J’aime la France – #160-194

J’aime la France¹⁶⁰.

Lovers’ locks, Paris.

I love France, so much so, that I sometimes wonder if I have a little bit of Plantagenet blood coursing through my veins. Then again, I hate cheese, so perhaps not.

And, following on from my last post, I probably wouldn’t like it half as much had the Allies not been successful in liberating it in 1944/45.

There are so many places in France I have yet to discover, but some of the ones I have, I shall share with you:

Paris

Paris¹⁶¹, of course, the epitome of the romantic city. Musée d’Orsay¹⁶² is one of the greatest art galleries in the world, boasting a smorgasbord of impressionist works. The Latin Quarter¹⁶³ with its bohemian cafés and restaurants, the artists’ square in Montmartre¹⁶⁴, Lautrec’s Pigalle¹⁶⁵. I even had the best cassoulet¹⁶⁶ of my life in Paris. (Not to mention the biggest hangover.)

Cassoulet

Further north from Paris is the Somme¹⁶⁷ – Albert¹⁶⁸, Amiens¹⁶⁹ and Arras¹⁷⁰. Now, the River Somme winds its way sleepily through Amiens amidst the riverside cafes and restaurants. A far cry from the death and destruction 100 years ago. If you want to become a pacifist take a trip to any of the numerous First World War memorials that are dotted around the countryside. If you weren’t one beforehand you certainly will be after you witness hundreds of thousands of white marble slabs.

River Somme, Amiens

Whilst Brittany¹⁷¹ may have a similar climate to the south coast of England, its beaches and medieval towns eclipse what we have here. Even towns that were bombed to smithereens during the Second World War have been painstakingly rebuilt to their former glory. From the walled city of Fougere¹⁷² in the east to the Dinan¹⁷³ and Dinard¹⁷⁴ in the north. Morlaix¹⁷⁵ in the west, Concerneau¹⁷⁶ and Pont-Aven¹⁷⁷ in the south. Mont Saint Michel¹⁷⁸, (which is actually in Normandy), is one of the modern wonders of the world.

Pont-Aven, Brittany

Morlaix, Brittany

Fougere, Brittany

Tregastel, Brittany

Can’t remember if this is Dinan or Dinard in Brittany

Mont Saint Michel, Normandy

My favourite spot is the Cote d’Azur^179. Nice with its wide boulevards and maze of streets in the old town¹⁸⁰, (there’s a cracking Picasso gallery in) Antibes¹⁸¹, Cannes for a bit of bling¹⁸², Villefranche-sur-mer¹⁸³, Monte Carlo¹⁸⁴, Juan les Pins¹⁸⁵, and not as expensive as you might think. Further inland up in the mountains is the perfume capital, Grasse¹⁸⁶ and the artists’ haven of Saint Paul de Vence¹⁸⁷.

Antibes

Nice

Bouillabaisse

Saint Paul de Vence

Grasse

Another treasure is the island of Corsica¹⁸⁸. Bonifacio¹⁸⁹ with its brightly coloured buildings clinging precariously to the cliffs. Cargése¹⁹⁰ in the north west. And the pirate haven of Sarténe¹⁹¹ up in the hills.

 

Bonifacio, Corsica

Cargése, Corsica

All in all, a veritable paradise. Particularly if you like meat and fish. Can’t say it would be a utopia for veggies, mind. Cassoulet, bouillabaisse¹⁹², moules provencal¹⁹³ – ahh, heaven. Obviously, washed down with copious amounts of rosé or red wine.

Moules Provencal

Maybe one day, when my second novel makes a million or two, I can buy a little gites¹⁹⁴ by a lake, or overlooking the sea.

There are so many places in France that I have yet to see, so if you have a favourite, please feel free to share your recommendations in the comment box below.

Addendum.

The one thing I HATE about France is dog poo. They seem to have an extraordinary amount of it. Obviously, they love their dogs. But, disappointingly, they don’t appear to be too keen enforcing public hygiene laws.

I recall strolling across a Tregastel beach in Brittany cautiously stepping over and around dog stools looking over my shoulder to warn my kids then, squelch. Open-toed sandals. I still feel nauseous to this day.