A TOUR DE FRANCE WITH BILL AND ELIZABETH
JULY 23 SOME WISDOM FROM MY TRAVELS
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JULY 8TH FRIDAY DAY ONE
JULY 9 SATURDAY STARTING TO TAKE IT ALL IN
JULY 10 SUNDAY A DAY FOR THE BIRDS
JULY 11 AT LAST SOME REAL SOUL FOOD
JULY 12 MERDE, IL PLEUT
JULY 13TH IF I RULED THE WORLD I'D BUILD A PLACE LIKE THIS
JULY 14 VENI VEDI VICI ON BASTILLE DAY
JULY 15 TRAVEL TO ST ETIENNE
JULY 16TH WEDDING OF SEBASTIAN AND EVELYN
JULY 17TH IN TRANSIT TO CAUX
JULY 18TH VISIT RON AND LESLEY IN CAUX
JULY 19TH TRAVEL TO CANNES
JULY 20TH CANNES THE FIRST DAY
JULY 21 GRASSE THIS TOWN STINKS
JULY 22 THE BANK OF MONTE CARLO BROKE US
JULY 23 OUR MISADVENTURE THANKS TO WOODY ALLEN
JULY 23 SOME WISDOM FROM MY TRAVELS
JULY 23 SATURDAY LAST DAY ALL DAY IN CANNES
JULY 24 FROM CANNES TO LYON
JULY 24 MORE REMARKS ABOUT FRANCE
JULY 25 LYON TO PARIS AND ELIZABETH'S BIRTHDAY
JULY 26TH. FIN!!!....MY LAST COMMENTS ABOUT FRANCE

HERE ARE SOME QUICK OBSERVATIONS FROM OUR TRIP


  • French stop signs say “STOP” unlike Quebec where they say “ARRET”
  • You cannot turn right on a red light.
  • Always have your credit card or money at hand. Toll roads, parking lots and the like need them.
  • Surprisingly French drivers are very polite. I have only heard the horn sounded on three occasions. If you come up behind a vehicle on a four-lane highway they move over for you directly.
  • Cars in France are generally stick shift, which I love. However they do not have a hand break which makes for tension if you are on an incline and can roll backwards or forwards easily.
  • French woman are generally thinner then NA woman and NA woman are generally fatter.
  • Most French woman over 40 have bags under their eyes, crows feet, shallow cheeks, in short could use the plastic surgeon.
  • French food is not as good as Italian. That is not because I am Italian.
  • French fruit stores don’t present their fruits and vegetables as well as Italians. I grew up in the business and have travelled in both countries and the Italians win hands down.
  • French parents are far too permissive and indifferent to what their children do in public places. At lunch one child licked the salt while her parents looked on and did nothing. They didn't correct the child and God forbide they wipe the salt cellar clean or have the staff do it. 
  • A street sign painter could make a fortune if the authorities gave a dam. Street signs are on buildings at 10 feet high and difficult to see. Streets are not well marked.
  • Round abouts are great. If no other traffic you just continue through. If you make a mistake in direction just go around again. Can’t read a sign go around again.
  • Any popular restaurant will have musicians show up just as sure as pigeons.
  • French cheese is generally what I would call artesian not corporate. As a result the bacteria is still active and wouldn’t you know it I have and allergy to it and it causes me to sniffle and have watery eyes. Later I found out is simply not pasteurized.
  • Driving through the countryside is like driving through a cheese counter of French cheese names or the LCBO's French wine section that you know and recognize.
  • The French don’t like the Americans in fact are out right anti American. This despite American coming to their rescue in WWI and II, implementing the Marshall Plan, protecting them with NATO, contributing through trade to perhaps half their GNP and the list could go on. On several occasions when asked if we were American and saying we Canadians the French person would then make an Anti American remark. It's like be Jewish and the other person not knowing it makes an anti Jewish remark right to your face not realizing you are Jewish. Liberty fries for me from now on no more French Fries to show my contempt at their two facedness.
  • The French smoke like we did in the 60’s. Scant attention is paid to not smoking where it is now being limited.
  • Dogs are allowed and adored in restaurants. Most dogs are well behaved in those environments.
  • The second language of Cannes is Arabic, followed by Swedish, Norwegian and then English.
  • Other than food little French products in stores mostly Chinese.
  • The highest degree of arrogance and indifference to others is in Paris with the sentiment receding in smaller towns and further south you go.
  • About every 25 people pass by then a family and then it is repeated.
  • Eat in an outdoor café and people gawk at what you’re eating and then you.
  • The poor and homeless are with us even in Cannes.
  • Eating outdoors means you will be accosted by rose sellers, toy peddlers and begging.
  • This year the summer fashion is see through clothing. It’s like cheesecloth or linen. Whatever the lady is wearing her white bra and panties or coloured bra and panties are evident. Of course I like it.
  • We could learn from the French the way they deal with parking. There are ample lots either underground or special built. Through the area signs are posted listing the parking lots and a number that changes indicating how many parking spots are available. Imagine Yorkville listing their lots and what is available.
  • By adding a French name to anything it will increase the price exponentially. The Red Mill entrance 10E. The Moulin Rogue entrance 100E. Tea 2E The 10E. Flowers 5E Fleurs 50E. You get the point.
  • There are no diet profiteros.
  • Stay only in 4 star hotels in France. Anything else is too small or dirty. I assume all our friends are either 4 or 5 star people.
  • Dogs and Cats are spoiled just like in Canada. "All dogs look up us. All cats look down on us. Only a pig looks at you as equal." Winston Churchill.
  • They don’t clean up after their dogs.
  • There is no six degrees of separation operating in France. I have not met anyone from Canada here yet.
  • One out of every 290-woman look like Edith Piaff.
  • Seven out of ten people walking in a small French town in the morning will have a baguette under their arm and in their hand.
  • Don’t be surprised at what you ordered in a restaurant bears no resemblance to what is served.
  • When you pay with Visa they bring a hand held unit right to you so you can see the transaction. A better way of doing it.
  • Fish soup is always tasty but a puree not with chunks of fish in it.
  • A staircase that turns has a centre part that you can’t put your foot on. You must use the outside broader part of the step.