Farewell Adieu to Mademoiselle

The French do not have Ms. but now will no longer have Mademoiselle only Madame, on official forms. Women will no longer be required to state their marital status and provide maiden names. It appears to be related to a resurgence of feminism in the wake of the DSK scandal. It is interesting to note that women in France were not permitted to vote until 1944!! That is a scandal unto itself.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120222-france-strikes-out-mademoiselle-coup-feminism

They've come a long way baby, but clearly not far enough.

Avril dreaming of her country

Avril is laying on the sun after climbing on our kitchen table (yes these dogs are meant to climb in a mountainous region of France), basking in the sun on our Provence table cloth. She is watching the woods outside and dreaming of the summer, returning to her country, to France.

United/Continental increased rates for pet travel

Well, this was inevitable, now that United and Continental have merged. United is adopting Continental's alleged "Petsafe" system. Although conceptually a good thing, claiming animals will be treated better in climate controlled cargo areas etc. the cost is astronomical and the actual treatment of the animals is not good.

We tried it once for Avril on an international flight and it was not a good experience, Newark to Cologne Germany, and Paris back to Newark. The animal had to be taken to the freight area in Paris CDG which was not easy to find. In Cologne, trying to claim her was a nightmare, finding the freight area, going to extensive security, heavy paperwork etc. If she had not been a dog with a European passport and tattoo it would have been impossible. IN Newark on the return she was placed in an unair-conditioned freight area and the crate was dragged across the floor to the front to return her to us. She was, as you can imagine, rather traumatized. The costs involved were as described in this article- about the value of a plane ticket for the same plane.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/united-airlines-policy-change-could-cost-pet-owners-164309658--abc-news.html

This one is definitely travel at your own risk, or at least your pet's.

The Scarf debate - Echarpe v. Foulard?

So this debate started one day in my class at FIAF. I am a woman of the scarf, silk, many vintage, that I wear nearly every day, especially with my boring lawyer suits. We were discussing something that related to shopping and I said something about the foulard I was wearing, a large square silk printed scarf. Perhaps a Celine or Leonard, Longchamp or Lancel. The designer doesn't matter for this discussion. My professor corrected me and suggested that it was an echarpe, and that foulard is only for covering the head.

Now, I remember quite a few years ago in Paris with D. shopping in my favorite vintage store, Reciproce, where I was looking at a beautiful Celine scarf that was calling my name and saying "take me home to America." I was already wearing another silk scarf. The sales woman turned to my husband and we were discussing the scarf and told D. that I was a woman of the scarf "la femme de le foulard". Now here was a fashionable Parisian who knew the difference between foulard and echarpe.

Naturally, being me, since this discussion I have been researching the subtle differences between the two terms. What it appears to be is that a foulard is decorative, a square with a pattern for fashion. It can be a head covering. While an echarpe is usually wool or a heavy material and used for warmth.

If you have a different explanation, comments are welcome as we are always learning and open to information for sharing.

Finding A Million in the Attic in France - le Reve?

This is a great French tale. Gold coins worth about $1 million stashed in the ceiling of an old building and found during renovations. Isn't this the dream? To find buried treasure, or the multi-million dollar painting in the attic is the fantasy a la Antiques Roadshow. Very nice of the owner to share the find with his workers.



http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/raining-gold-secret-1-million-gold-stash-discovered-203724430.html

Hotel Loyalty

As always, the New York Times has helpful articles about travel this time on hotel loyalty programs. We are always loyal to Starwood, but I know many rave about Marriott in particular.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/travel/how-to-attain-hotel-elite-status.html?hpw

Tete de Veau - A french style hot dog but ....

This is a true French experience for those who are adventurous eaters, not for me and D. But maybe worth trying Chef Yannick Alleno's Bistro:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/dining/chef-yannick-alleno-and-his-parisian-hot-dog.html

Oh well - no race in Holland

For those who have been following it, the race is off. Weather changed, it is now 40s and raining. Maybe next winter. We will be on the plane for sure if it is taking place. We will be living my dream, although not in the race, but skating on the canals in Amsterdam.

Flamingoes dying in France from the cold

So sad as these birds are spectacular. We didn't expect to see them in France, but they are, especially in the Carmague.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2098906/Ice-Age-Europe-Fifty-pink-flamingos-freeze-death-icy-French-lake-winter-tightens-stranglehold.html

Zoo closed near Paris due to extreme cold weather

Poor animals not meant for the cold and ice:


http://news.yahoo.com/europes-cold-close-zoo-outside-paris-184758469.html

Holland is getting ready for the big race

Don't know how to pronounce it, (the Elfstedentocht, or 11 Cities Tour) but the race in Holland sounds incredible. More than 1.5 million people expected to watch and thousands helping get the canals and rivers ready. But for having a child in high school I would definitely be on a plane to witness this.

http://www.chron.com/news/article/Dutch-clean-ice-to-raise-chances-of-skating-race-3050717.php

Fete des Lumieres - Belgium, France and Italy

Some beautiful photos in this article about the festival of lights held each year in various cities in Europe. Certainly brightens up the darkness of winter. The most spectacular is in Ghent, Belgium. The second largest is in Lyon during the first week of December, ending on December 8. Will try to get there next year to experience this as it looks enlightening (pun intended).

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/festival-brings-light-to-the-depth-of-winter.html

New Strike at French Airports

So, check on your flights. The strike is to protest a new law requiring minimum service at airports when a strike is called. Sans Blague.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120206-unions-call-strike-aviation-sector-france-air-minimum-service-law

The Canals are Frozen in Amsterdam

Wow, wish I had the time to get on a plane today and skate tomorrow. Definitely on my bucket list. Unfortunately, due to climate change, this opportunity has become increasing rare.

They have been unable to stage the race through Holland for 15 years, running 125 miles and taking more than 6 hours to complete, speed-skating style skating. Sounds fabulous and bet it is a wonderful event to see as a spectator.

http://hosted2.ap.org/CARIE/0260ea4c3e85456b80715585ba3c7b5b/Article_2012-02-06-EU-Netherlands-Skating-Marathon/id-0cf5a5a9848342fa80bba365d92127d2

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2012/0206/Europe-s-weather-brings-continent-to-a-halt

Provence English speaking organizations

Here is great list from Provence News:

http://www.provencenews.fr/leisure/associations-for-english-speakers-in-provence/

Cold Europe

Since I'm hitting the blog with a posting flurry this morning, I thought I would mention that Europe is getting the winter we are missing. It sounds horribly cold and snowy, with snow reaching far south into France near Aix and Marseilles about 2 inches.

http://www.provencenews.fr/leisure/flights-power-supply-schools-and-traffic-disrupted-by-snow-in-provence/


I've had email from a friend describing that when it snows in southern France, which is very rare, many people don't even go out. Some don't know how to drive in it. The local government sounds not very prepared to deal with it, since it is so rare. I feel for them, but glad the weather has missed us thus far, other than the Halloween storm. That one was so horrific (no power here at home for a week) that it was enough for the whole winter for us. Especially after getting hit so hart last winter, the Dec. 26 blizzard and so many other storms.

My plants are confused and trying to grow then stopping. Just hinting of spring to come not soon enough, and to return to Provence with a few days in Paris.

Autolib electric car rentals in Paris have begun!!

Again, Europe is so far ahead of us on these issues, we'll be in Paris soon and check it out. The pricing described in the article looks very reasonable. Zipcar should go this route too. We just need the charging stations in NYC and elsewhere.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/dec/07/electric-car-rental-paris-autolib

France wins again against Scientology

The French prosecutors failed in their efforts to shut down the "church" due to some oddities of changing laws while the case was pending, but I would bet they'll try again. The French are not particularly religious and despise cults:

http://www.france24.com/en/20120202-france-justice-upholds-fraud-charge-against-scientology

Food Fight - French Style? Sans Blague.

Well in the US, our politicians get glitter-bombed and don't forget George W. getting shoes thrown at him, but the French have a special tradition, tossing food at politicians. Considering the French obsession with both food and politics, this is somehow every fitting. Check out this blog that explains it well. Sans blague!

http://pate.blogs.france24.com/article/2012/02/02/flour-cream-pies-tomato-sauce-short-history-food-related-attacks-french-po-0

Questions for readers for summer 2012

Since there are thousands of you now reading J'Adore France, please let me know what questions you want answered about France, Provence, places you want more information about.

This will ensure that we become more inter-active and responsive to our readers.

We're grateful for your support and interest, and don't forget to click on some advertisements!!

Parenting a la Francaise- Sounds good to me.

Guess I never understood the home-schooling movement as I need some separation from my kids and would be insane if I stayed home every day, isolated from the world, and engrossed in only children. The French seem to agree, with separation from their children, and not coddling them.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2012/02/parenting-the-french-way-is-it-better/