Russian Billionaire travels to Courchevel, France

Interesting choice for this owner of the NJ Nets and possible future Russian president, along with the chef from Chez Bru in Eygalieres, a European celebrity chef. A truly spectacular spot in the French Alps where we've traveled several times to experience. Although St. Moritz and Chamonix are also beautiful ski resorts, there is something about Courchevel that calls to us, from the views, to the food, to the people, and the hotels, and so much more.

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/travelers-check/201112/prokhorov-takes-entourage-two-dozen-french-alps

Although I do not ski any longer, D. has skied the slops, we've eaten lunch at the top of the mountain at Cap Horn sitting outside in the sun, stayed at both Biblos and our more favorite, La Lana and eaten at many of the local restaurants. Most hotels there offer a European plan for food along with your room, meaning breakfast and either lunch or dinner. The chefs who work on the Cote D'Azur and Provence in the summer migrate to the Alps for the winter, heading to where the money travels seasonally. At La Lana we have stayed in a special suite with a private hot tub in the bathroom which seats four, and had a 180 degree view of the slopes from our window so we could watch the grooming all night if we so choose.

There are several levels to the mountain but at 1850 meters, is where the action is, complete with former Olympic skating rink with a view of the mountains, and stylish women walking the streets in their fur-trimmed parkas, apres ski. The altitude does require some adjustment and you definitely want chains for your car to climb the mountain with if you are driving. About two hours from the Geneva airport, but a long road up the hill requiring confidence in your driving skills. Once on the mountain you can take the gondola system to other ski areas throughout the valley, or on the same mountain. Very professionally run, and fabulous ski school, with adorable little children learning quickly and flying down the slopes before you know it. At Biblos, you are outside the town and need to use their shuttle to come and go. At La Lana you can ski out, including from their equipment rental room.

We hope to go back soon - maybe 2013.

French make it harder to become citizen

The new restrictions begin in January with major immigration reform. One would have to take tests on French history and culture as well as language, demonstrating proficiency of a 15 year old native speaker. I would definitely not pass that test. After the next election cycle may also bring other restrictions including denial of dual citizenship and denial of citizenship to children born in France but whose parents are not French citizens.

http://www.france24.com/en/20111229-france-tightens-screws-immigration-election-looms-sarkozy-gueant-citizenship

New Park in Madrid

Having traveled to Madrid quite a few years ago (1992) but loving the city as quite cosmopolitan with fabulous Museums and restaurants, shopping, and walking in Retiro Park (rather like Central Park in NYC), reading this article about a new park created from what used to be the M-30 highway, sounds rather like the High-line in NYC.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/27/arts/design/in-madrid-even-maybe-the-bronx-parks-replace-freeways.html?ref=world

Brussels Chocolate

Sounds like a worthwhile chocolate tour:


http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/travel/brussels-the-chocolate-trail.html?hpw

Woody Allen's favorite Parisian Films

worthwhile list, haven't seen all of them but may need to now as we so loved "Midnight in Paris"

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/12/18/woody-allen-s-5-favorite-parisian-films.html

April Fool's Day - French Origins of Le Poisson d'Avril

While we don't know that this is correct interpretation, this is a fun story to share about the alleged French origins of April Fool's Day or le Poisson d'Avril.

http://www.francetravelguide.com/april-fools-day-in-france-le-poisson-davril.html

We'll have to look for this as April gets closer, or is this all a big April Fool's joke? Since D.'s birthday is April 2, I always feel that I am married to an April Fool. This year, maybe he will be tagged with a paper fish on the back so I can call him mon Poisson d'Avril.

Baked Brie - Not a French Recipe but fabulous.

Every year at this time for our holiday party we venture into cheese territory which is not really French but nevertheless very enjoyable and a pleasure for a party.

Find a full sized brie, place in pyrex dish, shave off the top skin, sprinkle with cinnamon and sliced almonds, baked at 300 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the middle is melted and gooey. Lovely on slices of baguette, or crackers. A new comfort food.

The US Government would never do this - pay for removal of defective breast implants!!

Since the French equivalent of the FDA is recommending removal of these PIP breast implants due to a possible link with cancer and also because quite a few have ruptured, the government is going to pay for the removal costs. That would never happen in the USA.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/21/health/breast-implants/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2

Hamane? Wasteful? Don't really know. I suppose if you have the money to have the implants (unless it is reconstructive after breast cancer), then should it be your responsibility to have them removed? Or is it more likely culprit the company producing them? Is it the government's responsibility because they approved their use in France? All interesting questions for which there is no definitive answer.

Fish Spa Pedicure - Not for me.

The other night we received our French Groupon email with a deal on a Fish Spa Pedicure which is the rage right now in France. Very trendy and to me. slightly creepy and gross. After doing a little research, it was interesting to note that this is banned in many US states and the UK is looking at banning it also due to health and safety concerns. Many this would work for Jeremy Wade of "River Monsters" fame (definitely one of our favorite shows), but not for me.

Here's the article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/01/fish-pedicure-health-animal-welfare

Buying a used car in France - Part Deux

We've continued to research used cars in France thanks to ebay.fr. Definitely difficult to find a car with leather seats, and without a black interior. We've learned that wagons all called "break". And that most have tow hookups, since we know that having a "donkey cart" is a necessity, not to mention if you want to tow a "caravan" (what a camper is called in Europe).

Another brand we have seen many times in France is Alfa Romeo and we have located one outside Paris with a saddle leather interior. We may be making a purchase. The question remained how to get it registered and transported to Provence, but a friend has connected us with someone who can provide this service and store the car until June. He is a mechanic and assured us that the Alfa was not the old Alfa - unreliable, but the new Fiat owned Alfa, reliable and sexy styling.

We've also been exploring insurance and determined that USAA, the company who provides us our US auto insurance, can provide for damages, road side service, and rental, but not liability. Our local agent, obtained through a friend is providing quotes including the basic liability. The pricing is so different that our policies here. Maybe it's being in NJ versus the countryside of France, maybe it is because we will only be using the car a few months each year, or even because the French are a less litigious society, but it is a significant difference. Over the next few weeks, we will be setting this up for the summer as car rentals are becoming more prohibitively expensive, especially as we stay longer and into August.

So, Alfa, here we come.

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More from the NY Times Travel Section

Here is the link to the France section on their website. Some beautiful articles about Marseilles and Provence and a few other spots as well. I will take some time over the holidays to get caught up and post some more about each article.

ttp://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/france/overview.html

Yoga spreads across the world - even to Paris.

Fun article in NY Times about finding Yoga Classes in Paris. I suppose I have a more French attitude toward exercise, preferring long walks with Avril to sweating in a smelly and possibly dirty gym. But this article makes it sound fun in Paris. We did find a yoga/pilates studio last summer that looked interesting in Fontvielle so we may venture to take a class. Only a few months left to our next trip, but who's counting.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/travel/excusez-moi-parlez-vous-yoga.html?ref=travel

French favorites of 2011

Here's a fun article about what's popular in France during 2011, from cars (Renault Clio), travel (Morocco) to music (Adele) to video games (Angry Birds) and much more. See, we are not that different.

http://josephbamat.blogs.france24.com/article/2011/12/17/what-french-want-christmas-consumer-trends-2011-0

Learn French on your iphone - Cool ap.

Yes, I am going to try out this free ap from French Radio Internationale:

http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/id431841667?mt=8

I've already downloaded it and will try listening in the car. Any little bit helps with this dynamic but complicated language. Some days I think I'm going to get it and other days it is impenetrable.

The French Nationalist Front courting Jewish Vote?

Very odd. What is the old quote, politics makes strange bedfellows? So true if you read this article:

http://www.france24.com/en/20111214-national-front-goes-all-out-jewish-vote

Death of a legend - from New Jersey to Paris

Beautiful obituary about the death of a Parisian icon, George Whitman, founder of the bookstore Shakespeare and Company:

http://www.france24.com/en/20111214-founder-icon-paris-bookshop-george-whitman-france-shakespeare-and-company

NYC, the High Line, the Styleliner, and the Standard Grill

D. and I left early for NYC this afternoon, around 3 p.m. so we could walk a bit in the Meatpacking district, walk a little bit of the High Line, and get an early dinner. Turned into a better evening that we expected with new experiences and adding a new restaurant to our repertoire.

For one, we hit no traffic on our way in, finding parking directly in front of the restaurant. We then ventured up onto the High Line. We've heard so much about it, and recently seeing Diane Von Furstenberg interviewed on Charlie Rose about it and I was fascinated about the concepts of urban open space and design and the development in the City that has grown up around it, creating new vistas and values from something that was nearly demolished. This was a rail line that was primary used to bring cattle into the meat packing district for slaughter and packing, and it is now a space where young and old stroll without traffic, and find some peace from the hectic energy of the City. It is a beautiful and original space, with hundreds of people walking and experiencing the vistas, even on a chilly, windy day. A great use of space with plants and seating and views of the river and the city.

From there we arrived at the Standard Grill rather early for our reservation so we enjoyed sitting in the bar for an hour. D. had a glass of wine while I enjoyed a wonderful cup of hot chocolate (chocolate chaud) and warmed up. We relished the people watching which is always our spectator sport everywhere we go. Dinner was quite good, D. having the iceberg wedge salad with blue cheese dressing and large pieces of fresh bacon and spec which could have been a meal in itself. I ordered the duck breast and D. ordered the bacon cheese burger (because he didn't eat enough bacon on the salad). Both were above average. We were fortunate to have a seat near the kitchen and were entertained by watching the chef at the grill, the people sitting near us and the staff. This was a happening spot, including the Beer Garden next door under the High Line which was full of young people having a great time under the heat lamps.

After dinner, we walked a bit around the neighborhood and noticed the Styleliner, a camper renovated into an innovative shopping concept chock full of interesting items, from clothes, shoes, bags and jewelry to scarves, some vintage some new. Fabulous and reasonably priced for the quality of the items. We purchased a beautiful piece by the artist Lucy Hutchings, met the owner and the buyer, as they were closing and moving out. Definitely something to follow: at www.thestyleliner.com. Check it out

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So even the French are hating the Euro

Even though it was a French idea, about 30% of the French want to return to the Franc. Although it makes traveling in Europe so much easier, I can understand their desire for independence.

http://www.france24.com/en/20111207-growing-france-franc-euro-currency-survey-economy-eurozone-le-pen-sarkozy

Things that Last

D. and I have been discussing this for some time since, as we all know, few things are made these days to last forever, some are French, some American. But when the economy is as it is, what is worth investing in? Do we really need to spend money on something and if so, what do you buy? So, what we've come up with thus far:

1. Louis Vuitton Luggage - almost indestructible, just need to replace the zipper about every 20 years.
2. A Cartier watch - just need to maintain it, clean it, etc. every five years or so.
3. A Lodge cast iron pan - Made in the USA and not expensive- just clean it properly, oil it etc.
4. A Cuisinart Food processor - have had mine for about 30 years. The only thing that needs replacement now is the plastic container.

Will come back to this and add.

More French Expressions which are not really French?

Another good one is a french manicure which I never see in France except on Americans. Most French women have relatively short but manicured nails, not even polished. I am still seeking the elusive gel manicure in Provence and anticipate I will find it this summer. In the meantime, here is an interesting list of expressions and terms using the word French and how they translate or not, into French:

http://french.about.com/od/expressions/a/french.htm

Best European Cities for Holiday Markets

No it's not Paris:

Cologne Germany, closest to Paris is Bruges.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/02/travel/christmas-markets-lp/index.html?hpt=hp_c4

Possible changes to French voting laws

Would allow Foreigners to vote in local municipal elections, very controversial:


http://www.france24.com/en/20111201-socialists-push-bill-give-foreigners-vote-sarkozy-objects-ump-france-politics