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Appellation boss calls for overhaul to French system
The head of France’s appellation authority, René Renou, has called for a new quality standard in French wine, to stand above the current AOC system.
The President of INAO (Institut National des Appellations d’Origines), speaking at a seminar at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire, said he was proposing a wholesale revision of the laws which categorise French wine; the most sweeping changes since the system was introduced.
France to close last coal mine — and two centuries of sooty history
France on Friday is to close the last of its coal mines, ending an industry that, after more than two centuries of toil and occasional tragedy, became doomed because of reliance on nuclear energy and cheaper competition abroad.
The excavation of a symbolic final block of the compressed black carbon from the La Houve mine near the eastern town of Creutzwald is to be a highly symbolic moment for the country and Europe on many levels, underlining personal, historic, social and economic and political transformations.
“We are worn out by years spent underground, without ever seeing the daylight, and for that we are happy to stop,” said one miner, Yves Cerati, who spent 24 of his 43 years in the depths of La Houve.
Opinion: Good News & Bad News from France
In early March, while meeting with French officials in Libya, I suggested that if President Chirac wanted to repair the damage done to U.S.-French relations by French behavior last year, he might start by “putting a new face on French diplomacy.”
Just three weeks later, Chirac announced that he was replacing foreign minister Dominique de Villepin with the relatively unknown, but pro-American, Michel Barnier.
Known for his arrogance and love for grandstanding, Villepin was reviled in America for having sandbagged U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell at the United Nations last year, a disgraceful episode I have detailed in my new book, The French Betrayal of America.
family host in boulogne-billancourt
my daughter is coming to this city for the first time and we would like a family to host her for 6-7 weeks while she is working for the a company for an intership. we would off course pay for her accommodations!! we are eager to get a reply as she will start in mid may/04.
urmila
French view of American tourism:
Hi- This is my first post, as I just registered to learn more about France (travelling)and apologize if this is in the wrong forum. Anyway, my question is: How are American tourists viewed in France? More specifiaclly, American military members (on vacation). I am deeply patriotic to my country, but I am also very open to studying/understanding different languages and cultures. I’ve always had a desire to visit France, and plan to in the near future. I just wanted to know how I would be treated there, after current events. Thanks.
-Tyler
BEWARE PARIS TRAIN STATIONS!!!
I would like to warn any potential Paris travellers about the Gard du Nord train station. This is the main Paris train hub connecting London/Paris/Brussels etc.. Eurostar and all others use this train station.
I’m from the US and spent 10 days in UK and 3 in Paris. The Gard du Nord station is very "seedy", from the minute I got off the Eurostar train I put my billfold in my front pocket and tightly secured ALL my luggage. There were lots of Arab/African men, teen to middleage just standing around. No bags, not travelling, not picking anyone up, just standing around watching and looking around. After 3 days in Paris I returned to this station to wait for my train back to London. I was 2 hrs early.
Great ticket prices!
I’m so excited. We just got tickets to France for October. I’ve been all over the web at cheap ticket sites and was ready to give up and wait for Fall sales. Then I clicked on France.com’s airline ticket button way on the far right side of the screen. We always get our hotels here so I don’t know why I never looked for airline tickets. Live and learn!
At any rate, we had a delightful choice of tickets at far below the other "budget" sites. This is so exciting. We’re going to France for a month and we’re saving over $200 (over the cheapest other site) on tickets. That’s a lot of souvenirs!!
I guess I better calm down and go grocery shopping. Just wanted to tell you that if you’ve never tried the airline ticket section, try it. You’ll like it!
Isle of Wight residents to take "tooth ferry" to France
Residents of the Isle of Wight who need dental treatment, are taking what’s been called the “tooth ferry” to France.
Cowes independent councillor Bernard Buckle is frustrated by the lack of NHS dentists on the Isle of Wight and he’s planning a form of dental tourism to address the problem.
He’s decided to organise a coach and ferry trip to Cherbourg for up to 50 people who need urgent work on their teeth.
Mr Buckle is charging each patient £120 for two nights’ accommodation, travel and dental treatment. The councillor said he felt that travelling to continental Europe was the only way for people living on the Isle of Wight to receive affordable treatment.
Corse
Un père corse prodigue ses derniers conseils à son fils, le soir de sa nuit de noce.
« Mon fils, ce soir, tu prendras ta femme dans tes bras, tu la porteras jusquà la chambre, et tu la déposeras sur le lit. Parce quun Corse, cest FORT.
Ensuite, tu te déshabilles et tu te mets tout nu & parce quun Corse, cest BEAU.
Et là , avant de commencer, tu la regardes droit dans les yeux.