follow us on twitter

We are pleased to announce we are now on twitter so you can follow us as we travel this summer:

@jadorefrance on twitter

Nice piece about receiving a Michelin Star

For a chef, this is the epitome of success, from France to New York:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVxNgOImSdE&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=DigitalDisplay&utm_term=textlink&utm_content=Guide2&utm_campaign=2012ChefVideoCampaign

Even the French have doomsday cults

Here is something you don't see every day, especially in France, a doomsday cult worshiping at the base of a mountain. Apparently they French government is afraid of suicides at the mountain in advance of doomsday.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/pic-bugarach-french-commune-home-20-000-doomsday-210932058.html

In France Medicine is Not A Business

In America anyone can write a diet book, including doctors. There can be no basis in fact or science, no studies to support whether the diet works, under what conditions, for how long, etc. In France, they actually expect a diet doctor to follow the rules, follow science and the ethical considerations in being a doctor, including not practicing medicine as a business. Wow, now that is novel. In America, isn't every doctor running a business? Every lawyer? We work at balancing ethics and doing what is right for the client or patient, and still earning a living to support our families. What if we were freed, paid a salary, and just practice our profession the right way. That is how medicine is practiced in France.

So, here we have the French diet doctor, Pierre Dukan, hawking his wares - his latest book, about high protein diets and the French medical society is accusing him of practicing medicine as a business, and not following science.

http://news.yahoo.com/french-medical-orders-target-diet-guru-pierre-dukan-173204743.html

Memories of Barcelona - Snowflake

Writing today with someone about traveling in Spain brought back some memories of Snowflake, the Albino Gorilla at the zoo in Barcelona. The Zoo itself was not much, very old-fashioned and small, but charming for a city like Barcelona. I always describe Barcelona as similar to San Francisco, set into a hillside overlooking a bay, very sophisticated and artistic, full of Gaudi architecture. A man who was brilliant and creative but clearly partaking of the recreational drugs of his day. I had the pleasure of climbing the temple de la segrada familia - his neo-gothic cathedral that was never finished. Somewhat unfortunately, the city is now trying to finish the structure, but it is fairly controversial as to whether it is faithful to Gaudi's plans as he had several different ones in process before his too early death.

As for Snowflake, I will have to find my photos and upload them as they are pre-digital. He was quite majestic and striking, as an albino gorilla is quite rare. In Africa they would suffer in the sun, and even with the shade he was provided in the zoo, Snowflake still became ill with skin cancer at the end in 2008. But he left a legacy of many people who cared for him, and visitors drawn to the zoo, his offspring, and his genetic legacy giving scientists the ability to study the genetic basis for his condition.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/snowflake-the-white-gorilla/snowflakes-legacy/278/

A Snowflake who was left a legacy, not fleeting and gone in seconds.

A another list of beautiful places for travel

Naturally France is in there with Bordeaux.

http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/10-stunning-travel-destinations.html;_ylt=AuotMpxrEGc53OZWztcp6vTc6cB_;_ylu=X3oDMTI1M21kZnVoBG1pdAN0cmF2ZWwgSWRlYXMgQXJ0aWNsZSBib2R5BHBvcwMxNQRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keVRlbXBBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNqbHQxYTYzBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNDYyMTgxY2QtNjM2Yy0zODg0LWIzZTktNGQ1NWQ5YjRhMTk1BHBzdGNhdAN0cmF2ZWxpZGVhc3x0cmF2ZWxhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=3?page=all

How US fails to understand Europe

As we all know there appears to be a vast cultural divide between US and Europe. We are always thinking that their society means socialism and therefore bars capitalistic development. Instead what it really means is a more fair society, with tax structure and health care etc. Corporations don't run and own the government, unlike here. This article/segment from CBS Sunday morning has it right on:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-3445_162-57404104/how-gop-candidates-get-europe-wrong/?tag=exclsv

Learn French - move to Canada?

So maybe you can't immigrate to France, but Quebec wants immigrants, especially those who can speak some French.

http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-discover-backdoor-canada-though-quebec-203651920.html

A sad day in France with the Jewish school shootings

But the French police seem quite on top of it, searching nationally for several neo-nazi sympathizers they believe may be responsible. A horrible act of domestic terrorism. Even the Presidential candidates have suspended their campaigns while the investigation is pending. Can you imagine US candidates doing that?

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/envoy/french-police-hunt-sniper-four-killed-jewish-school-210439051.html

Sweden working to eliminate cash transactions

this is an interesting analysis. Sweden is working to eliminate all cash transactions and projects it can be done within 20 years. Only 3 percent of their economy is based on using bills or coins, while 7 percent of US economy is cash transactions. Sweden is tops in digital innovation in the world. We need to move along faster, that's for sure but can't if we don't improve our education system to allow for innovation and having a populace who can keep up with the changes.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57399610/sweden-moving-towards-cashless-economy/?tag=exclsv

The butcher controversy in the French elections

So in America some politicians are questioning whether women can have access to birth control as a distraction from the real issues and problems our countries faces, in France they are debating the decline of the boucherie, the butcher shop and the rise of halal butchers and meat, which is cheaper. It also involves a discussion of the bias against hiring Muslim youth for jobs, the suggested laziness of modern teenagers etc. So, now the issue becomes part of the French election process, probably as a way to distract from the more important financials issues pressing on the populace and the government.

http://news.yahoo.com/butchers-beef-french-presidential-campaign-111207732.html

American-style politics in France - with distinction.

French politics has gone a new direction in this presidential cycle, American-style but with distinctions, not necessarily the higher ground, but with differences that matter.

So, Sarkozy, afraid he will lose to Hollande in a run-off has begun to target supports of Marie Le Pin and the Nationalists by pandering to their fears (not unlike many here in the USA). He is threatening to pull France from participation in certain aspects of the EU which favor immigration because he claims there are too many illegal immigrants in France, and discussing removing Halal meat from school cafeterias. In America this would be pandering to the conservative base. At the same time, he is also calling for a law similar to the Made in the USA labels we have here which would say made in the EU, requiring government contracts to go to local vendors. If he can't achieve that goal, he asserts that he will seek a Made in France law. In the US, that would be seen as quite protectionist and more progressive, which would make the alleged "free market" conservatives howl, except for the special tax breaks given their large donors.

http://news.yahoo.com/sarkozy-threatens-pull-france-europe-visa-free-zone-172955043.html

Sarkozy is also pulling out the celebrity supporters to campaign for him at American-style rallies. Can't wait to see how this turns out, even before the endless campaign of 2012 finishes here in the US.

Wishing we were there . . .

beautiful shot - Nice is nice.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2012/01/01/photo-of-the-day-2012.html#slide1

French may ban child beauty pageants - fascinating

Personally, I despise the whole child beauty pageant mania in the US, maybe if I had a little girl who wanted the pageant life I would understand it. It always seems more for the mothers than for the children. So, it is interesting that the French, in their current feminist mode post-DSK, would consider banning these pageants. Also interesting given how we puritanical Americans view French society as all about sex, sensuality, romance, and dreams, that this would become a "hot" topic. But apparently, thanks to a 10 year old girl in a Vogue photo shoot, it has become just that:

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/06/10596518-french-report-ban-child-beauty-pageants-padded-bras-for-little-girls

Like many cultural differences, we would never do this in the USA, but it will be interesting to see if France actually acts on this proposal.

10 most picturesque villages - worldwide

Naturally a French Provence village is on the list - really Cote D'Azur - Eze which is on the way from Cannes and Nice to Monaco, high on a hill-top. It is where I found my signature fragrance in 1985 - Fragonard. It is quite medieval in its design and architecture and you have to be prepared to climb the narrow, sloped streets, but it is worth the effort to get to the top where there is a pleasant restaurant and hotel where you can eat on a veranda overlooking the mountains with a spectacular view.


http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/world-s-10-most-picturesque-villages.html?page=1

Politics a la Francaise

This is a topic I am still studying to understand it. It is rather different than American elections which seem to go on forever.

In France, the first round is collecting enough signatures from the candidate's respective party members, meaning the mayors and counsel members etc. to qualify to be on the primary ballot. I suppose this is not unlike the American primary system where only the most involved members vote in the primaries.

In France, once the candidate meets this qualification, by the deadline, there is only three months from the deadline to the first round of voting. If a candidate does not achieve more than 50% of the vote, one month later is the run-off.

This time around, it is looking likely that Sarkozy will face a run-off with Francois Hollande, the socialist candidate. Thus, Sarkozy is trying to court the conservative, Nationalist vote from Marie Le Pen, so he can squeak through. Sarkozy is particularly disliked in France, but he may win anyway.

Fascinating, politics a la Francaise.

A Modern Paris Salon - Still American style

Having recently attending the fabulous Stein exhibit at the Met, this article caught my eye. The Steins were family of art collectors including Gertrude Stein, and they hosted weekly salon in their Paris flat de jour. So, to see this article and realize that an American in Paris in still holding a weekly get together for those who want to meet and mingle warms my heart. We can certainly hope to get there soon:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/travel/dinner-paris-invite-everyone.html?ref=travel

High costs of summer travel 2012

For those of you who are looking at tickets for this summer, the costs are higher then ever, mostly due to fees and taxes. Those are now so exorbitant, the fees are almost as higher if not higher than the ticket itself. This article discusses those fees and costs and mentions some alternate airports to fly in and out of. We've often done this, particularly BF (before Avril), flown into Cologne, Frankfort and Geneva, all good alternatives depending on where you are starting on ending your trip.


http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/make-summer-europe-affordable-big-backup-plan/story?id=15834252#.T1OrFhz2OSI

A tale of two cities - French and German

Here is an article from the NY Times describing well the disparity between the French and Germany economies as exemplified by two cities on the French-German border in the Alsace region. The German apprenticeship program is one American companies should be emulating, especially to begin filling the 3.4 million job openings we have here which are unfilled due to companies being unable to find workers with the requisite skills. Shouldn't we also look at how Germany is maintaining its manufacturing base?


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/world/europe/when-a-border-shapes-more-than-territory.html?_r=1&hp

Want to buy a French village?

Here is the dream for many - buying a distressed French village or hamelt relatively close to Paris in the Dordogne region. Cheap with a deposit of $440,000. It apparently has received interest from all over the world. Bidders?

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/sale-deserted-french-village-pool-112542411.html