost to leave income levels trailing behind Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark.

The uSwitch.com study examined 16 factors to understand where the UK sits in relation to nine other major European countries.

Variables such as net income, VAT and the cost of essential goods, such as fuel, food and energy bills, were examined along with lifestyle factors, such as hours of sunshine, holiday entitlement, working hours and life expectancy to provide a complete picture of the quality of life experienced in each country.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "Last year compared with our European neighbours we were miserable but rich, this year we’re miserable and poor.

Euro-life-two "Whereas some countries work to live, UK consumers live to work. In fact we work harder, take less holiday and retire later than most of our European counterparts - but the high cost of living makes this a necessity rather than a choice. With salaries failing to keep up with inflation, it’s likely that we’re a long way from achieving the quality of life that people in other countries enjoy. Perhaps unsurprisingly given how life in the UK compares, three in ten people (30%) believe that now is a good time to emigrate."

And the uSwitch.com research concludes by saying that people in the UK can expect to work four years longer and die two years younger than their French counterparts.

And here in the Dordogne we can see the ripple effect of all of that -- almost a nutshell version of this research study.

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French Phrase for the day

2010-09-27T13:03:00.005+02:00

Entre chien et loup

Between the dog and the wolf
Dusk
The time at the end of the day when the sun has gone down but it is not yet dark -- when it becomes impossible to discern between a dog (symbolising day as he can guide us) and a wolf (symbolising night, a threat,fear, nightmares)

This is an expression that goes as far back as antiquity, but only appeared in the French language in a text of the 11th century: "quand l’homme ne peut distinguer le chien du loup".

In the post about Surfing in France,

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By way of explanation: Why you get stuck on sand banks when you go sailing in the Arcachon Basin!

2010-09-27T11:35:00.001+02:00

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Surfers' Paradise - La Côte d'Argent !

2010-09-26T13:44:00.007+02:00

Sando was good at portraying the moment you find yourself at your limit, when things multiplied around you like an hallucination. He could describe the weird, reptilian thing that happened to you: the cold supercharged certainty which overtook your usually dithering mind, the rest of the world in a slow-motion blur around you, the tunnel vision, the surrender that confidence finally became. And he talked about the final rush, the sense of release you felt at the end, skittering out to safety in the beautiful deep channel...

It's like you come pouring back into yourself, said Sando one afternoon. Like you've exploded and all the pieces of you are reassembling themselves. You're new. Shimmering. Alive.

From - Breath by Tim Winton

This past week a few of us decided to sail down to San Sebastian -- as one does -- for a few good tapas and some Rioja wine. We set off from Port de Medoc and sailed to Cap Ferret and Arcachon to spend the first night. Sailing into the Arcachon Basin at dusk - entre chien et loup -- was breathtakingly beautiful. The oyster beds were submerged but the poles around them were piercing the pink evening skies and the pine trees on the Cap Ferret peninsula silhouetted in varying shades of black and grey -- brush strokes in Chinese ink -- subtle, changing, mesmerizing.

The next day we set off early to leave the Basin and continue to Spain. Well, we never got much further than the first sand bank! Suffice to say that the result was that we did not get to Spain after all, but we did have a good time!

The coast line from Port de Medoc down to Biarritz, the Cote d'Argent or the Silver Coast, is stunning and must be quite unique. It is one long, white, sandy beach that stretches down for 90 kilometres. Hour after hour, sailing along the coast, there is this beautiful beach -- and of course, where the beach is this long and uninterrupted, you also have some of the best surfing waves in the world. All along we saw the camps of the surfers -- splashes of colour on the white sand, surf boards and towels and surfers -- and one wonders how they discover these spots, as there are no roads to these remote areas and behind the dunes, stretching almost as far as the Cote d'Argent, stretches La forêt des Landes -- the biggest forest in France, covering almost one million hectares of Maritime Pines.
The Silver Coast is dotted with a string of fabulous surf spots such as Lacanau, Arcachon, Biscarosse, Capbreton, Boucau and Hossegor, annual venue of the WCT Quiksilver Pro.

Extending form the Gironde to the Adour estuary, this almost straight ruler on the Atlantic boasts 160 miles of uninterrupted sandy beach, ideal for surfing and bordered by dunes and pine forests. From Easter to All Saint's Day, the coast has the best potential for surf, with good unridden barrels and the steadiest swell anywhere in Europe.

The surfing quality of the wave is due to the depth and funnel shape of the Bay of Biscay, that rises abruptly in front of the coast, and the numerous small rivers and stream mouths dotting its length shaping good sand breaks. Due to the changing winds and the huge tidal range, the waves can evolve with incredible speed. The sandbars orientation favour rights, while lefts tend to be very hollow because of the consistent North to South undertow. But the good sandbars can be destroyed by the winter storms and the main surfing problem is the lack of shelter when the sea gets rough.

The best surfing spots
There are waves all year round. Even during the summer when these are small, the area around Hossegor is exposed to the swell which makes surfing possible almost every day. All these spots are beach breaks, so it’s safe to walk within hitting rocks, and waves can break right or left. They are exposed to the same offshore winds: East, Southeast and Northeast.
Most famous spots:
Les Casernes: Can be ridden until 2m-2m50 (6-7ft) according to sandbars. Some long rides. Works all tides.
Le Prevent: Can be ridden until 2m-2m50 (6-7ft). Breaks between jetties. Catches less swell than Seignosse or Hossegor. Hollow and short waves. Best at mid tide
La Piste: Can be ridden until 2.5m-3m (7-8ft.) Best at mid tide. Be careful with the blockhaus from WW II ...
Le Penon: Can be ridden until 2m-2m50 (6-7ft) according to sandbars. Works all tides. Some very long rides. The sandbars use to be improved by a small wooden jetty.
La Sud: Starts at 2m (6 ft) on the over spot. Works only at low tide
Les Bourdaines: Can be ridden until 2m-2m50 (6-7ft) according to sandbars. Some long rides. Works all tides
L’Agréou: Can be ridden until 2m-2m50 (6-7ft) according to the sandbars . Some long rides. Works all tides

Silver Coast & La Foret des Landes: In a nutshell
Extending from the Gironde estuary - near Bordeaux, to the Adour estuary - near Biarritz, the Côte d'Argent (Silver Coast) is a top surfing destination as well as a protected stretch of pristine coastline bordered by the huge pine forests of the Landes. Its shore is formed by a 200km long beach only interrupted by the string of tidal lakes doting the coast. At the heart of the coast, Arcachon is a turn of the century seaside resort located on the major tidal lake of the coast - a favourite windsurfing spot. This seaside resort is reputed for its oysters and the Dune du Pyla, Europe's highest sand dunes culminating at 118 metres and perfect to try some sand boarding. Behind this sand bar and stretching inland from the Atlantic coast, the forest of the Landes (Moors) is a vast expense of pines, cork oaks, broom and heather. Late French President Mitterand favourite retreat, this region was once a sandy and marshy area, unhealthy and unfit for farming. But in the 18th century and under the leadership of Napoleon, the area was planted with pine trees to drain the soil and stop the progression of the sand dunes, creating one of the largest and richest forest in Europe. A perfect place for hiking, biking and riding.

Hossegor
Nestling amidst the emerald pine forest of the Landes, caressed by the ocean breeze, lined with endless fine sandy beaches and a 250 hectare tidal lake, Hossegor reflects the image of an old traditional seaside resort. Hossegor is situated in the heart of a region where nature rhymes with culture all year round, a place which lives on the rhythm of events, Classical music festival, Harley Davidson festival, golf competitions, WCT surf championship, European kite festival, Enduro on the beach and Pelote Basque Open, plus a summer season in full swing where music of all types drifts across the evening air. The atmosphere in the Pubs, Piano bars, Cafes, Restaurants and Disco's are as in the rest of the South of France, very friendly but with a definite surfing atmosphere.
Climate
Southern Atlantic climate, with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers.

There is a Surf School located on the famous beach and surf spot of Les Bourdaines, in Hossegor. Open to all and ideal for the intermediate and advanced surfers who want to improve or polish their technique while surfing Hossegor’s world famous waves. Instructors are BSA (British Surf Association) qualified coaches and approved lifeguards, besides being competent and well-travelled surfers. They are passionate about their sports, respect their roles as surf guides and live the surfing lifestyle to the full.
Head coach Kevin has 20 years of surfing experience and has been coaching South African National surfers. The school’s objectives are to teach you to surf quickly, efficiently and safely, while providing an insight and understanding of every aspect of surfing ... as well as having as much fun as possible on this amazing spot !

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SA Blog Awards

2010-09-19T23:13:00.003+02:00

So -- the top two finalists were announced today -- and this blog did not make it this time round! -- But a BIG thank you to all of you who voted for me!
If you want to see which blogs beat this (superb) one (!), click here. Cooksister.com is a recipe blog -- always popular it seems, and pharside.co.uk is a young bloke living in England -- looks like fun.

Bu-- tant pis! -- this is not going to change a thing and I shall continue to enjoy finding interesting little titbits to write about in my beautiful little corner of France!

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La journée du patrimoine: You are invited to breakfast on the chateau terrace this morning

2010-09-18T08:41:00.005+02:00

It is the weekend of 18-19 September and La journée du patrimoine - Heritage Day in France. Today all museums, cultural venues, old water mills, ancient chateaux, buildings, gardens -- anything that has any cultural or historical significance - will be open to the public to visit, enjoy and appreciate -- free of charge. These open days are a privileged opportunity for the French to visit their national heritage free of charge, not just historic monuments and buildings, churches and châteaux, but also private houses, banks, local courts, préfectures, law courts, town halls, chambers of commerce, etc., all sorts of buildings which are usually closed to the public or little visited by it have enjoyed growing success, reflecting the French people’s infatuation with their national treasures.

La journée du patrimoine was introduced in 1984 by the Minister of Culture of the day, Jack Lang and has enjoyed huge success in France.

Chateau Lalinde will not be open to the public today, but I will, as usual, be visiting a few interesting places and come give a report and share the photographs with my readers later!

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The beautiful water mirror by Corajoud in Bordeaux

2010-09-16T23:35:00.002+02:00

"Le paysage c'est l'endroit où le ciel et la terre se touchent"
- Michel Corajoud
(landscape is the place where the sky and the earth touch)

Apparently it was the Seattle artist, Jim Pridgeon, who had a concept to create a drawing in the sky by unrolling a long reflective mylar sheet in the lowest level of orbiting satellites around the earth. Depending on the time of day, the drawing would be more or less visible and at its most visible at sunset. On a global scale, Pridgeon's sculpture was supposed to capture and reflect the light of the sun to make a cut in the sky. This crisp edge of brighter light was the first aesthetic act of the reflected surface.

Generally people love reflections -- perhaps because it helps them see themselves as they think others see them?

But it seems that nowadays buildings that are completely covered in heavily reflective glass walls are no longer as popular as they used to be. Now the glass or the metal surfaces that cover them are either less reflective and/or covering less of the building surfaces. The 1970's and 80's reflective building that attempted to disappear into the sky has all but disappeared - or the buildings take on a different -- a fun - humorous kind of aspect. (as these scaffolding covers in Paris)

Now we have different forms of reflection -- and the most clever of these has to be the reflecting pools or water mirrors, such as the brilliant water mirror in Bordeaux, designed by the French landscape architects, Claire and Michel Corajoud and opened in October 2006.

Corajoud replaced the unsightly working docks of the Garonne Quais on the Gironde River with a giant rectangle of black granite covered with 5cm of water -- a surface large enough to reflect the entire 18th century (previous)Stock Exchange building. The water is added to by an interesting system of mist sprays and delicate fountains that seem to spurt diamonds into the air. As one observer puts it "The water mirror both forces people to stop and observe their reflection and then to bring them together in the play of splashing water".

Fascinating to watch people interact on the mirror. Young and old take off their shoes and enjoy the experience. People push others in wheelchairs. Children try to chase their reflections, try to catch the water, try to anticipate the mist sprays. Young girls laugh. Old people gaze at their reflected faces between their bare toes. And everyone loves the relief that the coolness of the water brings to their tired and hot feet.

No doubt one of the highlights of a visit to the Beautiful Bordeaux.

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Pension age in France raised to 62 in vote today

2010-09-13T23:30:00.003+02:00

Following a vote by Members of Parliament today, France's legal retirement age will be raised gradually from 60 to 62, and the legal retirement age will be raised by four months every year until 2018. The vote took place just days after a national strike against changes to the retirement law.

French workers have been able to retire at 60 since 1983, when then president François Mitterrand lowered the age from 65.
The age to retire on a full pension, whether a person has made a full contribution to their state pension or not, will also rise from 65-67 between 2016 and 2023.

Two other measures aimed at those in the civil service were also passed during the National Assembly sessions which took place last Friday. Civil servants who can currently retire at 60 will see this raised to 62 and those who are parents of three children or more will lose their privilege to retire after just 15 years of service.

Former presidential candidate Ségolène Royal told France 2 that if the Socialist Party was elected in 2012 it would restore the ages to their current levels. "If the government doesn't step down, in 2012 we will make them step down," she said.

Expatica.com reports that the proposals must still be voted through by the Senate before becoming law - therefore union leaders have called for a huge turnout in a strike organised for September 23. CFDT general secretary François Chérèque told Europe 1: "If I thought that all was lost, I would not call on the French to strike again."

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Another magic evening in the Dordogne: Champagne and lemon sorbet for dessert

2010-09-13T00:01:00.004+02:00

There is something quite special sitting with good friends in front of a crackling wood fire at the bottom of the garden on a starry late-summer night and have your host whip up a most delicious Scarpino as a dessert after a delicious meal. His recipe remains a well guarded secret, but here is a good substitute for you to try. It is spectacular, theatrical -- and probably the best dessert you will ever have tasted! Try it and let me know what you think!

Serves 6

* 6 large scoops lemon sorbet
* 1/2 cup vodka
* 1 bottle of sparkling wine or Champagne
* small tub of natural yoghurt

Method

Put the lemon sorbet in a large mixing bowl. Pour the vodka over and whisk fast with an egg whisk. Add the sparkling wine or champagne while continuing to whisk. The secret is to do it fast so that the bubble of the champagne reacts with the whisking and the drink becomes very light and foamy. Pour into champagne flutes or martini glasses and serve immediately.
(Photo of drink: Champagne, Darling? Freezes)

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Too good not to do again -- and again... Spicy Curried Banana Soup

2010-09-12T15:12:00.001+02:00

A while back I posted this recipe, and by popular demand, it is back!

This is a recipe that is just so delicious that it comes with a warning: If you have made and served it once, you will be obliged to do so again and again and again. Everyone is made about it and cannot get enough of it! So, unless you are prepared to have your friends clamouring for more, don't even think about making it!

Brigitte's Spicy Banana Soup :

Butter, 1 onion, 1 clove of garlic, cardamom, ginger, chilli, cumin, chicken stock (1 ¼ l), cream/fleurette (1/4 l), 3 ripe bananas, curry powder, Noilly Prat (Vermouth)

Brown the onions and garlic in butter. Stir the bananas in pieces in with the curry. Add a shot of Noilly Prat and fill up with chicken stock, add all the herbs.

Make it smooth with a mixer. When ready, add the cream (don`t cook it any more then).

Serves 6 people.

(I also add a small pot of natural yoghurt which adds to the creaminess but breaks down the richness of the cream.)

Bon appetit!

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Autumn is coming to the Dordogne

2010-09-10T23:17:00.003+02:00

Ode to Autumn by John Keats

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

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Michael Kay - Sculpture and Story-telling in clay...

2010-09-10T23:02:00.009+02:00

Tailladet is a tiny hamlet deep in the Dordogne region of France. It is about 20 kilometers south east of Bergerac on the D660, in between the villages of Beaumont du Perigord and Monpazier. That is where - at the gorgeous home of Michael and Sue - on a balmy evening, we recently farewelled the summer(perhaps a little prematurely, but any excuse is good for a party!) -- friends, good music that made us all feel quite nostalgic (yes! music from the sixties and seventies will do that when you get to this age!)under the trees, lovely food and wine -- the perfect combination for a perfect evening.

Since discovering clay I have become fascinated by the amazing complexity and unpredictability of the medium and the endless possibilities for the making and decorating of a form. I have found that in the concept of The Illustrated Vessel, the application of fun, playful and narrative images onto a three dimensional canvas, using the volumetric and sculptural aspects of the form, open up endless creative possibilities. My pieces could be seen as sculptural but they are always vessels, this is important to me".

When I came across Michael Kay's work for the first time, this is what I wrote:
There is something to be said for nature vs. nurture. Or is it just that living in such a beautiful part of the world brings out the creativity and talent in people. Not that they did not have the talent before, but it seems that when they leave the big crowded cities and rushed rat race and polluted air behind and come to settle here in the Southwest of France, there is something in the air – or the water? – that makes them blossom and surprise even themselves with their latent gifts of creative art. Or is it that when people leave their land of birth behind to go settle in a new country and in a new environment, a side of their creativity is awakened, enhanced by a different perspective, different stimulus, a different language?
I recently enjoyed a delicious meal in L’Imparfait in Bergerac and was immediately struck by the gorgeous water jugs on the tables. Each table was adorned with a small work of art – a ceramic, slightly out of kilter designed jug, decorated with delicately colourful figures of women, reminiscent of the work of Lautrec, but with an individuality that makes you want to go pick up each and every jug to inspect it more closely. Beautifully crafted in sensuous lines, the jugs form a perfect backdrop for the equally sensuous figures and faces of women.
I was not the first to comment to the manager about the jugs! He had a card ready at hand of the artist responsible for them, so it was with great anticipation that I set off over the hills of the Dordogne one misty winter’s afternoon to go look for the man behind the jugs – another fellow-expat who has made France his home – and source of inspiration.
I am not sure what I expected to find, but Michael Kay was a surprise to me --- if I had met him at a dinner party, I would probably have guessed him to be ….. well, anything but a potter. He welcomed me at the door with a wide smile and a warm handshake, drawing me into the lovely large living room of their restored farm house, one of a cluster commune sitting perched on top of a hill not far from Beaumont. In front of a crackling wood fire we sipped coffee and ate delicious banana cake, that Sue, his partner had specially baked, chatting about his fascinating career.
It was only in the early 90’s that Michael, then a successful graphic artist in London, discovered his love for clay. “I have become fascinated by the amazing complexity and unpredictability of the medium and the endless possibilities for the making and decorating of a form. The concept of ‘the illustrated vessel’ – applying playful and narrative images onto a three-dimensional canvas, opens up endless creative possibilities.”
This is very obvious in his work. Some of his pieces are more sculptural than functional – such as his totems – intricate collections of people and animals that demonstrate a strong mythological influence whilst still mesmerizing the viewer in the complexity of its sometimes erotic subtext, frequent touches of humour, intelligent use of glaze and colour and hidden meanings.
I work on the edge of the potter’s craft, says Michael. “I consider myself rather a painter or illustrator – engaging the onlooker in a narrative or fantasy, much the same as those masters of story telling, the ancient Greeks.
However you look at his work, he successfully fuses the various disciplines of painting, sculpture and story-telling into a powerful language of its own – a language that not only crosses the boundaries of time and space – but a language that crosses all boundaries of country, culture and custom.

Michael's work is generally available from:
Galerie ANAGAMA, 5 rue du Baillage, 78000 Versailles. Tel: 01 39 53 68 64
He also has a small exhibition space at home, where there are always a number of current pieces available for sale. And of course, he can be seen at the various pottery fairs and ceramic festivals in France.

His Studio Address: Tailladet, Sainte Croix de Beaumont, France, 24440.
Telephone: +0033(0)553 22 56 83
Email: michaelkay@orange.fr
Web-site: http://www.michaelkayceramics.net

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Life in the French countryside

2010-09-08T23:40:00.002+02:00

This gives a whole new meaning to "I am so sorry I am late for dinner, but I was held up by the traffic".
Oh! I do so love life in the French countryside!

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French Phrase for the day

2010-09-06T23:40:00.004+02:00

Il m'a posé un lapin

(he presented me with a rabbit)

= he stood me up/he didn't show up
He left me hanging...

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France goes on strike on 7 September - again...

2010-09-06T18:08:00.014+02:00

Little boys don't grow up. They only grow old...
I read the news and I wonder, once again, when the world is going to realise that there are much more mature and responsible ways to get what you want than suicide bombs, acts of terrorism, wars -- and yes -- strikes.
Having said that, I should probably be writing about the options of conflict resolution, mediation, round table discussions, but, alas! looking at the players in the field, I am tempted to say: There is little hope of any of these people being able to hold one single mature conversation that will end in a resolution, so it is rather a case of when in Greece do as the Greeks do and perhaps it is time for the women of the world to stand together and do a Lysistrata on the menfolk -- until such time as they stop strutting around and start growing up.
(Lysistrata, a classic play written in 411 BC by Aristophanes, is about the time in Greek history when the city-states were constantly warring with one another. Consequently, the women were left at home. One woman, Lysistrata, was so fed up with the fighting that she called all of the women of Greece, from Sparta and Thebes to a meeting. Lysistrata asks the women to refuse sex with their husbands until a treaty for peace has been signed. Lysistrata convinces them to swear an oath that they will withhold sex from their husbands until both sides sign a treaty of peace, convincing the women that this was the only way to bring peace to the land and finally put an end to the Peloponnesian War).

In South Africa, A nationwide strike of government workers – some 1.3 million of them – threatened to bring South Africa’s government to a virtual halt these last two weeks. The number of working days lost from strikes keep on rising -- and what with power cuts - and the two-month World Cup party, they add up to a couple of million a year. And while children are staying ast home because there are no teachers at the school, and hospitals are at a loss without their nursing staff, the president continues to father more children...

In France, tomorrow sees the start of a massive strike action countrywide. Two million people are expected to take part in demonstrations around France tomorrow, as a big national day of strike action against pension reforms hits schools (62% of teachers will strike), transport and other public services. Many primary schools will be closed. Collèges and lycées will offer a minimum level of service and few lessons, if any. Tomorrow’s strike will also affect courts, Pôle Emploi job centres, post offices and energy supplier EDF. There will be protests outside hospitals, and paramedics’ union Amuf says a minimum level of service will be in place for 24 hours.
The unions are protesting against the government’s plan to raise the state pension age from 60 to 62 by 2018. According to an Ifop poll for Ouest France, 70 per cent of the French public support the day of action.

Here is the latest information on what effect the strike will have on transport.

TRAINS
SNCF workers are due to begin their strike at 20.00 tonight and it is expected to run until 8.00 on Wednesday morning.
Transilien (in Ile-de-France): 41 per cent of peak-time trains are running.
RER: Between 35 per cent and 60 per cent of services operating normally on lines C, D and E. Half of trains are running on RER A, but hardly any at all on RER B.
Paris metro: Normal service on automated lines 11 and 14. Between a third and two thirds of trains running on the other lines, except line 10, where just one train in four will run. A near-normal service is expected on buses and trams.
TER: Nationally, about half of local TER services will be running, but the percentage will vary from one region to the next. See http://www.ter-sncf.com for your region’s provisional timetable.
TGV: 40 per cent of trains into and out of Paris will operate, 50 per cent on the north and east mainlines, but only 20 per cent of province-province trains (bypassing Paris) are scheduled to run.
International trains: Eurostar will run a normal service, and Thalys is operating 80 per cent of trains. Ellipsos (to Spain) and Artesia (to Italy) services are cancelled.
Corail: Only 25 per cent of daytime Téoz services are running, and no Lunea night trains at all.
Passengers with a reservation on a mainline TGV or Corail train will be able to travel on any service without modifying their booking, but a seat is not guaranteed.
The SNCF will allow travellers to cancel their ticket at no cost, regardless of the conditions attached to the ticket.

FLIGHTS
Air France expects to run 90 per cent of flights as scheduled from Paris Charles de Gaulle, but only 50 per cent from Orly.

Air traffic controllers have also announced plans to take part in the strike, which means cancellations and delays are likely on other airlines. Further details should be available later today. Check before you fly.

USEFUL LINKS
SNCF: or 0805 90 36 35
Local TER services:
Mainline services:
Live station departure boards:
Transilien trains in Paris:
RATP (Paris public transport): or 0800 15 11 11
Air France:

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France's First Lady in the limelight again (or is that the 'red light'?)

2010-09-05T12:37:00.007+02:00

Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday criticised an Iranian hardline media outlet for calling French first lady Carla Bruni a "prostitute" after she expressed support for an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning.

Agence France Presse reports that Iran's foreign ministry criticised the media this week for branding the French first lady, Carla Bruni, as "prostitute" after she expressed support for a woman sentenced to death by stoning.

The Iranian ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, told reporters that insulting officials of other countries and using indecent words is not endorsed by the Islamic Republic of Iran. "We don't think using indecent and insulting words is a right move," he said when asked to comment on Iranian media reports that described Bruni as an "immoral" woman and a "prostitute."

"I hope the media will pay attention. The media can criticise the hostile policies of other countries, but by refraining from using insulting words. This is not correct."

About time. The western press dare print a cartoon depicting the Prophet, but the Muslim media can slander and slay whomever they please however they please. Is this a backlash perhaps for Sarkozy banning the burqa in public places in France? Or is it perhaps getting back at France for having the courage to speak out against this abomination of public stoning of a young pregnant woman - who is now also going to receive 99 lashes for having had a photograph taken of herself without the full veil?

Last week, Iran's hardline daily Kayhan ran a story headlined "French prostitutes enter the human rights uproar," in which it criticised Bruni and French actress Isabelle Adjani for supporting Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the 43-year-old Iranian mother of two, who has been sentenced to death by stoning. The case has been dragged to court previously by many Iranians, including Nobel peace winner Shirin Ebadi and Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie, a top aide of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Kayhan wrote: "Bruni, the singer and depraved actress who managed to break the Sarkozy family and marry the French president and who is said to have an affair with a singer, has said in Sakineh Mohammadi's defence that the verdict is unfair." Kayhan, whose managing director and chief editor is appointed by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is known for harshly insulting Iranian and foreign figures.

Sticks and stones may break the beautiful Sakineh Mohammadi 's bones, but being called a prostitute will not harm us, you dirty old men.

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Earthquake in Christchurch: Our thoughts are with you!

2010-09-04T10:51:00.003+02:00

To all our readers and friends in New Zealand -- our thoughts are with you! A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck New Zealand's South Island at 4:35am this morning. The quake, which hit 19 miles west of the southern city of Christchurch, shook a wide area with radio reports saying items were tossed from store shelves and roof tiles cracked by the strong tremble. A state of emergency has been declared in Christchurch.

According to the news reports, the earthquake was 21 miles below the Earth's surface. New Zealand sits above an area of the Earth's crust where two tectonic plates collide. The country records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year - but only about 150 are felt by residents. Fewer than 10 a year do any damage. New Zealand sits above an area of the Earth's crust where two tectonic plates collide. The country records more than 14,000 earthquakes a year - but only about 150 are felt by residents. Fewer than 10 a year do any damage.

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Medieval Festivals in the Dordogne

2010-09-04T08:32:00.015+02:00

Once a year the Middle Ages come to town!

For a South African living in Europe, (or is it for everyone else as well?) there is something magic about the village being turned into a scene from the Middle Ages - when, for a day, you are transported back into Medieval times. Bales of straw appear to cover the cobblestone streets, banners and flags and pennants are hung from balconies, cars disappear and horses are tethered to the heavy iron rings next to front doors - that were put there hundreds of years ago for exactly that purpose.

Men and women on stilts wander through the narrow streets, jugglers perform their antics for laughing children, fire eaters mesmerise with their dangerous skills, flower sellers call out as do the the bakers with his warm rolls and the rags and bones man with his cart of rattling wares as he trundles down the street. Over there is a woman sitting in the shade of a chestnut tree making a gossamer scrap of lace in the same way her great-great grandmother did it 200 years ago, and there, next to water pump, is a man bent over his carving of a waking stick with an elaborate deer head for the handle.

I hear drums and tambourines and aeolin pipes and go look for the source of the music. It is troupe from northern Siberia, dressed in layers of earth coloured fabric, bearded, woolly and wild-eyed, calling the crowds to come listen to their hauntingly beautiful music -- as if straight from the Siberian steppes and carried along by the frozen winds across the continent - and yet, eerily similar to the sounds of the local traditional Perigordine celtic music I have come to know and love so well.

A young boy takes the opportunity to demonstrate his skill with balancing sticks on the edge of the crowd and over there I notice a young woman bent over boiling cauldrons as she dyes her fabrics and home spun wool with beetroot and walnut leaves. On the other side of the crowd are two soldiers - their bulky bodies dressed in leather and chainmail, their metal helmets glinting in the sun - as they wait for the blacksmith to finish sharpening their heavy iron swords...

It is summer and once again, the Midle Ages have come to town!

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Chateau Lalinde : Home from home in the Dordogne

Sacré Blue! Is that ketchup on the moustache of Astérix??

2010-08-30T10:42:00.011+02:00

Par Toutatis! McDonalds’ latest publicity campaign - in an aim to signal the chain's eco-friendly attitude, shows Astérix, the world-famous comic-strip star and legendary defender of all things French, eating in a McDonalds restaurant! Ca alors! The presence - and let's be honest, the popularity of McDo in France is already an anathema to me, but Astérix? Is nothing sacred anymore?

We know why the French eat snails -- because they don't like fast food, of course! And having the golden arches scattered all over the beautiful French countryside is an eyesore which makes the blood boil at the best of times. But we also know that times change and eating habits too, and like the frog in the bucket of water with the slowly raising temperature, we are all guilty of calmly conforming and adjusting to those changing times. But --- Astérix? Digging into a Big Mac and fries with his merry band of lovable Gauls and with poor old Assurancetourix - as usual- cruelly gagged and bound to a tree outside -- THAT is no laughing matter!

Apparently the idea was dreamed up by Marketing Consultants BETC EuroRSCG and is part of a publicity campaign which also features ads using scenes featuring Cinderella and the serial killer from Scream. So, the question out there is what next? If this sacred comic strip loved and enjoyed and treasured by children and adults all over the world for the last 50 years,(The series first appeared in French in the magazine Pilote on 29 October 1959 and was written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo. Uderzo also took over the job of writing the series after the death of Goscinny in 1977.)can eat where no puritan gourmet would dare to even look at the menu, then are we also going to see Tintin's Milou doing an ad for dog food, many outraged Blue supporters are asking.

In a word then, could it be that one of the most redoubtable of all French national heroes, the indomitable defender of Gauls, who resists oppression thanks to his magic potions and irresistible humour, has finally dropped his guard and been beaten by a Big Mac and a Coke? Has he abandoned his beer and wild boar? Should this iconic symbol of France be used to commercialize American hamburgers? After valiantly resisting the Romans for so long, have the Americans have overcome his resistance to all things un-Gaulish?

I think not! Did we worry when Astérix went to England and drank tea? Quel horreur! Did we get concerned when Astérix went to Belgium and gorged himself on moules frites? #@!!! No! We did not because we knew this valiant little Gaul will, in the end, conquer all and come out the other side saying something like "Ils sont tous bêtes et je suis leur chef, ha ha ha!"

A few months ago, McDonalds started opening 10 prototype restaurants across America -- whose goals were to be to reduce energy and waste. The plan is apparently to eventually have these practices in all McDonalds restaurants . For instance, the Chicago restaurant is reported to use 25% less energy than your average McDonald's location and their tabletops are made of recycled milk jugs...

KeenforGreen.com reports that in 2005 McDonald's was listed as an approved business at Ceres -- a network that works to promote corporate sustainability. This was based on their energy efficiency, food resource sustainability, and "'greening' its supply chain. In an aim to become more acceptable to the McDo sceptics, McDonalds has worked with the Environmental Defence Fund for almost 20 years now. In the process they claim to have gotten rid of the Styrofoam sandwich containers, switched to unbleached bags, began using recycled materials for items like booster seats in their restaurants, and more. But, in spite of all of this, McDonalds doesn't always have a great past track record when it came to the environment. In 2006, Greenpeace accused McDonalds (and other fast food restaurants) of destroying the rainforest by feeding their chickens soy-based animal feed derived from soybeans grown in the Amazon Basin of Brazil. Since then, McDonalds has worked together with Greenpeace and agreed to stop selling chicken fed on that soy.
However, last year, when they began serving sweet tea, it came in a Styrofoam cup. What's up with that, Mickey D's? You stopped serving the Big Macs in Styrofoam a long time ago!

Even in Europe, McDonalds "golden arches" against a red background are getting a makeover. The first McDonalds to "go green" (green being the colour chosen because it evokes respect..)were the one that are newly built, including a €1.4 million "flagship" restaurant in the Munich airport, and around the corner from Chateau Lalinde, there is a new 'green' McDo next to the new Bergerac Carrefour. The McCafe coffee bars, with their sleek leather-look seating, warm niche lighting and free WiFi, are a modern departure from the restaurant's old Formica tabletops, molded-plastic chairs and fluorescent lights.

There is no doubt that McDonalds has begun to make efforts to go green, but are their intentions truly altruistic or is this just green-washing? There's been a lot of debate over this on the green blogs over the past few years. At most it is to help their negative image, but at the same time, if their locations are really using 25% less energy and they're making tables out of recycled materials, is that anywhere near enough? McDonalds still does have a VERY long way to go before they can be called a truly green company. If more companies made small strides towards eco-friendliness, even if it's just to receive good publicity, it's something that will help the environment in even a small way.

Now the (lack of) nutritional value in their food? That's another story... I think I am with Astérix and Obélix all the way -- I shall be staying with a good hind quarter of a wild boar and some good mead...

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A French Phrase for the Day

2010-08-27T16:42:00.012+02:00

I often refer to language on this blog. As a South African expat living abroad, I am probably more conscious of the importance of language than most of my local neighbours.

A while back I commented on the film "Entre les Murs" -- or, as you might know it under its English title "The Class".

In this article, I made this comment: In one scene there is a discussion about the meaning of the word 'honte' -- 'shame'. Each child had a different understanding of the word, depending on his or her background, religion, customs, frame of reference. The teacher -- their language teacher, tried to explain the meaning of the word and soon discovers that the real meaning does not feature in these children's lives -- their individual interpretations have completely changed the word.
This use of words and language and grammar to demonstrate and illustrate one sociological aspect after the other was brilliant. The lack of communication between generations, social strata, backgrounds is illustrated in the subtext, but it illustrates so much more -- not just the lack or difficulty of communication -- also the struggle of a fourteen year old to establish self esteem and self worth and the struggle of a caring teacher to help that process but being confined by a system of norms and mores and customs. The adults who are all well educated teachers do not understand each other but talk past each other -- how would they ever understand the uneducated youngsters who are all from a background completely alien to theirs.

I said 'As a South African' - so why should I be more aware of the importance of language in understanding my neighbours? Well, South Africa is a country where there are eleven official languages (they are Afrikaans, English, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, SiSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga), and we are very aware of how ones language is your heimat. As JMG LeClezio said: -- la langue francaise est mon seul pays, le seul lieu ou j’habite.’ : the French language is my only country, the only place that I live. To be in foreign country, as any expat will tell you, you will always be a complete outsider -- until you have mastered the language of your adopted country.
But -- it is not enough to master the language. You also have to understand the thinking of your new neighbours. You have to understand where they come from, their culture, their history, their philosophy, and yes, their sense of humour.

Let me use my French Phrase for the Day as an example: When we say "She turned her nose up at the way the French laid their table", you would immediately get the picture, wouldn't you? 'Turning your nose up' to something is just that - putting your nose ever so slightly in the air as a sign of disapproval.

(And by the way -- they do lay their table differently as they put their cutlery 'upside-down' because the family crest or initials on the silverware is always on the 'back' side of the forks and spoon handles. We have ours the other way round because our engraving is always on the 'front' side)

But, the French do not turn up their noses to show disapproval, so, if you want to translate and say Elle lui tourna le nez vers le haut à la manière dont le francais mit la table, it would be wrong and they would probably laugh at your funny way of speaking.

The French, when they show disapproval, faire la fine bouche - they 'make thin lips'-- such a descriptive way of exactly what happens, non?

faire la fine bouche
to turn one's nose up

So, next time you criticise the French, remember: don't pull up your nose at them -- you might just end up making an ass of yourself -- tu te rends ridicule/ tu te conduis comme un idiot ou un imbecile!

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Chateau Lalinde : Home from home in the Dordogne

Stories of love in the story of France

2010-08-27T13:09:00.002+02:00

Ah! the pleasures (yes! once again!) of living in a country where culture and history and heritage all form part and parcel of the daily life and love of the people!
I had a fascinating discussion with friends this morning about the role of the women behind the men who have governed this country through the ages -- more so here in France than probably anywhere else in the world -- and mention was made of a book that records just this phenomemon, called "Histoires de l'amour de l'histoire de France".

So, when I finally got back to Lalinde, the Thursday market stall holders were all in the process of packing up and leaving, and I quickly went to look for my favourite little book stall just past the boulangerie -- and there he was, the owner of the stall, busy packing books away. "Ah! et c'est lequel livre que tu cherche aujourd'hui, ma chere?" he greeted me with a big smile. (And which book is it that you are looking for today?)

I asked him if, by any any chance, he has the 'History of love in the history of France', knowing that it is an old, old book and no longer in print and the chance of hearing of a book during a conversation and then finding that book in the weekly market of my little village, are very remote - if not impossible.

The book stall owner gave me a quizzical smile, raised one eyebrow in silent respect, put up his finger -- as one does when a light bulb goes on in your head, turned around, scratched through a box at his feet, and "Voila! First Edition, 1956, I have all three volumes for you! -- and by no chance either! " Could this happen anywhere else, I would like to know!

I am now in possession of three beautiful books on yellowing paper, bright yellow covers, black and white copper etching illustrations -- the stories of Mme de Chateaubriant (mistress of Francois I) Mme de Gramont and La Belle Fosseuse - Francoise de Montmorency (two of the mistresses of Henry of Navarre), Queen Margot (she who carried the hearts of all her dead lovers with her),La marquise de Verneuil (another mistress of Henry IV), all four of Charlemagne's concubines, Saint Louis - who went on the Crusade as his honeymoon -- in order to be with the woman he loved without the interference of his mother and others -- and the man who legalised prostitution in Paris, Queen Isabeau who had the Duke of Orleans killed when he lost his prowess as a lover - and who suggested to the Duke of Bedford that he should burn Jean d'Arc at the stake -- and Madame de Maintenon, mistress of Louis XIV, La Marquise de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV, and of course, Diane de Poitiers -- who was the governess of little Henri II as a boy and then became his mistress when he took the throne (and for whom he built the beautiful Chateau de Chenonceaux in the Loire Valley)-- not an easy task when you consider that he was married to Catherine de Medici, ---- and many more fascinating stories of women who had more power behind the bed curtains than one could imagine.

And that is what is so interesting -- to track the women who stood behind the men who ruled this great country and to read about the amazing influence they played on the big and important decisions that shaped the history of France. -- What a pity then that the books stop short of the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, of Mitterand, of Chirac and ..... well, that we do not have a more up to date account of the history of love in the making of the history of France. Perhaps one day soon the fourth and fifth volumes will appear on the book shop shelves. I do hope so -- I would far rather hold another of these beautiful tomes in my hands to read about the juicy bits of history than the messy print and sordid tales of the tabloids!...

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Summer - time for sun and scandal - in the Dordogne

2010-08-27T08:17:00.015+02:00

Félibrées, music evenings, summer meals on the Chateau Lalinde terrace, ducklings nestling into their mother's back, Godfrey the Goose adopted by swan parents, book launches, flowers in windows, art exhibitions under the stars, traditional music and dance in the streets, flower markets in the square, heritage and history, sunshine and blue skies ... once again summer in the Dordogne-Perigord is magic.
In France, everyone goes on holiday in July-August. Even the government is in recess. The result is a an abandon of music festivals, flower festivals, cultural festivals, traditional festivals -- and of course, in true French August fashion, a few political 'festivals' to add a little extra spice to events -- and to have something to print in the papers!

This year the scandal of the August Break was the Bettencourt/Woerth scandal: French President Nicolas Sarkozy had his time cut out to defend his beleaguered minister for labour and social affairs - and also the treasurer of Sarkozy's UMP party, who was accused by a former accountant of L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt of accepting an illegal contribution from Bettencourt of 150,000 euros (189,000 dollars) for Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign. To add insult to injury -- and again almost to be expected from the modern French Court machinations, Woerth was also accused of conflict of interest because his wife, Florence, worked until recently for a company that managed Bettencourt's wealth. I defending Woerth, Sarkozy cited a report by a finance ministry investigating body that cleared Woerth of having intervened in the tax affairs of Europe's richest woman, and he advised Woerth to resign from his position as treasurer of the UMP.

Every Frenchman knew that the whole scandal was stirred up to give them something to read in the papers -- and what better to read than scandals involving beautiful heiresses, butlers' gossip, government ministers, money, sex and unpaid taxes? But, every Frenchman was also aware that the whole scandal was raked up to keep their attention away from the new reforms of the pension system. Sarkozy's government seeks to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62 by 2018 - and the man in the street was not going to be happy about that. At all.
A French prosecutor conducted three separate investigations into various aspects of the scandal, including one focusing on the allegations of illegal party financing and one on tax evasion and money laundering by the Bettencourts or their advisers - while the rest of France bronzed on the beaches or walked in the mountains during the long hot summer days - and debated about the culpability or innocence of their rich and famous and of the efficacy or incompetence of their president during the long, balmy summer's evenings.

Le Chemin de St Jacques (The Camino) in Bordeaux

2010-08-24T12:52:00.004+02:00

I have had to spend quite a bit of time in Bordeaux recently going from one appointment to another and whenever there was not a convenient tram, I walked -- ending up walking all over the city from one side to the other, and loving it. So, it was with great excitement that I noticed the bronze Camino shell in the pavements and the shell sign on the street names, and before long I was following the signs and walking the Camino all over again!
It is wonderful to know about something -- because then you recognise it when you see it. ...

- Well, that statement needs editing, doesn't it?

The official term is brand-recognition. For instance, when you have decided to buy a green car - because you know there are very few green cars on the road and want to be able to recognise and find(!) your car quickly in a large parking lot, and you are waiting for your car to arrive from the factory, you suddenly notice that every second car on the road is green! In other words, you may see an object every day but never notice it. Then, one day, someone talks about this object and you become aware of its existence. The very next time you walk past this object, you notice it immediately - as if it is the first time you have ever seen it.

Before I had walked the Camino de Santiago de Compostella and wrote a book about the experience, I had never noticed the many shell signs that are in villages, towns and cities all over Europe. Now that I have walked the 850 kilometres from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostella and followed those shells laid in pavements and roads, in walls and posts, I suddenly started noticing them everywhere -- on fence posts, on street signs in cities, on signs outside churches and buildings. They were always there, but, probably because I never realised their significance, I never registered their existence!

When next you go out your door, look out for the signs -- and let me know where you noticed them for the first time!

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Look out for the beautiful full moon tonight!

2010-08-24T11:45:00.002+02:00

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The Gendarmerie in all shapes and sizes?? NOOOOO!! I want my heroes to be goodlooking, please!!

2010-08-22T08:51:00.011+02:00

Height and weight rule axed for French police, was reported in the news last week.
Apparently height and weight requirements for police officers and other uniformed services have been scrapped. Until now officers in France needed to be at least 1.60m tall, not obese and have decent elocution -- and for us, on the other side, it was fabulous -- if you needed help, or needed to be saved, or needed directions, or needed to be protected, it was always going to be by a good looking, tall, strong, fit and well-spoken person -- as well it should be...

Now the new criteria for officers will be based on their skills using firearms, eye sight, their general behaviour and a medical exam. Do I care that the man in whose strong arms I am going to be carried away from the scene of the danger has good eye sight? On the contrary - I prefer that he does not notice the wrinkles! Do I care that the hero on his 1200 BMW motorbike who is coming to my rescue when I am in distress has passed his medical exam or is in need of a new filling or can shoot straight -- or knows how to behave? Of course not! In fact, I would not mind one bit if he misbehaved just a little...

Pics: Swimmers Alain Bernard et Hugues Duboscq are both gendarmes

At the moment, the gendarmerie in France have strict politically incorrect standards in their qualifications required to join the force -- and they make no secret of the fact that they are proud of how good their uniformed officers of the law look -- they are generally what could well be termed une bonheur pour les yeux(also known as eye-candy).

"Someone who can't run 1,300m will not be accepted," says a spokesman for the Ministry of Work and Civil Servants, but the relaxed rules would "open up the administration to all French without exception

.

A sad day indeed when they don't look like this anymore!:
Alain Bernard et Hugues Duboscq, the two swimmers who between them won 5 gold medals in the last Olympics and have just smashed all the records again at the European Swimming championships last week, are gendarmes. Do you agree that they should all like this??

Or these two brothers, Steeve and Christophe Guénot, and then there are many more in good looking young men in the police and security forces -- such as Boris Sanson, gold medallist in fencing (sabre) and Benjamin Darbalet, silver medallist in judo, -- and of course, not to forget the good looking women, such as bronze medallist in archery, Sophie Dodemont -- to name but a few.

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More excellent offers! Learning French the easiest, the most fun, the most efficient -- the best way

2010-08-18T17:53:00.005+02:00

Learn French - the easy and fun way!

There is only one way to learn a new language and that is to speak it! There are so many people I know who attend French classes given by people who are either not qualified to give lessons -- and I am not talking about formal teaching qualifications, but meaning that they have no idea how to teach a language. These classes are often the choice of people who wish to learn the language simply because they are free or very cheap. No one wants to go spend a few hundred Euros on language classes when you can go spend an afternoon amongst other Anglophones and have fun and chat English and learn a few now words and bits of grammar.

A second group of French teachers in this region (and probably all over France) are the English-speaking people who feel they know enough French to be able to teach others and who see French lessons as an easy and sociable way to earn a few Euros. Again, it is cheap and easy and non-demanding -- if you are happy to always keep your strong English accent and never progress further than the very basic grammar (the present, the future and the compound past tense) and the very basic conversational French that will see you right in the hardware store but won't take you into any kind of philosophical or cultural discussion -- the kind of which the French cannot live without.

And then there are the seriously good French teachers - who do not charge a measly €10 in return for a measly and worthless lesson, but who charge the going rate for properly qualified language teachers and in return give you true value for money: You learn the language -- the grammar and the idiom and the references and the background, but you also learn about the culture, the thinking, the history, the literature, the philosophy, the passions of the French people.

It is said that to learn a new language is to gain a new soul. For the French, their language is their soul. To fully understand and speak their language is to understand and be able to inter-react with the French people. As Jean Marie Gustav Le Clezio put it so beautifully when he referred to his language as his heimat, his country; ‘…c’etait ma langue, c’est-a-dire la chair et le sang, les nerfs, la lymphe, le desir et la memoire, la colere, l’amour…’ he writes. ‘… ce que j’avias respire…la langue francaise est mon seul pays, le seul lieu ou j’habite.’ : my language is my flesh and my blood, my nerves and my lymphe, desire and momory, anger and love… that which I breathe…the French language is my only country, the only place that I live.

The Aquitaine Langues School of Languages in Bergerac offer excellent, value for money language courses for people at all the levels. I cannot recommend highly enough the intensive courses that you can attend at the school and there is still time to invest some time and money in one of these before the end of the summer -- the very best investment you will have made in this upside down world of ours -- and probably the only wise and profitable investment you will have made this year!

20 Sept - 1 October Beginners and intermediary I Mon-Fri 09h30-12h30 daily
4-15 October Intermediary II and advanced Mon-Fri 09h30-12h30 daily
8-19 November Beginners and intermediary I Mon-Fri 09h30-12h30 daily
22 November-3 December Intermediary II and advanced Mon-Fri 09h30-12h30 daily

Thirty hours of intensive interactive teaching, three hours per day for two weeks at only €378 all inclusive. Definitely not an offer to be sneezed at! Contact Albert Croce NOW to avoid disappointment:
Telephone: 0033 (0) 553 74 17 85
or
Email: admin@aquitainelangues.fr
At the Domaine de La Tour
769, route de Ste Alvère, 24100 Bergerac

And, if you come to the Dordogne to attend a language course at the The Aquitaine Langues School of Languages, the ideal place to stay - and continue to practise your French between classes, is of course at Chateau Lalinde!

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As summer starts drawing to a close, there are still great offers in the Dordogne to be had!

2010-08-18T16:22:00.011+02:00

Le Cariol

There is something magical about an ancient chartreuse that has been beautifully restored and brought back to life...

Marthijn de Groot, renowned artist, came to the Dordogne three years ago, saw the old chartreuse, Le Cariol, fell in love with it and bought it. Over the three years, he has lovingly restored a ruin into a work of art -- attention to detail, exquisitely artistic touches and delicious little surprises, perfection and above all beauty -- that is what now awaits you when you arrive at Le Cariol.
But -- with Marthijn there is always more. A visit to Le Cariol now not only includes the pleasure of seeing some of his amazing body of work -- both paintings, ceramics and sculptures, but invariably there will be something else added to the experience -- a jazz evening, braziers with fires shooting fire fairies into the dark Dordogne night, a piano recital in the art studio, a luxurious sauna in the wellness spa down below, an after dinner drink in the pool pavilion under the stars.

Marthijn and his lovely Irene now offer chambres d'hotes (B&B style accommodation -- or rental of the entire house) -- five star luxury in an ancient chartreuse -- as well as tables d'hotes -- a dinner with the two of them and the current residents with the excellent cuisine of Chef Paul, three times a week.
And -- special for the last days of summer, a fabulous offer:
A week of yoga - from 10 to 17 September, under the guidance of visiting instructor, Lilian van Dam. Attendees stay at Le Cariol and the price for the week includes three delicious vegetarian and organic meals per day, refreshments, and of course use of all the wonderful facilities. The group will be a minimum of five and a maximum of 12 -- so be quick to book your place :
Contact Irene at irene@lecariol.com

____________________________________________________________________

Chateau Les Merles

Driving up the gorgeous treed lane to the Chateau les Merles (Remember? merles= blackbirds, merlot = baby blackbird!), is a little like driving into an adventure filled with delectable pleasures and enjoyment. Not only do you know that you will eat like royalty at the table of the excellent chef, Darius -- either in the more formal La Borie Blanche (White Heather) restaurant, or in the more informal bistro, that you will drink the best of the best wines of the estate of Les Merles - or any other top wine domaines in the southwest of France -- that you can indulge in a round of golf on a most beautifully kept course, you can play tennis, enjoy the last of the summer sun around the gorgeous black swimmingpool -- but you can also get all this, if you stay at the Chateau during the months of September, October and November 2010 -- i.e. during the 'Indian Summer' of the Dordogne, at a much reduced cost -- you stay three nights but only pay for two, stay seven nights for the price of five!
What an amazing offer! Make your bookings now -- before the 15th September!

Contact: Jan & José van Grinsven
Judith Wagemakers
Château les Merles
Tuilières
24520 Mouleydier
France
tél.: +33 553 63 13 42
fax: +33 553 63 13 45
E-mail: info@lesmerles.com
www.lesmerles.com

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French Phrase for the day

2010-08-18T12:29:00.007+02:00

la boucle est bouclée
=
to come full circle

Ever since I arrived in the Dordogne, I have been telling people that the reason I believe I am so totally bien dans mon peau (feel good in my own skin = at home) here, is because I have fait un cercle plein (completed the circle);

My ancestors, who were French Huguenots, left their home in 1682, boarded a tiny ship in the harbour of La Rochelle, not far from here, and sailed for South Africa. I, last in line of the last male descendant of the youngest of the three brothers de Villiers that left on that fine day in 1682, have now come back chez moi (home).

Only, every time I have made the remark, no one has corrected me and given me the correct French idiomatic expression for faire un cercle plein/complet -- to come the full circle.

Now I know -- la boucle est bouclée -- so, I suppose that means I can say that again -- finally the circle is indeed complete -- la boucle est bouclée!

Speaking of which, peu importe (no matter) the language -- coming the full circle is a law of nature...

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Le Petit Prince -- not on a planet afar, but right here in the Dordogne

2010-08-13T17:04:00.007+02:00

Not very far from Chateau Lalinde is another beautiful chateau rich in history and character, where I often suggest my visitors go for some excellent wine tasting. But it is not only for the wine tasting that I send them there. It is really because this chateau was the home of the man who created The Little Prince. And is there possibly anyone that is not enchanted by the little prince?

And the good news is that The Little Prince is soon going to appear on our television screens and in our cinemas in what promises to be an excellent production.

The Little Prince is already nothing short of a publishing phenomenon; The book has been translated into over 236 languages, and over 130 million copies have been sold worldwide, and its eponymous hero is a popular icon. Now 2010 sees the Little Prince arriving on screens big and small. The series is produced by Method Animation (Le Petit Nicolas, Skyland, Iron Man…), in partnership with France 3, German state-owned channel WDR, Italy’s RAI channel, Gallimard and Sony Video for the DVD edition.

It reunites us with the Little Prince who, at the end of the book, had returned to his rose. Accompanied by the fox, the Little Prince sets off on another voyage from planet to planet, with plenty of new encounters along the way.

A total of 40 countries have already bought the series, consisting of 26 episodes each lasting 52 minutes. Aimed at children between 6 and 10 years of age, the first episode will be aired on France 3 in time for Christmas 2010.

The animated feature film of the Little Prince will be produced by Aton Soumache, with a budget of some €45 million. The film will be a faithful adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s book, voiced by a constellation of movie stars whose names will be announced at the next Cannes Film Festival. In common with recent box office hits like Avatar, this adaptation of the Little Prince will be screened entirely in 3D. The worldwide release is scheduled for the end of 2013.

Château de Tiregand played a key part during the Hundred Years War and France’s bitter Wars of Religion (1562-1598). It was here, in 1575, that two Huguenot (Protestant) captains, Jaure and La Palanque, shared out rich booty seized from Périgueux’s Roman Catholics - including a silver reliquary containing relics of Saint Front, the first Bishop of Périgueux. In the 17th century, the château belonged to Jean de Belrieu, royal bailiff of the town of Bergerac, and, in 1668, a century later, it came through marriage into the hands of the d’Augeards, a family of parliamentarians. Count César-Alexandre de La Panouse bought the property in 1826 and carried out improvements. His son gave the house its present appearance around 1850. Carefully maintained by his descendants, the listed château now belongs to the heirs of the Countess François de Saint-Exupéry.

Today, the Château de Tiregand is an estate of 460 hectares (1,150 acres), including land, vines, woods and a riding club. This beautiful Pécharmant vineyard is currently managed by François-Xavier de Saint-Exupéry.

It is said to have been founded in the 13th century by a natural son of England’s King Edward III named Edward Tyrgan. The Château de Tiregand, listed in the official supplement of France’s Historic Buildings, now belongs to the heirs of the Countess François de St Exupéry.

The world-famed author of The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (29 June 1900—31 July 1944)was born at Lyon in 1900 and lost at sea on a wartime reconnaissance flight between Grenoble and Corsica in 1944. By then, he had logged nearly 7,000 hours as a pilot. His experience in pioneering the airmail service Aéropostale, as well as his accident in the desert one December night in 1935, contributed directly to his literary output: from Southern Mail to Night Flight, from Wind, Sand and Stars to Flight to Arras, as well as The Wisdom of the Sands and the unforgettable The Little Prince.

He became one of the pioneers of international postal flight, in the days when aircraft had few instruments. On 30 December 1935 at 14:45 after a flight of 19 hours and 38 minutes Saint-Exupéry, along with his navigator, André Prévot, crashed in the Libyan Sahara desert en route to Saigon. Their plane was a Caudron C-630 Simoun n°7042 (Registration F-ANRY). The crash site may be the Wadi Natrun. The team was attempting to fly from Paris to Saigon faster than any previous aviators, for a prize of 150,000 francs. Both survived the landing, but were faced with the prospect of rapid dehydration in the Sahara. They had no idea of their location. According to his memoir, Wind, Sand and Stars, their sole supplies were grapes, two oranges, and a small ration of wine.

What Saint-Exupéry himself told the press shortly after rescue was that the men only had a thermos of sweet coffee, chocolate, and a handful of crackers, enough to sustain them for one day. They experienced visual and auditory hallucinations; by the third day, they were so dehydrated they ceased to sweat. Finally, on the fourth day, a Bedouin on a camel discovered them, saving their lives. Saint-Exupéry's fable The Little Prince, which begins with a pilot being marooned in the desert, is in part a reference to this experience.

Saint-Exupéry's final assignment was to collect intelligence on German troop movements in and around the Rhone Valley preceding the Allied invasion of southern France. On the evening of 31 July 1944, he left from an airbase on Corsica, and did not return. A woman reported having watched a plane crash around noon of August the first near the Bay of Carqueiranne off Toulon. An unidentifiable body wearing French colors was found several days later east of the Islands of Frioul south of Marseille and buried in Carqueiranne that September.

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A French phrase a Day

2010-08-13T14:46:00.007+02:00

Appeler un chat un chat
(to call a cat a cat)
meaning
To call a spade a spade

It is always best to speak carefully when you speak in a language which is not your own. Anything you say can easily be misconstrued by the other person who has a different background, a different understanding, a different frame of reference. So it is perhaps also best never to go as far as d'appeler un chat un chat = to call a spade a spade.

Apparently the phrase was introduced into the English language for the first time in 1542 in Nicolas Udall's translation of Erasmus, Apophthegmes:
Philippus aunswered, that the Macedonians wer feloes of no fyne witte in their termes but altogether grosse, clubbyshe, and rusticall, as they whiche had not the witte to calle a spade by any other name then a spade.
It is evident that the word spade refers to the instrument used to move earth, a very common tool. The same word was used in England and in Holland, Erasmus' country of origin.

And, should you call a spade a spade and you find yourself in the proverbial social etiquette hole, remember: STOP digging
or
Should you appellez un chat un chat and you find yourself in that same big hole, get your foot off the cat's tail!

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Do I need a fishing license in France?

2010-08-11T17:19:00.000+02:00

So many guests that arrive at Chateau Lalinde notice my fishing rods standing behind the coat rack in the entrance hall, see the big fish swimming in the clear water of the Dordogne river below the chateau balcony, and all too soon ask the question: "Can I go fish in the river?"

And the answer is Yes! You can fish in the Dordogne river right below the chateau terrace, or anywhere else on this - or any other river - as long as you have a license.

And many a time have I tried to persuade the local purveyor of fishing licenses in Lalinde to issue a license to Chateau Lalinde -- so that any of my guests may use it when they are visiting the chateau, but with no success.

I have reported before on the subject, but it is time to do so again, and here is the detailed and comprehensive information on the subject:

Any person wishing to fish in French rivers or public waterways will need to obtain a fishing license. Licenses are usually valid for a year, but it is also possible to obtain a temporary permit, valid for a week during holidays for example.

Procedure

To obtain a License, applicants must first register with an official Fishing and water conservation association (AAPPMA) for a member’s card. This card should be signed and carry a yearly stamp. Fishing associations can be contacted through fishing tackle shops or the national fishing association :

Fédération nationale pour la pêche et la protection du milieu aquatique,
17 rue Bergère,
75009 Paris
(tel. : 01 48 24 96 00)

or the national water conservation office :
Office national de l’eau et des milieux aquatiques (ONEMA),
immeuble Le Péricentre,
16 avenue Louison-Bobet,
94132 Fontenay-Sous-Bois Cedex
(tel. : 01 45 14 36 00).

OR -- right here, outside the front door of Chateau Lalinde, at the little local fishing shop!

Fee

An annual subscription to the fishing association in addition to a fishery tax (the amount is variable according to the type of fishing).

The following persons are exempt from payment of fishery tax, on condition they fish with a single line fitted with two simple hooks at the most (except for rod and reel fishing) :

* war or occupational invalids (with an 85 % disability rate or more) ;
* spouse of a member of the fishing association.

Minors under 16 years are entitled to a reduced tax, whatever the type of fishing.

Processing time.

Fishing licences are issued immediately.

Validity

A calendar year, from January 1st to December 31st.

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Bordeaux the Beautiful : European Flower shops

2010-08-10T08:50:00.003+02:00

There is something very special about the flower shops in Europe. Like this beautiful flower shop on the Tourney in Bordeaux, the Europeans just have a flair to choose their flowers and displays to create the most effective and attractive impression. A work of art.

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Impressionist Inspiration

2010-08-05T06:53:00.001+02:00

The view from my window: the beautiful light of an August afternoon

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Bordeaux the Beautiful - Sushi and cow pastures!

2010-08-04T10:06:00.013+02:00

Always such a pleasure when I have to Bordeaux -- and Monday was no exception. I had a string of appointments in various parts of Bordeaux and went to all of them on foot -- a long walk, but without doubt the best way to see the city and all it has to offer!

One of the discoveries I made (and yes! I am probably the last on the planet to do so!) was the The SushiShop where I had the best sushi ever -- beautifully prepared and presented and fresh, fresh, fresh!

I now know that there are SushiShops all over Europe, that they deliver to your home -- they have a row of motocycles waiting outside their shops to bring your order -- and they change their menu regularly to keep you from getting sushi'ed out! Definitely look out for your nearest SushiShop -- excellent value!

Another lovely surprise were the cows. Yes -- the cows! There are dozens of cows all over Bordeaux -- grazing or chewing the cud on street corners, in squares, in parks, on pavements -- beautifully decorated and painted and accessorized. The Cow Parade started on June 7 -- when all the cows sailed down the Gironde, under and around the Pont St Pierre -- and runs through to September 14. Bordeaux has become a pasture for over 60 cows, that will be grazing at strategic points throughout the city, and with a few in chateaux in the surrounding vineyards.

I have had the pleasure of seeing the very first cows (I thought they were bulls, but there you go!) in Chicago in 1999. Then I also saw the Moose let Loose in Toronto and Crabs in Baltimore. A brilliant way to art raise awareness in cities, get new and already known artists in the limelight, beautify them at the same time, add a bit of fun -- and raise oodles of boodle for charity. These art exhibits of life-sized cows are all owned by various public and private institutions and companies, including around a dozen from the wine industry, and have been painted by a variety of artists.

CowParade is the largest public art event in the world, and has been staged in over 50 cities worldwide since 1999 including Chicago (1999), New York City (2000), London (2002), Tokyo (2003), and Brussels (2003). Dublin (2003), Prague (2004), and Stockholm (2004), Mexico City (2005), Sao Paulo (2005), Buenos Aires (2006), Boston (2006) Paris (2006), Milan (2007, and Istanbul (2007).

This is the first time in Bordeaux -- it has also been in Margaret River this year, good to see two wine regions getting on board!
• It is estimated that over 100 million people around the world have seen the cows.
• Over $20 million have been raised through worldwide charitable organizations through the auction of the cows, which take place at the conclusion of each event.
• Over 5,000 artists worldwide have participated in CowParade – professional and amateur, famous and emerging, young and old.

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New work in Monpazier by expat artist Tony Crosbie

2010-08-01T13:44:00.005+02:00

Some time back I reported here on this blog on an expat artist that I have come across here in the Dordogne -- Tony Crosbie. "Not for the fainthearted," I advised. The exhibition of his photographs that introduced me to this artist was powerful, to say the least, and one could not help but be moved or disturbed by his work (see above).

So it was with surprise that I once again stumbled across this artist -- this time while visiting Monpazier. There, on an open square, I saw about sixteen decapitated heads -- black(they seemed painted) heads, all the same, all arranged on the ground in an almost haphazard way -- or perhaps on the rays of a compass rose. The head right in the middle of the installation is painted red. They do not look like people buried up to their heads, there is no energy in these body-less heads, no urgency, nothing at all. They are simply heads. Willing to give Tony, with whom I so impressed only a short while ago, the benefit of the doubt, I decided to go find out more about this installation. Perhaps I was just a little slow in understanding what this work was about. But then I walked further and, whilst admiring the beautiful cosmos in bloom (so beautiful and always a favourite of mine -- even if cosmos was judged a weed in South Africa), I noticed another installation, this time of giant colour pencils, scattered on the lawn.
I do apologise, Tony, I know the exhibition is called "What is it?", and perhaps it is therefore achieving exactly what it set out to achieve -- getting the observer to ask the question: What is it? but I simply don't get it. And of course, that opens the debate about what is art and what is not -- in particular when it comes to conceptual art. The more original/shocking/extraordinary/innovative, the better to catch the attention, but is it art?

Tony Crosbie was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1956. Crosbie, a self-taught artist, was brought up in the inner city in a working class family. Crosbie’s work deals with modern society, and is confrontational, expressive, passionate and extremely personal. His life informs his work. Crosbie uses a multi-media palette, which includes, painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, video, writing, and anything else he can get his hands on to express himself creatively.
His first solo show in 1996 in Dublin, called New Beginning, was an autobiographical journey which dealt with the extremities of addiction and recovery. Crosbie uses his art to reveal the vulnerability and sometimes disturbing journey through his own life.
His work, often described as confrontational and provocative, questions the definition of what art is.

The exhibition in Monpazier : is on until 28 August 2010 and is entitled:

K'EST-CE QUE C ?

Monpazier (24540 Dordogne France)
Association "ouvrir l'art contemporain"

Artists: Giovanni Carosi. Florence Baudin. Robert Keramsi. Patricia Molins. Leslis Bigelman. Tony Crosbie.

Tél. 05 53 61 21 46
enpleinairfrance@yahoo.fr
www.enpleinairfrance.com

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Another summer's night in the Dordogne

2010-08-01T08:24:00.002+02:00

There is magic light in the Dordogne at the moment!

... I recall that once upon an evening
We dodged the scythe of Death's reaper,
cheated Time's cock-crow
And etched on the wall of the night
an image of our two shadows, blended our colours
on the border of a rumpled pillow
Then subsided
into an armchair.....

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Time for topiary in a beautiful French garden

2010-08-01T08:18:00.005+02:00

Jean-C had just finished pruning the hedges... Pruning the hedges? I think not! Shaping, trimming, coaxing, shaving the many box plants into a sculptural work of art, would be a more apt description. I put my hand out and lightly move it over the flat surface of the one hedge -- and like a ripple over water, the entire hedge sways and shivers and responds to my gentle touch. Over there a pyramid, piercing the evening sky ("the box asked to be shaped into a pyrimad -- that was his purpose in life -- to be a four sided pyramid, exact in mathematical proportions and perfect symmetry," explains Jean-Claude. Over there three perfect balls, different sizes, the rays of the setting sun highlighting the perfection of the spheres. -- And, as if in defiance of this perfection, the roses ramble wildly up against the ancient stone wall of the house, their colours a riot of unplanned abandon, their branches clinging wherever the stones provide a hold...
Oh! I do love spending a summer's evening in this garden with good friends -- sitting around a table under the stars, enjoying an excellent meal, talking, talking, talking...

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The agony and the ecstasy of running a Chambres dHotes in the Dordogne

2010-07-31T12:12:00.005+02:00

Running a Chambres d'Hotes/guest house in the Dordogne is probably one of the most enjoyable experiences one could have. Not only do you get to share the most beautiful and idyllic spot on the beautiful Dordogne river, but you also get to meet people from all over the world -- different countries, different cultures, different languages, different interests, different conversations, different points of view.

So it is a huge amount of work on the Saturday when the one group leaves and the other group arrives a few hours later -- changing all the beds, scrubbing out the bathrooms, making sure there are ample fluffy towels and toiletries laid out, fresh flowers on the bedside tables, checking all the light bulbs, cleaning windows and brushing the omnipresent cobwebs around the window frames, dusting and polishing the furniture and sweeping the carpets, filling the little sweetie bowls, arranging the files with information about local events this week.......... the list goes on. But when the first people arrive and walk through the door and get that look of wonder on their faces as they step into the entrance hall of the chateau, and then, when they walk a few steps further and out onto the terrace and see the view of the river, the forests on the other side, the swans gliding below and the light on the water, and they gasp and cannot find the words to express their pleasure, then all those hours of frantically preparing for their welcome have been worth every bit of the effort and energy.

The ugly tourist, sculpture by Duan Hanson, Saatchi Gallery

And then -- every now and then, fortunately not too often, you get the couple who arrive at the door, exhausted after a long drive in a strange country where they don't speak the language and where the locals will always reflect their own attitude and mood, hot and bothered and obviously still fuming after a serious marital tiff, unhappy being here in France, here in the Dordogne, here in front of my door, already adamant that nothing will please them, nothing will be good enough, nothing will make up for the long hot trip and having to spend time with each other -- and you heart sinks in your shoes, because you know, no matter what you do, you will not change their experience. They will go away after the week -- after having made very sure that they have done everything in their power to make your life as miserable as theirs -- and they will go home to Sydney or London or to wherever home is, unhappy, disgruntled and critical of this beautiful village in this beautiful region in this beautiful country.

And all I can say is thank goodness I know the next group arriving this afternoon will be speechless and in awe of their first impression of the chateau and the river, will enjoy every precious moment of their stay in the Dordogne, will avail themselves to every bit of local knowledge and history and lesser known folklore and interesting facts about this place that I can give them, will enjoy meeting the locals I introduce them to, the delicious fresh flavours and aromas of the local produce straight out of the rich soil around us, the choice of cultural activities and night markets and musical evenings and street dances and arts and crafts and traditional exhibitions that abound at the moment -- and next Saturday they will linger and linger on the terrace until I have to eventually shoo them out the door so that I can have enough time to change the rooms, make the beds, scrub the bathrooms, ........ before the next lot arrive!

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Spectacular and unique Opera Event in Orange, France - only one week to go!

2010-07-30T20:18:00.002+02:00

Orange Opera Festival
when: 15 Jul - 7 Aug 2010 (annual)
where: Theatre Antique, Orange

Les Chorégies d'Orange, created in 1860, is France's oldest opera festival, held at the Theatre Antique, a magnificent Roman amphitheatre. The venue seats some 9000 spectators and has retained its acoustic stage wall, which was restored in the early 1800s.

he production to look forward to is Gounod's Mireille

Wednesday 4th August 9.30 pm
In case of bad weather, rescheduled on the 5th August at 9.30 pm

Saturday 7th August 9.30 pm
In case of bad weather, rescheduled on the 8th August at 9.30 pm

Conductor Alain Altinoglu*

Producer Robert Fortune
Stage designer Christophe Vallaux* / Robert Fortune
Costumes Rosalie Varda
Lighting Jacques Rouveyrollis

Mireille Nathalie Manfrino*
Taven Marie-Ange Todorovitch
Vincenette Karen Vourc’h*
Clémence Caroline Mutel
The voice / Andreloun Amel Brahim Djelloul

Vincent Florian Laconi
Ourrias Franck Ferrari
Ramon Nicolas Cavallier
Ambroise Jean-Marie Frémeau*
The ferryman Jean-Marie Delpas

Orchestre National de Bordeaux-Aquitaine
Choruses from Opéra-Théâtre d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse,
from Opéra de Nice and from Opéra de Marseille
Maîtrise des Bouches-du-Rhône
Ballet de l’Opéra-Théâtre d’Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse

*For the first time at the Chorégies

Contact Details
Name: Box Office (adjacent to the Roman Theatre)
Email: billetterie@choregies.com
Phone: +33 (0) 4 90 34 24 24
Venue Information: Theatre Antique
Full Name: Theatre Antique, Orange, France
Cost: €7.90
Address: Rue Madeleine Roch 84100
Directions: By Train: TGV to Orang.
Contact Details: Theatre Antique
Phone: +33 (0) 4 90 51 17 60
Other Information: Theatre Antique
Website: Theatre Antique Website

Les Chorégies d'Orange

The Chorégies d'Orange festival dates from 1860 and is the oldest festival in France. Over the years, the Chorégies have retained all of their freshness and originality, due in part to the name, which comes from the Greek "choreos", linking them to the Grecian-Latin tradition, to the magnificent site where they take place: the perfectly preserved Roman Theatre, which can hold 9,000 spectators, and which still has its stage wall, the guarantee of exceptional acoustics, and to their vocation, which is lyrical and musical performances, placing them among the very best French festivals and certainly one with an indisputable international reputation.

The first performance took place in 1869, with "Joseph", an opera by Mehul. At that time, the classic Greek and Roman tragedies were staged there, and the Roman Theatre was also used to promote the French dramatic authors of the era. The use of the Roman Theatre as the stage for lyrical and musical performances became prevalent in 1971, with the creation of the "Nouvelles Chorégies", which met with immediate, overwhelming success. All of the world's great lyrical artists have performed there, bestowing international prestige on this ideal stage which continues to prove itself with each passing year.

The Roman Theatre

The Roman Theatre in Orange, one of the most beautiful monuments in France, is testimony to the Roman era. It is the only building of its kind which still has its acoustic stage wall, whose size is quite impressive: 103 meters long, 37 meters high, 1.80 meters thick. The stage itself is 65 meters long, with optimally useful space of 47 meters. Depth varies between 12 and 16 meters. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the Roman Theatre was no longer used as a place for entertainment. In 1562, it was even transformed into a refuge for the population. Restoration only began in the early 1800's, when the bleachers were rebuilt.

Situated in Provence, the Roman Theatre of Orange is the best preserved Roman theatre in the western world and has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit this impressive monument built under Emperor Augustus in the 1st century A.D. An audio-guided tour and film will enable you to discover the history of the theatre and its place in antiquity. Opposite the theatre, the Art and History Museum of Orange exhibits collections from Antiquity to the 19th century. Great monuments, an exciting journey through Imperial Rome.

© Photos : Studio Grand Angle - Orange / Studio Bernateau - Orange

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Périgueux's International Contemporary Mime Festival

2010-07-30T19:59:00.002+02:00

The annual International Contemporary Mime Festival takes place again this year in Perigeux and is not to be missed! Once again there will be mime artists from across the globe, workshops for any- and everyone to participate in and learn about this ancient artform, shows and performances in theatres and in the streets of this beautiful town, and something for everyone to enjoy.

Alayades performing at the Perigueux Mime Festival.
when: 2 - 7 Aug 2010 (annual)
where: Périgueux
cost: €16; concessions €12; under 12s €8
time: Information centre 9.30am-7pm

Performances at Périgueux's International Contemporary Mime Festival (MIMOS) range from free shows in the Renaissance streets to elaborate productions at larger venues like Le Theatre, Le Palace and La Cour de la Visitation. There are plenty of workshops for enthusiasts.

Many of the 20th century's great mime artists have sat on the Honorary Committee in the past, including Robert Wilson, Kazuo Ohno, Ferruccio Soleri, Josef Nadj, Marcel Marceau and Jean-Louis Barrault.

Contact Details

Phone: +33 (0) 5 53 53 18 71
Town Information: Périgueux
Directions: Located 100km (70 miles) east of Bordeaux.
Perigeux Website

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Pixels, Not Parables, for the Cologne Cathedral's Stained Glass Windows

2010-07-30T18:37:00.005+02:00

Thanks to Karen from Stuttgart, (tech-writer, music-lover, bookworm, art-appreciator, DVD-watcher, comp-addict, stumbler, European Citizen), I stumbled across this illuminating little piece when I looked for info on Gerhard Richter's work to further a discussion I was having with someone yesterday about the modern windows in the Cologne Cathedral - whilst standing in the church in Beaumont -- and admiring their modest stained glass windows. A little out of the ordinary posts in this blog? Except nothing is quite out of the ordinary when you live in this fascinating part of the world and amongst a population as diverse and cosmopolitan as we have here. As many different individuals, as many different experiences, views, opinions and interests. Most certainly never a dull moment!...

So -- back to Gerhard Richter and his controversial window in the Cologne Cathedral : Blood-spurting martyrs, biblical parables, ascendant doves -- most church windows feature the same preachy images that have awed parishioners for centuries. But a new stained-glass window in Germany's Cologne Cathedral, completed only two years ago, evokes technology and science, not religion and the divine.

Contemporary German artist Gerhard Richter designed the 65-foot-tall work to replace the original, destroyed by bombs in World War II. As a starting point, he used his own 1974 painting 4096 Colours.

To create that piece -- a 64-by-64 grid of squares -- Richter devised a mathematical formula to systematically mix permutations of the three primary colours and gray. Funny coincidence: 4,096 is also the number of "Web-smart" colours that display consistently on older computer screens, a limitation some Web designers still take into account. (Today's monitors, of course, can handle pretty much any hue.)

The Cologne window is made of 11,500 four-inch " pixels" cut from original antique glass in a total of 72 colours. Why not 4,096? Turns out there are stained glass-smart colours, too. Some hues in Richter's initial design were either historically inaccurate or too pale -- they would have outshone the squares around them. So the artist modified his palette to include only colours with a suitably archaic cast. Because it's fine for a church window to look like it's been designed by a computer, as long as it's a computer with a Gothic sensibility.

Richter's easily recognizable style in the Candle series, the Children series (Betty) and the Baader-Meinhof series (Confrontation 3)

Gerhard Richter has had a phenomenal career and is the only living artist represented in all the major galleries and art museums in the world.

Gerhard Richter was born in Dresden in 1932 to a middle class family. Like many Germans of his generation, his relatives were involved in the Nazi movement; his mother's brother, Uncle Rudi died a young Nazi officer, while Richter's mentally disabled aunt was imprisoned in a Hitler euthanasia camp. Rigorous ideology and death have haunted Richter since he was just a child, perhaps causing his strong dislike for ideology of any kind and underpinning the attraction that nature, as an indiscriminate force, holds for him.

Support from his mother encouraged him to become an artist during his mid-teens and he embarked on a classical education at the Dresden Art Academy in Communist East Germany. Years later and a few months prior to the erection of the Berlin Wall, he and his wife fled with only a suitcase to Düsseldorf in West Germany. From 1961 to 1964, Richter studied at the Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under Karl Otto Gotz. During the early sixties Richter met and began to work with artists such as Sigmar Polke, Konrad Fischer-Lueg and Georg Baselitz. Their work, and Richter's in particular, began to have an impact in Germany, and eventually international art circles. Richter's beliefs are credited with refreshing art and rejuvenating painting as a medium during a period when many artists chose performance and ready-made media. Together with Polke and Fischer-Lueg, Richter formed a group called the Capitalist Realists. The Capitalist Realists were satirical, often deriving subject matter from print media. Richter began to see art as something that had to be separated from art history; he believed that paintings should focus on the image rather than the reference, the visual rather than the statement. He wanted to find a new way of painting that would not be constricting. Richter emerged from the group to become one of the most sought after contemporary artists in the world. His work is regularly sold at auction, sometimes for millions.
Richter, a resident of the catheral city since the early 1980s, was made an honorary citizen of Cologne in April 2007.

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The view from my window: Summer in the Dordogne

2010-07-29T07:56:00.002+02:00

I am staying with friends for a few days, away from my beloved river and the swans and Godfrey the Goose, but waking up to look out my window at the maize fields and the forests --- well! one could not ask for better food for the soul than that, now could you?

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A French word a Day : 2010’s new words in the French Dictionaries!

2010-07-27T17:03:00.006+02:00

It is always such an exciting time when the two major French Dictionaries, Le Petit Robert and Larousse publish their annual new editions and announce which are the new words accepted into the dictionaries, and thus into the French language.

What has always been interesting, is how the French do everything in their power to avoid accepting, willy-nilly, anglicised words. They do try to reflect, at all times, the French language as it is used, but if there is a good French word already, they will try to influence francophones to use the French equivalent rather than the popular Anglicism. Notably are words adopted in the electronic world of computers, PC’s, hardware and software. For example, the word ‘software’ has now, finally, after many years, popularly been spurned and replaced by the French ‘logiciel’ –

This year, many of the new words have to do with conservation and environmental concerns – and I am thrilled that there is now a word for someone like myself – I am now officially a locavore – that is someone who chooses to consume only locally produced and in-season fruits and vegetables in order to support sustainable development.
Other words include
• Saladerie : restaurant seling salads
• Citron : a ‘lemon’ – a dud – a car or other piece of equipment that has numerous defects
• Coloc : a flatmate, someone who shares your rent
• Footeux/Footeuse : After the World Cup, not surprising that the words for football fans/supporters are now official.
• Bioclimatique, biogas – bio meaning ‘organic’

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Watching the last battle of the Hundred Year War - right here where it hapened in 1453!

2010-07-26T17:30:00.005+02:00

Once a year, towards the end of July and in the beginning of August, for two nights a week, the last battle of the Hundred Year War of 1336-1453 is re-enacted about 10km from the exact spot where it originally took place in 1453 -- at Castillon La Bataille.

It is a magnificent spectacle. People come from al over France -- indeed, from all over the world, to see the battle. An audience of 2000 watch enthralled as the last three years of the war are acted out in front of them -- a cast of over 800 --- people, cattle, geese, pigs, hunting dogs, dozens and dozens of horses, priests, monks, peasants, children, pilgrims, soldiers, craftsmen, farmers, ladies and jousters, jesters and wine makers. Any- and everyone who make up the profile of the countryside in which this event takes place, is there to give reality and effect to the scene played out.

Members of the audience come early to wander through the created medieval village, to learn about sword making and basket weaving, children's games, leather tooling and wine pressing, to sample the wine of the region and to enjoy a delicious rustic meal served at the rough wooden trestle tables set up under the stars. If you are lucky, you can visit the village of the cast and chat to the costumed volunteers milling about and getting ready for the performance. You can come up close to the beautiful white Charolais oxen that will be pulling the carts with the canon and the wine press, watch how the geese are herded by means of a stick, scratch the giant boars behind their bristly ears, chat to the excited hunting dogs that are keen to be let out to go provide one of the highlights of the spectacle.

Before the actors start the performance, the director gives a stirring and encouraging pep talk and a musician leads the cast in a song -- a call to arms dating to the actual battle in 1453 -- urging everyone to go fight the valiant battle against the oppressors and to get them out of their beautiful Aquitaine, once and for all!

The event takes place out in the open, against a hill, surrounded by fields and vineyards, overlooked by a beautiful chateau. There is drama and music and fireworks, canon and muskets and archers, -- and once again, as it does every year, the last battle of the 100-year war is fought valiantly and bravely -- and successfully -- banishing the English from French soil, once and for all -- or until they come again to holiday or to retire in this beautiful region of France!

The Battle of Castillon : The End of the Hundred Years' War
"The fate of Guienne was at this moment in the balance. In 1451 Charles VII had turned his victorious arms from Normandy to the south. The Bastard of Orleans had captured one after another the outlying bulwarks of Bordeaux; Bourg and Blaye had fallen in May, Fronsac and Libourne early in June. No succours arrived from England, where the parliamentary struggle of 1451 was then at its height, and on June 30 the inhabitants of Bordeaux, with manifest reluctance, surrendered their city. On August 20 Bayonne, the last fortress where the English banner flew, had opened its gates, and the subjection of Guienne seemed complete.

"But provincial independence was dear to the Guiennois; they were loyal in their hearts to Henry VI, and they chafed bitterly against the new taxes and the abrogation of old customs which the French conquest brought about. Within six months of the fall of Bayonne Gascon nobles and burghers were visiting London in secret, to pledge their faith that the whole province would rise in arms the moment that an English army showed itself on the Gironde. When the appeal was made to him not to wreck this fair chance of resuming the struggle with France, York [Richard, Duke of York], as the advocate of a vigorous war policy, could hardly refuse his aid. He consented, and a great effort was made to raise an army for the invasion of Guienne. In July, 1452, the veteran Talbot, who had been created Earl of Shrewsbury some years before, was commissioned to raise 3,000 men for that enterprise.

"The struggle of York and Somerset was suspended for a year and more, while both parties gave their aid for this attempt to rescue the last remnant of the English dominion in France. Talbot landed on October 17 in the Médoc; on the 21st the Bordelais threw open their gates to him. Within a few weeks most of the places around the great city were once more English. Then came winter, and nearly six months of respite before the slow-moving Charles of France launched his armies against Guienne. By this time Talbot had received reinforcements from England under his son Lord Lisle; with their aid he won back Fronsac, which all through the reign of Henry VI had been the frontier fortress of the English territory in Guienne. It was only in July, 1453, that the French appeared, in overwhelming force, and laid siege to Castillon on the Dordogne.

Talbot marched out to its relief, with every man, Gascon and English, that he could collect. On the 17th he fell furiously upon the besiegers, who were stockaded in a great entrenched camp. So well were they covered that the old earl did not see how he could turn his archery, the real strength of his army, to any account. Forming his whole force into a dense column, with the men-at-arms at the head, he marched straight at the trenches. Though torn to pieces by the French artillery, the assailants crossed the ditch, and strove time after time to force their way into the lines. They were repelled, and presently outlying contingents from other parts of the circumvallation came up, and began to take the English in flank and rear. At this moment Talbot was struck down by a cannon ball, which broke his leg. His sons and his body-squires fought fiercely in his defence, but were slain one after another. The French sallied out of their trenches, the English column broke up, and all was lost. Talbot and Lisle were found dead side by side, and all the flower of their host had perished.

Nothing can show better the loyalty of the Guiennois to the English cause than the fact that many of the smaller towns held out for two months after the disaster at Castillon, and that Bordeaux itself, though hopeless of succour, did not surrender till October 19, after it had stood a siege of eighty days. But this was the end; the French king took good care that his new subjects should not have another chance to rebel, and England for twenty years was in no condition to think of sending an army overseas. Yet the remembrance of their old connexion with the island realm long remained deep in the breasts of the men of Bordeaux; not only in the days of Edward IV, but so late as those of Henry VIII, secret messages were sent to England from the Gironde, and a vigorous attempt to recover Guienne might yet have found aid from within. Fortunately for both parties the attempt was never made.

To book tickets for the remaining shows, click on:
There are numbered and nominative seats. Therefore it
is necessary to book. To make your reservation without
any trouble nor delay,
- by phone on : 00 [33] 557 40 1453
- by fax on : 00 [33] 557 40 3648
- by e-mail : info@batailledecastillon.com

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Tour de France : The grand finish in the Champs-Élysées, Paris!

2010-07-26T17:23:00.003+02:00

For the last 35 years the most beautiful avenue in the world has provided the Tour de France with a gem of a location for its grand finale. Walter Godefroot was the first to win on the Champs, since followed by all of cycling’s greatest sprinters, and some phenomenal hard-hitters. This year Cavendish once again won the sprint down this magnificent avenue, but it was Contador who won the Tours for the third time in a grand finish!

Paris loves cycling and is delighted to welcome to its unique setting, like every year for more than a century, the breath-taking sprint of the Tour de France’s heroes. What better a sight is there than this Homeric battle of a finish that snakes for several kilometres through the streets of the French capital’s centre and the exceptional avenue of the Champs-Elysées? This carnival of sport that brings together Parisians and many tourists enables us to celebrate cycling in its full diversity. It brings to mind another popular and audacious great adventure, the Vélib bicycle service, which is now celebrating its third anniversary. It now accounts for 71 million journeys and exists in 30 of Paris’ neighbouring municipalities. Today, it is possible to use almost 600 km of cycling tracks. It is therefore with great pleasure that Paris offers its streets to bicycle-lovers and especially to the athletes of the Tour who delight us year upon year and who, from the Yellow Jersey winner to the wooden spoon holder in the final standings, all deserve to be lauded with the same praise.

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Summer evenings in the Dordogne

2010-07-22T22:44:00.004+02:00

Bring a few tables and chairs out into the street, prepare a large lamb tajine and a huge bowl of cous cous, open the wine, invite three excellent jazz musicians, spread the word in the village, and voila! you have the successful formula for a fabulous evening under the stars. What better way to spend a summer's evening with your friends - old and new!

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Sunflowers and Vivaldi - so last season?

2010-07-22T18:13:00.002+02:00

It is not quite cool to love Vivaldi, nor express an admiration for sunflowers -- cliche'd, soooooooo last season, done to death, cheap taste of the chattering chardonnay drinkers. Well, tough. I love Vivaldi -- his music is passionate, descriptive, evocative and moving, and, you can say what you will, but there is very little that takes the breath away with quite such a speed and aplomb as a field of sunflowers, dancing under the blue sky and to the rhythm of a refreshing morning breeze...

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Tour de France -- Stage 17 -- The last big battle?

2010-07-22T18:06:00.002+02:00

The route : discover the stage 17

After the second rest day in Pau, the riders will set out for their final battle. Well, on the face of it at least… Last year, on Mont Ventoux, what was expected to be all out combat ended up as a damp squib, with all the pretenders waiting for the others to make a move. On this stage, perhaps there will be struggle for the top if Contator is in second place with 30 seconds to make up, but if he has a five minute lead on the rest, then it is as good as over. Following the Marie-Blanque climb, we will head back down into the valley. After only three kilometres of flat, we will immediately get to grips with the Soulor, a long, long, long climb, almost 25-kilometres long! The Aubisque pass is just next to it, then the riders will head down before tackling the Tourmalet pass. At the highest point of this Tour, the Henri-Desgrange memorial trophy will be awarded.

Roll of honor : Result after stage 17
1 CONTADOR Alberto ASTANA 83h 32' 39"
95 HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 191 pts
153 CHARTEAU Anthony BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 143 pts
11 SCHLECK Andy TEAM SAXO BANK 83h 32' 47"

Andy Schleck: King of the Col du Tourmalet

The scene was set for an epic show down on the celebrated slopes of the col du Tourmalet where the yellow jersey would be decided. There is a time trial yet to come so no one knows if Alberto Contador will be able to claim a third title – as he has a lead of just eight seconds – but judging on last year’s TT form, the likely winner of the 97th Tour is going to be the runner-up on the Tourmalet.
Andy Schleck had to attack! He had to be distance between him and Contador. He tried. He danced on the pedals. He dropped all his rivals… except for one. Everything Andy could do, Alberto could do too. Out of the mist at the 2,115m high mountain they emerged, the finish line in sight and the yellow jersey held the same position he held for most of the final 10.5km – after the initial acceleration by Schleck – just on the wheel. And that’s how they crossed the line. Second overall, first. First overall, second. Contador is in control of the Tour but Schleck is the king of the col due Tourmalet.

The heavens opened up on the eve of the final day in the mountains for the 2010 Tour de France. Rain fell heavily overnight and early in the day and the peloton started on wet roads and drizzle and temperatures around 17 degrees. The official start was at 12.30pm with 172 riders at the sign on. The stage included four climbs – the cote de Renoir (cat-4 at 13.5km), the col de Marie-Blanque (cat-1 at 56.5km), the col du Souler (cat-1 at 117.5km) and the final high pass of the 97th Tour, the ‘Hors Category’ col du Tourmalet.

The Top 10 In Stage 17

The top 10 in stage 17 is: 1. Andy Schleck (LUX) SAX - 174km in 5h03’29" 2. Alberto Contador (ESP) AST at same time 3. Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP) KAT at 1’18" 4. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) GRM at 1’27" 5. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) EUS at 1’32" 6. Denis Menchov (RUS) RAB at 1’40" 7. Robert Gesink (NED) RAB at 1’40" 8. Chris Horner (USA) RSH at 1’45" 9. Jurgen van den Broeck (BEL) OLO 1’48" 10. Roman Krueziger (CZE) LIQ 2’14"

And tomorrow it is on to Bordeaux!

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Antique Fairs in the Dordogne-Perigord : Weekend market in Lalinde

2010-07-20T21:53:00.004+02:00

One of the many pleasures of living in the Dordogne-Perigord, is to browse the antique and brocante markets which take place in all the little villages and towns of the region. Such as the Antique Fair in Lalinde last weekend -- a treasure for every discerning eye and every connoisseur of treasures large and small...

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Lalinde swans adopt a goose...

2010-07-20T21:08:00.005+02:00

Now, I am really puzzled. It seems that amongst the beautiful swans -- currently in the region of 100 to 150 -- that are floating in front of the chateau, is a newcomer. For the last few days, a beautiful L'oie grise des Landes (Grey Landes goose) has joined the swans and is clearly showing that it has an identity crisis.

Whereas a goose's diet consists of mainly seeds, but also some insects, fruits and reptiles -- which he collects on land, the swans feed mainly in the water and they are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.
So - how does it happen that a goose is adopted by the swans and now grazes with the swans in the river, pulling up grasses and aquatic plants and munching food which is so alien to his own species?

Apparently it does happen from time to time that swans would take over a goose nest and raise the chicks when they hatch -- and possibly this is what has happened here. As I have reported -- with great concern -- a few times over the past three years, there has been no breeding amongst the swans for the last three seasons. Is this the answer now? Are they reverting to adopting?

Or -- perhaps it is simply a loving Mother Goose who has noticed that her swan cousins are having difficulties breeding and decided to lay her egg this summer in a swan's nest and so not only give the swan couple great joy, but ensure that her own offspring this year will not end up as foie gras!

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Tour de France -- stage 15 - Pamiers Bagnères-de-Luchon and Stage 16 - Bagnères-de-Luchon Pau 199.5 km

2010-07-20T00:51:00.004+02:00

A Dropped Chain Costs Schleck Dearly…

Just as he was making a bid for time gains on his chief rival, Andy Schleck’s bike bucked him out of the yellow jersey. He had made the decision to attack Alberto Contador with about three kilometers to climb on the Port de Bales and although he opened up a solid advantage, he ultimately lost the battle because of a mechanical problem. His chain dropped and got wedged between his crank and the bottom bracket. Not only did her nearly crash, he had to do an emergency repair on a bike that was the same color as the jersey he would ultimately surrender in unfortunate circumstances.Contador was not going to wait around while Schleck repaired his bike and he had the support of one of the best descenders in the world for the 21km downhill to Luchon. Samuel Sanchez joined forces with Contador and Menchov to put time into Schleck who got to within 22” of the rider who began the stage 31” behind but ended it eight seconds ahead. The battle for yellow is far from over!

The Top 10 In Stage 15

The top 10 in stage 15 is: 1. Thomas Voeckler (FRA) BTL - 187.5km in 4h44’51" 2. Alessandro Ballan (ITA) BMC at 1’20" 3. Aitor Perez Arrieta (ESP) FOT at 1’20" 4. Lloyd Mondory (FRA) ALM at 2’50" 5. Luke Roberts (AUS) MRM at 2’50" 6. Francisco Reda (ITA) QST at 2’50" 7. Alberto Contador (ESP) AST at 2’50" 8. Samuel Sanchez (ESP) EUS at 2’50" 9. Denis Menchov (RUS) RAB at 2’50" 10. Brian Vandborg (DEN) LIQ at 2’50" ...12. Andy Schleck (LUX) SAX ... at 3’29"

And today, Tuesday 20 July -- Stage 16 - Bagnères-de-Luchon Pau 199.5 km

The organisers have been criticised because the Tourmalet pass (where the Jacques-Goddet memorial trophy will be awarded at the summit) is apparently too far from the finishing line. Some say that it will not bring anything to how the race develops. The only thing is neither Pau nor the Col du Tourmalet have changed place, and everything depends on the race. The riders will have to tackle Peyresourde from the start, Aspin, Tourmalet and Aubisque. Admittedly, the Aubisque pass is 60 kilometres from the finishing line, but it is followed by 30 kilometres of descent before getting to grips with the valley bottom. It is the same route (except that the stage finish was in Mourenx) as in 1969 when Eddy Merckx was victorious after a 180-kilometre breakaway. We wanted to make this stage a little tribute to him.

The destination town today is the beautiful Pau:

• 62 times a stage town
• Population: 82,000
• Prefecture of Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64)

The city of Henri IV is a mainstay of the Tour: it has gracefully hosted 62 stages of the race, surpassed only by Paris and Bordeaux. The list of prize winners in Pau is a Who’s Who of the Tour. From Alfredo Binda, who set the ball rolling in 1930, to Robic, Coppi, Bahamontes, Gimondi, Hinault, Kelly, Delgado, Chiappucci and Pereiro: all have triumphed here. Only heavyweights can hope to win in the Béarn capital, even if sprinters sometimes find a way through to the front.

Pau loves the Tour and the Tour loves Pau. This year, the stay of the Tour de France in Pau will give rise to a grand popular festival with the show “Je me souviens du Tour” (I remember the Tour), by Christian Laborde, a native of Pau, and the “64ème du nom”, a crazy caravan bringing together the Générik Vapeur troupe and Pau’s associations. Followers of the Tour and the inhabitants of Pau will thus be able to enjoy these shows and share in a moment of relaxation and friendship. In Pau, 2010 also marks the 400th anniversary of the assassination of Henri IV and the 200th anniversary of the election of Bernadotte to the throne of Sweden. Henri IV will in particular be commemorated by a parade, the illumination of the castle and the presentation of an exhibition of paintings entitled “Paris vaut bien une messe” (Paris is well worth a mass). Furthermore, in October, Pau will be organising the Basque Pelota World Championships and, in November, the national flower show.

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Tour de France : Stage 14 - Revel to Ax 3 Domaines 184.5 km

2010-07-18T07:55:00.004+02:00

The newsflashes : Yesterday at 7:20 - The Top 10 In Stage 13

Mark Cavendish was clearly the fastest of the sprinters but he has missed out on taking a fourth stage win in 2010. The top 10 for stage 13 is: 1. Alexandre Vinokourov (KAZ) AST 2. Mark Cavendish (GBR) THR at 13" 3. Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) LAM at 13" 4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR) SKY at 13" 5. Jose Joaquim Rojas (ESP) GCE at 13" 6. Julian Dean (NZL) GRM at 13" 7. Anthony Geslin (FRA) FDJ at 13" 8. Thor Hushovd (NOR) CTT at 13" 9. Grega Bole (SLO) LAM at 13" 10. Lloyd Mondory (FRA) ALM at 13"

Alexandre Vinokourov has now officially won four stages of the Tour de France. He won in Gap in 2003 and picked up two stage wins of the 2005 race. Now he’s a winner again in his first Tour since coming back from a suspension served in 2007...
After yesterday, we can report that there were splits in the finale of stage 13 that included a former winner of the Tour but Lance Armstrong is no longer a rider with hopes of winning the title. That is now the domain of two main contenders the current race leader Andy Schleck and the two-time champion Alberto Contador.

“Today was a nice stage for my team because we didn’t have to work too much" siad Schleck.

"Still, I had to keep myself out of trouble and out of the wind. It was windy and the guys stayed up front with me and, at the end near the climb, it was fast but I told the team, ‘Thank you, take it easy now. I’ll be alright…’ so only Matti [Breschel] stayed with me and the rest of the team should take it easy because they’ve got a lot of work coming up. So do I, in the next few days.
“Tomorrow will be hard, of course but I’ve trained for it and I’m looking forward to riding up these mountains.
“I never said that I’d have liked two easy days before the mountains but we could call today ‘easy’ because the breakaway went quickly. It was clear that the riders were totally burned from yesterday. You could see it; when there were attacks at the beginning – the attack went 50 meters after the start and already there were guys near the front sitting down with legs full of lactic acid. I think it’s fun to see; we are all human. Some of the riders at the front of the peloton went up the road thinking they could make it to the lead group but the sprinters teams got organized behind and Vinokourov went ahead to put on a good show and hats off for that.
“I’m not sure if I’ll attack tomorrow… if I’m good, yes.
“Yesterday was a day for Alberto and today Vinokourov attacked and he actually made it to the finish… tomorrow it’s not up to him, it’s up to Alberto and me and others. Alexandre Vinokourov realized he is not going for the overall here but now he has a stage victory he’ll be going 100 per cent for Alberto.”

Alexandre Vinokourov, the winner of the stage, says“This is the ‘New’ Vino…”

The last time Alexandre Vinokourov won a stage of the Tour de France was in 2007 when he was also awarded the prize as the most aggressive rider in the stage. He would later lose the title of stage winner and much of his credibility but today, yesterday’s ‘Fighting Spirit’ award recipient was the best. He insists this is “the new ‘Vino’… It’s nice to win here again and it was a good victory. I’m very happy for my team, especially, because I think I helped give some good morale for the team. I’m disappointed that we couldn’t win yesterday but it gave us some good motivation and now we are ready for the three or four stages in the mountains.
I rode well in the breakaway and was great today and I’m happy.”

Stage 14 starts today in Revel and promises to be a battle between the big guns

The second week of the race is now well underway and tiredness will be creeping in. The race will tackle the Pyrenees and the riders will start to feel it in their legs. On this stage, the finish is the hard part. The route is flat until the Port de Pailhères, a little more than 30 kilometres from the finish. The climb to Ax 3 Domaines follows straight afterwards, which could open up gaps. After the very difficult Port de Pailhères, there will be a battle between around a dozen of the big guns and it is very likely that the Yellow Jersey could change hands.

The starting point today is Revel -- and all the sunflowers are splendeforous at the moment -- let's hope there are no riders with serious allergies!

• 8 times a stage town
• Population: 8,500
• County town of Haute-Garonne canton (31)

Revel on the Tour is also the victory in 1969, in a time-trial circuit around the town, of the legendary racing phenomenon of the epoch, Eddy Merckx. The Belgian rider won his second individual time-trial of that year’s Tour there and went on to win his first Tour de France. The following day, the route followed a shortcut in comparison with the 2010 edition, arriving in Luchon, with Raymond Delisle in the lead.

The “Bio Vallée Lauragais” cluster is an integral part of the green economy that can be found in the Pays Lauragais area, a zone with a high farming and agri-food potential in the Midi-Pyrénées region, the leading organic region in France. “Bio Vallée Lauragais” was created in order to bring together various partners and cultivate innovative methods for developing businesses. This project is a response to the new requirements of “ethical consumers” of natural and organic products. With significant experience in the agri-food sector, Revel possesses the necessary economic structures to support businesses that wish to set up here. Drawing on the expertise of committed farmers and breeders, small and medium sized firms can ensure they develop whilst promoting the quality and biodiversity of the land. “Bio Vallée Lauragais” aims to pool initiatives and driving forces to work towards sustainable development that combines authenticity and innovation. Revel, a town on a human scale, offers a living environment in keeping with its convictions.

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Tour de France : Stage 13 - Rodez Revel 196 km

2010-07-17T06:34:00.005+02:00

This is where they stand today: Roll of honor : Result after stage 12
11 SCHLECK Andy TEAM SAXO BANK 58h 42' 01"
95 HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 167 pts
153 CHARTEAU Anthony BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 107 pts
11 SCHLECK Andy TEAM SAXO BANK 58h 42' 01"

Stage 13 : A sporting perspective : An opportunity waiting to be taken

This is another stage that will enable riders who do not like the mountains to breathe easier. It is intended for fighters, sprinters and those who have not yet won a stage and who are looking at the map telling themselves that there might not be other occasions to put on a show. For afterwards, with Ax 3 Domaines, Bagnères-de-Luchon, Pau, and the Col du Tourmalet pass, all that will remain are the stages in Bordeaux and Paris, and to win on the Champs-Élysées, you have to be very quick. This year, the route is not particularly kind to sprinters.

They start in the beautiful town of Rodez --

• Once a stage town
• Population: 26,400
• Prefecture of Aveyron (12)

In 1984, nothing could top Cyrille Guimard’s Renault-Elf-Gitane team on the routes of the Tour. Pierre-Henri Menthéour triumphed in Rodez and, the previous day, Pascal Poisson won in Blagnac. Prior to that, Pascal Jules had already won a stage and Renault won the team time-trial. The Yellow Jersey was worn by another team member, Vincent Barteau. He was soon to cede the jersey to team leader Laurent Fignon, who went on to win his second Tour de France with outstanding brio.

Rodez is the administrative centre of the Aveyron department and the former capital of the former French province of Rouergue. The history of this two-thousand year old town was for a long time associated with the rivalry between the Counts and Bishops of Rodez. Indeed, a wall divided the town in two. Today, Rodez offers a wide range of discoveries and exceptional visits, starting with the Notre-Dame cathedral. Dominated by its 87-metre high bell tower, it displays in a nutshell the architectural styles of the 13th to 17th centuries, whilst the new stained glass windows created by Stéphane Belzère give it a modern touch. The links between the historical and modern heritage is the guiding line of the tour through Rodez and its urban area: the Fenaille archaeological museum boasts a collection of menhir-like statues that is unique in France in a remarkably restored site; the Denys Puech modern art museum (named after the winner of the Rome Grand Prize for sculpture in 1884) is the hub for modern design in the town. In several years time, Rodez will welcome the Soulages museum, dedicated to the internationally-renowned painter of the same name.

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Tour de France : Stage 12 - Bourg-de-Péage Mende 210.5 km

2010-07-15T23:02:00.002+02:00

A sporting perspective -- Armstrong could suffer

This is a long stage, measuring more than 200 kilometres. In this region, it is often hot and the day finishes with the Laurent Jalabert climb in Mende, which is no easy task. Some sections even include 10% slopes. This climb (formerly the Côte de la Croix Neuve) requires a sudden boost and could hurt riders who build-up into ascents like Armstrong. In comparison to Contador, who has more punch, he could lose around thirty seconds. There will be a struggle between ten riders, including those who will be on the podium on the Champs-Élysées.

The destination town today : Mende
• Twice a stage town
• Population: 13,400
• Prefecture of Lozère (48)

Tour supporters will always associate Mende with Laurent Jalabert’s Bastille Day win on the 14th of July 1995. Out of all “Jaja’s” many victories - including four Tour stage wins – this was certainly his finest. His performance in the Causse hill climb earned him his best ever classification in the Tour (4th). Ten years later, the race returned to the Lozère county town for a stage that was won by the Spanish rider Marcos Serrano.

In the heart of the Lozère area, at the gateway to the Gorges of the Tarn, the Causses, the Aubrac and the Cevennes, Mende boasts a privileged position and a superb quality of life. Originally named Mimata probably in reference to the mountains that surround it, Mende has maintained a rich heritage from its history, in particular its 14th century gothic cathedral, Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Privat, surrounded by a charming medieval district with narrow streets or the 13th century Notre-Dame Bridge. Indeed, along with 21 other municipalities forming the Mende and Lot in Gévaudan area, it has been awarded the Land of Art and History label. Looking toward the future with a preserved environment, Mende is a dynamic town that is currently creating a business park for the arrival of new companies. Twice elected the “most sporting town in France”, Mende and its 80 sports clubs boast a wide range of facilities and the town is even home to the Lozère Multi-sports Centre, which enables young pretenders to high level sporting competition to combine their passion with schooling.

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Tour de France -- breaking news! Overall standing at end of Stage 11

2010-07-15T17:46:00.002+02:00

OVERALL STANDING ON TIME

Result after stage 11

Total distance covered: 2137.4 km

Standing Rider Rider number bib Team Time Gaps
1. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM SAXO BANK 53h 43' 25"
2. CONTADOR Alberto 1 ASTANA 53h 44' 06" + 00' 41"
3. SANCHEZ Samuel 181 EUSKALTEL/EUSKADI 53h 46' 10" + 02' 45"
4. MENCHOV Denis 191 RABOBANK 53h 46' 23" + 02' 58"
5. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 101 OMEGA PHARMALOTTO 53h 46' 56" + 03' 31"
6. LEIPHEIMER Levi 25 TEAM RADIOSHACK 53h 47' 24" + 03' 59"
7. GESINK Robert 195 RABOBANK 53h 47' 47" + 04' 22"
8. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 161 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 53h 48' 06" + 04' 41"
9. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquin 77 KATUSHA TEAM 53h 48' 33" + 05' 08"
10. BASSO Ivan 41 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 53h 48' 34" + 05' 09"
11. KREUZIGER Roman 44 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 53h 48' 36" + 05' 11"
12. HESJEDAL Ryder 54 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 53h 49' 07" + 05' 42"
13. ROCHE Nicolas 81 AG2R LA MONDIALE 53h 49' 48" + 06' 23"
14. VINOKOUROV Alexandre 9 ASTANA 53h 49' 56" + 06' 31"
15. ROGERS Michael 118 TEAM HTC - COLUMBIA 53h 50' 29" + 07' 04"
16. SASTRE Carlos 91 CERVELO TEST TEAM 53h 50' 38" + 07' 13"
17. WIGGINS Bradley 31 SKY PRO CYCLING 53h 50' 43" + 07' 18"
18. EVANS Cadel 121 BMC RACING TEAM 53h 51' 12" + 07' 47"
19. LÖVKVIST Thomas 37 SKY PRO CYCLING 53h 51' 28" + 08' 03"
20. KLÖDEN Andréas 24 TEAM RADIOSHACK 53h 52' 30" + 09' 05"

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Tour de France: Stage 11 - Sisteron Bourg-lès-Valence 184.5 km

2010-07-15T08:21:00.005+02:00

After yesterday's stage some people are surprised by the cool, calm and casual mannerisms of the new leader of the Tour de France but Andy Schleck insists that there’s nothing for him to stress about… not just yet.

"It was quite an easy day even if it was fast at the beginning. It was a breakaway day so we took it kind of easy behind. Okay, there was a lot of wind so the team had to do some work all the way to Gap but it wasn’t too stressful. I had a little bit of time to enjoy my first day in the yellow jersey.
“I can tell you the first hour was really hard but after the breakaway was gone it was okay. I was quite nervous on the last downhill, it was a bit dangerous but for the rest of the day it was good.
“It was not a day for me to do anything. Even if it was quite up and down, there was nothing for me to achieve. I was lucky because I had bad legs from yesterday and so did all the others who actually rode really hard yesterday.
“There’s not really anything to stress about right now. I enjoy my yellow jersey, I enjoy having every one around… I enjoy the atmosphere in the team and having the guys working so well for me. Of course I’m happy and relaxed. I know there’s hard work coming up but that’s what I’ve been training for since the Tour ended in Paris last year.”

Today, the eleventh stage of the Tour, there will be some respite for the sprinters

The organisers could have decided on another very tough stage in the Alpine foothills, which would have led to more struggles for the ascendancy, but that would have been pointless. The riders will have had three or four significant days at the start of the race, before encountering four fairly difficult days. As a result, this route, which sets off from Sisteron (with its citadel) for a finish in the Drôme, does not include any obstacles that should prevent a sprint finish, despite the presence of the Col de Cabre pass.

Today's starting point: Sisteron
• Stage town for the first time
• Population: 8,000
• County town of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence canton (04)

Riders of Paris-Nice are familiar with Sisteron, as the race regularly stops off here, but it’s a major first for the Tour. At the start in Sisteron, the caravan will be able to admire the panoramic, breathtaking views from the citadel that towers above the town and Tour followers will be able to sample the tasty lamb, a local speciality for which the “Gateway to Provence” is renowned. As for the riders, they will perhaps have a thought for poet Paul Arène, a native of the town and author of a work called “From the Alps to the Pyrenees”.

For the first time in its history, the gem of Upper Provence will have the honour of featuring in the Tour de France. At the frontier between the landscapes of the Alps and Southern France, between the lands of the Dauphiné and Provence, the home town of poet Paul Arène is an appealing place that can boast an average of 300 days of sunshine per year. It is also a gourmet place, thanks to the produce of its land, whose tender lamb and sweet apples are much appreciated by epicureans. Sturdily anchored on the foundations of its rich past symbolised by its monumental citadel with a 12th century keep, it is nevertheless a town that evolves with the times. Embraced by the waters of the Durance, shaken by the assaults of the Mistral winds, illuminated by the vibrant light of Upper Provence, “there emanates from this town an astonishing force, the force of eternity on the march that nothing can stop, not even the end of the world”, as novelist and journalist Franz-Olivier Giesbert once wrote. A stay in Sisteron is a must, and visitors receive a winning welcome… especially the champions of cycling.

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Liberté, égalité, fraternité It is Bastille Day in France: 14 July!

2010-07-14T12:09:00.012+02:00

Liberté, égalité, fraternité

Stepping outside my front door this morning, I could attend the always moving ceremony of the French citizens celebrating their freedom, their equality and their brotherhood.

A small band of trumpets and drum, the ancient veterans wheeled out for the occasion, the flags and banners proudly presented, the mayor in his sash and importance -- on the little square next to the chateau under the memorial for the village's brave and dead, the playing of the Marseillaise -- I cannot help but well up and blink away the tears.

The small crowd grows still as we maintain a minute silence -- and you wonder what it is that goes through everyone's mind -- the veteran standing proud but almost slightly bent under the weight of all his medals, the young boy that looks up in awe at the banner bearers with tears on their cheeks...

The MC announces the Marseillaise and everyone smiles -- nothing like the stirring worlds of the French anthem .....to arms, citizens, let the blood of the enemy drench our fields... Then the solemnity of the moment is broken when the drummer lets out a loud "merde!" when his one drum butterfly nut falls off and everyone laughs...

This beautiful little ceremony once again conjured up the amazing spirit of this community since the beginning of time -- when they never ever let any enemy of the principles /epitomised in their motto, freedom, equality and brotherhood, get them under or overpower them. The Lindois have fought against oppression through the centuries -- the local Occitanes fought -- and won against the Roman invaders, the Hundred year War was fought -- and won within a radius of 50km from Lalinde, the Huguenot movement had its origins -- and success in this region, and during the Second World War the Resistance was stronger and more successful in this region, than any other -- this being the only region where not a single German train managed to get through.

The spirit of the people here is an inspiration to us all.

Liberty consists of being able to do anything that does not harm others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of every man or woman has no bounds other than those that guarantee other members of society the enjoyment of these same rights.

Equality: The law must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in its eyes, shall be equally eligible to all high offices, public positions and employments, according to their ability, and without other distinction than that of their virtues and talents.

Fraternité, the most problematic to insert in the triad, as it belongs to another sphere, that of moral obligations rather than rights, links rather than statutes, harmony rather than contract, and community rather than individuality.

Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité apparently finds its origins in a May 1791 proposition by the Club des Cordeliers, following a speech on the Army by the marquis de Guichardin.

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Tour de France : Stage 10 - Chambéry to Gap : 179 km

2010-07-13T06:21:00.004+02:00

T
Roll of honor : Result after stage 8
121 EVANS Cadel BMC RACING TEAM 37h 57' 09"
95 HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 118 pts
135 PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP 44 pts
11 SCHLECK Andy TEAM SAXO BANK 37h 57' 29"

Result after stage 9
11 SCHLECK Andy TEAM SAXO BANK 43h 35' 41"
95 HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 124 pts
153 CHARTEAU Anthony BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM 85 pts
11 SCHLECK Andy TEAM SAXO BANK 43h 35' 41"
195 GESINK Robert RABOBANK 43h 40' 03"

Medium mountains - A sporting perspective : Memories of Beloki

On this stage, Le Tour will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of France annexing Savoy. The Côte de Laffrey climb, on leaving Vizille, is very difficult. The Col du Noyer pass is also very complicated. Yet, this does not mean it is typical high-altitude racing. The descent is very winding: let’s not forget how badly Joseba Beloki fell in 2003, when he wanted to avoid Vinokourov gaining too much time on him. To avoid the Spaniard, Lance Armstrong was obliged to take a short-cut through a field.

Chambéry -- where they start today

• Once a stage town
• Population: 60,000
• Prefecture of Savoie (73)

[Image]Chambéry often provides accommodation for the Tour caravan, but up until now had only hosted the start of a stage in 1996 that finished in Les Arcs. Luc Leblanc won there after a day in which Stéphane Heulot lost the yellow jersey to Evgueni Berzin.
The town already boasts a cycling tradition as the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré was organised here 20 times. In 1989, Greg LeMond won the World Championship here, thus confirming his comeback success attained on the Tour three months earlier.

Between the lake and mountains, Chambery boasts a slight air of Italy as well as a unique and delicious charm. Its slate roofs, coloured façades and historical heritage combine and contrast with those of its buildings in more of a modern architectural style. On the road to Italy and the great Alpine valleys, this city so dear to Jean-Jacques Rousseau is one of the most dynamic in the Rhône-Alpes region and part of an agglomeration with a population of 125,000. It is a reference in the solar energy sector, as well as for its urban planning and booming associative and cultural scene. The Eureka Gallery and its Espace Montagne exhibition on the mountains help visitors to better understand and appreciate the Alps, especially the protected areas and surrounding mountain ranges. At the edges of the Chartreuse and Bauges regional nature parks, the city also plays host to the headquarters of the Vanoise National Park. Furthermore, 2010 is an outstanding year for Chambery. The former capital of the House of Savoy is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its annexation by France, which will be marked by a wide-ranging programme of celebratory, cultural and sporting events.

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Hazy lazy summer days in the Dordogne

2010-07-12T18:53:00.021+02:00

One of the (many) pleasures of living in the Dordogne is making friends with the people who share this corner of Paradise with me, and one of the (many) bonuses of that is to go visit them, spend a leisurely afternoon over a meal or just sipping wine, lounging next to the pool or going for a walk in the vineyards/woods/hills, dance with them in the square when the fancy takes you. The discussions are always lively, the dictionary is always close at hand, there is always a beautiful aroma wafting from the direction of the kitchen and always a little sadness when the perfect day finally comes to an end....

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Tour de France : Day 9

2010-07-12T11:00:00.003+02:00

Stage 9 - Morzine-Avoriaz Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne 204.5 km : High Mountains - A sporting perspective : A final descent that can hurt

Yesterday Andy was the winner while Evans was the leader!

There were many scenes in the eighth stage of the 2010 Tour de France that will be remembered but the biggest talking point stems from two words – “Armstrong Dropped”. The seven-time champion lived a nightmare on the roads leading to Morzine-Avoriaz, crashing three times in the stage and eventually losing contact with his rivals for the title on the col de la Ramaz. It was 10 years ago, in Morzine that he suffered his first – and only – true crisis of his seven-year reign as champion when he when went hunger flat on the col de Joux Plane. Today he collapsed and lost 11’45” to the stage winner.

It was the confirmation of the arrival of a new generation: Andy Schleck won the stage and moved up to second overall thanks to a sensational sprint at the top of a tough mountain while Cadel Evans finished sixth in the stage and took over the lead of the general classification. Chavanel’s second reign in yellow lasted just one day but it was essentially expected. What wasn’t on the forecast was such a mighty collapse by the leader of the RadioShack team which still has Levi Leipheimer in the top nine but a new game plan will be mapped out on the rest day tomorrow.
Evans was also caught up in a crash early in the day but he replaced his world champion’s jersey with a yellow one.
After the first rest day, which the riders will have to get out of their system, this is the main Alpine stage, with the Col de la Colombière pass via Le Reposoir, the Col des Aravis pass, Les Saisies and the Col de la Madeleine pass. If Contador has lost five minutes on the cobbles, it is not unimaginable that he will be clawing them back a little every day on this sort of terrain. However, there is no summit finish, because there would have been too many on this Tour. We preferred to diversify the route more to avoid riders waiting for the summit finishes to open up the gaps. The favourites might not want to attack to avoid finding themselves alone on the flat, which means a big battle is an unlikely scenario. That said, those who are not good downhill riders could lose Le Tour in the finish to this stage.

Destination town today: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

• Once a stage town
• Population: 9,400
• Sub-prefecture of Savoie (73)

Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne has notably seen the birth of expert slalom racers, like Jean-Noël Augert and Jean-Baptiste Grange, but the close proximity of the Croix-de-Fer, Télégraphe, Lautaret, Madeleine, Glandon, Iseran, Mont-Cenis and Galibier mountain passes have always made it a natural cycling ground. The start of a stage in 2006, the Savoyard city will this year have the honour of hosting a stage finish.

At the heart of the biggest cycling area available to climbers, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne has a veritable passion for cycling. Galibier, Télégraphe, Madeleine, Glandon, Croix-de-Fer, Iseran… it is at the crossroads of all these mythical passes and famous climbs, for the utmost delight of sports cyclists, touring cyclists, mountain bikers or simply spectators. Furthermore, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne boasts the rich heritage of a Town of Art and History: the cathedral and gothic cloisters, a crypt that was a cradle to Romanesque art, the suit museum, the Mont-Corbier museum (a liqueur made out of plants gathered from the surrounding mountains) and, of course, the Opinel museum, devoted to the now world famous knife invented more than a century ago a stone’s throw away from the town. Lastly, in a year that marks the 150th anniversary of the annexation of Savoy by France, in 2010 Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne will be organising many events in addition to the traditional Saint-Jean Bread Festival that takes place on the 5th of August.

Roll of honour : Result after stage 8

121 EVANS Cadel BMC RACING TEAM 37h 57' 09"
95 HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 118 pts
135 PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP 44 pts
11 SCHLECK Andy TEAM SAXO BANK 37h 57' 29"

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Tour de France : Day 8

2010-07-11T06:54:00.003+02:00

Yesterday, when knees became the virtual leader of the race, it was a Double Double For Chavanel : For the second time this year, Sylvain Chavanel has won a stage and taken the yellow jersey because of his willingness to attack. The Frenchman dared to try his luck on a day when all the major contenders were happy to gauge the form of one another on the first ‘mountains’ of the 2010 Tour. The climbs of the Jura are tough but harder days are yet to come and while the world champion is poised to strike, finishing the seventh stage ranked second overall (at 1’25”), Cadel Evans is happy enough to be in the position he is – as he wants the yellow jersey in Paris, not Station des Rousses at the start of the second week.

The French Quickstep coup was repeated again with Jerome Pineau successfully defending his lead in the mountains classification with another bold move. He started the initial escape in the opening kilometer and only returned to the peloton after collecting first place points at five of the six climbs.

None of the favorites for the title attacked each other, unless you count last year’s 10th place finisher Le Mevel (FDJ) who tried a brief surge only to be caught by the group of Contador, Evans, Schleck, Armstrong et al before rolling into the line as part of the peloton that was 1’47” behind the stage winner and new yellow jersey, Sylvain Chavanel.

And today, the eighth stage, is the day of the high mountains - A sporting perspective

This is where the mountains start. There will be a high altitude finishing line at Avoriaz and even if the gaps are not big, Contador should still go on the offensive. He could even get his hands on the Yellow Jersey, but will his team be able to defend it every day? In 2003, Richard Virenque attacked on the Col de la Ramaz pass to win the stage that finished in Morzine and pick up the Yellow Jersey. To find a stage with a finish at Avoriaz, you have to go back sixteen years to 1994. Latvian Piotr Ugrumov, who was the Tour’s runner-up that year, triumphed before winning the following day’s stage as well.

The destination town today: Morzine-Avoriaz in the Jura mountains

• 17 times a stage town in Morzine
• 6 times a stage site in the resort of Avoriaz
• Population: 3,000
• Town in Haute-Savoie (74)

At the end of the 1970s, Avoriaz, the high-altitude ski resort that is part of the town of Morzine, specialised in hosting hill climb time-trials, in which Lucien Van Impe, the King of the Morzine climb, triumphed twice. Over longer distances Bernard Hinault, in 1979, and Piotr Ugrumov, in 1994, also dominated time-trials here at 1,800 metres altitude. In 1985 Lucho Herrera was the first to reach the “Gateway to the Sun” in a stage similar to the one planned for this year’s riders.

The resort of Avoriaz, perched at an altitude of 1,800 m on a sunny plateau, is part of the Morzine-Arvoriaz municipality. Dreamt up by Jean Vuarnet, downhill gold medal winner at the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley in 1960 and a resident of Morzine, the construction of the resort started in the following years. The project was supervised by property developer Robert Brémond, who went on to become the founder of the Pierre & Vacances group, as well as the architects Jacques Labro and Jean-Jacques Orzoni. A pioneer in ecological terms, the car-free pedestrian only resort boasts surprising mimetic architecture. Buildings with innovative shapes covered in non-treated wood oriented towards the sun and designed to encourage energy saving make Avoriaz unique. The Fantasy Film Festival that took place here from 1973 to 1993 helped to build the resort’s reputation. Today, new events make sure that Avoriaz is a resort known throughout the world: the Grand Odyssey, The Avoriaz Jazz Up Festival, the International Extreme Sports Festival, to name but a few…

OVERALL STANDING ON TIME Result after stage 7 Total distance covered: 380.4 km Armstrong is now lying 14th with a 3 min 16 sec gap to Chavanel, the leader

Standing Rider Rider number bib Team Time Gaps
1. CHAVANEL Sylvain 131 QUICK STEP 33h 01' 23"
2. EVANS Cadel 121 BMC RACING TEAM 33h 02' 48" + 01' 25"
3. HESJEDAL Ryder 54 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 33h 02' 55" + 01' 32"
4. SCHLECK Andy 11 TEAM SAXO BANK 33h 03' 18" + 01' 55"
5. VINOKOUROV Alexandre 9 ASTANA 33h 03' 40" + 02' 17"
6. CONTADOR Alberto 1 ASTANA 33h 03' 49" + 02' 26"
7. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 101 OMEGA PHARMA - 33h 03' 51" + 02' 28"
8. ROCHE Nicolas 81 AG2R LA MONDIALE 33h 03' 51" + 02' 28"
9. VAN SUMMEREN Johan 58 GARMIN - TRANSITIONS 33h 03' 56" + 02' 33"
10. MENCHOV Denis 191 RABOBANK 33h 03' 58" + 02' 35"
11. WIGGINS Bradley 31 SKY PRO CYCLING 33h 03' 58" + 02' 35"
12. KREUZIGER Roman 44 LIQUIGAS-DOIMO 33h 04' 33" + 03' 10"
13. SANCHEZ Luis-Leon 161 CAISSE D’EPARGNE 33h 04' 34" + 03' 11"
14. ARMSTRONG Lance 21 TEAM RADIOSHACK 33h 04' 39" + 03' 16"

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Tour de France : Stage Seven

2010-07-10T07:06:00.004+02:00

After yesterday's gruelling stage, the second time winner, Mark Cavendish, had this to say:

“I’m just the guy who puts my hands in the air…”

“It was a hard stage actually, up and down all day long. It was incredible to win today, you’re not going to shut me up – I’ve got a lot of talking to do and I missed out on saying all of what I wanted to yesterday.

“It was harder than what most of us expected it to be. Special mention to a couple of guys on my team, Maxime Monfort and Bert Grabsch, we had to give Kanstantsin a rest today because he’s got work to do in the mountains for Mick Rogers. It was a long, hard slog for our guys but they rode incredibly well. They kept the gap down and then it was a case of everybody jumping in at the end.

“We knew it was going to happen, we knew it was going to be a tactical last climb but it played in our favor a little bit because it stopped us having to follow the chase at the end and we were able to just infiltrate into the lead-out. That was good, it was different to what we normally do.

“I just followed Mark [Renshaw] as usual and it was just a case of finishing off the incredible work that my team-mates did.
“We’re a team and I’m just a part of what’s functions like a great machine. Yeah, I’m just the guy who crosses the line with my hands in the air… but that’s the goal of cycling, to display the logo sponsors. And we’ve got to figure out the best way to do that and one way is to win bunch sprints. I’ve got to finish off the work that they do, and it’s an incredible machine to be part of.

“I don’t know where I stand with the green jersey. It’s still far off but I’ll just plug away. We’ll try and win stages and see what happens. After the mix-ups of the first few days, it put us on the back foot and we’ll do what we normally do and I’ll see how I go.”

Stage 7 - Tournus Station des Rousses 165.5 km

Medium mountains - A sporting perspective : An initial cull

This medium-altitude mountain terrain will be more difficult than Liège-Bastogne-Liège, because the climbs last for between 6 and 12 kilometres, starting at the 40 km mark. Thereafter, there is not even a single centimetre of flat road; it will be up, down, up, down and so on and so forth. At the finishing line, there may still be around thirty riders together. The slopes are not massively difficult, so it is not necessarily a stage for a major climber, more so for a rider like Cadel Evans or David Moncoutié. However, an initial cull will take place and those who are not on form, who will not reach the front of the race, may already be looking at a Tour that is lost.

Destination town today: Station des Rousses

• Stage town for the first time
• Population: 6,286
• Winter / summer holiday resort in Jura (39)

Another major first for this stage finish in Les Rousses, a pretty village in Haut Jura that, together with three other towns in the surrounding area – Bois d’Amont, Lamoura, Prémanon – forms a family summer vacation and winter ski resort. The birthplace of skiing in France, the resort is also well known to cyclists as the climb to Les Rousses (1,140 m, level 2 or 3 climb), which leads to the Faucille pass, has been ascended more than 40 times since 1911.

The French-Swiss resort of Les Rousses (6,300 inhabitants), situated at the heart of the Haut Jura Regional National Park in the Franche-Comté area of France, offers the ideal altitude for relaxing holidays in a peaceful and protected natural setting. Used by the French teams to prepare for cross-country skiing events, the resort is the birthplace of Jason Lamy-Chappuis, the combined cross-country ski champion at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. It is also known all over the world for the famous Transjurassienne event (76 km of cross-country skiing). In summer, Les Rousses offers a wide range of activities for all the family: hiking, mountain biking, swimming in the two lakes, sailing, canyoning, golf, ice skating, horse riding, adventure trail in the underground passages of Les Rousses Fort. In winter, all activities revolve around snow: downhill skiing (40 lifts), cross-country skiing (220 groomed kms), snowshoe trails and footpaths, dog sleighing, tobogganing, biathlon, kite-surfing, ski joëring. Finally, you can view our craft work and visit our museums all year round.
Recharge your batteries in Les Rousses!

Roll of honor Result after stage 6
13 CANCELLARA Fabian TEAM SAXO BANK 28h 37' 30"
95 HUSHOVD Thor CERVELO TEST TEAM 118 pts
135 PINEAU Jérôme QUICK STEP 13 pts
39 THOMAS Geraint SKY PRO CYCLING 28h 37' 50"

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