Travellers To France

The Tour De France,The Worlds Biggest Road Bike Race

2006-03-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

by: Alastair Hamilton

The Tour de France is the BIG one; it’s the World cup and the Olympics all in one. It has it all, the high mountains, the wind swept northern planes and the heat of the south. It also has the world’s media, all the top teams and riders and millions of cycling mad fans watching. The other “Grand Tours” of Italy and Spain are as exciting, sometimes more so, but they don’t have the thing the Tour has, that unique Tour ness, that unique French ness.

How it started.

It all started in 1903, when the French daily paper, L’Auto wanted to sell more than its competitor, Le Vélo, who at that time was the only paper reporting on cycle racing. It was suggested to the papers director, Henri Desgrange that they should organise a bike race all round France...

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St. Tropez - A "Must-See" Part Of The French Riviera

2006-03-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

St. Tropez - A "Must-See" Part Of The French Riviera
by: Sandy Knoll

A visit to the French Riviera would not be complete without a stop in St. Tropez. Renowned for its miles of glistening white beaches, exotic food and as a playground for the rich and famous - it is THE place to see and be seen.

A true jewel of the Riviera, St. Tropez is an animated seaside resort where the azure water and cerulean skies are backlit by brilliant sunsets of ripe apricot, ruby red and gold.

The late afternoon breeze from the Med causes the jewel-colored awnings of the sidewalk cafes to snap and wave merrily, and brings a welcome relief from the heat of the day. Here, the air is fragrant with jasmine and mimosa, andthe occasional whiff of a gourmet meal being prepared makes your mouth water.

The nightlife in St. Tropez is fast, energetic and frenetic. You can always find something going on -- there are numerous clubs where you can eat, drink and dance the night away.

"St. Trop" as it is known by those in the film industry, means "Saint Too Much." It was "discovered" in 1956 when Roger Vadim’s "And God Created Women" was filmed here, launching a young Brigitte Bardot into instant super stardom. St. Tropez became a Mecca to artists, writers and, of course, movie stars in the 60s.

St. Tropez is the favored vacation site of chic Parisians and most of Europe. International stars still flock here in the spring and summer, and you never know whom you’ll run into at the open-air market in the Place des Lices, or while sipping an aperitif at one of the many outdoor cafes. In fact, people watching is a favorite pastime in the summer, when the sidewalks are crowded with tourists and sun worshippers.

At the heart of St. Tropez is the harbor. Take a walk along the pier, and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a picture postcard or a painting by Signac or Matisse. Picturesquely painted villas with red tiled roofs sit along the dock, indulgently watching over the wooden fishing boats that bob gently next to large, expensive yachts. 12th century churches, the famous parasol pines and narrow cobblestone streets among picture-perfect houses complete the feeling that it’s too beautiful to be real.

Much has been made of the very special quality of light that is only found in St. Tropez. Maybe it's because of its unique and paradoxical location, or perhaps the spectacular, almost tropical climate has something to do with it. Whatever the reason, when you see the way the luminescent light plays across the wooden sailboats, or highlights one of the beautiful fountains, you’ll feel the stirrings of your inner artist, and long to pick up a paintbrush and palette.

St. Tropez is also known for its beaches. The most famous is the Plage de Pampelonne, with its five km of almost blinding white sand, exotic boutiques, sidewalk cafes and restaurants, including the renowned "Club 55." At the north end you’ll find the Plage de Tahiti, which is a well-known haunt of famous celebrities. Other beaches you can visit include Bouillabaisse, Caneliers, and Salins. To the south of Plage de Pampelonne is Cap Camarat, and just beyond that - a little less accessible and therefore much less crowded - are Plage de l’Escalet and Plage de la Briande. If you go a little farther south, you’ll find a wonderful beach - Gigaro, and the town of La Croix Valmer.

In all, you’ll find over 40 beaches in the area, so it’s easy to enjoy soaking up the sun every day, if that’s your pleasure. If you prefer something a little more strenuous than lying on the beach, St. Tropez offers something for everyone in way of activities. You can find: Hiking, Biking, Golf, Tennis, Racquetball, Fitness Center, Miniature Golf, Amusement Parks, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Shopping, Restaurants (from the very expensive to the inexpensive), Cinemas, Swimming, Snorkeling/Scuba Diving, Boating, Sailing, Water-skiing, Surfing, Windsurfing, Parasailing, and Jet skiing.

When you’re finished soaking up the sun, you can move indoors, and soak up a little culture instead. There are plenty of wonderful museums, art galleries and other events scheduled throughout the year.

About The Author
Sandy Knoll, the author, operates a websited devoted to beaches and everything related to beaches. She operates http://www.finbeach.com/ which is a great beach resource.

Père Lachaise cemetery

2006-02-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

Years ago, upon my first-ever arrival in Paris, there was no doubt as to where I would begin my itinerary ...

I went immediately to the Père Lachaise cemetery.

That's the final resting place of such luminaries as Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Sarah Berhhardt and Chopin. If I had been there during daylight, I'm sure I would have taken my time to pay my respects to each of them and others. However, it was around 1.00am, and this was a pilgrimage to what's become more of a shrine than a grave.

This is where Jim Morrison of the Doors is buried.

James Dean lived fast and died young. Kurt Cobain had succumbed, by his own hand, to stress and recurrent abdominal pains. Marilyn Monroe took too many pills. Mama Cass choked on that fateful ham sandwich. Keith Moon simply exploded from self-indulgence.

Jim Morrison was different. He lived hard so we didn't have to.

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Culinary Traditions Of France

2006-02-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

French cuisine is the amazingly high standard to which all other native cuisines must live up to. The country of France is home of some of the finest cuisine in the world, and it is created by some of the finest master chefs in the world. The French people take excessive pride in cooking and knowing how to prepare a good meal. Cooking is an essential part of their culture, and it adds to one's usefulness if they are capable of preparing a good meal.

by: Kirsten Hawkins

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Get Started Speaking French

2006-02-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

While you are in France you will probably make yourself understood by speaking the “Text Book” French and make much use of dictionary you armed yourself with before starting your holiday. However if you really want to impress with your language skills you could speak a little of the modern, progressive language in every day use today. Just like any progressive language, French is rich in colloquialisms and slang or ‘argot’.

Here are some examples of everyday French and simple colloquial terms to get you started:

French Wine

2006-02-07T11:41:00.001-08:00

by: Jeff Anderson

Since the Roman times, France has made its wines, producing it from freshly cut grapes. The Romans are the first to disseminate the arts of winemaking. Wine is generally produced from freshly picked grapes; however, today's wines also are made from watermelon, apricots, peaches and other fruits. French wine is produced with freshly cut grapes, cultured yeasts, that are converted from sugars into alcohol while the fermentation process is taking place. Commonly the yeasts are filtered out before bottling takes place. Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, and Champagne offer a variety of tastes that provide luxury with any meal.

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France – Paris and Nice

2006-02-04T11:26:00.001-08:00

by: Rick Chapo

From beaches to the alps, France has a little of something for everyone. In this article, we take a look at Paris and the beach city of Nice.

Paris

It is hard to know where to start when discussing Paris. Take a boat down the Seine River and you will pass Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower and so many other notable spots it is easy to get overwhelmed. The city is simply that dramatic.

Long considered the most glamorous city in Europe, Paris has a little of everything. For the romantic, one can visit the haunts of famous writers, historical sites of just about every nature and the Moulin Rouge.

On the other hand, art lovers can spend weeks visiting the 100 plus museums in the city with, of course, the Louvre being the crown jewel. Personally, I found the Rodin Museum just as interesting, particularly since there was a much smaller crowd.

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