Archive for October 10th, 2022

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October 10, 2022

The Chapelle Saint Adrien of St Barthélemy !

In my road warrior driving around my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 of the lovely region of Bretagne in my belle France. There is so much to see I had said will take me a lifetime and won’t be enough.  I am back at Saint Barthélemy , and as usual saw something new I like to tell you about it. This is the Chapelle Saint Adrien ; and hope you enjoy the post as I.

St Barthélemy Chapelle St Adrien front oct22

The town of Saint-Barthélemy is located on the road D142 up from the D768 , that passes by me and is about 19 km from my house.

The Saint-Adrien Chapel was built at the end of the 15C by the Rohans, whose arms appear at the bedside of the chapel and on the door of the south wooded arm. There are the arms of the Rohans, owners of the lordship of Baud since the end of the 15C, here combined with those of the Baud family, to establish their legitimacy in this place. The date of 1565 read inside could correspond to several interventions such as the construction of the sacristy, the resumption of certain openings as well as the installation of stained glass windows: certain preserved fragments bear the arms of the Rimaisons, still present here at one time where the Rohan family disappeared. In 1937, the master window was removed as well as the glass roof of the south transept representing the scene of the Passion. The mullion of the south window was then redone on this occasion. The glass roof of the north transept deposited at an unknown date represented the Annunciation, that of the south nave represented the Trinity. The main altarpiece, removed since the beginning of the 20C, partly obscured the main window, the opening of which is partially blocked. In the 19C, a plaster vault hid the paneling until the 1970s when they were removed above the choir and redone on the nave.

St Barthélemy

St Barthélemy chapelle St Adrien side oct22

The Saint Adrien Chapel adopts a Latin cross plan with a very sunken flat apse, pierced by a large bay window decorated with flowers. The walls built in cut stone are plastered inside. The whole is covered with a paneling. A fireplace and a wooden staircase leading to the attic are fitted out in this sacristy. Each gable is confined by oblique sloped buttresses. A frame pinnacle surmounts the west gable.

St Barthélemy chapelle St Adrien back oct22

The Saint Adrien fountain covers one of the springs surrounding the chapel, a few meters away. Built at the end of the 15C, it is contemporary with the Church (see post). The knot of the cross is carved with heads, it supports the crosspiece carved on the obverse of Christ surrounded by the Virgin and Saint John, on the reverse of a Virgin and Child at whose feet the donor kneels.

St Barthélemy fontaine st adrien oct22

The town of St Barthélemy on the Chapel: https://saint-barthelemy56.fr/index.php/les-chapelles/

The local Valley of the Blavet tourist office on the Chapel: https://valleedublavet.bzh/en/discover/chapels-calvaries-and-their-secrets/2909-saint-adrien-s-chapel-in-saint-barthelemy.html

There you go folks, a wonderful ride off the beaten path into deep Morbihan, what a pleasure it is always.  The sights are genuine, full of history and great architecture , it is what my idea of my belle France , beautiful Morbihan and lovely Bretagne is all about. Hope you enjoy the Chapelle Saint Adrien of Saint Barthélemy as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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October 10, 2022

The Church Saint-Barthélemy of Saint Barthélemy !

In my road warrior driving around my beautiful Morbihan dept 56 of the lovely region of Bretagne in my belle France. There is so much to see I had said will take me a lifetime and won’t be enough.  I am back at Saint Barthélemy for a second look with new pictures, Let me tell you more about the Church Saint Barthélemy. Hope you enjoy it as I.

St Barthélemy ch St Barthélemy front oct22

The town Saint-Barthélemy is located on the road D142 up from the D768 from my house in about 19 km. Old truce of Baud erected in town on July 17, 1867 . There is a nice looking modern Church Saint-Barthélemy 19-20C. In the shape of a Latin cross, it was built near the old chapel of Saint-Barthélemy which has become a parish church since 1871. The old chapel which dates from the 16C was demolished, and in 1891 gave way to an ordinary modern Gothic style chruch. It is a large nave ending in a semicircular apse. The current church was blessed on October 27, 1895. The bell tower was built in 1913.

St Barthélemy ch St Barthélemy belltower side oct22

St Barthélemy ch St Barthélemy side belltower oct22

The parish Church Saint-Barthélemy has a large single nave covered with paneling. The chevet in the apse, with canted sides, is flanked by two identical sacristies with a square plan covered in a pavilion. The bell tower is built in cut stone while the walls of the nave and the apse are coated. The first floor of the square tower is surmounted by a balustrade and flanked by two staircase turrets. Set back, the bell chamber supports the polygonal spire. The mission cross is made of granite cut stone and bears a cast iron Christ.

St Barthélemy ch St Barthélemy back oct22

There is no specific webpage on the church, pity so will give you the overall heritage things to see in Saint Barthélemy, Morbihan 56, Brittany, France!

The town of Saint Barthélemy on its heritage : https://saint-barthelemy56.fr/index.php/patrimoine/

The Blavet valley tourist board on Saint Barthélemy: https://valleedublavet.bzh/decouvrir/baud-communaute/saint-barthelemy/

There you go folks, a wonderful ride off the beaten path into deep Morbihan, what a pleasure it is always.  The sights are genuine, full of history and great architecture , it is what my idea of my belle France , beautiful Morbihan and lovely Bretagne is all about. Hope you enjoy the Church Saint Barthélemy in Saint Barthélemy as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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October 10, 2022

Wines news of France XXXIII !!

Well, we are now in Fall season , and October 2022 , so we are all ready for the cold weather indeed. Anyway, always good to bring the best of Wine news of France. First ,thanks to all my readers and/or followers! Oh yeah, the wines of France are just super simply awesome and a great tradition. Often imitated, some time equaled ,but never surpass! Let me give some news shall we; hope you enjoy it as I.

I have to start here, this is a memorable house of many good times visiting and drinking as well as getting to know Mr Gagey and his crew, See my post on Jadot to know more about my story. Changing of the guards of course, but will be missed, After 31 years at the head of Louis Jadot, Pierre-Henri Gagey, an emblematic figure of Burgundy, will be replaced at the head of the house by Thomas Seiter, former general manager of neighboring Bouchard Père et Fils, recently bought by François Pinault. . Located in Beaune, the Louis Jadot house is one of the historical jewels of the Burgundy wine region, recognizable by its stripped light yellow labels and which reveal a sculpted head of Bacchus, the emblem of the house. The vines extend over more than 200 ha – including more than 100 ha in Côte-d’Or with many wines and remarkable vineyards in grand cru, premier cru and village appellation. Thomas Seiter. Trained at the very prestigious American University of Berkeley and graduated in France from INSEEC, Thomas Seiter has held the position of Managing Director of William Fèvre since 2018, but above all of the other major Beaune house: Bouchard Père et Fils which has just recently been acquired by the Pinault family. Mr Gagey was President of the BIVB, had himself taken over from his father, André. But the Gageys did not completely leave the ship since Thomas Seiter would be assisted by Thibault , the son of Pierre-Henry Gagey , who was entrusted with the general management of the house. Official webpage: https://www.louisjadot.com/en

Languedoc is the leading wine region in France, with a third of the areas planted with vines, it is rarer to know that the Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) Languedoc, which celebrates its 15 anniversary this year, represents a third of the volumes sold, all appellations in the region combined. A success driven in particular by the rosés which now represent the bulk of production, far ahead of the reds and whites. Rosé already accounted for 25% of production. The United States is the leading market for the Languedoc appellation and absorbs 30% of exports, driven by rosés. this market has recorded uninterrupted growth, far ahead of China (15 to 17% of exports), Canada and Belgium at 10%, and a trio around 5 to 7% made up of the United Kingdom, Germany and Switzerland , The Languedoc appellation is therefore one of the top 10 appellations with the most presence among wine merchants. More info on Languedoc : https://www.languedoc-coeur-herault.fr/en/

As every year since 1985, the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau will take place in mid-November: this year we will have to wait until Thursday, November 17, 2022 to discover the 2022 vintage of the famous primeur wine. Indeed, for more than 35 years, the new Beaujolais wines of the year have been available from the third Thursday of November, Since the creation of Beaujolais Nouveau in 1951, the release date of these early wines varies from year to year. The date of November 15 was the official date until 1967, but this caused problems at the administrative level. Indeed, it was not easy for the winegrowers to declare their bottles in time when the 15th of the month fell on a Saturday or a Sunday… This is why in 1985, the Beaujolais Nouveaux event was officially set for the 3rd Thursday in November. This wine is produced throughout the Beaujolais and Beaujolais-Villages appellations, in an area that covers a good part of the Saône plain up to the Lyon mountains. Beaujolais Nouveau is mainly made from the Gamay Noir grape variety. And although Beaujolais Nouveau is not unanimous, it still represents a third of the total production of Beaujolais, or about 55 million bottles per year. Taste tradition here ! Official webpage : https://www.beaujolaisnouveau.fr/

In Pauillac, in the heart of the Médoc, there is activity in the cellars of Château d’Armailhac. In Pauillac, after its châteaux Mouton Rothschild and Clerc Milon, the Rothschild family is renovating d’Armailhac. Brand new cellars receive the harvest. The tractors bring the crates of grapes cut by a hundred pickers, which will be poured onto belts where teams will remove the leaves and other petioles. And all will be on new barrels and fermentation chambers ! Webpage : https://www.chateau-darmailhac.com/

Michel Janas his small vineyard which has almost everything of a big one is located in the north of Finistère dept 29 in Carantec (see posts) of my lovely region of Bretagne, One of the oldest productions is in Quimper, it is the hillside of Braden. With its 17 grape varieties, there is mainly white wine. In Carantec, the average annual temperature is around 12°C, with 788 mm of precipitation. Either ,one degree less than in Saint-Emilion (Gironde 33) but… 200 mm more rain. The precious liquid has since rested in two small wooden barrels, at the back of the Breton property. One of them already bears the future name of the wine: “Kermen”, inspired by the locality where it grows. but the 2022 vintage should be very good. See you in 2023 for the first tasting. The vineyard with a great view of the sea and Saint Pol de Léon, The Wines of Brittany per se are coming back !! Stay tune for more news later !!!

The Château de Portets located in an arm of the Garonne river 20 minutes south of Bordeaux or the Graves. Double rarity, the Château de Portets has its own port. You will be able to come by boat to visit the estate. Its origin dates back to the time of the Romans who settled there and developed the port of Portets that we know today. Napoleon even stopped there before arriving in Bordeaux in 1808. Occupied by the Nazis during WWII, the estate was left almost abandoned. Today it is Marie-Hélène Yung-Théron who manages the estate with radiant dynamism throughout the appellation. There is even a visit with an investigator’s kit to discover the history of the castle and also a wine pairing and a cuisine back from the market. Finally, let’s not forget the main thing: the wines of the castle! Webpage : https://www.chateaudeportets.fr/en/

She is, also, involved with this webpage all about wines: https://www.toutlevin.com/

As you walk along the Vienne river, you will cross vineyards that François Rabelais already mentioned in his writings. At the heart of this Loire vineyard still inhabited by the soul of the humanist, you will come across Cravant-les-Coteaux, a small village where Philippe Alliet’s estate is hidden. After inheriting from his grandfather in 1978, Philippe Alliet and his wife Claude cultivated, and still cultivate, 18 hectares of vines with increasing rigor. It was after ten years of hard work in the shadows that their efforts were rewarded: the wines stood out for their innovative style, denser and darker than that of their neighbours. Its vines are pruned severely and harvested by hand. A serious work necessary for the cultivation of these grape varieties which offer low yields of irreproachable quality. We have to admit that the plants benefit from ideal conditions: they evolve on clay, limestone and silica soils on hillsides facing due south. The 225 liter barrels have been replaced by 500 liter barrels ; a judicious choice that avoids over-marking the wine with woody notes. With this in mind, the share of new wood has also been revised downwards, and after these aging periods of 11 to 20 months, it is time to taste these famous cuvées, produced in small quantities (70,000 bottles per year). The wines currently on sale are: Chinon Philippe Alliet 2020, This introduction to the estate’s range presents a particularly charming profile of the Loire Cabernet-Franc. The Chinon L’Huisserie Philippe Alliet (2016, 2018, 2019), A dense and suave wine, with a very nice roundness in the mouth, delicious at any age, both in its early youth and after 10 years of cellaring. And the Chinon Vieilles Vignes Philippe Alliet (2018, 2019), A great wine from Chinon, concentrated, fresh and delicious, with silky tannins. Crunchy and crunchy, especially with good red meat! More info here : https://www.ventealapropriete.com/vins-Loire/Philippe-Alliet?lang=en

A bit of education as usual from me on these posts, to unmistified the wine for you, In the world of wine, sulphites and sulphur dioxide have become a hot topic. Result: we are faced with discussions leaving all rationality to rush into free combat. Our enlightment to avoid shortcuts. First, let’s take a very common misunderstanding off the map: sulphites and sulphur dioxide are not to be confused with sulphur. They are fundamentally different things. Sulphur, element 16 on the periodic table, is symbolized by the letter S. It’s yellow, it’s insoluble, it smells like rotten eggs when burned, and most importantly: it’s never used for cooking. Winemaking, The sulfur dioxide molecule, symbolized by SO2, is actually sulfur combined with two oxygen atoms. To say this changes everything is an understatement. If in its pure state, it remains anything but innocuous for health, it has been used since ancient Rome in low concentrations as an antioxidant, antiseptic and preservative in winemaking and food. Once in contact with food or wine, SO2 combines and transforms into sulphites, thus deploying its protective qualities. It is he who guarantees that the wine can travel to your home without being damaged, and like crossing the decades while keeping its fabulous potential for aromatic expression and terroir, Besides wine, sulfites can be found in a very long list of foods: dried fruits, sausage, fruit juices, vinegar, jams and even cut up salad bags. Without being aware of it, we therefore consume it regularly. In France, an average of 20 mg per day is estimated. But today, thanks in particular to the movement of natural wine and the progress of knowledge in viticulture and winemaking, good winegrowers only protect their wines more than is necessary, in order to guarantee that the wine is all beautiful and without defects. Of course, the risk of allergy continues to exist, but it is very likely that it will be discovered in your diet long before you are old enough to consume wine , Conclusion: between sulphites and humans, we are in reality in the face of a great love story, which has lasted since Roman times. Let’s toast to this extraordinary longevity, and to the fabulous diversity of interpretations demonstrated by winegrowers for several millennia, with or without the addition of SO2. Indeed In Vino Veritas !

And we have face this dilemma one time or another in our lives, when should you open the bottle of red wine? The timing of opening a bottle of red wine can change its taste completely. First of all, you have to make sure that the bottle of red wine you are about to taste is at the right temperature. It can fluctuate between 13 and 18 degrees depending on the bottle. If it is a young and rather full-bodied red wine, you can also decant it (i.e. pour it into a carafe to calm it down). To be sure, do not hesitate to uncork your bottle and taste the wine about one or two hours before at the most. Unlike decanting, decanting will be done at the last moment. This serves to separate the wine from the solid deposits present in the bottle. In summary, to know whether to open a bottle of red wine in advance or at the last moment, you just need to know the profile of your wine, The choice of a bottle of red wine depends above all on your budget, your tastes and your experience in wine tasting When choosing one of your first bottles of red wine, you must also take into account the food and wine pairings, Indeed read the label ,know your winemaker and the rest is glorious tasting !!

Something foodie we like and do at home a lot on tastings is to have cold cuts, charcuterie par excellence à la Française, To accompany ham, chorizo or Iberian Pata Negra, rather white wine or red wine? With white ham: a Beaujolais red wine. For example, a Morgon , With pâté en crust: a white from the Southern Rhône or a Gamay from Beaujolais. For example, a Château-du-Pape or a Brouilly, There you go enjoy it and bon appétit !

Something not considered wine but we have tasted it as a digéstif or after meal drink at home is the Cognac ! It is great with a Cuban cigar ,but I do not smoke ! The stills are already heating up in the two Charentes, (Charente–Maritime 17 and Charente 16) where the distillation campaign begins almost a month in advance and where a possible shortage of natural gas is worrying winegrowers and traders (restrictions from October 15 due to war in Ukraine). They will be heating at full speed until March 31, 2023, the legal date of end of campaign. The harvest in the country of cognac, considered average a few days ago, will undoubtedly be a little higher than the 8.87 million hectoliters of white wines estimated at the beginning of September by Agreste, the official service of agricultural statistics. In the spring, the National Cognac Interprofessional Bureau (BNIC) alerted the public authorities to its specificities and its fragility. The wines to be distilled, without sulphur, are fragile. Power cuts would lead to an irremediable loss of raw material ! Arbitrations are expected in mid-October,2022 when the prefectures will draw up lists of large consumers likely to be offloaded or not. In the meantime, the stills are rising in temperature. The campaign starts fast and strong. The 222 million bottles shipped around the globe in 2021-2022 generated a turnover of 3.8 billion euros. Cognac is 98% exported. There are approximately 1,200 distillers (by vintage and profession) and 2,900 stills in the land of cognac. Year after year, they consume 560 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of natural gas and propane per year. The supply of natural gas is more delicate. Professional distillers connected to the GRDF network transform 55% of the Charente harvest. They “burn” about 350 GWh per campaign, or 0.07% of annual French consumption. The BNIC webpage : https://www.cognac.fr/en/bnic/home/

There you go folks, another wine episode of my belle France! The wines of France that is, superbe, sublime, wonderful, gorgeous, enjoy without moderation but accompanying a meal, family table just perfect. See you in the vineyards of France.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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October 10, 2022

Some news from France , CCCLXXI

Well news in my belle France happens fast and need to tell you more, always more. Therefore, time again to tell you my latest rants about some news from France. An eventful post in my blog that I have enjoyed together with you for the last 12 years now!! And for those non Roman CCCLXXI is 371 ! , another dandy round of news of my belle France , of course, chosen by me; there are many others. We are in Fall season ! ,and temps came to 19C, rainy humid time changing. Times like this are great to be in house warm and tidy and a glass of wine, and we will come back eating in dining room! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Alsatian Christmas Market is back for its 40th Edition on the forecourt of the Gare de l’Est ! It is held from Wednesday 30 November to Friday 16 December 2022. For this 40th edition, the oldest Alsatian Christmas market outside its region, does not skimp on the means to treat us and discover all the specialties of this magnificent region! On the program this year, nearly fifteen artisans whose stalls are full of gingerbread, chocolates, pretzels, foie gras, wines, delicatessen… In short, everything you need to prepare an authentic Alsatian Christmas ! Webpage : https://www.sortiraparis.com/arts-culture/walks/articles/57104-alsatian-christmas-market-2022-at-paris-gare-de-l-est/lang/en

This is happening all over, not yet in my lovely region of Bretagne, However, part of the French service stations are marked by gasoline shortages following a strike started several days ago in the refineries of TotalEnergies, The prefecture of Oise (60) published this Saturday at the end of the day a decree prohibiting the sale of gasoline in any container such as jerry cans or drums and giving priority to caregivers, The prefecture of Val-d’Oise (95) has also banned the sale of gasoline in containers until October 12. The same restrictions have been taken by the Seine-Saint-Denis (93) prefecture, which also invites residents to show good citizenship in order to avoid any saturation phenomenon. Restrictive measures are currently not relevant in Seine-et-Marne (77). No restrictions are in force in the Yvelines (78) at the moment, the prefecture reporting a “stable” and even “improving” situation even if the situation is the subject of “great vigilance”. No order has yet been taken in Essonne (91) , Paris (75) , Hauts-de-Seine (92) and Val-de-Marne (94).

Since 2019, more than 64,000 inhabitants of Île-de-France region have subscribed to the electric bike rental service. Île-de-France Mobilités, the authority responsible for transport in the Paris region, plans to double the fleet of cargo bikes and intends to make the system permanent. Véligo electrically-assisted bicycles (VAE) can be seen everywhere in Île-de-France. And this more and more. The 17,000 blue two-wheelers, in the colors of Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM),have enjoyed undeniable success since the launch of the service, in September 2019, Webpage : https://www.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/en

The official Véligo bike rental : https://www.veligo-location.fr/what-is-veligo-location/

Disneyland, Parc Astérix, Mer de sable… Halloween, a prosperous period for amusement parks, Halloween has become a must for amusement parks. Because if Halloween struggles to seduce in the whole of France, this imaginary with grimacing pumpkins has become, over the years, a must in the amusement parks of Île-de-France and Oise, which cover their attractions of more or less frightening decorations. Behind this enthusiasm, a strategic positioning of the sites, which recorded during this period a strong attendance. Halloween at Disneyland Paris has become a key period just like Christmas for the fans the decorations planned from October 1 to November 6 2022 in the paths of the park: villains, pumpkins, skeletons and ghosts…Wonderful ! One huge Disneyland Paris webpage : https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-usd/seasons/halloween/

And another we like Parc Asterix : https://www.parcasterix.fr/parc/spectacles

The 10 most distressing stations in Paris ! Oh yes we have them too, According to a recent study by the Paris Region Institute, relayed by Franceinfo, four out of ten people are afraid of being the victim of an attack or theft in public transport. According to the study, the metro stations Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anvers, La Fourche, Invalides and Miromesnil, are considered to be those where users feel the least safe. On the RER side, the Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, Aulnay-sous-Bois, Nanterre Préfecture, Juvisy and Denfert-Rochereau stations are the most distressing. The main cause would be the frequent presence of people on drugs or alcohol, the lack of staff, or even the fear of the empty metro at night.Have you taken any of these at night in Paris ? I have into the wee hours and can attest to this dark side many do not see,

On the other hand,Every year, the consultancy QS ranks the best student cities in the world. Good news: Paris is in the top 10! The QS Cabinet was responsible for reviewing 140 cities with populations over 250,000, focusing on their attractiveness, quality of life, universities and affordability. Results ? Paris arrives this year in 8th position, whereas it was in 9th position the previous year. Other French cities are part of the ranking such as Lyon in 45th position, Toulouse in 78th position and Montpellier in 119th position. There you go students Paris is good even if cher !

One quant area of my eternal Paris which is lovely to walk, a bit off the beaten path and very nice for the whole family is La Mouzaïa,around the rue de Mouzaïa, rue General-Brunet,and rue Miguel-Hidalgo streets, the dream of a house in a neighborhood with cobbled alleys, This neighborhood located in the heart of the 19éme arrondissement or district is full of charming houses divided into villas !. The La Mouzaïa neighborhood is made up of around 250 houses, often with gardens. A lovely visit is in order by all.

And if you really want to see Paris from above and far beautiful silhouettes than head for Mont Valérien as I worked not far and went in every day for a time ; lovely. You have the free and beautiful for the best panoramic spots in Paris. Mont-Valérien is itself a beautiful place full of history. The terrace allows you to observe Paris, the Bois de Boulogne as well as the towers of La Défense, without vis-à-vis. Located in Hauts-de-Seine (92) , you can get there by train from Suresnes station, Mont-Valérien arrêt/stop, on train lines L ( Gare St Lazare-Versailles Rive Droit (my line from old home) , and U (La Défense-La Verriére) line, At the Suresnes-Mont Valérien station, take the Hôpital Foch exit/sortie, then go up rue du Calvaire to the esplanade.

Immerse yourselves in the little-known history of the Yves-du-Manoir stadium in Bois-Colombes, This century-old stadium, which hosted the 1924 Olympic Games and will host the Paris 2024 field hockey events. It is this past that comes to life under the pen of Michaël Delépine, professor of history and geography at the Albert-Camus college in Bois-Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine 92 ) and university researcher, who has just published “Le Bel Endormi”, at Éditions Atlande, a fascinating work taken from his thesis on the subject .The book at the FNAC : https://livre.fnac.com/a16697078/Michael-Delepine-Le-bel-endormi

And continuing with the Paris 2024 Oiympics ! Versailles, Viroflay, Chaville, towns that will participate too even if not on the name, The cities welcome the future passage of the Olympic marathon, The route of the Paris 2024 Olympic marathon was unveiled on this past Wednesday October 5 2022. The marathon open for the first time to the general public will be contested on August 10 for men and August 11 for women. At the exit of the avenue de Paris, in Versailles, the runners will enter Viroflay by the D 910 before crossing the city center to reach the forest of Meudon via Chaville and the hill of the Pavé des Gardes, located at the 30th kilometer. This Pavé des Gardes road (1.3 km at 6.5%), which will symbolize so well the “wall” that all marathon runners dread, With a half-race scheduled in front of the Château of Louis XIV, (palace of Versailles) the prefecture of Yvelines (78) , which will also serve as an open-air theater for horse riding, the modern pentathlon and part of the route of the road cycling road race That this marathon connects the Louvre in Versailles is a magnificent symbol ,yes indeed if you are into history as I, More from Le Monde newspaper :https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/article/2022/10/05/marathon-des-jeux-olympiques-2024-un-parcours-atypique-entre-paris-et-versailles-inspire-par-la-marche-des-femmes-de-1789_6144557_3242.html

The 2022 Football World Cup, which is due to start on November 20, 2022 in Qatar, Paris will not broadcast the World Cup matches in public ! The City of Paris undertakes to boycott the event. And for good reason: held in Qatar, it represents a catastrophic environmental and human disaster. No wonder, then, that a number of cities are starting to boycott this sporting event. After Strasbourg, Lille or Bordeaux, it is the turn of Paris. If the City of Paris takes the lead, the bars do as they wish. But for those who wish to boycott the World Cup, the site “Bring the Cup to Reason” (intagramme) proposes to list the establishments which undertake not to broadcast the matches anywhere in France. More and more cities are joining in so far and in other countries too.

Jim Dine at Daniel Templon an exhibition of works, paintings and sculptures, by the American artist, figure of pop art, still in great shape at 87 years old. The “Grace and Beauty” (grâce et beauté) exhibition. his canvases crossed by large spots of intense colors sliding over each other are moments of chromatic enjoyment. In front of these abstractions, he fixes copper wires which twist in all directions like snakes and which, far from upsetting the painting, enhance it. No less attractive and rich in allusions are the sculptures he obtains by combining tree branches cast in bronze and clusters of various industrial debris, also cast, but painted with always the same intensity. More anticipated are the variations on the heart motif, in bronze and paint, but they nonetheless demonstrate that Dine is still in great shape. “Grace and Beauty”. Galerie Daniel Templon, 28, rue du Grenier-Saint-Lazare, 3éme. Until November 5,2022 Tuesday to Saturday, 10h to 19h, Webpage : https://www.templon.com/new/artist.php?la=en&artist_id=94

And as many many over the years keep asking how to dress up in Paris lol ! Well here are some fashion coming up that can useful to the mind set.

Five trends for Spring-Summer 2023, prominent lingerie, raw trousers, ubiquitous sequins and a touch of surrealism marked Paris Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2023 collections ended in Paris on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. More than a hundred brands were on the program. Between major established labels such as Dior, Balenciaga or Chanel, and young shoots like Coperni, Rokh, etc. –, the designers revealed the major clothing trends for the coming summer.

Worn (very) pants low waisted like a throwback to the 2000s, extra-wide cut in faded or laced denim, or in a cargo version with patch pockets on the side, the pants for summer 2023 claim their rawest side. The skin takes air celebrating the body with this maxim in mind, the creators put the skin in the spotlight. The shoulders are revealed, and the backs of the models are visible, the belly takes the air thanks to increasingly short tops, and the tank top with thin straps becomes essential. Sequins radiate, whether festive or associated with an everyday silhouette, sequins have inspired designers. On a great evening dress very close to the body, a man’s jacket worn as a dress or a simple denim jacket, the sequins awaken the look, Lingerie reveals itself ; an infinite field of exploration, lingerie and its delicate lace are no longer hidden under clothing. Bras and panties are visible under transparent dresses, are declined in shapewear style , these elements of lingerie marrying the shapes of the body to better sheath them or can be discovered under large coats. The infinitely large, the infinitely small ,Playing on perceptions by summoning a little surrealism: this is what some designers have had fun with, by enlarging the zips of dresses or the sleeves of a blouse, or on the contrary, by proposing incredibly small accessories. Be ready Paris rocks !

Staying within the confines of fashion let me tell you about parfums ! Sephora tries bulk. The beauty products brand, leader of the French cosmetics market, is preparing to test the sale of perfume by the liter in two stores in the Paris region. Customers will be able to refill their bottle of “Sauvage”, Dior, and other fragrances from the L’Oréal group. The major brands are thus following in the footsteps of Mugler, which, under the leadership of Clarins, launched the perfume fountains when creating “Angel” in 1992. Thirty years later, other giants of perfumery are are in turn: Dior, a subsidiary of LVMH, L’Oréal, another heavyweight in the market since the purchase of Clarins perfumes, and Sephora. In fact, sales of beauty products in France have benefited from the return of customers to stores. Over the first eight months of 2022, they increased by 21% compared to 2021 and, precisely, by 29% in stores”, observes a study by NPD Europe for the sector of the beauty. The make-up palettes, ensuring 34% growth in this segment in France, and rediscovered the pleasure of smelling perfumes, whose sales now exceed those of 2019 by 4%, according to NPD. The internet has returned to a measured level: it represents 13% of sales of so-called “selective” brands, that is to say only sold in perfumery, according to NPD. Parfums, perfums will never go away me think !

And why not finish off with accessories ! Bracelets, rings, earrings..etc. Variations around a motif with romantic symbolism, in favor for two years. It is because the object, reproduced in jewelry from the 18C, is interesting to exploit for its romantic and consensual symbolism, in an era of globalized tourism where travelers like to come and seal their love by fixing a padlock on the bridges of Paris. Especially since, if some display it as a simple pendant like Fendi or Hermès, others like to reinvent it by lengthening it, like Givenchy, even by purifying it until it becomes a line and equipping it with a pivoting system, like Tiffany. Now you are ready for Paris, and France !!!

Ok this is my contribution to those die-hard runners/joggers out there, These have done for most of the time by car or on foot part of it, Wonderful sites of my belle France,

Le Havre, Étretat, Fécamp, Veules-les-Roses, Varengeville-sur-Mer, Dieppe, Le Tréport, glorious ! The long-distance hiking trail along the Côte d’Albâtre won the title of France’s favorite GR trail at the end of 2019 . It is not surprising that this iodized route wins the majority of votes; the limestone cliffs that line the coastline between Le Havre and Le Tréport offer a breathtaking spectacle. But they are not the only stars of the GR 21. Inland, the route also allows you to discover beautiful residences, beech forests, pastures and Norman cows. Average duration: about 10 days, Distance: 180 km, Maximum altitude: 130 meters,

To the north, France; to the south, Spain; to the west, the Atlantic Ocean; to the east, the Mediterranean… Crossing the Pyrenees is an adventure worthy of the most seasoned hikers. Like the GR 20, this route is considered one of the most difficult in Europe. It is certainly mid-mountain, but what a drop! Unless you have 2 months ahead of you, it will be difficult for you to cover it in its entirety, from Banyuls-sur-Mer (Pyrénées-Orientales) to Hendaye (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), in one go. Never mind, there are many sections that are worth the trip on their own, such as the one that connects Cauterets to the Néouvielle Nature Reserve. You will discover there the bridge of Spain, the lake of Gaube, the Vignemale and the circus of Gavarnie. Average duration: about 55 days, Distance: 900 km, Maximum altitude: 2,598 meters, Go ahead make my day lol ! I climb all these by car::)

Of course, some wonderful road warrior trails as well by car ; my favorites are

Acrophobes abstain! The Millau Viaduct in Aveyron,(12) is an exceptional French road. A true architectural and technological feat, awarded several international architectural prizes, the viaduct is the tallest and longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. Overlooking the Tarn river from the top of its 343 meters, it allows the junction between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers on the A75 road(La Méridienne  ) ,The panorama and the surrounding nature are remarkable and you can observe this modern giant from several points of view: at the heart of the structure, along the water or while hiking… After 3 years of construction, the viaduct was commissioned in 2004, Hugely wonderful, a must to ride on it me think,

The Passage du Gois (Vendée 85) is a unique site in Europe that connects the continent to the Île de Noirmoutier island. 4.2 km long, it allows you to discover the immense landscape of mudflats and sandy shores. On the other hand, it is formidable for the uninformed or the dizzy because the road, below sea level, is submersible by the tides. Also, if you don’t want to be surprised or leave your car there…, a few simple instructions should be followed: the crossing can be done from 13h30 before until 01h30 after low tide. If low tide is at 12h, so you can cross between 10h30 and 13h30, Love it done twice and the second time had to run as the water was creeping in already !! A thrill must be done me think,

And why let the trains out, please we do ride them a lot here, and I was until my retirement a frequent travelers Grand Voyageur as for work is the only way to go and be reimbursed,However, these are fun trains, of the many these are my favorites !

Le Train d’Artouste (Pyrénées-Atlantiques 64), A ​​ride on the highest train in Europe is bound to be an adventure! Close to the Spanish border, the Artouste train has been taking passengers on the mountainside since 1932 to discover the extraordinary landscapes of this glacial valley as well as the Pic du Midi d’Ossau, the emblematic summit of the Pyrenees, 2887 meters high. And amid the surrounding flora and fauna, the lucky ones may even spot a few marmots just a few meters from the railway line. Go up my readers a great sight !

Le Train de la Rhune (Pyrénées-Atlantiques 64), In the heart of one of the most famous mountains of the Basque Country, the Rhune, which rises to 905 meters above sea level, the cogwheel train has been taking passengers to the summit since 1924 in about thirty minutes. Throughout the journey, the mountainous landscape is offered to travelers before the highlight of the show on arrival: an impregnable panorama on the Atlantic coast and the Pyrenees chain, on the French side as on the Spanish side. Awesome !

The Somme Bay Train (Somme 80), departing from Saint-Valéry and heading for Le Crotoy, the train runs along one of the most beautiful bays in the world on the Picardy Coast, using the old Réseau des Bains de Mer , created in 1887. The sea on one side, the salt marshes on the other, the trip immediately plunges you into the heart of the richness of the Bay and its sumptuous landscapes, in addition to going back in time thanks to its cars from the Belle Époque, one of which, dated 1889. To prolong the pleasure, it is also possible to dine there in the light of a sunset on weekends from May to September. Very nice indeed !

And as usual finish with a foodie delight a find a must to visit, we do it at home several times a month in fall/winter time, Love it ! Alert to all our cheese addicts: a 300 m2 raclette shop welcomes us rue du Faubourg-Montmartre with a string of cheeses to melt. Monbleu is above all a story of passion. Created by Damien Richardot, a child of the Alps living in Paris, this house is enough to make us melt. Restaurant, cheese maker and Raclette Shop… one thing is certain: our winter will be punctuated by melted cheese all the way , Farm Raclette, smoked, with wild garlic, truffles, goat cheese, pepper or chilli Espelette… all you have to do is choose. A raclette kit delivered directly to your home? It is now possible thanks to Monbleu. The Raclette Shop is an online home delivery service that will make the life of your raclette parties much easier. Raclette Shop Monbleu, 37, rue du Faubourg-Montmartre 9éme, and 12, rue Dupetit-Thouars 3éme webpage : https://www.monbleu.fr/

And just in! The city of Paris just announced that a new model should replace the 433 gray JC Decaux sanisettes/public toilets. These toilets had occupied the sidewalks of Paris since 2006. The new model chosen should be more “compact” in order to be installed in narrower and therefore inaccessible areas. Wuuh very tight folks!

There you go folks, another round of my some news from France coming to you freely by the road warrior of this blog. Hope you enjoy the post and do prepare for a wonderful Fall season with a bang. And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

Posted in Bretagne, Food and Wine, France, Paris, Versailles | 3 Comments »

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